The Pueblo Chieftan - Tipton, Schwartz Differ on How to Do the Job in Congress

News Article

By Chris Woodka

Rep. Scott Tipton renewed his pledge to knock back federal regulatory overreach at every opportunity at the Colorado Water Congress summer conference.

The Republican's Democratic challenger, Gail Schwartz, said she would reach across the aisle to protect Colorado's resources and interests in Congress.

Both candidates stopped by the conference to make their pitch and answer questions at a meeting of a statewide group.

The 3rd Congressional District encompasses most of the Colorado River basin, as well as some of the Arkansas River, and all of the Rio Grande and North Platte River watersheds in Colorado. Pointedly, it was the only congressional race on the menu for those at the conference.

Tipton, seeking his fourth term, was stringent on the need to keep the federal government from meddling in Colorado water affairs. He said last year's Gold King mine spill caused by the Environmental Protection Agency was an example of the failure to seek local technical expertise. He railed against federal policies such as Waters of the United States and Forest Service ski area contracts that would have required assignment of water rights.

He is backing a Separation of Powers Restoration Act to keep the executive branch from continually interfering.

"These are federal policies that don't get voted on," Tipton said. "It takes a proverbial Act of Congress to undo a federal policy that no legislator, Democrat or Republican, has ever voted on."

Schwartz, who left the Colorado Senate after eight years, vowed to protect the agriculture, watershed health and natural resources of Colorado, and said she would seek solutions.

"One of the challenges is: How do we develop a process that sorts out all of the competing issues?" she said.

The candidates had common ground on questions posed by Water Congress.

Both said the state's viewpoint, sound science and technical expertise need to be a part of how federal programs like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act are implemented. Schwartz, like Tipton, said the administration has to be held accountable for its policies. And both support including coal as part of a national energy strategy.

"Steel is a critical industry for Colorado, and (EVRAZ) is the largest energy user in the state," Schwartz said, pointing out that a large coal-fired plant was constructed near the Pueblo plant for that reason. Coal mining and electric-generation are part of the state's economic fabric.

"Let the free market answer these questions moving forward," she said.

Tipton talked about looking into the eyes of a mother whose family lost its income and commiserating with Routt County commissioners over the loss of tax revenue when Peabody Coal declared bankruptcy this year.

"We have an opportunity to do all of the above (coal, gas, solar, wind, hydropower) and not pick winners and losers," Tipton said.

Tipton circled back to regulation by the end of his presentation, saying federal regulations add $2 trillion a year in costs. While some regulation is necessary, much is not, in his view.

"We need opportunity and not to have the government choking off that opportunity with excess regulations," he said.

Schwartz said she would be better able to work with others in Congress to protect the state.

"How do we go back to Washington and get something done?" she said. "I'm determined and won't be daunted by partisanship."

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