ONE of those new Republican faces you hear about in Congress is Cory Gardner, elected last November to represent Colorados Fourth District, defeating Betsy Markey.
Gardner is a dapper, happy man, relaxed, solidly built, comfortable in office, as if hes been a Congressman for many terms.
He ducks no question and has specific answers on why he supports Israel and how to reduce the debt.
Gardner is an old Colorado hand. His great-grandfather began a farm equipment dealership back in 1915, now owned by Gardners father. Gardner himself has worked there since he was 11 or 12.
Israel
I met Rep. Gardner at the local AIPAC conference last April. He came to show his support for Israel.
I have not been to Israel, but I anticipate going in August, he says. Eric Cantor is leading a delegation.
Gardner says that Pres. Obamas invocation of the pre-June 5, 1967 borders puts Israel in an untenable position. Its a prescription that Israel could not and cannot accept. Thats why I was on the floor of the House when the Prime Minister of Israel spoke. It was very clear from both sides of the aisle the rejection of Obamas pre-1967 border idea.
The night before [Netanyahu spoke] we heard from [Democrat] Majority Leader Reid and [Republican] Speaker Boehner. Reid made it very clear that the 1967 border was a non-starter.
This border would take away the ability of Israel to do what Israel believes is best for Israel. I view the relationship of the US and Israel is about Israels right to security, existence and protection. I think President Obama hurt that.
What is the basis for Gardners support for Israel?
Its the right thing to do from who we are as a country, from who we are as a nation that supports democracy and religious freedom. And Israel is our best ally perhaps our only ally in the Middle East.
The UN
I hope the UN can see through the Palestinian plan for unilateral statehood. A state with ties to terrorism should not be blessed by the UN.
I hope that any conversation the UN has with Palestinians is focused on severing their ties with Hamas.
The economy
What is Gardners prescription for economic recovery?
How do we get out of this funk? Its my number one objective economic growth and returning jobs to this country.
We have to create pro-growth policies: a regulatory environment that allows jobs to flourish; an energy policy that allows for abundant, affordable energy; a tax structure that doesn’t encourage people to go overseas for jobs, but allows them to create jobs right here.
First bill
Last June I passed my first bill on the House floor, The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011. HR 2021.
It streamlines the permitting process for exploration for oil and gas on the outer continental shelf the East coast, West coast, most of the Gulf and Alaska. It sets a high priority for energy development in our own backyard.
What are its chances in the Senate? There is companion legislation, sponsored by Sen. Murkowski (Alaska) and Sen. Landrieu (Louisiana). It has bipartisan support. In a couple of months therell be hearings on it.
One of the particular issues the bill is dealing with is the permit in the beaufort and Chukchi Sea. If that development is allowed to go forward its been tied up in a permitting fight five years it could bring online one million barrels a day.
Thats enough to replace our imports from Saudi Arabia and create 54,000 jobs throughout the US, according to a study done at the University of Alaska.
Well be proactive. Well provide statistical research to the stakeholders over in the Senate and work with them to push leadership to give the bill floor time Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, where, I assume, the bill will go in the Senate.
Election of 2012
Gardners preference for 2012?
I have not declared yet. Last election I supported Mitt Romney. I look forward to speaking with Gov. Romney again.
Debt ceiling?
The obligations of the US will be paid. I have no doubt. How that agreement will look is being debated. Two camps have emerged: 1. Cut spending. 2. Raise taxes.
Ive participated in several debt listening sessions with the Majority Leader, and with the Ways and Means Committee.
Im actively engaged, trying to shape the narrative: We can reduce spending. Where? In the Dept. of Defense and a number of other areas.
The Government Accounting Office issued a report that highlighted over $100 billion of government programs that are wasteful or duplicative.
There are 58 programs that monitor teacher quality one office doing the same exact thing as the office next door.
I introduced legislation that forces committees to act on the report.
Where does the rest of the cutting come from? Reforming Medicare and Medicaid so they are are sustainable. Repeal the health care bill, which would save $2.6 trillion in spending. The House passed the agricultural appropriations bill that reduced spending to 2006 levels. Thats a 13% percent cut in spending.
We will look across the board.
Colorado agriculture
Agriculture is a good background for Gardner, since his district is the largest agricultural district in the state, including some of the largest corn growing counties, with unique water challenges.
We rely on ground water, not just surface water, says Gardner, and this creates some pretty complicated issues for sustainable agriculture, since there is a limited supply of underground water shared by Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma.
The water is hundreds of feet down. Its a limited resource.
We have to be very good stewards.
The largest areas in Colorados Eastern plains rely on it.
I am always making sure that that the federal government respects Colorado water law, put in place to allow Colorado to manage the resource the way it sees fit.
When I say this I get a lot of blank looks. This is a uniquely Western issue, which requires a uniquely Western perspective. What does snowfall mean to our arid state?
Everyone else is worried about flooding. Here, were worried about how we capture that water and store it, instead of sending it down the river.
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
