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Burgess Owens' Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Republican for U.S. House (UT) - District 4

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • Rated 100% by National Right to Life Committee. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The right to life is fundamental and given to us by God. It is no accident the evil socialist and Marxist ideology of the left seeks to devalue life so much that mothers and fathers are willing to kill their own children. All of God's children are endowed with inalienable rights which include life. It's hard to imagine anyone who has experienced the joy of holding a newborn baby could possibly support taking their life just moments before. In 2017, Planned Parenthood performed 332,757 abortions, making them the largest abortion chain in the US. Abortion rates have declined over the past two decades, but PP's abortion numbers have increased substantially. Killing an unborn child is inherently wrong and can never be justified regardless of circumstances." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 3755 "Women's Health Protection Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "While the far-left continues their push for unrestricted abortion, I will always fight to defend life." (twitter.com)
  • "We must protect & strengthen Social Security to keep our promises to our seniors." (twitter.com)
  • "I am committed to protecting our seniors and their access to Medicare and Social Security. #SeniorCitizensDay" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act." (votesmart.org)
  • "It's time for Congress to keep its promise in fixing our broken healthcare system using a new dynamic approach. Instead of the old top-down approach to health care we need to open up the system as a whole to innovation and competition. What the healthcare system in our country needs is patient-centered care, not more bureaucracy. It's simple: more choices, less mandates. You should have the freedom and flexibility to choose the care that is best for you, not the one that is mandated by your federal government with legal repercussions should you disobey. As you get older, Medicare should give you more choices too - at every step, you should be in the driver's seat. It's time we use our head and open up the industry to innovation and competition." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1 "For the People Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "H.R.1 has nothing to do with the people and nothing at all to do with fortifying our country's election system. Taxpayer-funded political campaigns, nullified voter I.D. laws, and nationalized elections are not a successful recipe for restoring faith in our democracy or protecting the voice of American voters. Not to mention, the proposed changes would drastically re-engineer our federal form of government by centralizing power in Washington. Our elections should be free and fair, not a bureaucratized power grab that benefits only the Democratic majority." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Mr. Speaker, police reform is necessary. We need to give officers the tools they need to fairly enforce the law. But this legislation paints a target on the back of every police officer in America. In Salt Lake City, we saw a 38 percent increase in homicides. At the same time, Salt Lake cut $5.3 million from the police department's budget. It should be no surprise that voluntary resignations doubled. This bill will make good officers flee the profession when we need them most. Mr. Speaker, Democrats won't say this, but this bill simply defunds the police. Not in Utah's Fourth District; not now; not ever." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The percentage of good police is much higher than the percentage of good politicians.... So what should we really be defunding?" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 1280 "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "I've fought for our law enforcement in Congress. And I will keep fighting for them." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022." (votesmart.org)
  • "I believe our economy will continue to expand if we seek out policies that encourage innovation and entrepreneurialism. I am a passionate supporter of free-market principles. Government must get out of the way." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I support robust investment to rebuild our country's crumbling infrastructure, including upgrading the roads, bridges, airports, and mass transit systems that improve the quality of life in Utah. Unfortunately, H.R. 3684 is a big-government and partisan product that fails to address critical infrastructure needs and wastes $547 billion in taxpayer dollars on wish list items. Instead of common-sense reforms, this plan dilutes resources to fund Green New Deal mandates, reduces flexibility for states to meet their own unique needs, and dramatically increases deficit spending. We need real bipartisan solutions to fix real infrastructure in America." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Public-private Partnerships for infrastructure: Creative Entrepreneurship..ONLY possible w/ creative entrepreneurs" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against HR 3684 "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1319 "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "Nancy Pelosi's version of "COVID-relief" is sliding special interests a $1,000,000,000,000 check." (twitter.com)
  • "Now they're talking about raising taxes in the middle of a pandemic. You know an easy way to avoid raising taxes? By not passing $2 trillion special interest spending packages under the guise of "Covid Relief" (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 5376 "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Not only was this avoidable, but it's not even a top priority. It's time for the Biden administration to take a pause on their radical agenda and work w/ Republicans on real solutions to the problems they've created, starting with the rising inflation." (twitter.com)
  • "The Democrats' bill won't reduce inflation. Instead, it funnels money into their liberal pet-projects while solving none of the crises facing Americans." (twitter.com)
