[Editor's note: This is the last of a four-part series documenting a recent interview the Mesquite Citizen Journal held with Republican Primary Candidate for Nevada's 4th Congressional District Danny Tarkanian.]

Danny Tarkanian, running in the Republican Primary election for Nevada's 4th Congressional District, is making his fourth try for elected office. He recently discussed a wide range of issues with the Mesquite Citizen Journal. This is the last installment of that interview in which he talks about Federal government budget deficits, his ideas for energy policies, and why he doesn't believe in government financial bailouts.

"One of the great things about the Tea Party movement is that it has brought awareness to our government spending. I even think most Democrats agree, along with the Republicans, that our government spending is out of control. It has to be reigned in or our country will go under," is how Tarkanian began a discussion about the Federal government budget deficits.

Explaining that the value of the dollar is slipping, he said, "the people that get hurt the most are people on fixed incomes. I will be a very strong advocate to cut government spending. The key question is how to do that."

He thinks that can be accomplished by doing three things. "First, you have to evaluate programs and get rid of the ones that are not useful, and the waste that is going on in those programs."

"Second, you evaluate the programs you can eliminate that aren't part of what the Federal government should be doing. The third thing is to work on job creation and getting the economy back on the market."

He said that cutting the Department of Education is one area he would look at first. Another agency he would like to reduce or eliminate is the Environmental Protection Agency. "The EPA has gotten too large and too expansive. Not only is it a program we can cut back on and save costs, but because of what they are trying to do with the regulations, they are stopping our economy from going full throttle again."

He favors looking at each area of government and determining whether it's "something the Federal government is supposed to be doing or is it better left to the States. If it is better left to the States, we should do that."

"The EPA is passing regulations that Congress should be passing or not passing. When the regulations don't get passed by Congress, the EPA is usurping Congress' responsibilities and implementing them on executive order. I don't agree with that and it needs to stop," Tarkanian continued.

He also believes that the EPA is imposing more regulations than are necessary. "There has to be a balance. We want to protect our environment but we also want to provide opportunities for businesses to succeed. If they don't, we don't have jobs."

Saying that same idea applies to other government agencies like OSHA and the BLM, he added "we need to get permits passed so that people can create jobs."

"I think is important to research and develop green energy products and try to get products down to a low enough cost that it doesn't impact our economy. We're not there yet. We're trying to force green energy when the cost of it is three or four times

the cost of other natural resources," he complained.

Returning to his earlier stance on allowing States to determine for themselves if they want to drill oil or develop areas like Yucca Mountain, Tarkanian commented that the Federal government should "allow the states to develop those energy resources they have available if the people in the State want it. We would create jobs."

"Obama talks like that," Tarkanian continued. "If you heard his State of the Union address he said 'we want to have an energy policy across the board.' But these rules and regulations are preventing that. Stopping the Keystone Pipeline [project] is an example of that. He won't allow Alaska to drill in areas they want to. When you start telling people in Ely that we won't allow a clean coal plant when the people in Ely want it, there's something wrong with that."

He believes that while the country is using its current energy resources, the government could best support research and development processes for clean energy products that can then supplement traditional energy sources "when the cost gets low enough."

"I don't believe the government should be providing taxpayer dollars to private industries to support [a particular] business. I believe we should use taxpayer dollars to work on the research and development of these types of [new] energies. The businesses could use that R & D to start their business."

"No bailouts. I'll make it simple," he said when the discussion turned to financial aid programs offered to big businesses over the last few years.

"It was President Bush and the Republican Administration that started the first bailout. As a Republican, I have to explain that. It's not just that we allowed the banks to make risky investments. Then we had to pick and choose which banks were too big to fail. What does that say to private business? Go out and take risks. If you don't succeed and you're in favor with the Administration, they will bail you out safely. I knew as soon as we did the first bailout, there would be another one," Tarkanian lamented.

He believes the government should have let the auto industry go into bankruptcy and restructure its businesses "like most of our casinos have done. They could have restructured and come back stronger than ever. I get so tired of hearing the Democrats say 'we saved the auto industry.' No. They could have been saved through the bankruptcy laws and we wouldn't have used taxpayer dollars. Once you start picking and choosing industries, what happens to other industries?"

"It was wrong with the first bailout and it's something that should never happen again," he concluded.

Speaking to the people in Mesquite and Moapa areas in his concluding statement, he said, "you're going to have an opportunity to make a big difference in who's elected. It can be Democrat Steven Horsford. Listen to what he has to say. He is pro-government, large government, and believes government can best solve society's problems. Or, you can support me as a free-market capitalist. I understand the needs of rural Nevada and I've worked really hard to campaign and understand the issues."

To read more about Tarkanian's campaign issues, visit his Web site at www.dannytarkanian.com

See the Mesquite Citizen Journal stories

Tarkanian Running for 4th Congressional Seat-Part I - Video

Tarkanian Running for 4th Congressional Seat-Part II - Video

Tarkanian Running for 4th Congressional Seat-Part III - Video