Craig Bowden in 2018 UT Senate race


On Environment: EPA should only advise; enforcement is over-reach

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Fight EPA regulatory over-reach"?

A: Agree.

Q: Some examples of what you consider over-reach? What to do about the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act?

A: I would return the EPA to its original mission: advisory, not enforcement. I think in cases where there are violations against another person (ex: dumping into water source), we need to have experts that can testify on behalf of victims, but there must be due process involved before any punitive measures are taken.

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Free Trade: Free Trade

Support free trade, but NAFTA is not free trade Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Support & expand free trade"?

A: Absolutely.

Q: Does that mean you support NAFTA as-is, or would you change it?

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Government Reform: Supports mail-in voting and ranked-choice voting

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Make voter registration easier"?

A: Yes.˙

Q: Your take on voter ID requirements? Mail-in voting? Ranked-choice voting?

A: I am a mixed bag on voter ID. If there are going to be requirements for ID, then it needs to be something that can be done easier for those who are impoverished or disabled, making it more difficult to obtain. If we can address that factor, then I have no problem with ID requirements.

Q: Your take on voter ID requirements? Mail-in voting? Ranked-choice voting?

A:Mail-in voting has to remain for those who are not present to make a poll location, and if there are not going to be enough poll locations open, then mail-in

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Gun Control: No gun restrictions except on convicted felons

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Absolute right to gun ownership"?

A: Agreed.

Q: Does that right extend to fully-automatic weapons? Bump stocks? Age 21 or age 18? What restrictions?

A: The only restrictions I believe in would be against individuals who have already used violence against others (assault, rape, murder, etc.) or those who have been adjudicated as unstable through due process in a court.

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Health Care: ObamaCare only benefits the insurance companies

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?

A: No.

Q: Do you mean "repeal without a replacement" or "repeal and replace"? And if the latter, replace with what?

A:Full repeal, as it really only benefits the insurance companies. Replace with free market reforms that will drive down costs, such as allowing more competition with buying across state lines, eliminating taxes on medical equipment, etc.

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Homeland Security: Full audit of military, then many cuts

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Expand the military"?

A: No.

Q: How about the opposite: Would you cut the military? By how much?

A: I would cut. The first thing I would like to do is a full audit. Anything that doesn't meet the "smell test" (think $500 toilet seats and $100 hammers), would be the first cut. I would also take failed programs and cut those (F-35 that cannot compete with the F-16, ships that break down after 15 minutes, etc.). R&D would need to be justified with a need, not just because a company wants to get a contract. The Pentagon, and more so, the boots on the ground, would be who I would listen to as far as what the mission for defense is required.

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On War & Peace: Exit the Mideast & support non-intervention

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Avoid foreign entanglements"?

A: Absolutely.

Q: Does that mean you'd exit Iraq? Afghanistan? Yemen? Syria? All of the above and all others?

A: I would exit everything in the Middle East, and start looking at bases in other nations. I believe in non-intervention. While we should have diplomatic channels and trade with everyone, we need to stop being the policeman of the world.˙

Source: OnTheIssues follow-up with 2018 Utah Senate candidate Mar 1, 2018

On Abortion: No late-term abortion except for maternal life

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right"?

A: I do not agree with late term, except as it pertains to life saving measures of the mother.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Budget & Economy: No stimulus; market forces tell us where money should go

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Stimulus better than market-led recovery"?

A: Disagree. Market forces tell us where money should go.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Civil Rights: Same-sex marriage isn't my business to restrict

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Comfortable with same-sex marriage"?

A: It doesn't affect me, so it is not my business to restrict.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Crime: Rehabilitation instead of punishment

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?

A: I prefer a rehabilitative approach with restitution to victims as opposed to simply punishment.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Drugs: Marijuana is not a gateway drug; prescriptions are

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?

A: No. As a matter of fact, most people on harder drugs started with prescriptions.˙

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Education: Vouchers are a good step towardending public schools

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Vouchers for school choice"?

A: My ultimate position is to end public schooling, but this would be an interim step toward greater choice.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Energy & Oil: No subsidies for green energy; don't pick winners & losers

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Prioritize green energy"?

A: While that is something I would like to see, I don't believe in subsidizing any industry. It's not the government's job to pick winners or losers.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Foreign Policy: Prefer American opportunities to American exceptionalism

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Support American Exceptionalism"?

A: I'd prefer to support American opportunities to rise above status of birth.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Immigration: Streamline the process to make it easier to come legally˙

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?

A: Streamline the process to make it easier to come legally.˙

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Jobs: Free market instead of affirmative action

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"?

A: Free market solutions work best for this avenue. Not mandates.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Principles & Values: Work for all Utahns, regardless of religious beliefs

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Keep God in the public sphere"?

A: I'm not an advocate for either position. While I am religious, I am going to DC to work on behalf of all Utah, not just those who believe the same as me.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Social Security: Voluntary phase out for younger generations

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Privatize Social Security"?

A: I believe in a voluntary phase out for younger generations.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

On Tax Reform: Lower taxes for everyone

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?

A: Lower taxes for everyone.

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Utah Senate candidate Feb 28, 2018

The above quotations are from 2018 Utah Senate race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts from 2018 Utah Senate race: debates and news coverage.
Click here for other excerpts by Craig Bowden.
Click here for a profile of Craig Bowden.
Craig Bowden on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War/Peace
Welfare
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Page last updated: May 25, 2020