A change in leadership by ruling Democrats on a House committee recently at the Capitol has Republican lawmakers charging that agricultural and rural concerns will be slighted in the upcoming legislative session.
House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, appointed Fort Collins Democratic Rep. Randy Fischer to chair the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee after the committee’s previous chair, Rep. Kathleen Curry, of Gunnison, bolted from Democratic ranks and became the only unaffiliated member of the General Assembly.
Fischer, who maintains he will keep an open mind on all issues, has a record on environmental initiatives that is sometimes at odds with the views of rural lawmakers. Curry, on the other hand, is a rancher. GOP critics say the contrast is telling.
“Rep. Fischer’s record of hostility toward agriculture and the energy industry does not bode well for Colorado’s economy and job market this year,” House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said in a prepared statement issued shortly after Fischer’s appointment. “Important policy decisions that will impact farmers, ranchers, miners, and oil and gas workers are now in the hands of a legislator who has actively opposed each of these industries.”
The GOP’s Rep. Frank McNulty, who served on the committee last legislative session, wonders why the speaker didn’t appoint a Democrat from a rural area who may have a better grasp of the needs and concerns of agriculture and ranchers, such as Rep. Wes McKinley of Walsh, who is a self-described “third generation cowboy.”
“This appointment just goes to show the lack of depth that the Democrats have regarding rural issues in Colorado,” McNulty said.
The Republicans point to a bill Fischer sponsored two years ago that would have imposed a $25 per horsepower fee on heavy-equipment vehicles that did not comply with stricter emission standards. The bill died in committee.
Rep. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican whose family sells farm equipment in the Northeastern Colorado farming community, said Fischer’s measure “would have devastated agriculture” had it become law.
Fischer counters that little if anything will be different under his leadership.
“I don’t really think it’s going to change much at all,” he said. “I learned everything I know about being a chair from Rep. Curry, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I will definitely try my best to reach out to anyone that wants to meet with me and am committed to hearing everyone out and understanding their issues.”
Fischer says his proposed levy on horsepower – which GOP members dubbed a “tractor tax” – did not target farmers.
“It was never intended to have an impact on agriculture but was aimed at construction equipment in urban areas where the impact of air pollution is greater,” he said.
Don Coram, a lifelong rancher from Montrose, is worried about losing an advocate in Curry and believes that Fischer is not a good choice.
“It’s hard to make a living on a ranch right now and he (Fischer) hasn’t been a friend of agriculture and natural resources. McKinley is well qualified. Why wasn’t he chosen?” said Coram.
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association downplayed the changing of the guard.
“We are looking forward to a legislative session where we will be well represented and respected … we’ve always worked well with Fischer when he was vice-chair and we expect that to continue,” said the Cattlemen’s Executive Vice President Terry Fankhauser after meeting with Fischer.
Fischer says he will be committed to running a fair and effective committee as collaboratively as he can during the 2010 session.
“I hope to make the trip to the Capitol worthwhile for anyone who comes before my committee” he said.
Colorado’s agriculture and food industry supports more than 100,000 jobs throughout the state, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
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A change in leadership by ruling Democrats on a House committee recently at the Capitol has Republican lawmakers charging that agricultural and rural concerns will be slighted in the upcoming legislative session.
House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, appointed Fort Collins Democratic Rep. Randy Fischer to chair the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee after the committee’s previous chair, Rep. Kathleen Curry, of Gunnison, bolted from Democratic ranks and became the only unaffiliated member of the General Assembly.
Fischer, who maintains he will keep an open mind on all issues, has a record on environmental initiatives that is sometimes at odds with the views of rural lawmakers. Curry, on the other hand, is a rancher. GOP critics say the contrast is telling.
“Rep. Fischer’s record of hostility toward agriculture and the energy industry does not bode well for Colorado’s economy and job market this year,” House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said in a prepared statement issued shortly after Fischer’s appointment. “Important policy decisions that will impact farmers, ranchers, miners, and oil and gas workers are now in the hands of a legislator who has actively opposed each of these industries.”
The GOP’s Rep. Frank McNulty, who served on the committee last legislative session, wonders why the speaker didn’t appoint a Democrat from a rural area who may have a better grasp of the needs and concerns of agriculture and ranchers, such as Rep. Wes McKinley of Walsh, who is a self-described “third generation cowboy.”
“This appointment just goes to show the lack of depth that the Democrats have regarding rural issues in Colorado,” McNulty said.
The Republicans point to a bill Fischer sponsored two years ago that would have imposed a $25 per horsepower fee on heavy-equipment vehicles that did not comply with stricter emission standards. The bill died in committee.
Rep. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican whose family sells farm equipment in the Northeastern Colorado farming community, said Fischer’s measure “would have devastated agriculture” had it become law.
Fischer counters that little if anything will be different under his leadership.
“I don’t really think it’s going to change much at all,” he said. “I learned everything I know about being a chair from Rep. Curry, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I will definitely try my best to reach out to anyone that wants to meet with me and am committed to hearing everyone out and understanding their issues.”
Fischer says his proposed levy on horsepower – which GOP members dubbed a “tractor tax” – did not target farmers.
“It was never intended to have an impact on agriculture but was aimed at construction equipment in urban areas where the impact of air pollution is greater,” he said.
Don Coram, a lifelong rancher from Montrose, is worried about losing an advocate in Curry and believes that Fischer is not a good choice.
“It’s hard to make a living on a ranch right now and he (Fischer) hasn’t been a friend of agriculture and natural resources. McKinley is well qualified. Why wasn’t he chosen?” said Coram.
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association downplayed the changing of the guard.
“We are looking forward to a legislative session where we will be well represented and respected … we’ve always worked well with Fischer when he was vice-chair and we expect that to continue,” said the Cattlemen’s Executive Vice President Terry Fankhauser after meeting with Fischer.
Fischer says he will be committed to running a fair and effective committee as collaboratively as he can during the 2010 session.
“I hope to make the trip to the Capitol worthwhile for anyone who comes before my committee” he said.
Colorado’s agriculture and food industry supports more than 100,000 jobs throughout the state, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
