Deseret News candidate questionnaire: U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 22, 2008

6 -- Does Congress have any role in providing affordable gasoline to Americans over the next two years? If so, what should Congress do?

"Yes. Congress should get the federal buraucracy out of the way. Congress should:

"1. Stop locking up federal lands and allow for oil shale extraction immediately. There is more oil in shale than in all of the Saudis known oil reserves.

"2. Deregulate the building of refineries and allow the President to bypass those regulations that exist today immediately.

"3. Promote the construction of nuclear power plants.

"4. Open ANWR, drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coasts and in the Intermountain West.

"5. Stop subsidizing ethanol immediately.

"6. Institute a "citizen energy" moonshot a competition to create an alternative to the gasoline engine that is renewable, affordable, and domestic."

7 -- It appears now that Republicans will not be in the majority in the U.S. House next year. What can you do to make yourself effective as a member of the minority party?

"My relationships built while in the majority continue to serve Utah in the minority. Since the Democrats gained control of the House in 2006, I have already gained enactment of two major laws to protect the Internet from taxation and help states reduce criminal recidivism. There are many Democrats who were elected last cycle who actually ran as conservatives. Working alongside those conservative Democrats to pass tax cuts, border security measures, and domestic energy legislation is something that can and should be accomplished, regardless of who holds the speakers gavel. I have been able to work with individuals on both sides of the aisle based on my consistent positions over the years in office. I have a proven track record of being honest and direct which serves one well in an institution based on relationships. But although seniority may be viewed as a negative by some, the reality is that seniority provides the knowledge and know-how to succeed and promote principles in times like these. Understanding the process and having a firm set of principles is the way to remain effective in the minority."

8 -- Much has been made recently of so-called "spending earmarks" where a congressman gets funding for specific projects in his district in a budget bill. Do you personally favor or oppose such "earmarks" in spending bills? Will you put "earmarks" into funding bills for the 3rd District?

"The issue of earmarks is one that has gotten much media attention, but is also shrouded in mystery. I support Congress ability to earmark money, but I do not support the current earmark system in any way. Allow me to explain.

"If all Congressional earmarks were eliminated tomorrow, the money allocated in the budget would then go to the administration and the agencies to be spent moving from elected officials to unelected bureaucrats to allocate. However, moving the decision from Congress to a bureaucrat does nothing to curb corruption and will only further cloak how your money is spent. Or worse, without earmarks the members of the spending committees can "phonemark" projects without anyone ever knowing. For example, in a world where earmarks are banned a Member with the authority over a certain agency's budget would be able to call the agency and could influence the process without anyone knowing and with the illusion that it was the agency not the Member who made the decision. This would only foster greater corruption. Although recent scandals have been brought to light showing the failings of individuals and abuse of the process, the only reason they came to light was because there was a record by which to connect the dots. This is why I would support the following: