Environment & Pollution

I believe that a clean environment is essential for life and business here in Utah. We need air to breathe, and we need water to drink, and if our air and water are unhealthy than we are too. As senator I will pass bills that bring clean air, clean water, and more water reserves to Utah.

Inversion and Clean Energy

I, like you, worry about the quality of Utah’s air. As a doctor, I see the harmful effects that smog and inversion have on our community and especially on our children. I have always supported the Clean Air Caucus and the broader clean air movement. That is why I will fight for Utah to transition to “clean energy”.

Many Utahns don’t realize that most of our electricity is generated by burning coal. That means that even environmentally minded products like electric vehicles contribute to air pollution. As senator, I promise to implement market-based incentives that will shift Utah towards clean energy sources while simultaneously creating new jobs throughout the energy sector.

Our inversion costs money and lives. Many tourists and businesses avoid Utah, an otherwise ideal destination, because of our terrible air quality. In the ongoing discussions on hosting another Olympics in Salt Lake, one of the largest obstacles is inversion. Clean air will bring money to Utah. It makes fiscal sense to invest in clean energy.

It also makes medical sense to invest in clean air. As an emergency pediatrician, I see too many children who suffer respiratory illnesses because of the inversion. Children who were born prematurely and develop lung disease often die from the pollution in our air. Healthy children don’t die, but they do often come to the emergency department with serious pollution-related breathing problems. Those with asthma are particularly at risk.

We desperately need to change the quality of our air. We know that it affects our economy and our health, but some legislators don’t seem too concerned about finding a real solution. If elected senator, I will support clean energy incentives that will protect our economy and save our air.

National & State Parks

Utah is known around the world for its stunningly beautiful park systems. Our parks bring money to Utah, offer wholesome recreation, and unify us as symbols of our state. Our parks are important for our well being and our economy.

Utah has some of the most visited parks in the world, with Zion National Park receiving over 4 million visitors a year, more than the entire population of Utah! It is because of our amazing parks that tourism is one of the largest economic sectors in Utah. Parks put Utah on the world map.

Unfortunately, large corporations would love to tear up our parks to drill for oil and mine. Some Utah legislators actually agree with this practice because it seems like it might be good for the economy. In reality, destroying our parks would be terrible for the economy, and only benefit a few ultra-wealthy individuals. When President Trump and Utah leaders agreed to allocate some of Bears Ears National Monument for industry use, Emerald X (the parent company of Outdoor Retailer) left Utah, taking its hundreds of millions in net revenue with it. Fortunately, after Bears Ears was re-protected, Emerald X announced their return to Salt Lake.

I believe that preserving and improving our parks should always be a priority. I agree with President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he said that “there is nothing so American as our national parks”. I will block any legislation that attempts to degrade, diminish, or “privatize” any part of our state and national parks. I will also work to pass legislation to protect currently unprotected, culturally sensitive site like Native burial grounds and petroglyphs. I will strengthen and support our parks and Utah’s environment.

Water Rights

Utah is losing water at an unsustainable rate. In order to sustain our communities, we have to siphon water away from the Great Salt Lake and our state reservoirs before it even gets there.

We should not be giving our water to states like Arizona, who careless waste water on green lawns and golf courses in the desert. As your senator, I will join the bipartisan effort to control more of our water, and distribute it throughout the state in a responsible and fair way.

The Inland Port

The inland port is a great example of short term gain versus long term loss. Utah will probably gain a few jobs and increase state revenue a bit in the near future, but soon it will become outdated as transport technology changes and it will have a lasting negative impact on our environment. As senator, I will create a council of local residents, environmentalists, and the port’s contractors to decide how to move forward with the inland port project. I believe that everyone affected by the port has a right to voice their ideas and concerns for its construction.

I also believe that Utah can manage growth in a smarter, cleaner way. As senator, one of my priorities will be to invest in clean, green, cutting edge technology that offers growth and gains without damaging ecosystems or polluting surrounding areas. Clean investments will benefit us now and in future generations..