Over the summer, the Inflation Reduction Act became law. Should Coloradans support this law? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Colorado played a major role in shaping this bill, which is the largest investment we’ve ever made to tackle climate change. The bill includes clean energy tax credits to create good-paying jobs, funding for forestry, conservation, and drought, all investments in rural Colorado. The bill ensures Colorado’s seniors will pay no more than $2,000 a year for their prescription drugs, including $35 a month for insulin, and requires Medicare to negotiate drug prices on behalf of the American people. It lowers health care premiums for tens of thousands of Coloradans. It is largely paid for by my bill requiring the largest corporations in America to pay a corporate minimum tax of 15%. No Colorado teacher or firefighter should pay a higher percentage in taxes than Amazon.
What is something unique you bring to the Congress?
I’m the only senator who’s been a businessperson and school superintendent. These unusual experiences have given me a unique perspective on our economy and democracy. Having spent much of my life outside politics, I’ve had the chance to bring a practical perspective to Washington rooted in the everyday lives of the people I work for in Colorado. With Colorado as an example, I’ve worked to overcome Washington’s dysfunction and create a policy record that has benefited our country and state. (Recent examples include $42.5 billion broadband investment based on the work of the Delta-Montrose Electric Association; an expanded Child Tax Credit that benefitted 90% of Colorado’s kids and cut childhood poverty in half last year; $4 billion to help tackle drought in the Colorado River basin.).
If your party holds the majority in your chamber next session, what should be its top priority?
No matter who holds the majority, my priority will always be building an economy that grows for everyone, not just those at the top. We can begin to build that economy by ending Trump’s tax giveaways for the wealthiest Americans and passing tax cuts for working Coloradans. We started this transition last year when we passed my bills to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, which cut hunger by a quarter and child poverty nearly in half. But, we must do more. Rising income inequality is an urgent threat to our democracy.
What, if any, action should Congress take on abortion?
I am grateful to live in a state where women’s access to abortion is protected. The Supreme Courtap reversal of Roe vs. Wade has stripped the country of a fundamental, constitutional freedom. To restore this freedom, Congress must codify a woman’s right to choose at the national level. This is not a matter properly left for the states to decide — consider, for example, the case of women serving on US military bases in states that have criminalized abortion.
The chambers may be split between Republican and Democrat control next session. Where do you see actionable, common ground with the opposing party?
I’ve written and passed 101 pieces of legislation, 82 of which were bipartisan, including my bills to stop surprise medical billing and to fast-track drugs for serious diseases, like cancer. After years of partisan strife, Congress recently has enacted important bipartisan bills relating to infrastructure, veterans, and reshoring of our semiconductor industry. I’m working with Senator Crapo from Idaho on a bipartisan bill to modernize our visa system for farm workers, which will help lower food costs. I’m also working with Senator Romney to protect the Colorado River basin and expand the Child Tax Credit. I’ll keep working with Republicans and Democrats in the Colorado delegation to keep Space Command in Colorado.
What is the biggest threat facing the integrity of our elections?
I’m grateful to live in Colorado, a state that sets the gold standard when it comes to democratic participation and voter protection. I believe every American should have the right to vote the way Coloradans vote. In the meantime, we must elect leaders committed to upholding the integrity of our elections. We must reject politicians who endorse Donald Trump’s Big Lie or otherwise act as apologists for his unprecedented attack on our democracy.
Over the summer, the Inflation Reduction Act became law. Should Coloradans support this law? Why or why not?
The Inflation Reduction Act isn’t working, and it won’t work because trillions in federal spending is what caused the inflation crisis in the first place. One of the really bad parts of the bill provided $80 billion to the IRS to hire between 40,000 and 87,000 new bureaucrats to squeeze more taxes from small businesses and families. We should zero-out the IRS hires and make a massive investment in border security and hire more police to protect our neighborhoods instead. The border is bleeding fentanyl, and our cities are overrun by crime. That should be the focus of our resources, not IRS auditors.
What is something unique you bring to the Congress?
I was a union carpenter. I left college early and started my construction business out of my basement. I know what itap like to make tough decisions. I know what itap like to use my credit card to keep my employees on payroll. Working Americans are being forgotten. I understand the struggles of working people. I’m not a politician and I’m not really interested in these old political fights. I’m an American before I’m a Republican. No politician and no political party will control me. I’ll give a voice to the working people of this country.
If your party holds the majority in your chamber next session, what should be its top priority?
Fighting inflation has to be the top priority. This election is a referendum on the trillions in spending and debt by President Joe Biden and Senator Michael Bennet thatap caused this inflation crisis. The American people have watched in disgust while both parties have run-up the debt over the last 25 years. We need to get the deficit back to pre-pandemic levels, and work in a concerted way to fully balance the budget over time. We need a government-wide focus on permitting to expand federal efforts to produce more wind, solar, nuclear, oil and natural gas. American energy dominance would drive down inflation.
What, if any, action should Congress take on abortion?
I opposed the decision overturning Roe. I’ll vote for a bill that codifies a woman’s right to choose during the first five months of pregnancy and, after that, in the cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies. I also support a parental notification requirement for minors; we should protect Catholic hospitals, and limit elective late-term abortions. I believe Americans want balance on this issue – they support a woman’s right to choose regardless of which state they live in, and they don’t want elective late-term abortion. I know many in my party disagree with me on this. I am who I am.
The chambers may be split between Republican and Democrat control next session. Where do you see actionable, common ground with the opposing party?
Making a massive investment to secure the border while giving citizenship to the Dreamers – the DACA kids – is something that could get done in the weeks after the new senate is sworn in regardless of who is in power. That deal has been ripe for the taking for a decade, but you’ve got a lot of people in both parties who’d rather play politics. I’d call Senators Manchin and Sinema and say – letap shut the senate down until we get this done. Thatap how you lead.
What is the biggest threat facing the integrity of our elections?
I think both parties need to learn how to lose with dignity. We’ve become a nation of whiners and cry babies. Donald Trump still can’t admit he lost. You had Stacey Abrams in Georgia in 2018 and Nancy Pelosi with the presidential in 2016 – all these politicians act like children when they lose. So, the politicians need to get their act together and do the right thing when they lose.
Over the summer, the Inflation Reduction Act became law. Should Coloradans support this law? Why or why not?
Absolutely not. Government spending promotes inflation. Perhaps if they hadn’t done all the COVID spending and shut down the country we wouldn’t have this problem.
What is something unique you bring to the Congress?
A lack of corporate donors and a degree in engineering.
If your party holds the majority in your chamber next session, what should be its top priority?
Ending the funding of abortion at the federal level.
What, if any, action should Congress take on abortion?
End federal spending supporting abortion, embryotic stem cell research, and chemical abortion pills via the USPS.
The chambers may be split between Republican and Democrat control next session. Where do you see actionable, common ground with the opposing party?
Allowing private industry to help manage our national forests with logging permits to prevent wildfires.
End the funding of war in Ukraine until inflation is taken care of at home.
What is the biggest threat facing the integrity of our elections?
Trusting the USPS.
Efforts to reach T.J. Cole and Frank Atwood were unsuccessful.
