As U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, starts a new year and legislative session, he’s addressing issues such as regulation, trade and energy, he told Southwest Colorado Livestock Association members at their annual meeting Saturday.
Federal overreach was a common theme as Tipton and Ann McCoy, a representative for U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, addressed an audience of about 70 at the Cortez Elks Lodge.
Tipton touted his legislation intended to get Congress back into the rule-making process instead of relying on executive actions. Unnecessary regulations hurt businesses, wages and jobs, he said, and singled out a bill from California that would tax methane gas emissions from cattle.
“You have to roll your eyes at some of the overreach that is existing,” he said. “That speaks primarily to an out-of-control regulatory body.”
Fair trade is important for farm and ranch exports, Tipton said. Though President Donald Trump pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership last month, Tipton said parts of the partnership would have helped agriculture producers export their cattle and grain products.
The congressman said he’s optimistic that there will be new trade agreements.
“I’m a big believer in fair trade,” Tipton said. “But it’s got to be a fair and level playing field so that Americans can have that opportunity to export to our foreign counterparts.”
Tipton also favors legislation that supports wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, oil, gas and mineral energy, a position that he has called “all of the above.”
“Nobody in the world will more responsibly develop energy resources than we will here in the United States,” he said. “We can create American energy security.”
McCoy said Gardner shares many of Tipton’s positions, especially on eliminating regulations and protecting water rights.
“The senator is all about doing in extra regulation,” McCoy said. “Some of it we need, most of it we don’t. ... We’re way overboard.”
Trump has pegged former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as his nominee for U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary. McCoy said Gardner has met with Perdue and feels he will be a good secretary, although he would prefer a westerner.
McCoy said Gardner is concerned about the unpredictable nature of international trade, but that he would do everything he could to increase Colorado agriculture producers’ ability to have fair access to exports.
“The senator knows very well that this industry supports the state, and he will do everything he can to support the industry,” McCoy said.
Gardner recently was the subject of controversy and protests were held at his regional offices across the state, including in Durango. Protesters said it was difficult to reach the senator’s offices to voice their concerns.
McCoy rebutted that claim, saying that in the week leading up to the senate’s confirmation vote on Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos, Gardner’s offices answered 25,000 phone calls. Gardner voted for DeVos, who was confirmed Feb. 7 after a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence.
Tipton said the forthcoming nature of people from Colorado’s Third Congressional District is a blessing.
“We don’t have people that are shy about sharing their opinions,” he said. “I do want to hear those thoughts. We’ll make sure we’re doing our level best to stand up for our communities, and create opportunities for our families in the future.”
