Governor's Position on Self-Determination

STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

  • In Utah, we firmly believe in and uphold the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which reserves powers not expressly delegated to the federal government to the states.
  • States, not the federal government, should take the lead in finding their own solutions tailored to their unique challenges and circumstances.
  • Specifically, Utah solutions are needed to address Utah problems.
  • Utahns are better equipped than Washington bureaucrats to manage our affairs and address our unique challenges in education, health care, and management of our public lands.

2015 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES

  • Vigorously defend our right as a state to self-determination.
  • Assert our right to local control to ensure Utah -- and not the federal government -- is in control of very aspect of our education system.
  • Work with the Utah Legislature and stakeholders across the healthcare spectrum to create a Utah model for Medicaid that better serves our most-vulnerable residents while respecting the taxpayer.
  • Vigorously support the Public Lands Initiative championed by Congressmen Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz to ensure Utah has a strong voice and role in managing our public lands. In areas of shared responsibility with the federal government, Utahns should never be content to be a silent or junior partner.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Tasked the Utah Attorney General to conduct a study for the State School Board, which reaffirmed that Utah is in control over every aspect of our education system, including what we teach and how we teach it.
  • Helped create a Utah alternative to Medicaid that respects our taxpayers, promotes individual responsibility and supports private markets by helping our state’s most-vulnerable residents get private health insurance.
  • Took a major step in establishing a more productive and collaborative between Utah and the federal government by signing the Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act. This landmark deal exchanges 25,000 acres of public land to the federal government for preservation and recreation in exchange for the state receiving 35,000 acres that can be used to earn revenue for our public schools, much of it through responsible energy development.
  • Issued an executive order directing state agencies to do their part to help prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from listing the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act, which would limit many activities on Utah land and be devastating to the state’s economy.