Learn about the Issues
Economic Plan
My goal is for Utah to lead the nation as the best performing economy and be recognized as a premier global business destination. As such, I’ve offered four objectives to serve as the basis of our economic agenda. First, we must strengthen and grow existing Utah business, both urban and rural. Second, we want to foster more innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. Third, we are working toward increasing national and international business. Finally, we’re prioritizing education to develop the workforce of the future.
Education
The education of Utah’s children, whether in public, private, or home school, has always been a priority during my service as Governor. Our next generation depends on our ability to provide the best education choices and services that this state can offer. Utah is one of the most educated states, per capita, in the nation. We must continue to foster a love of learning in order to ensure a bright future for our children.
Global Business Leader
We have a vision for our state: Utah will lead the nation as the best performing state economy in the U.S. and be recognized as a premier global business destination. Our vision is steadily becoming a reality. Utah is being recognized by some of the world’s most respected business publications and research institutions.
Medicaid Waiver
As 2014 looms and the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act threaten to become permanent, virtually every state is seeking a solution to an impending Medicaid-induced budget crisis. In Utah, Medicaid consumes 21.5% of our budget, nearly double what it was a decade ago, encroaching on critical education funding and elbowing out social service, transportation and corrections needs. For Medicaid to survive and state budgets to balance, states must both modernize Medicaid and bend the health care cost curve.
Utah’s Competitive Advantage
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to visit the site at Camp Williams where the National Security Agency is building its first Comprehensive National Cyber-security Initiative (CNCI) Data Center – which will be called, simply, the Utah Data Center when it is complete. The Utah Data Center is a nearly $2 billion investment in our country’s national security infrastructure. Thousands of local construction workers have been engaged to build this 1.5 million square foot facility. You could fit 10 Cabela’s stores inside a 1.5 million square foot building, just to give you some perspective.
