Candidate Comparison
I was contacted the first part of October by a reporter from the Spanish Fork News regarding a candidate comparison article she was writing. In response to her questions, I provided the following response, a small portion of which was used in the article dated 10/22/08.
Full Name:
Rep. Michael T. Morley
Party:
Republican
Occupation outside of political arena:
Rentrepreneur, contractor and commercial developer
Years experience in your occupational field:
30+
Educational Background:
Graduated from Spanish Fork High School, three years of college at BYU and University of Phoenix
Family Details (include number and ages of children, your spouse’s name, where your family has been raised, where you were raised and where you fall within your family i.e. first, youngest, middle etc.):
Upon my return from an LDS mission to Italy, I met and began dating Krystin Poulter whose family had just moved to Woodland Hills. We have been married for nearly 28 years and have nine children – 1 daughter (Jamey, our oldest) and 8 sons (McKay, Packer, Taft, Hunter, Oaks, Holland, Kimball, Fielding) – ranging in age from 27 to 7. Our children are the joy of our lives.
I was born in Price, Utah to Ray & Sandy Morley, the second oldest of 13 children. My dad was a high school math teacher who later became a seminary teacher. Due to the size of our family and our financial constraints, we learned early to work as a family. We moved to Salem when I was eight years old and we began raising turkeys to augment our family income. Later, we spent two years in Portland, Oregon where I remember vividly delivering 600 copies of the Oregonian newspaper each morning before school. Upon our return to Spanish Fork, we began a small masonry company. My older brother, Craig, my father and I laid brick after school and during the summer to supplement the family budget. As one of the oldest sons in a family of 13, one thing we learned while still very young was a work ethic.
I am grateful for wonderful parents, my older brother, four younger brothers and seven younger sisters, along with their spouses and children.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a part of the political process?
In high school, I had the opportunity to go to Boy’s State between my junior and senior year. While there, I ran for numerous offices and was elected as one of two senators from Utah to Boy’s Nation. That summer, I went to Washington DC and witnessed firsthand the functioning of Congress as well as meeting with Pres. Ford in the Rose Garden. One of the most poignant experiences of my life happened that summer as I saw for the first time Arlington National Cemetery and came to the realization that freedom truly is not free, but comes at tremendous cost. I realized that each marker, thousands upon thousands in neat rows spread across those undulating hills, was representative of the life of a fallen soldier, sailor or airman who had fought and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we hold dear. As I visited military academies and monuments, a great patriotism began to grow within me.
I served as student body president of Spanish Fork High School that following school year during the Bicentennial Year of 1976, providing activities throughout the year to remind the entire student body of the great sacrifices made by our founding fathers 200 years earlier. I remember organizing assemblies to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy and that patriotism was driven deep in my heart. I had a wonderful experience with the administrators and educators there and my memories of my time in high school are some of my most cherished.
While serving a mission in Europe in the late 1970's, I was often harassed by those who were less than supportive of America’s role in the world and I began to wonder what was happening back home. Shortly after returning, I was listening to the radio in anticipation of a BYU football game when the National Anthem began to play. With tears streaming down my face, I recognized that the United States of America still is land of the free and home of the brave. Ever since that time, I felt that some day I would do something to serve and give back.
Why did you select the party you’re running for?
I am running as a Republican because I believe wholeheartedly in the platform of the Utah Republican Party. I believe it is an inspired document and absolutely in line with the principles I hold dear: strengthening families, controlling government growth, and treating taxes as a sacred trust which are to be used only to promote the proper role of government.
How is your family supporting you in this endeavor?
My family has been extremely supporting of my efforts to serve and have encouraged me to continue. My immediate family, my parents, my brothers and sisters and in-laws have certainly been my rock as I have encountered criticisms and gone through difficult times.
How important are ethics (politically and generally) and what role do they play in your daily dealings?
Honor and integrity are absolutely essential in both private and public life. Without them, there is no trust. The apathy we see, both nationally and on a state level, is partially a result of lack of trust in our public officials. It is absolutely essential that we act with integrity. I am aware of several situations wherein the ethics of individuals have been questioned without any effort being made to verify facts. Rather, information is based on innuendo, half-truths, or media articles with an obvious bias. We are blessed to live in a land where we are innocent until proven guilty, yet often these unsubstantiated accusations cause a larger divide and arouse suspicion between the electorate and their elected officials. This is extremely harmful to the political process. It is essential that we require honesty and integrity from our elected officials.
