BZepernick

__**Breanna Zepernick**__
 * State: Utah**
 * Party: Moderate/Republican**
 * Representative Most Like me: Jim Matheson (Democrat)**
 * State: Utah**

I chose Jim Matheson because he believes that the government is responsible for managing a budget and their spending the same way citizens have to manage a budget for their houses. Matheson belives that congress should not get an automatic raise because it is unfair. He is a supporter of "going green" and supports drilling for oil in Alaska and The Gulf of Mexico to cut oil costs.


 * Endorsement: Mitt Romney (Republican)**

I chose Mitt Romney I agree with him on most issues. He is a Mormon, and Salt Lake City, Utah is the Mormon capital of the world. He believes that the government should stop spending money that they do not have. Romney would cut back by reducing foreign aid. I agree because nobody helps us when we need aid. We are in debt too, so now we really should not be providing foreign aid. Romney wants to boost the country's education program, and reward teachers when they increase a child's achievements and provide schools that meet every child's need. While he was the governor of Massachusetts, the eighth and fourth grade students ranked first in reading and math out of the country. He wants to push students to do their best and Romney believes that improving the education program will help the economy. When the students get jobs, they will work efficiently because of the education they received. Mitt Romney believes that there should be no further restrictions on the right to bear arms (Amendment two). In his way of thinking, it is up to the owner of the gun to be responsible, but if they commit crimes he will "punish to the full extent of the law". Out of all the candidates for the 2012 election, I agree with Mitt Romney the most.

__II Bill for Mock Congress:__
My bill is called HB10 Computers for Kids. It proposes that every student in third grade and up should use a laptop to complete assignments and standardized tests. The students will bring their laptop to school everyday. Instead of having a long list of school supplies at the beginning of the year, all the students will need is their laptop (with its power cord), a notebook, and pencil. The parents would save money on school supplies, and it will also save paper. On the first day of school, students will receive a form about purchasing a laptop. If they do not have their own, they can buy one from the school using the form.(Financial aid will be provided to students who need it.)Every year when students take standardized tests, paper is wasted. The state uses all that paper to make a test that will only be taken once, so why not make it online? The online test would save paper, and would automatically grade the test. Similar to the way Study Island works.Money used to hire people to grade the tests would be saved! Computers for Kids would help save money,trees, improve education, and help the economy!

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__**III State Section:**__

 * Interesting Facts @http://www.50states.com/facts/utah.htm**
 * During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee received charges of illegally securing a win for Salt Lake City. Ever since those charges, the state has worked hard to improve the state's image.
 * The nation's first department store, Zions Co-operative Mercantile Institution, is located in Utah. The store was established in the late 1800's.
 * The section of Interstate 70 that is in Utah is one of the most deserted sections in the United States.
 * Utah is named after the Ute Native American tribe which means people of the mountains.
 * The television series "Touched By an Angel" was filmed in Utah.

**Reasons to Visit Utah:**
 * You can visit the Golden Spike National Historical Site, which is the place where on May 10,1869, the celebration of the completion of the first continental railroad took place.
 * The Rainbow Bridge is an interesting site because it is the world's largest natural rock span. It's made of solid sandstone and is 278 feet wide and 309 feet high.
 * Utah has five national parks which are Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce and Coral Reef.
 * Utah has seven National monuments: Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Dinosaur, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Timpanogos Cave and Hovenweep.
 * There are two National recreation areas. They are Glen Canyon and Flaming George.
 * There are six national forests: Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta, and Wasatch- Cache.

__**Top 3 Employers:**__
 * Top 3 Natural Resources: **
 * relies on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, trade
 * They produce high quantities of wheat, barley, and hay and have many cattle to produce a lot of dairy products.
 * Copper, coal, iron, ore and salt are the minerals (from most important to least important) produced in Utah.
 * Intermountain Health Care
 * University of Utah
 * Brigham Young University

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IV. Issues:

 * One important issue in America is how the Government is spending too much money. This is hurting our economy and we need to do something about it. For example, the Government needs to cut back on unimportant things like professional football players salaries. They earn millions of dollars to play a sport, while other people constantly work every day and most do not even make half as much of a salary. I believe that the country should set a limit like one hundred fifty thousand dollars and say that is the most any sports player can earn in a year.
 * Also, they should cut back in the amount of money they spend on prisoners in the United States. We are spending valuable resources on prisoners while we are in debt! The prisoners who receive the death penalty usually sit in prison for a while until the sentence is carried out. On the last night of their stay, they can order a dinner they want. Some of them never eat it! Other people could use that food because they are starving. At least prisoners have shelter, some protection and food. We wonder why people in poverty go to jail/ prison so often. We are pretty much giving away our precious resources to people who area threat to us all! We need to save the resources! To accomplish that, they should carry out the death sentence right away.
 * Another important issue is overseas spending. We should not be spending money to help other countries while our country is suffering. The United States is in an economic recession. We are spending more than we have coming in. We need to start cutting back drastically on our spending. We cannot afford to pay for useless things. Giving money to other countries is a nice thought, but it doesn't help us! The U.S. could use that money for so many different things.We need to make our country our first priority. We never receive money from other countries to help us, so when we are in need why should we ignore our needs to meet other countries needs?
 * An important issue is our dependence on foreign oil. We need to stop using oil. Our country should start making smart cars that run on electricity or something similar like solar panels. We should all try to convert to electric cars. It would decrease our dependence on foreign oil. We could save so much money! It may even help decrease the number of conflicts we have with the Middle East because we wouldn't have as much contact with them. The environment would be healthier if we started using electric cars. We wouldn't be emitting as much carbon dioxide into the air. Using electric cars would improve our countries in numerous ways.

V. Resources:
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