Becky Edwards responds to opponent's mailers

I received this in my inbox today, and I thought it was important enough to pass on. I am glad Representative Edwards is taking the opportunity to respond to some of the attacks on her.


Friends,

The other day I received an email from one of our neighbors who was concerned about the negative mudslinging and false accusations being made about me during this campaign.

I wrote him back clarifying the truth, dispelling the rumors, and assuaging his concerns. Below you will find the information he forwarded to many of his neighbors.

If you know people who might appreciate knowing the truth about me and the issues I stand for, one way you can help is by sending this email to your friends and neighbors in our District. Time is of the essence as the primary is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22nd. Please encourage those who may have concerns or questions to contact me directly at 808-0805 cell, 295-2950 home, orvotebeckyedwards@gmail.com. My website, www.utahbecky.com, has additional information and a link to my legislative blog.

Thanks,

Becky



Becky Edwards’ Strong Conservative Record and Positions. Becky has consistently voted in line with your mainstream conservative principles:


· Effective -- 100% pass rate for all bills she presented
· Conservative -- voted “yes” on bills dealing with states rights, eminent domain, and opposing illegal immigration
· Fiscally responsible – voted to reign in reckless spending and responsibly limit the size and role of government
· Our Leader in the Legislature – Becky leads out on our behalf, on issues that are important to us. All Becky’s legislation was generated directly from the people of our District
· Held the line on taxes -- consistently voted against tax increases and voted for balanced budgets both years. The tobacco tax she voted yes for, was also supported by 84% of the people of our District. It helps protect us against higher health care costs in Medicare and Medicaid associated with smoking-related illnesses. It also increased health care availability for all citizens by increasing the number of spots at the UofU Medical School (from 82 to 102).
· Protected taxpayer dollars – voted for legislation reforming teacher union pensions, saving billions in taxpayer money
· Supports legislative process and the Utah State Constitution over outside lobbyists -- Opposed the HJR24 legislation pushed by California lobbyists to change the Utah Constitution to make it easier for public contractors to take taxpayer money in public contracts
· Protects children and families -- sponsored legislation that cracks down on sexual crimes against children

Becky is a tough, but ethical, fair, and courteous legislator who stands up to lobbyists and special interest groups outside of our district.

Becky is committed to transparency and accountability. She has a daily blog during the session where she records each of her votes, writes about what happens during the legislative session, and encourages feedback from people in her district.

Becky is fiercely loyal to the people of OUR area and you and your neighbors truly are her lobbyists and her special interest groups.



TAXATION:

Becky is a sincere and devoted fiscal conservative who has not voted in favor of income or other tax increases.

Her decision to support raising the tobacco tax to the national average was based on her belief that those who use government services, such as Medicare and Medicaid, ought to be responsible for paying for those services. Smokers cause high costs for society through their choices and those costs are shared by all taxpayers. Individuals should be accountable for the costs of their choices, and the tobacco tax helps achieve that in a modest way. The tobacco tax is a common sense way to further the conservative principles of individual choice and accountability.




AFFIRMATIVE ACTION:

Becky believes that all people should be given the same opportunities to succeed. Some say, without justification, that she support affirmative action. The truth is, however, that Becky does not support quotas and her action on this resolution is both conservative andcourageous in it’s support of a constitutional legislative process.

The affirmative action controversy stems from her actions opposing a proposed resolution called “HJR24.” HJR24 was a pet project of a powerful California lobbyist seeking to change the rules for public contractors to make it easier for private companies to get taxpayer money. HJR24 would have radically changed the Utah Constitution and may have been an impediment for Utah’s fine public universities to deliver scholarships and other programs to deserving students. It needed more study to fully analyze the implications and unintended consequences, which always exist even with the most seemingly straightforward legislation.

The sponsors of HJR24 here in Utah wanted to ram the bill through the legislature without allowing the Constitutional Revision Commission to hear it. Becky, however, expressed concerns about this legislation out of a sincere conviction that the legislative process should not be abused. Due consideration is necessary before passing constitutional amendments. In the end, her principled stand in support of proper legislative procedure won out, and the HJR24 sponsors withdrew their resolution recognizing that they did not have sufficient Republican support for it to pass. It will now be studied by an interim committee and will be up for consideration again in the 2011 session.



BECKY’S PERSONAL VOTING RECORD:

In answer to the allegations about her voting record perpetrated by her opponent, the simple truth is that during the Presidential Primary of 2008 Becky supported Mitt Romney. She worked on his campaign and Becky and her husband held a fund raiser for Mitt in their home.

Becky has never been registered as a Democrat and did not support Obama.

This is what she says:

“While I am committed to 100% transparency with votes I’ve taken as your elected official, I have always defended an individual’s right to a secret ballot.

When I became a voter 30 years ago I was a registered Republican, voted in several states through the years, and even served as a county delegate here in District 20. When the Republican party required voters to be registered as Republicans in order to vote in the party primary I became an unaffiliated voter. That never changed the principles, people or issues I voted for and supported.

When I went to vote as an unaffiliated voter in the presidential primary in Feb. 2008 I could not receive a Republican ballot. So, I took and voted on a democratic ballot, the only ballot available to me that day. I have never hidden this or denied it. And because I believe in the sanctity of a private ballot, I have never stated who I voted for. Nevertheless, you can be confident that I placed my vote thoughtfully and with careful consideration of the issues, as well as a reliance on my conservative principles, to make that important decision.

In hindsight, I may regret being an unaffiliated voter at that time and missing the chance to vote for the candidate I was so strongly supporting, Mitt Romney. However, participation in the process of voting is something I take very seriously. I consider it a patriotic responsibility of all Americans, and I was not willing to pass up an opportunity to vote, even on a democratic ballot. Participation in the political process and consistently casting a vote is not something my opponent can make reference to because there is no record with the County Clerk of his placing a valid ballot, ever, since moving to our district in 2006.

In conclusion, my focus will continue to be on my conservative voting record as your elected official. For nearly 1000 votes I have been transparent and truly represented the people of this district. Over and over again I have supported the mainstream conservative principles we all hold dear. Check out my blog for a complete list of my votes and a daily account of activities during the legislative session.”