Thread: Tipton

Hey Colorado, this guy is on the ball!!



Tipton to host immigration talk
By Mike Lawrence

Monday, October 23, 2006

Illegal immigration and border security are the primary topics for a public meeting today hosted by Republican Congressional candidate Scott Tipton.



Tipton, a small-business owner from Cortez, is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Colorado's Third Congressional District, which includes Routt and Moffat counties. He is opposed by Libertarian Bert Sargent and Democratic incumbent John Salazar, a San Luis Valley farmer and rancher who was first elected to Congress in 2004.

Throughout his campaign, Tipton has criticized Salazar's voting record on illegal immigration issues. Most recently, that criticism has focused on Salazar's opposition to the Secure Fence Act, which President Bush recently signed into law. The act authorizes construction of 698 miles of reinforced, double-layered fencing along portions of the nearly 2,000-mile-long U.S. border with Mexico.

The estimated cost of the fence is $6 billion.

Salazar voted against the act when it came before the U.S. House in September.

"This leadership should be more concerned about fiscal responsibility and immigration reform instead of spending critical time and money trying to ... further partisan political rhetoric," Salazar said in a written statement after the vote. "We need real immigration reform, not rhetoric. I supported the House's efforts to pass the Border Security Bill. And I supported the House's efforts to establish a tamper-proof ID system. Now it is time to put aside partisan politics and develop a comprehensive immigration reform plan that addresses the problems faced by our farmers and ranchers."

Tipton called Salazar's comment "lip service."

"Scott feels very strongly in a ‘secure the border first' strategy for tackling the problem," said Dirk Hallen, Tipton's campaign manager. "It's not just an illegal immigration issue -- it's an issue of methamphetamine and other drugs that are coming across with illegal immigrants."

Salazar voted in support of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007. The act authorizes the use of millions of dollars to hire additional U.S. Border Patrol agents, build new detention facilities and fund border patrol operations and technology.

Hallen said Tipton has been hosting town hall meetings across the district, which spans 29 counties in western and southern Colorado, to discuss illegal immigration and border security.

Tipton enjoys limelight
Candidate the only Congressional hopeful at forum

Christina M. Currie

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

By declining his invitation to Monday night's candidate forum, Democratic incumbent John Salazar gave his opponent, Scott Tipton, a clear shot at garnering Moffat County's support in his bid for the District 3 U.S. House of Repre�--sent�--atives seat.

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Tipton, Sal�--a�--zar's Repub�--lican challenger, said he brings his ex�--�--perience as a successful business owner and an "ordinary citizen" to the table. He said that no matter who the candidate is, there are some things voters ought to be able to count on in their elected officials: support for the right to bear arms, strong advocacy for water and private property rights and support for the nation's veterans and active servicemen.

"I'll be there to represent (veterans). You can take that to the bank," he said.

With strong leadership and American ingenuity, Tipton said, the country should be able to end its dependence on foreign energy sources by 2025, a much more aggressive plan than the current goal to reduce dependence by 20 percent in 20 years.

"If we marshal American ingenuity, there's no obstacle we can't overcome, no goal we can't achieve," Tipton said.

In the five minutes Tipton had to outline his philosophy, experience and goals, he listed fiscal responsibility at the top of his list and likened the Internal Revenue Service to a noxious weed.

"We'd be better suited to grab hold of it and pull it out by the roots."

Tipton advocates a flat tax.

Immigration was a topic all candidates addressed, Tipton included.

"I'm not anti-immigration, but we cannot and will not reward those whose first act in this nation is an illegal one," he said.

America needs secure borders, he said, not just to stem the flow of illegal immigration, but for another hazard that crosses just as frequently and is just as detrimental: drugs. Specifically methamphetamine. He called the drug trade another form of terrorism.