Utah Senator Mike Lee has a solution to "an issue all Americans need to be concerned about... that has a profound effect on the economy." Addressing a standing-room-only crowd at a townhall meeting in Lehi, Utah on August 23 he explained how, over the past 80 years, the structural protections in the US Constitution have become, "almost inverted," risking, "the dangerous accumulation of power in the hands of the few."

"We have also distorted and deviated from [the protection of] separation of powers," Lee continued, resulting in "unelected bureaucrats" writing laws and regulations costing between 2 and 3 trillion dollars every year.

"We're talking about a sum of money roughly comparable to what you pay in income tax every single year," Lee said.

The REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny), he explained, is intended to restore congress' ability to approve these laws as stipulated in the constitution. He urged his constituents to join with him to help pass the act into law.

A participant asked Lee his position on the development of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) which President Joe Biden authorized last year by Executive Order 14067. This order begins the process of developing a regulatory framework for digital assets.  "That's going to happen over my dead body," the senator emphatically responded, "I'm going to fight that at every turn."

"If we adopt a Central Bank Digital Currency, it will be the end, not only of sound money...they'll be able to use your currency--your financial transactions--to track everything you do, and with it, to regulate your life." He said he has introduced the "No CBDC Act" in the Senate to counter this.

Another questioner cited Lee's 2020 support for Donald Trump and asked whether the senator wanted Trump to be re-elected in light of what the constituent perceived to be Trump's moral failings

Lee replied, "Since January 20, 2021, the day Joe Biden took office, the average Utah family has been incurring $1,000 of additional monthly living expenses... month after month... So yes, do I wish Donald Trump was still president of the United States? Absolutely, without question."

While explicitly avoiding any endorsement for the upcoming presidential election, Lee added, "If (Trump) gets elected president again, that would be good for America."

Near the conclusion of the hour-long event, Lee fielded a question about the FBI raid in Provo where Crag Robertson was killed. Robertson, an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden had posted violent threats against political opponents on social media. He was shot and killed by FBI agents in the process of executing an arrest warrant just hours before Joe Biden arrived in Salt Lake City on August 9th.

“Anytime someone dies at the hands of government officials, law enforcement or otherwise, it’s of concern and it warrants serious investigation," Lee said.

The senator admitted that he only knew what was made available to the public through news reports, but added, "there were some things about it that were unusual."  He cited the early morning deployment of a flash grenade outside the residence and why the FBI left the body of the man lying outside for several hours.

Returning to the topic he introduced at the start of the townhall, Lee said, "It's with good reason that for most of our country's history, most law enforcement has been handled at the local level." He related that most law enforcement either works for an elected official or for someone who is appointed by an elected official.

"So that's yet another reason why we've got to honor federalism and limitations on the federal government."