Rep. Cory Gardner’s campaign failed to respond to repeated requests from AARP for information regarding his position on issues affecting senior voters, so one has to look at his website, public statements and voting record. In 2011, he voted for the “Cut, Cap and Balance Act” which would have reduced scheduled future spending on Social Security. He also supported the “chained CPI” formula to change the way Social Security cost-of living adjustments are calculated, which would negatively affect future benefits for low-income beneficiaries. Gardner has voted for measures that include further means-testing for Medicare.

Sen. Mark Udall, on the other hand, developed a bill in the Senate that would have prohibited Congress from instituting tax breaks for people earning more than $1 million and would exempt Social Security from spending cuts. Udall believes raising the payroll FICA withholding cap ($117,000 for 2014) is the first thing policymakers should do to strengthen Social Security.

On other issues important to our state, Sen. Udall has voted to extend renewable-energy tax credits. Gardner voted to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases and appears to be a skeptic on the extent and cause of climate change.

But perhaps Rep. Gardner has changed his positions on these issues, too. In 2008, he led an attempt to divert money from water projects to transportation projects along the I-70 corridor. Now, he speaks broadly about how important water is to our state. He supported both previous attempts for a “personhood” amendment to the Colorado Constitution, which voters handily rejected. Now, he claims that he didn’t understand that the personhood law would ban several popular forms of birth control. Yet, he hasn’t withdrawn his co-sponsorship of the national Life at Conception Act.

Where does Gardner stand on these issues? Should we look at current words or past deeds? I urge you to support Mark Udall, the candidate who has represented the views of Colorado for the last six years.

Dianne C. Pratt

Durango