  • "We need renewed hope in our country, and it starts with us standing up to the Biden Administration and their policies that have led to inflation, slow job growth, rising crime, and an open southern border." (twitter.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 2547 "Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "You can't pick-and-choose your Covid restrictions. Democrats want to end Title 42 while extending the moratorium on student loan payments and masks on airplanes. Is the pandemic over, or not?" (twitter.com)
  • "Despite dealing with the horrors of Jim Crow and segregation the black community led our nation in the growth of the middle class. What an insult to a proud community with a record of overcoming monumental obstacles to say "they're just not smart enough to obtain an ID"." (twitter.com)
  • "I use my I.D. to drive a car, to get a job, to board a plane, pick up prescriptions, and virtually everything else in life... So tell me again, why is showing an I.D. "voter suppression"?" (twitter.com)
  • "The only place Democrats don't want you to show ID is the voting booth..." (twitter.com)
  • "What was once a bipartisan NASA bill now includes provisions that strip power from states, nullify voter ID & give taxpayer dollars to political campaigns. Democrats have officially lost their minds." (twitter.com)
  • "Thanks to wide American development and use of alternative energy sources, such as ethanol, biodiesel, hydro-power, wind and nuclear, and advancing technology techniques for oil recovery and use, the U.S. has essentially achieved energy independence. This alone ensures that the U.S. can exercise it's chosen foreign policy without coercion from outside." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 13% by League of Conservation Voters (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The WH continues to blame Russia for our high gas prices instead of taking responsibility for their poor policies. Restoring American energy would not only embolden our economy but bring back jobs to the American people!" (twitter.com)
  • "We have the tools to open and expand our economy here in Utah, but Democrats in Congress want to focus on green energy, forcing women to compete against men, and teaching CRT and sexual identity issues to young children." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 100% by Independent Petroleum Association of America. (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "The Biden administration's arbitrary decision to suspend oil and gas leasing and permitting on federal lands is a serious mistake that will harm the same small Utah businesses that are already hurting from the pandemic. This action perpetuates the very discord between rural and urban Americans that the President spoke out against in his inauguration speech. Although it is routine for an incoming administration to pause high-level agency decisions while agency leaders get into place, such a widespread suspension of routine permitting decisions normally made in the field is unprecedented." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2467 "PFAS Action Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Administrator Regan: "We write to you today greatly dismayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to remand the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which finally provided certainty and relief for rural America. We are also discouraged by your recent actions taken to reopen the definition of the "waters of the United States." These steps demonstrate a misguided and out of touch approach toward addressing the needs of local communities across the country. The NWPR was an immense step forward in rectifying the regulatory overreach that was attempted in 2015, and your agencies’ vague announcement and opaque process fails to ensure our communities will not – once again – be subject to further uncertainty and government overreach," (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Administrator Regan: “We write to you today greatly dismayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to remand the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which finally provided certainty and relief for rural America. We are also discouraged by your recent actions taken to reopen the definition of the “waters of the United States.” These steps demonstrate a misguided and out of touch approach toward addressing the needs of local communities across the country. The NWPR was an immense step forward in rectifying the regulatory overreach that was attempted in 2015, and your agencies’ vague announcement and opaque process fails to ensure our communities will not – once again – be subject to further uncertainty and government overreach,” (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by National Rifle Association (NRA). (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Red flag laws and gun control laws are slippery slopes to an inevitable takeover of gun ownership in this country. Red flag laws give people the opportunity to judge their neighbor -- if they do not like you as a person, they can report you and have your guns taken away. That directly infringes on our second amendment rights. What's the long game plan for red flag laws? They are the next step in the left's attempt to totally ban guns." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 1446 "Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021." (votesmart.org)
  • "We, as citizens of the United States, have a right granted by God and protected by the Constitution to arm and protect ourselves. The right to bear arms is a fundamental truth outlined in the 2nd amendment and laws to regulate that right will result in nothing less than tyranny. This is one area in which the federal government has a role to play. That role is to protect the rights of American citizens to keep and bear arms. Concealed carry permits should be treated like driver’s licenses and marriage licenses and be recognized across the country." (burgess4utah.com)
  • "Burgess Owens will proudly fight for better healthcare for all Utahns - for market-based solutions, lower drug prices, and coverage for those with preexisting conditions." (twitter.com)
