2016 UT Governor's race: on Environment


Mike Weinholtz: Air polluters know they are unlikely to be caught

Utah has become infamous for our pollution, especially during inversion season when our cities have some of the worst air quality in the nation. The harm is real and affects nearly every Utahn. Our dirty air means children can't play outside, causes pregnancy complications, leads to premature death, and scares companies and families from relocating to our otherwise beautiful state.

Air quality is complicated and requires a multi-pronged solution. As governor, I will give the Division of Air Quality the tools they need, work with industries to find mutually beneficial solutions, and reduce personal and vehicle emissions.

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is consistently underfunded and can't afford enough enforcement officers to catch the cheaters. Polluters know they are unlikely to be caught, and even if they are, it will take years for an investigation to turn into prosecution. I will fight to increase DAQ funding to let polluters know we will no longer tolerate their actions.

Source: 2016 Utah gubernatorial campaign website MikeForUtah.com Jun 17, 2016

Vaughn Cook: Tougher pollution-control mandates to improve air quality

Cook's platform calls for raising Utah's minimum wage, with potential exemptions for smaller and startup companies; tougher pollution-control mandates to improve air quality; expansion of Medicaid programs covering the poor; and greater transparency with an end to closed-door caucuses on Utah's Capitol Hill.

The fifth-generation Utahn previously served as chairman of the Utah County Democratic Party. He co-founded the Utah Centrist Democratic Council, a group Cook described as seeking political solutions based "in the consensus of common sense" rather than "the extreme, uncompromising edges of the political spectrum."

"Used to be," Cook said, "that compromise was not a dirty word in Utah politics."

Source: Salt Lake Tribune on 2016 Utah Gubernatorial race Mar 1, 2016

Jonathan Johnson: Air quality retains and attracts business

Air quality is a top issue for retaining and attracting business in Utah. Our valleys' air has a natural tendency to quickly become over polluted increasing health problems and costs while decreasing our overall quality of life. Everyone along the Wasatch front shares the same air and responsibility to improve the conditions. To do this Utah should consider implementing tier three fuel standards, drastically cutting vehicle emissions, which accounts for the majority of the pollution in our state.
Source: 2016 Utah Gubernatorial campaign website, HireJJ.com Dec 10, 2015

  • The above quotations are from 2016 Utah Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Candidates and political leaders on Environment:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018