Colorado’s Republican congressmen decided to risk going all-in with their support of a House compromise plan Thursday — saying that although the plan wasn’t ideal, it was time for leadership to act.
Despite drawing ire from Tea Party conservatives, Reps. Scott Tipton, Mike Coffman, Doug Lamborn and Cory Gardner decided to join House Speaker John Boehner’s team and support his two-part plan to raise the debt ceiling.
Though the congressmen were left waiting for a vote that hadn’t come by Thursday night, they said supporting Boehner was the right thing to do to untie the Gordian knot surrounding the debt ceiling.
But the four siding with Boehner’s proposal is a sign that even lawmakers are tired of the back-and-forth, which is costing them constituents’ support at home.
A common rhetoric emerged Thursday from the congressmen’s press offices — the representatives are not worried about the election but rather about doing what is right for constituents.
“With profound consideration of our $14.3 trillion debt, and $1.4 trillion deficit, today I heed the call of the people of my district,” Tipton said in a statement. Tipton had supported a balanced budget amendment to cap spending and still would support such legislation.
Gardner, a Republican from Yuma, has one of the most sizable and diverse districts in the state. Though Boehner’s plan is not perfect in his eyes, Gardner said he’s worried about the implications of not reaching a solution by Aug. 2.
“The American people are tired of Washington not getting their job done,” he said. “It’s time we cut spending, and it’s time we took action to get our economy moving forward.”
He and fellow freshman Tipton risk the wrath of the far right in the party who helped them best Democratic incumbents in 2010.
“People over here on the Western Slope want to make sure that we get what we expect out of the people we put in office,” said Rick Wagner, a Grand Junction attorney and talk-radio host in Tipton’s district. “What people need to see is that this bill controls spending, it cuts back and it doesn’t raise taxes. These are the bedrock things that plan must entail.
“I want to see where the real cuts in spending are and when it’s going to happen,” Wagner said. “I voted for Scott (Tipton), and from my view he is pretty conservative. He’s committed to conservative issues, and if he’s supporting this Boehner bill, I want to see why.”
All four Republicans signed the Tax Payer Protection Pledge, promising to oppose any increases to the income-tax rate for business and individuals and to stand against the elimination of credits. The Boehner plan keeps true to their pledge and focuses on spending reductions.
Aurora’s Coffman said he’ll do his best to explain the issue to those still upset when he’s back in the district.
“As they understand the issue, they’ll understand my vote,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a good proposal. And we also have a guarantee of a vote on a balanced budget amendment in the House and the Senate.”
Political consultant Eric Sondermann said he foresees the debt debate creeping into the campaign materials in 2012.
“The debt ceiling and the fiscal crisis will be a major issue come fall tied together with health care and jobs and the overall status of the economy,” he said.
Staff writers Kurtis Lee and Allison Sherry contributed to this report.
Caitlin Gibbons: 303-954-1638 or cgibbons@denverpost.com