I strive in my everyday dealings to be a man of honesty and integrity, to be a man who can look those I meet squarely in the eye and know, to the best of my ability, that I have treated them fairly. Most of all, I strive to be the type of man my sons can look to as an example of honor and respect for others. I can say without hesitation that I have never purposely done anything which would bring shame upon me or my family name.
How important is education to your goals as the representative of District 66? What difference, if any, is there between your goals for primary education and secondary education? What difference, if any, is there between primary and secondary education and higher education?
The education of our children is absolutely paramount to the success of our state. For years, we educated our children, only to watch them leave for employment in other states. Over the past decade, we have been fortunate to retain this greatest resource and see the benefits of our sacrifices. Educational opportunities allow not only for good employment, but add to our quality of life and provide for a well-informed electorate. Education continues to be a top priority for me and for the state. Utah has constitutionally dedicated 100% of all state income tax, both corporate and personal, to public education, providing for parents many resources to fulfill their stewardship of educating their children. I view both primary and secondary education as essential stepping stones to a bright future.
We have many wonderful state and private colleges and universities in our area that give students a broad range of choices as they pursue higher education. Statistics show that students who qualify themselves through post-high school degrees are well compensated for their efforts. I do believe it is appropriate for those pursuing a college education to participate in the costs of that education through tuition. The citizens of our state provide nearly all funding for primary and secondary education. In higher education, nearly half of the costs for students attending state institutions are offset by taxes. Those who pursue higher education and do not qualify for scholarships are asked to participate through tuition. I believe what one has to sacrifice for is valued more. Character is developed by those participating in the cost of education.
How important is Healthcare to your goals as the Representative of District 66?
A couple of years ago, I was instrumental in beginning a transformation in health care in Utah with the passage of my bill HB 9 Health Care Cost and Quality Data. This bill required transparency in health care. We have effectively removed the consumer from health care. It is now driven primarily by government mandate and insurance companies. It is a seller-based system, not a buyer-based system. The market has not been allowed to work in health care for years. Many of us spend more time shopping for a pair of shoes than we do on something as important as our own health care because transparency has not been available. HB 9 has begun to revolutionize the way the state looks at health care and has been very instrumental in moving us closer to a market system.
I have chaired the Commerce and Workforce Services Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees the high risk insurance pool for those who are uninsurable, providing viability in the private markets. In the past, I chaired the Retirement and Independent Entities Committee where I have gained some understanding of our health care system. It is my firm belief that if market forces are allowed to function and if we have transparency and can effectively engage the consumer, we can meet the challenges facing health care. It would be a mistake to turn health care into another government mandated entitlement which has proven ineffective in Canada and many European countries.
It is my goal to continue to reform health care toward a market-driven system.
How important is environmental awareness to your goals as the Representative of District 66?
We have a stewardship to take care of the earth we have been blessed with. We live in a beautiful valley and a very picturesque state and it is our solemn responsibility to be good stewards of the resources and natural beauties which are ours. That being said, I believe extreme environmentalism is one of the most dangerous movements we face in our society. These groups have, in effect, shut down the development of our natural resources, causing us to be unduly dependent on foreign energy and creating the largest transfer of wealth the world has ever know. Those who control the energy reserves on which we now rely, and to who we annually transfer some $700 billion dollars of our national wealth, are intent on our destruction. This has truly become a threat to our national sovereignty.
These environmental groups have negatively impacted our way of live, often treating the human family as secondary to plant and animal life. Compromises made with these groups on Legacy Highway and other transportation routes have given them a place at the table on all future transportation projects. My experience in negotiating with these groups is that they are disingenuous. I believe their primary objective is not the protection of our environment, but rather the gaining of power, thus destroying our economy and our way of life.
It is commensurate on each of us to be good steward to our resources and our environment. However, these resources were given to us to improve and enhance our lives.
How important is access to public transportation to your goals as the Representative of District 66?
