Jeff Burningham in 2020 UT Governor's race
On Tax Reform:
Reduce waste, unnecessary spending for meaningful tax cut
I think more flexibility is a good thing so that we can be smart about spending and make sure we get things right and not rush into tax reform that may hurt people. Most importantly, we need to look at spending. Our state budget has grown nearly
50% since 2015! As governor, I'll reduce waste and unnecessary spending so we can give a meaningful tax cut to Utah families who are the industrious ones who have generated the surplus we are now enjoying in the first place.
Source: UtahPolicy.com on 2020 Utah gubernatorial race
Mar 18, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Before we modernize tax code, we need to review spending
The people of Utah have ensured we don't have a revenue problem in this state, but we do have a spending problem. Discretionary spending has grown by more than 30% over the past five years. How many Utahns have seen a 30% increase in their income?
As governor, I'll do a top-to-bottom review of government and eliminate waste. Before we modernize the tax code, we need to modernize our spending.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune on 2020 Utah gubernatorial race
Jan 29, 2020
On Abortion:
Strongly believe in protecting rights of unborn
- I am pro-life and believe strongly in protecting the rights of the unborn.
- I believe that people should be able to live their lives as they see fit, without unnecessary government intrusion.
- I will represent all Utahns because we are one
Utah--no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, or creed.
- I support religious freedom and other First Amendment rights such as free speech and freedom of association.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Eliminate onerous occupational licensing laws
Government doesn't create jobs. People do. The government should not pick winners and losers. It's time to eliminate unnecessary and onerous occupational licensing laws.
We should keep taxes low and easy to administer. Economic strength will make Utah less reliant on the federal government.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Infrastructure planning critical to quality of life
I don't have to rely on complicated policy papers or expensive consultants to explain the economic impacts of inadequate infrastructure or to suggest practical solutions. I have first-hand experience dealing with the economic impact of these issues.
I've been building businesses in Utah for 20 years. Infrastructure planning is critical to maintaining our quality of life. We need to look ahead and plan 10, 20, 30, and 50 years into the future.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Education:
Education should be free from federal influence
Parents and teachers know best what each child needs. It's time to empower parents to choose the best education path for their child and unshackle teachers from top-down mandates so they can do what they do best: teach.
Education should be handled at the state and local level and should be free from federal influence.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Environment:
Unlock our State Institutional Trust Lands
Utah will realize its full potential when we manage our own lands and allow for responsible multiple use. It's time to strengthen our rural economies and unlock our
State Institutional Trust Lands, which were set aside to provide education funding for Utah's school children.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Government Reform:
I'll get government out of your way
In Utah, our conservative way of life is based on personal responsibility, free enterprise, and limited government. That's why as governor I'll get more satisfaction signing bills that eliminate existing laws than signing those that add new laws.
I'll also work with the legislature to cut outdated and unnecessary regulations. Game-changing leadership recognizes that government is absolutely not an engine of growth and opportunity, but a barrier to them. I'll get government out of your way.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Gun Control:
Gun owner who supports the Second Amendment
- I am a gun owner and support the second amendment.
- I believe that people should be able to live their lives as they see fit, without unnecessary government intrusion.
- I will represent all Utahns because we are one
Utah--no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, or creed.
- I support religious freedom and other First Amendment rights such as free speech and freedom of association.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Health Care:
Choice and competition rather than government programs
Game changing leadership in healthcare is removing government from the relationship between doctors and patients. We must allow and encourage greater access to better care through choice and competition. Game changing leadership is applying market
principles like price transparency to our healthcare system. A patient should know exactly what each procedure costs at each hospital so that they can make the healthcare decisions that make the most sense.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Immigration:
Let each state set number of guest worker visas needed
Local control is always better than federal mismanagement. Here's a game-changing immigration idea: Each state should tell the federal government how many guest-worker visas it needs each year. Utah knows better than Washington DC how many seasonal
workers we need. If the states set the number of visas, available jobs would be filled legally and there would be no magnet drawing people across the border illegally.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Principles and Values:
I trust the people of Utah, not government
Game-changing leadership means getting government out of your way. Government's role is to protect our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government should not interfere in our lives except to protect our rights and assure public
health and safety. Government should be as small and efficient as possible. I am a pro-life, limited-government conservative. I trust the people of Utah, not government. Most decisions should be made at the individual or local level.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Cut waste before imposing new taxes
We absolutely do not have a revenue problem in Utah. Here's a simple but game-changing idea: before imposing new taxes on the people of Utah, let's do a top-to-bottom review of government and cut waste. Then we'll know how much revenue we actually need.
State government spending does not need to grow at the same rate as our economy. We can find ways to be more efficient with tax dollars. Low taxes encourage businesses to grow and allow Utahns to keep more of their hard-earned money.
Source: 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign website JeffBurningham.com
Jan 6, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Focus on taxpayer impact, not government revenue
I believe the first question should never be, "How does tax policy impact government revenue?" Instead, the first question should be, "How does tax policy impact the people of Utah?" We should not raise taxes, especially when 1) we're experiencing
large budget surpluses, and 2) government spending has grown 30% in the past five years.
Source: Deseret News on 2020 Utah gubernatorial race
Nov 9, 2019
On Education:
Old industrial age education not prepared for new economy
Burningham said, "We need to trust our teachers that they know and parents that they know what's best for their children. I fear that there's a mismatch between how we're educating our children and the jobs that actually exist and are coming.
Like I said, we're in this old industrial age education complex, but we're in a new economy." Burningham said the current educational system tends to focus on things like checking boxes, memorizing facts and jumping through hoops.
Source: StGeorgeUtah.com on 2020 Utah gubernatorial race
Sep 16, 2019
On Corporations:
His VC firm funds start-up businesses with great ideas
For almost two decades now, Jeff Burningham has been on a streak, hitting home runs with whatever endeavor he puts his mind to. He started a successful tech startup while still a BYU undergrad and, at 25, sold it to a NASDAQ-listed company (long before
it was cool). He then parlayed his earnings from that deal into real estate when the market was booming in the early oughts.He was among a very few people who foresaw growth in that market as unsustainable and liquidated his holdings before the
bubble burst and the Great Recession began. Then, he recruited partners and rebuilt a real estate portfolio, buying distressed properties as the market bottomed out, leading to his current holdings, now valued at $2 billion.
And when you have
$2 billion in assets, you can start doing the things you really enjoy. For Burningham, that was launching a venture capital firm dedicated to finding interesting people with great ideas and helping them get their businesses off the ground.
Source: Deseret News on 2020 Utah Gubernatorial race
May 14, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021