Campaign Finances Reported

I would just like to mention that the final before election campaign financial disclosures have been submitted by every candidate.  If you would like to see mine, please go toelections.utah.gov and search for mine. As I was putting together my contributions last night, I realized that I failed to add one contribution for the August 31 disclosure. It was from Energy Solutions and it was for $200.

I mention this because I amended my report. I recieved this donation in July and Failed to report it. I don’t want anyone to think that I did that to deceive anyone. I just forgot about that contribution.

I have been questioned about Energy Solutions a few times, and I feel like I should disclose how I feel about them. I don’t think that Utah should become the “world’s dumping ground.” I am also pro nuclear power. But I think that the state the has that power needs to be responsible and find a place in there own state to safely dispose of the waste. I think that Energy Solutions is a good company. Currently, from what I understand, they are disposing of low-level nuclear waste, and they are doing it with safe practices involved. I toured their facility and was impressed with what I saw.

If any of you have any questions about their facility, or what they are doing, please contact people who know about the site and know about what they are doing. Do not believe all of the hype and propaganda that has been placed around them. If you want, I can give you the contact who can (and she told me she would) give tours of their facility.

That said, let me make one thing clear: I will make decisions based on what is best for the citizens of this district.

More on Ethics

The Utah House Ethics Committee meetings are becoming increasingly harsh.KSL is reporting that Rep. Paul Ray (R) of Clearfield was offered $50,000 from a lobbyist to change his view on vouchers. The article also reports that Rep. Sheryl Allen (R) of Bountiful came forward to Rep. Greg Curtis (R) and Rep. Kevin Garn (R) all the way back in July to tell them of the bribing allegations against Rep. Greg Hughes (R). More on the committee is also found here.

One point that seemed very interesting to me was a little statement that Rep. Hughes says. To quote the KSL article, “He [Hughes] also questioned whether Allen and Lawrence are really Republicans.”

So he really feels that threatened to resort to name calling and questioning the political stance of elected officials within his own party? It seems that there is little left for him to resort to – except the truth.

I applaud those who are coming forth in these allegations: former Rep. Lawrence, Rep. Allen and Rep. Ray. Unethical practices have no place in our government, no matter the political affiliation.

Morgan Bowen for Congress

I was at a presidential debate viewing and Morgan Bowen was there. I have to tell you how impressed I am with that man. I have had the chance to talk with him on multiple occasions and each time I talk with him, I come away feeling better. He is just that type of person. He is so optimistic and has such a bright outlook on his campaign, it is so contagious that is translates over into my life.

Morgan, I wish you all the best. Thank you for your good attitude. That attitude is exactly what the first congressional district needs.

Communication Part 2

The links on the right are to subscribe to my blog.  You can either get my entries via email or your favorite RSS reader.  Either way, when I update my blog, you will know instantly that I have done so.

Communication

Yesterday, I talked with David Miller of Pursuit of Liberty. He expressed concerns on the modes of communication between an elected official and his/her constituents. I agreed that when one is an elected official, that person has a responsibility to those constituents.

He suggested that there are lots of ways to get your message to those who wish to receive it fairly easily. I am enlisting his help in getting this blog set up with these methods of communication.

People will also be able to sign up to receive my posts through email.

I just wanted to let you know that I will be updating this blog regularly. I feel that it is important to keep people informed of what is happening in my campaign. And if I get the opportunity, I will continue to use this mode of communication throughout my term.

Ethics in our Legislature

Not only am I appalled by the accusations toward Greg Hughes, I am even more appalled at how our state legislature is going to handle this problem. John Daley of KSL reported a scuffle in the capital parking garage between Chris Bleak and Greg Hughes.  The house ethics committee has set dates of October 9 to consider the allegations toward Rep. Phil Riesen, and October 20 to consider the allegations toward Rep. Greg Hughes.  But at the end of the report, he states that these hearings will take place behind closed doors.

Why is this necessary?  Can anyone give me a logical answer?  The public deserves to be informed about the dealings with our legislature. This includes concerns with ethics. Why do we need to have any closed meetings at all?

Website Up

Kyle Roberts for House District 20

Signs Now Available!

Campaign signs are now available. We’d like to cover the district with them, so if you live in district 20, and are interested in supporting Kyle with a sign in your yard (or if you know someone who wants one) email alice @ aroberts@xmission.com As the election day gets closer, keep (or start) talking to your neighbors. Help Kyle bring balance back to our state legislature. Balance means we’ll have more discussion and avoid the bad bills that are rammed through our lopsided government. Thoughtful discussion benefits all of us! If you haven’t yet, take a moment to donate to Kyle’s campaign. You can use the act blue link, or send a check to:

Kyle Roberts for House 20

P.O. Box 540315

North Salt Lake, UT 84054

Fundraising

Please make a donation to support my campaign!  

Thank you!

My Issues

Being a democrat in Davis County (or most anywhere in Utah) is not always easy, but this is a good year to be a Utah Democrat. I am honored to represent the Democratic Party this election.  I am very excited to take part in the movement for change in our state government.  I would like to tell you a few reasons on why I am running for office:

1.  I am running for office because I feel that the legislature has shown a lack of ethics (to put it mildly) and lost touch with the citizens of  our state.   A couple of exhibits:

a.     Vouchers.  Why did it take a state referendum to make the legislature listen to the will of the people?  My in-laws were actually told by their representative, “If you knew what I knew, you would vote the way that I voted.”  That kind of arrogance doesn’t belong in our state legislature.  It’s clearly time for a change.

b.     As I mentioned in my previous post, SB54 – the current legislation voted into law that reduced the amount of time for gathering signatures for citizens initiatives and local referendums from June 1 to April 15.  What is the reasoning behind this? (other than the grabbing for more power by an already unbalanced legislature). 

Where are the checks and balances?  Our Legislature is trying to control the judicial and executive branch of government as well.  We have to get rid of the supermajority and have a legislature that works for the citizens not against them.  

2.  Public Education.  I feel that is the right for every child to have a great education, and the best way to ensure that right is to strengthen our public education system.   Senate Bill 2, the Education Omnibus, is nothing but dirty politics. We shouldn’t have to take the bad bills that couldn’t stand on their own just to get teacher raises, and proper funding for our public schools.

3.  Health Care. I believe that it is extremely important for everyone to have access to decent health care. We need health care reform yesterday. Individuals should not have to wait for a medical emergency to see a doctor. Emergency room care costs all of us, and plugs up resources that should be used for actual emergencies. Parents should not have to worry about how to pay for a doctors visit when their child is sick or injured. No one should have to weigh whether their injury is severe enough to warrant the costs of seeing a doctor. Health care is not a privilege that should be reserved for the few, but a right for all Utahns.

As always, please let me know about issues that are important to you.  We need real representation in our governement.  I’ll do my part, and ask all citizens to do their part too- be involved.  Let your current legislators know that you aren’t happy with them by voting for change in November.

Kyle