In his opening 15-minute remarks, the GOP incumbent representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District blamed federal and bureaucratic overreach for stifling job creation.
He said small-business owners, like himself, pay an annual average of $10,500 per employee to comply with growing regulations.
“In regard to the terms and cost of regulations, we are paying $1.8 trillion in regulatory cost in this country,” Tipton told more than 50 constituents.
Across 54,000 square miles on Colorado’s Western Slope, Tipton represents 29 of the state’s 64 counties. Montezuma County’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent before the Great Recession that started in 2007. Today, it’s 5.6 percent.
To combat the problem, Tipton touted three job-creating bills he helped pass with bipartisan support in the U.S. House. He did not elaborate on the number of potential jobs that would result from the Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Act, Planning for American Energy Act nor the Protecting Water and Property Rights Act.
He blamed the U.S. Senate for stifling the “common sense legislation.”
“These bills sit on the door step of the United States Senate waiting for action,” said Tipton. “The House has passed a total of 350 bills that all await action in the Senate.”
Tipton said his Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act, already signed into law, when fully implemented would generate as much energy as the Glenn Canyon Dam.
In closing remarks, Tipton said he supported protecting “some good” provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as “pre-existing conditions,” but he was quick to describe the law as “taxation via regulation” as the country faced a $17.6 trillion debt.
Audience Q&A
Attending citizens were provided numbered tickets upon entry. A dozen tickets drawn one-by-one from a black bag determined who was allowed to publicly question the congressman.
From the second row, Mike Lynch held ticket No. 379, and he asked Tipton to provide “substantive” examples of legislation on the horizon that would provide some measure of hope for American families.
Tipton answered by blaming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada for not letting the legislative process work.
“We’ve done our work,” Tipton said. “We have put bills forward.”
Afterward, Wayne wondered if Tipton understood his question, saying that his feelings of hopelessness stemmed from the country’s growing national debt, a lack of enforcement of laws already on the books and an unsecured national border.
“He answered the question, but he didn’t give me any hope,” said Lynch. “Things just keep piling up. Nothing is getting better.”
Tipton also fielded queries ranging from the survival of the country’s monetary policy to viewership access of Denver television stations.
Local veterans demanded to know what steps Tipton would take to address fraud and abuse within the Veterans Administration.
Tipton said it was tragic that VA officials padded their numbers in order to obtain bonuses, adding that the first step was for veterans to voice their concerns. He said he supported a provision allowing veterans that must travel 40 miles or more from home to seek health care at a VA clinic to instead obtain treatment at local hospitals.
“We’re going to keep the heat on this,” Tipton vowed.
A local veteran’s advocate, Robert Valencia, applauded Tipton’s commitment, but countered that voters only get to see the congressman during election years. Valencia was also disappointed his ticket was not called.
“I don’t like that all,” said Valencia. “We’re supposed to be able to talk to him.”
Is Congress at fault?
With ticket number 395, Valerie Mays posed the last issue to Tipton, stating that Americans simply didn’t have any faith in its congressional leaders and inquiring if Congress was part of the problem. (The latest Rasmussen survey finds that only 6 percent of likely voters think the current Congress is doing a good job, and only 9 percent believe Congress has passed any legislation that will significantly improve life in America.)
Without acknowledging responsibility, Tipton reiterated that the greatest challenge was a divided House and Senate. He added the media had also failed in not confronting Reid on his unwillingness to act.
“When I hear the term ‘gridlock,’ I point to the 350 bills we passed through the House of Representatives,” said Tipton.
As of June 30, Tipton’s 2014 campaign reported receiving more than $1 million in total contributions.
Of that amount, 89 percent of his itemized individual contributions were received from in-state donors, compared to 9 percent of in-state donors reported from other committee contributions. Prior to leaving the meeting, Mays said she believed special interest monies were eroding the country’s democratic foundation.
“No, I don’t believe he totally answered my question, but I do think that he is probably a good guy,” said Mays. “He’s working on what he can work on.”
After the formal meeting, Tipton spent another half-hour responding to multiple citizen concerns. Saying that infrastructure improvements could create additional needed jobs and support the area’s vital tourism industry, The Cortez Journal asked Tipton for his thoughts on increased federal funding for local road and bridge projects.
Tipton said he supported extending infrastructure and energy alternatives to create more jobs, but added that a “grown-up conversation” was needed to address shrinking gasoline tax revenues connected to increased fuel efficiency standards, for example.
“We have to make sure there’s a funding mechanism for highway users,” said Tipton. “Roads are the literal lifeblood for rural Colorado.”
tbaker@cortezjournal.com