Count down to the Primary
It’s been too long since I’ve blogged. Too many things going on in my personal life and with the campaign, but with the Primary just around the corner, I thought it was a good time to check in again.
My opponent has pointed many of you to this site with his recent mailer. I should thank him for the free advertising. It’s always nice when someone else knows more about my positions and philosophies than I do and shares that with the masses.
My opponent keeps asking that we focus on the issues rather than all that we’ve seen in the media lately. I agree. We should focus on issues that pertain to the State Treasurer’s office. However, he hasn’t been willing to join me on KTALK radio, or the Meet the Candidate Night in Price on June 16. It’s hard to discuss the issues by yourself. He has one more opportunity this week with Rod Decker on Take Two at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 22. Rod told me that the invitation was declined, but he has kept it open just in case.
His focus on issues seems to be on issues unrelated to the State Treasurer’s office. He continues to talk about what he did as a legislator, but the last time I checked, the State Treasurer was not allowed to vote on bills, and in fact, is not even allowed on the floor of the House or Senate without an invitation. Advocating tax cuts is great political rhetoric, but in reality, everyone follows the lead of legislative leadership. The State Treasurer weighing in on the issue is irrelevant because we all know these decisions are made by a select few in legislative leadership and the masses of the legislature fall in line.
The “good ole boys club” in the legislature continues to try and cast me as a fiscal liberal. They continue to give me credit for stalling the Worker’s Compensation Fund settlement. For the record, the only way it could happen was for legislature to pass a bill. The bill never passed. Looks like THEY should get the credit for stopping that one, not me.
I’ve yet to find a public statement from me proposing higher taxes. Another attempt by the “good ole boys club” to twist the facts to meet their needs. In fact, I was part of Governor Walker’s tax reform team that developed a plan to lower income and sales tax to levels much lower than we now have. The legislature wasn’t willing to make the tough decisions to make that happen, so we have higher tax rates than proposed by Governor Walker.
And what’s with another cheap shot about the appropriations spending limit? Fact: the state has a statutory debt limit of $1.1 billion. Fact: the state has outstanding debt and authorized debt that exceeds $2.1 billion with the promise of another $1.5 billion or more to be authorized next year for Utah County. So what does a statutory debt limit mean? NOTHING. The legislature will find a way to work around it. What does an appropriations spending limit mean? NOTHING, because again, the legislature will find a way to work around it. We elect legislators to make the tough budget decisions and set spending priorities each year, not hide behind meaningless statutory spending limits. “Fiscal conservatives” shouldn’t need a limit to control his/her spending or to reduce taxes–that should be an innate part of their makeup. Quit the political rhetoric and make tough decisions.
I think the informed voter has recognized what this race is all about. It isn’t about Richard Ellis versus his opponent. It’s Richard Ellis versus the “good ole boys club” of the legislature. Leadership is backing one of their own who lacks experience, education and competence, in an attempt to control a portion of the Executive Branch of government. Whatever happened to the balance of powers laid out in the constitution?
Be an informed voter. Vote for the candidate that has the education, experience and qualifications to talk about the real issues of the treasurer’s office, not just political rhetoric. Vote to keep the office independent. Call your city or county treasurer and ask them which candidate is the best choice. You’ll only get one answer—Richard Ellis.
