<\/p>\n
On summer recess, Rep. Scott Tipton has traveled across Colorado\u2019s 3rd congressional district \u2013 Grand Junction, Durango, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Towaoc, Pueblo and Beaver Creek \u2013 to speak to constituents. At a town hall meeting in Cortez on Tuesday, Aug. 18, he faced frustrated voters.<\/p>\n
One woman complained that she was threatened with a $1,000 fine if she failed to provide Census officials with personal information.<\/p>\n
Montezuma County Commissioner James Lambert complained that federal officials had money to develop travel management plans but lacked money for weed spray.<\/p>\n
Veterans complained that bureaucrats get bonuses while they die waiting for their health care.<\/p>\n
Another man complained that the U.S. House should shut down the federal government financially instead of providing amnesty for undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n
Wayne Johnson, of the Southwest Colorado Television Translator Association, complained about the potential loss of broadcast capabilities, and a local TV blackout.<\/p>\n
Another man complained that the Republican-controlled House and Senate had abandoned voters, giving the president more authority since 2014 than any Democrat before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019re wrong,\u201d Tipton said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not wrong,\u201d the man countered.<\/p>\n
The Cortez Journal asked Tipton to comment about GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump\u2019s ability to tap into voter annoyances at the national level. Tipton replied that the New York real estate mogul and television personality had obviously hit a nerve, but he quickly pivoted away from the querie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we look at the broader field, there\u2019s a pretty deep bench out there,\u201d said Tipton. \u201cI think Sen. Rubio had it right. We\u2019re lucky we have so many candidates, and the Democrats can\u2019t find one.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, a veteran stood, telling Tipton that no one in Washington, D.C. was being held accountable to voters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re tired,\u201d the man said. \u201cWe are frustrated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hate to see some of the repercussions if our leaders don\u2019t start leading.\u201d<\/p>\n
Legislative update<\/p>\n
Before the complaints started, the town hall meeting began with a legislative update. Tipton boasted that he had introduced bills that would provide local and state officials more authority to mitigate wildfire threats, protect private property water rights and roll back federal regulations to allow greater flexibility for community banks.<\/p>\n
\u201cNationwide, were spending $2 trillion on regulatory costs,\u201d said Tipton. \u201cThat makes the cost for a loaf of bread more. It makes the clothes we buy for our kids to go back to school cost more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Animas River disaster<\/p>\n
In regard to the recent Gold King Mine disaster on the Animas River, Tipton was questioned about the other 230 Colorado mines leaking heavy metals into state rivers. The Denver Post has reported that no agency tracks the total discharge from these abandoned mines, which likely equals to at least one Gold King disaster every two days.<\/p>\n
Tipton said \u201cGood Samaritan\u201d legislation was being considered that would make it easier for citizen groups to clean up toxic pollution from abandoned mines.<\/p>\n
Marijuana and banking<\/p>\n
Asked if he would support pending legislation to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act so bankers could do business with marijuana purveyors, Tipton responded that it was only an issue for states like Colorado, Washington and Oregon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not on the Top 10 list for the rest of Congress,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tipton acknowledged the issue was a problem, but he reiterated that there were more \u201cpractical issues\u201d to contend with at the national level, such as the pending Iran nuclear treaty.<\/p>\n
Iran deal<\/p>\n
Tipton said that his reading of the treaty gives a state sponsor of terror the ability to obtain intercontinental ballistic capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you have to take people at their word,\u201d said Tipton. \u201cThey\u2019re chanting, \u2018Death to America,\u2019 and I believe them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tipton vowed that the House would vote down the nuclear agreement, and he predicted the Senate would follow its lead. However, he said he wasn\u2019t confident that Congress could override a veto by President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n
Asked if he had an alternative to the deal, Tipton instead blamed Obama, stating his pursuit of the agreement left few choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lost a lot of the leverage that we had,\u201d he said. \u201cUnfortunately, we didn\u2019t secure peace, but we may have invited a conflict that we\u2019re not going to like.\u201d<\/p>\n