We are about to embark on the largest state-funded construction project ever to take place in the state of Utah with the reconstruction and expansion of I-15 in Utah County. This project is much-needed, yet carries with it many challenges. As such, public transit will play an important role in taking pressure off our freeway, both during construction and after. I believe public transportation plays a key role in our economic health and should be developed and improved upon. It is disconcerting to see buses and other transportation methods under-utilized, creating a drain on our transportation budgets. Roughly 85% of our highway projects are paid for by gas tax with only a 15% subsidy from other state funds. Conversely, 85% of mass transit costs are subsidized by state funds with only 15% of costs coming from user fees. While it is important that we develop mass transit, it is also important that we do it in an economically viable fashion.
How important is the cost and utilization of energy to your goals as the Representative of District 66?
Energy independence has got to be more than just rhetoric. It is absolutely essential to our nation’s security. More than just the cost at the pump or heating our homes, energy independence must be a priority for our elected officials. Utah is an energy-rich state with many natural resources including oil shale, natural gas, clean coal, geothermal, solar, osmosis, and wind. We should be exploiting each of these resources, as well as nuclear where it can be done safely and effectively. We need to become energy independent.
How important is family to your goals as the Representative of District 66?
The family is the fundamental unit of society and strengthening and protecting the family is at the center of my political agenda. The ails of society such as drug abuse, gangs, pornography, and moral degradation are simply manifestations of the deterioration of the family. This is the fundamental reason of my running for office and the cornerstone of my public service.
What kinds of ideas would you like to see develop concerning the economic status of the district? The state?
Southern Utah County has always been viewed as a bedroom community for the larger economic centers along the Wasatch Front. Of late, we have seen great strides in the development of employment opportunities with many small and medium-size industries alike moving into our area. This is but a beginning of the potential our area holds. I believe that through good planning, further development of transportation, with the well-educated and hard-working workforce for which we are famous, and business-friendly laws and tax structure, southern Utah County will continue to be attractive to potential businesses and will be a hub of economic activity in the future.
What will you bring to the table this coming term should you be re-elected?
If re-elected, I will continue to work to strengthen families. I will continue to encourage fiscal restraint as we re-prioritize our needs rather than raise taxes. I will work to control government growth. I have opened several bill files including a bill to protect children and vulnerable adults from the dangers of exposure to drugs. I have opened a bill file to put the legislature in the same section of code with every other state employee with regard to accountability and ethics. I am also running a bill to secure protections for agricultural practices.
I have served in many leadership capacities including chair of the Commerce and Workforce Services Appropriations Subcommittee. I will likely continue my service on the Rules Committee as well as a member of the Utah Lake Commission, the Meth Task Force, the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, Business & Labor, and Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice. This service brings strong representation to our district and the state.
What role, if any, should the state play in enforcing laws of illegal immigration?
This past year, the House passed a measure allowing local law enforcement the ability to qualify as ICE agents and enforce illegal immigration laws. I am a strong proponent of the rule of law. We should not have laws that we are not willing to enforce. Hampering law enforcement from enforcing all laws undermines the rule of law.
What plans do you have to clean up some of the drug, alcohol and abuse problems within District 66?
As a member of the Meth Task Force, I and my colleagues have been looking at all aspects of drug abuse and its effects on our communities. Recently, a treatment center opened in our area for former meth users, particularly mothers with young children, who are struggling to overcome their addictions. These kinds of support groups and training centers are essential in the fight against drug abuse. The laws currently on the books, which should soon include my bill regarding endangerment of children and vulnerable adults, are all designed to protect our communities from the plague of drugs.
I will continue to encourage judges to exercise their prerogative to set forth appropriate sentences, including drug courts where appropriate, to deter this type of activity. As I have stated previously, these are but symptoms of a larger problem: the deterioration of the family. In every way possible, I will continue to support efforts to strengthen traditional families.
What plans do you have for getting and staying in touch with your constituents?
