Responses to questions posed by the Political Action Committee at Bonneville UniServ, June 24, 2008:

• As a member of the House of Representatives, you will face many issues involving the future for public education in Utah. What role do you see public education playing in Utah’s future?
  • There is nothing more critical than public education. Survey after survey of Utah citizens indicates that education is their number one priority. Public education is vital for the continuation of the American form of the democracy and for the well-being of all in our country.
• What kind of support are you willing to give to public educators since special interests groups continue to lobby funding of private education with public tax dollars?
  • I will not support the use of public tax dollars for private education.
• What would you like to say to the public educators of Utah Valley about their strong belief in a great education for “all” children regardless of race, religion, and financial status?
  • One of the moral dimensions of education is providing access to knowledge (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) to all children regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, color of skin, language spoken, disability, income, or social class. It is the right thing to do. We do it because we care deeply for all children.
• What type of education legislation would you support in Utah’s future?
  • I will work for a long-term commitment to increases in the WPU to bring our teacher salaries to the western states average.
  • I will work for class size reduction, especially for K-3, indexed to account for growth.
  • I will work to curb health insurance costs which eat into funds needed for increased salaries.