Thomas E. Young

In cases of rape, incest, life of the mother, and verifiable fetal deformities. I think the morning after pill should be legal.

Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree

The three largest sources of revenue to state and local governments are income tax, property tax, and sales tax. I support lowering the property tax, and bringing down the income tax rate. To replace the lost revenue, I support moving more of the tax burden to the sales tax and certain types of corporate taxes. Shifting the tax burden from income tax and property tax to sales tax could be done in such a way to protect lower income taxpayers that struggle to pay their property taxes, such as seniors on fixed income. Additionally, the sales tax is a "choice" tax, meaning that individuals choose to purchase an item and thereby choose to pay the tax. The long-term picture is bright for the state if we choose a tax system that encourages working, saving, and investing and allows consumers the choice on whether they want to purchase an item with its associated sales tax.

I'm running for the state legislature, which currently balances its budget annually. Having been through two recessions as a legislative staff member, I know the pain everyone feels to go through budget cuts. With that said, I think reviewing spending is a good practice that offers the state government the chance to eliminate poorly performing programs and affirm the desire to continue some functions of state government. With this background, I am concerned about the large amount of new spending the state has undertaken over the past two years. By the time fiscal year 2023 is over, the state will likely have appropriated more than $7 billion in new spending over the past two fiscal years. Some of this spending is productive - such as improving teacher pay or expanding our transportation corridor. Other parts of the new spending is making the inflation picture worse. I think we should slow the growth in spending over the coming years to lower the pressure on inflation.

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

When there is imminent danger to life or limb, such as an active shooter situation in the neighborhood.

Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.

When an individual does not qualify for exemptions, such as religious views, personal concern or opposition, or when it would be harmful to the person.

Through our well-funded institutions, the United States should work to assimilate individuals of the Islamic faith into society. We should promote American values as much as possible, and show that American values are generally not contrary to what many Islamic terrorists believe.

Neutral

Strongly Agree

Individuals wanting to work or live in the U.S. should follow the legal process. That includes refugees. I think there needs to be greater respect for immigration law.

Agree

I strongly support charter schools, private schools, and home schools. Voucher programs and tax credits need more study and consideration before they can be implemented.

Strongly Agree

Neutral

Neutral

Strongly Disagree

I believe strongly in God, His interest in our lives, and a life after this that depends upon the choices we make here. I have served in many volunteer positions in churches for more than 30 years and am a returned missionary.

Disagree

According to a recent survey of consumer attitudes in Salt Lake County, around 75% of voters have some question about the voting process. I support efforts that instill confidence in the voting process.

No. With that said, we need to work on our relationships with each other.

Strongly Disagree

I support reasonable efforts to improve our air quality, including tax credits for electric vehicles, remote work on bad air quality days, tax credits for making energy efficiency improvements to one's home, and other steps to improve our air quality. I oppose laws that produce higher inflation, or harm industry.

Agree

The three main purposes of government are defense/enforcement of statute (military and police), national identity, and representation.

Lean Conservative

When they are available, I will send them your way.

No.

Thank you for visiting. I’m a long-time resident of the Salt Lake Valley who cares deeply about where we’re heading. My wife, Allison and I, have called House District 40 home for 20 years and have chosen to raise our four daughters here. We love our neighbors, sports, and the incredible outdoors. I think we’re at a crossroads. Twenty years ago, Utah had 2.2 million people. We now have 3.4 million. We’re the crossroads of the west and have become a global destination. Our growth success has made us the envy of other states, and for many, our draw has made us think carefully about what type of growth we want in the future and what type of lifestyle we want now and in 50 years from now. At least 40% of our families in the district struggle to pay for groceries or worry about how they’ll make their next home payment, or how they’ll pay for a doctor’s visit. Parents from all walks of life are concerned about what our kids are learning in school. We need to ensure that our kids stay the envy of the world in not only science and technology, but arts and the creative crafts. When we go to the grocery store, prices are up more than 10%. Gas prices are floating between $4 and $5 per gallon as of writing. With gas prices so high, do you think it would be a good idea to raise the gas tax? Makes inflation worse, not better, but that’s what we’ll do come January 1. What about affordable housing? With the median home price at $580,000 – meaning the average wage earner can’t afford the typical home – do you think it’s a good idea to make homes even more expensive by raising our property tax? With such large budget surpluses, now is not the time to be raising property taxes or gas taxes. According to a recent survey from Merrimack College, teacher satisfaction is at the lowest level since the 1980s, with only 4 in 10 teachers feeling respected by the general public. Teachers, lawyers, doctors, and plumbers used to share the same neighborhoods. Slowly, there’s been a divergence. I think we can make the education system more responsive to parents while simultaneously ensuring that the most in demand teachers make more money without having to switch careers or become administrators. It’s not really that difficult to make happen. We have college graduates with an average of $19,000 in student debt and no better prospects than when they entered college. Eighteen-year-olds can get a loan for $50,000 to go to school but can’t get $10,000 to start a business. Something’s wrong. Over the past two years, the Legislature appropriated $204 million to higher education institutions. One would think that this would be enough to keep colleges from raising tuition. Unfortunately, no. For the 2022-2023 school year, tuition increased by 4.8% at the University of Utah, by 4.3% at Utah Valley University, and by 3.99% at Salt Lake Community College. I think it’s time to connect appropriations with tuition – meaning when colleges get state appropriations, they slow or eliminate their tuition increases. In the coming years, we’ll need to address wealth, and in particular wealth creation for the younger generation. Right now, the Silent Generation – born before 1945 – and Baby Boomers - born between 1946 and 1964 – hold 70% of the nation’s wealth. Generation X – born between 1965 and 1980 – has around 20% of the wealth. Millennials – born from 1981 to 1996 – has around 8% of wealth. And the youngest generation – Generation Z – has around 2% of all wealth. The younger generation is far behind where the Baby Boomers were at this point, by an enormous margin. Baby Boomers accounted for around 13% of household wealth in 1989, and today Millennials and Generation Z under 40 account for around 6%. Overall, today’s 40-year-olds own half the wealth of older generations when they were the same age. “Twenty-first-century America has somehow managed to produce markedly more wealth for its wealthholders even as it provided markedly less work for its workers.” The uneven playing field makes it difficult to accumulate wealth in the first place. Younger generations are taking on debt that is difficult to pay off and are facing the most competitive labor market the world has ever seen. We need solutions that keep the American worker the most productive in the world, while slowing the costs students pay. Utah is the 19th highest carbon dioxide producer per capita in the nation. Without harming our competitive advantage, Utah needs to find ways to improve our air quality long-term. Remote work is part of the solution. Electric cars are part. More energy efficient homes will play a role. There needs to be more urgency. Overall, my priorities are narrowing the wealth gap, slowing inflation, improving funding for education and respect for teachers, encouraging zoning decisions that encourage single-family home ownership, ending tax increases when the state has large budget surpluses, air quality, lowering college tuition, air quality, and lower crime.

Agree

Strongly Disagree

I respect the constitutionally protected right to bear arms. Without infringing on that right, I think we can work on ways to eliminate school shootings. We owe it to our kids. I'm completely open to suggestions on how to improve public safety that address root causes. I think part of the causes of the misuse of firearms include the overuse of social media, the decreasing connection with community, the 24/7 news cycle, and the declining respect for privacy.

Strongly Disagree