Over my years of service, I have worked hard to maintain constituent support. I have always responded to telephone calls and emails from my constituents. I have sent and gratefully received feedback to yearly surveys. I have actively provided insights to a growing email list. I have consistently written regarding concerns and provided legislative updates in local newspapers for constituent review and comment. I am vigilant in looking for those in our area who have excelled in employment, in their families or personal lives and achieved excellence and have made every effort to recognize them for their achievements. I have also created and kept current a website containing all issues applicable to my service in the legislature. I will continue to use every means at my disposal to stay in touch with my constituents.
Do you feel the role of Charter schools enhances or detracts from existing school districts? If they enhance why and how? If they detract, why and how?
The charter school movement was adopted in the late 1990's, well before I began my service in the Utah Legislature. Charter schools, in their creation, were envisioned as “incubators of innovation”. It is important for everyone to understand that CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS and are subject to all of the same requirements as public district schools with regard to teacher certification, core requirements, curriculum and testing. Public charter schools and public district schools are regulated by the same section of code and are subject to the same mission.
The primary difference is in how the facilities are funded. In a public district school, buildings are funded by a general obligation bond against property taxes. Facilities for public charter schools are funded by private risk capital. There is no state money available for the construction and development of charter schools. Public charter schools are funded on a per-pupil basis. If a charter school, which is a school of choice, is unable to attract its clientele – parents and students – it would not be able to meet its obligations, putting public charter school developers out of business at no risk to the taxpayer.
Public charter schools throughout the state offer parental choice while the state maintains thorough oversight, but assumes no financial risk for facilities. These schools service roughly 5% of the total public student population. Public charter schools were never intended to education the masses, but simply to provide choice in the public school system for those who choose to participate. While public district schools are the predominant method used by parents to educate their children and must continue to be strong, I believe that the public charter school movement has been positive in that it provides one more vehicle whereby parents can fulfill their important stewardship of educating their children. I also believe that public charter schools have made some innovations which have been beneficial to all public schools.
Debbie Swenson has said that the Utah Legislature needs more balance. What is your response to that?
Some claim that our state, and particularly our legislature, is controlled by one party. I would submit that we have considerable diversity and that the case could be made we have three parties in our state: the Democrats, the moderate Republicans and the conservative Republicans. On most issues, it is a debate between those factions to accomplish any substantive change. Contrary to the perceptions of some, the conservatives are not in the majority in our state. I believe there is significant balance in our current system.
What kind of stereotypes and problems do you think Swenson will battle as she runs as and pushes for more democratic seats to be held in the Utah State Legislature?
Based on my experience in the legislature, I do not believe that the Democratic Party as a whole represents the principles or sentiments of the majority of Utah citizens. In the legislature, the majority party is the party which sets the agenda and holds all committee leadership positions. That party has been, and will likely continue to be for the foreseeable future, the Republican Party. Replacing a proven leader in the majority party with a freshman member of the minority party will, in all reality, leave southern Utah County with no voice in the House of Representatives.
What lasting thoughts would you like the citizens of District 66 to take with them into the voting booths on November 4th?
I would like the citizens to know that I have felt it a sacred trust to serve as a member of the Utah House of Representatives on behalf of my constituents. I have served with integrity and have been consistent in voting to strengthen families as the fundamental unit of society, to limit government growth by trying to keep it small and close to the people, and by appropriating tax dollars only to promote the proper role of government. I believe in the Republican platform. I believe the reason we are experiencing many of the problems we face today in our national government is because many have strayed from those very important and inspired principles contained in the founding documents of our nation.
Much of this interview has focused on education which I wholeheartedly agree is an important topic. However, it must be considered in balance with many other issues facing our state – the economy, transportation, health care, development of energy resources, immigration issues, taxes and fees, responsible fiscal policy, and other legitimate government services. If this balance is jeopardized in favor of one issue, the entire system falters.
For FY09, we will spend approximately 60% of our state budget on education. Due to good fiscal discipline and management, we have a AAA bond rating and have been honored as the best run state in the nation. We are an example, a beacon, to the rest of the nation in a time of difficulty. We have a rainy day fund which is the envy of most states. These issues must be taken into consideration as we make decisions not just for one issue, albeit a very important one, but for all of the citizens of our area and ultimately the state.
For the past four consecutive years, I have been honored as the representative with the most conservative, consistent, and principled voting record in the legislature. I pledge to continue to work to support principled government and to be a principled representative.
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