Issue Position: Economic Vitality & Lower Taxes

The only way we can solve the long-term funding issues in our state is to grow the economic activity and increase jobs. More taxes will never be the answer. I received the fourth highest score in the State Senate from the Utah Taxpayers Association because I have a proven track record supporting economic growth through wise tax policy. I know from personal business experience, as well as my experience serving on the Cedar City Council and Economic Development Board, that most of our job growth comes from small business expansion.

When my wife Chris and I bought our first drug store in 1996, we had eight employees, and five of them were my family. We now have two pharmacies and drug stores, two retail stores and 50 employees. If we had 10 businesses that had the same track record as ours then we would have the equivalent of a large company. We have to make sure that our tax and regulation structure is conducive to small business growth. We also have to position our local economic development boards in a position to benefit from the state resources provided by the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

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