  • "It’s simple: decrease cost, give more choice, and provide better care. By creating more transparency, our country’s healthcare system will be more patient-centered and less controlled by bureaucrats. We the people should have the freedom and flexibility to choose the care that is best for us; not the care someone in DC decides they think is best for us. As we get older, Medicare should give us more choices too – at every step, we should be in the driver’s seat. It’s time we open up the industry to innovation and competition. It’s time for Congress to keep its promise in fixing a broken healthcare system by using a new dynamic approach." (burgess4utah.com)
  • "More government bureaucracy decreases efficiency and access. Being able to choose your healthcare plan – instead of having one chosen for you by the government – empowers you to choose the care that is best for you, and your budget by expanding the use of health saving accounts. Encouraging competitive, market based approaches to the healthcare system allows people to choose what type of coverage they need at a price and at a plan that fits their lifestyle and health." (burgess4utah.com)
  • "Too often politicians translate “promote the general welfare” into “control every aspect of the lives of our citizenry”. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was no exception. It was neither about being affordable or about healthcare when it was implemented. Premiums and deductible costs for individuals, families and businesses were being driven higher every day. The healthcare system in the United States has been too bureaucratic and expensive for far too long. Obamacare no longer needs to be repealed, but changes are necessary in the current healthcare plan. Instead of the old top-down approach to healthcare, we need to open up the system to innovation and competition." (burgess4utah.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Voted against H.R. 6833 “The Affordable Insulin Now Act” (votesmart.org)
  • "We should allow prescription drug imports. In Canada, people pay almost ten times less for insulin than they would have to in the U.S. And yet, it is illegal to import prescription drugs from the North border. This is where there is room for advancement and adaptation. There have been bipartisan efforts in Congress to permit American consumers to buy prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies to bring them home for personal use. But when we have Americans dying because of the problem created after the wake of the ACA, it’s time to put a stop to government intervention. In Trump’s State of the Union speech he said, “ It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drug, often made in the exact same place.” I agree!" (burgess4utah.com)
  • Rated 80% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "SECURE OUR BORDER. How many more deaths will it take for Joe Biden to acknowledge the massive issue he created by opening the border?" (twitter.com)
  • "We are a country of laws and we must secure our borders. Our focus should always be to protect Americans first." (burgess4utah.com)
  • "We need renewed hope in our country, and it starts with us standing up to the Biden Administration and their policies that have led to inflation, slow job growth, rising crime, and an open southern border." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • "More can be done to help the people of Ukraine. I am proud to stand by them in their fight for freedom." (twitter.com)
  • "Utahns stand with the people of Ukraine. We must do more to deter Vladimir Putin from committing any more war crimes against the Ukrainians." (twitter.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7691 “Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes.” (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. 3522 “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022” (votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats are all-in on raising taxes and spending our country into deeper debt. We can't let them pass their $3.5 trillion socialist wish list!" (twitter.com)
  • "Democrats are proposing a massive $3.5 trillion spending bill that includes tax increases. Republicans need to come together and stop this far-left socialist wishlist." (twitter.com)
  • Rated 76% by National Taxpayers Union (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "We cannot tax and spend our way to prosperity. I am fiscally conservative and have proudly signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge." (burgess4utah.com)
  • Signed Letter to Ambassador Tai: "Due to trade retaliation from top United States export destinations and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. pork producers are struggling to stay afloat. Vietnam presents a tremendous opportunity for domestic pork exporters, which was demonstrated last year when the country temporarily reduced tariff rates for frozen pork products. Although the temporary reduction expired at the end of 2020, U.S. pork exports doubled in the second half of 2020 compared to the first half of the year. The surge in U.S. exports during the tariff reprieve coupled with Vietnam’s growing population and preference for high-quality pork shows that the United States is barely scratching the surface of its export potential to Vietnam." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Supporting the negotiation of comprehensive trade agreements with Japan, the European Union (EU), the U.K., and other potential trade partners around the globe that stick closely to the negotiating objectives established in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (known as Trade Promotion Authority). Supporting continued negotiations to address China's unfair trading practices and their theft of American businesses' intellectual property." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Signed Letter to Ambassador Tai: "Due to trade retaliation from top United States export destinations and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. pork producers are struggling to stay afloat. Vietnam presents a tremendous opportunity for domestic pork exporters, which was demonstrated last year when the country temporarily reduced tariff rates for frozen pork products. Although the temporary reduction expired at the end of 2020, U.S. pork exports doubled in the second half of 2020 compared to the first half of the year. The surge in U.S. exports during the tariff reprieve coupled with Vietnam’s growing population and preference for high-quality pork shows that the United States is barely scratching the surface of its export potential to Vietnam." (justfacts.votesmart.org)

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