This article, in the Pueblo Chieftain, arose from CPA’s Colorado Senate Candidate forum that was held on July 20, 2010 in Colorado Springs.

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Buck cites spending concerns

(Photo of Ken Buck)

By PATRICK MALONE | [email protected]

COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. Senate candidate Ken Buck trumpeted shifts in the corporate tax structure and domestic production of natural resources as his favored approaches to resurrecting America’s punch-drunk economy.

A bipartisan crowd of more than 100 gathered at the Stargazers Theatre for a forum hosted by the Coalition for a Prosperous America targeting the topics of economic growth, currency and jobs.

Buck fielded written questions submitted by the audience and read by moderator Joe Cole of Fox21 television news.

The candidate expressed his opposition to President Barack Obama’s policies ranging from the federal stimulus package to reforms in health care and the finance industry.

“I’m hard-pressed to find something I agree with,” Buck said.

He also said he would oppose the extension of unemployment benefits that face a vote in the Senate Tuesday.

Most of all, Buck stayed on point with his message that reduced government spending and lower taxes on individuals and businesses are the answers to America’s economic crisis.

“If we get our federal spending under control, we get our federal tax under control,” he said. “Reduce spending, reduce taxes and we will be more competitive globally.”
Buck also pointed to the link between affordable energy and manufacturing profitability, which he said increased environmental regulation was strained by imposing rules that place America at a competitive disadvantage.

“We need to drill here,” he said. “We need to look at nuclear energy.”

The candidate stopped short of calling for trade tariffs or adopting a governmental “buy-American” policy as answers to America’s reliance on affordable goods from foreign shores.

“I would not at this point (support that policy shift). I think we need to get our house in order before we deal with tariffs or penalizing folks whose products we’re importing,” said Buck. “We need to deal with our energy issue. We need to deal with our tax issue.”

Instead, he said creating an environment that’s friendlier to business in America could accomplish the same goal.

“Corporations are not patriotic. Corporations are profit-seeking entities. We need to create a climate in this country that will keep jobs here because corporations find it profitable to keep them here,” Buck said.

Buck, the Weld County district attorney, is facing former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The winner of that race faces the victor in the Democratic primary between U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

Buck and Romanoff attended Tuesday’s event in Colorado Springs. Norton and Bennet were invited, but didn’t attend. Organizers said the Norton campaign cited a scheduling conflict, and Bennet was in session with the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.

Michael Stumo, CEO for the Coalition for a Prosperous America, characterized the group as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that focuses on trade and economic issues and represents the interests of farming, ranching, manufacturing and labor. It advocates human rights, American sovereignty, balanced trade, environmentally neutral or beneficial policy and other factors with America’s economic well-being in mind.