Polis talks TPP trade deal, gun control at town hall
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis fielded questions on topics including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, access to Veterans Administration health care and Interstate 25 expansion at a Monday night town hall.
Polis, a Democrat whose district includes Fort Collins, also trumpeted his work to replace No Child Left Behind. That replacement bill was ultimately signed by President Barack Obama.
"We've replaced (federal rules to measure student progress) with state and local flexibility," he said, before telling the packed room that he may be going on too long about the bill and adding, "I'm excited about this bill because it became law, and there's not a whole lot of that going on."
He was also greeted at the entrance to the brewery with a handful of protesters opposing the TPP trade deal, which would add 12 Pacific Rim nations to North American trade agreements.
Here are some of the topics covered at the hour-and-a-half Q-and-A with the congressman:
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Interstate 25 expansion
Polis lamented that a federal grant to help pay for I-25 bridge upgrades — and help pave the way for expansion of the northern stretch of road — failed to come through. But it's not the end of the work, he said, and securing federal money to get that done remains a priority.
Campaign finance
Polis called overturning the U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows so-called "dark money" into political raises unrealistic from a legislative perspective. But he highlighted some bills, including one that requires a person to say he or she approves of political messages, like politicians must do for their own ads, and 24-hour disclosure period, that he hopes would address the flow of money into federal races, or at least add some transparency.
Gun control
Polis likewise described a slim chance of any new gun control regulations becoming law, including ones he describes as being in accordance with the Second Amendment. Congress would need a new composition — i.e., more Democrats — for things like universal background checks to pass.
Hitting a broader point about congressional dysfunction, Polis said current roadblocks in Washington, D.C., are "a function of social division" in the country.
"People need to talk to each other, get out of that silo of one news source they already agree with," Polis said.
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Undecided topics
Polis said he hasn't made up his mind on the TPP trade deal and that he'd need to read through the final agreement before deciding one way or another. Some in the audience questioned why he voted to "fast track" the agreement, but Polis said it was to allow the president to negotiate with the other countries in good faith. He didn't pledge his support for the final agreement.
He also was on the fence about ColoradoCare, a ballot initiative that voters will decide on this November. The initiative would create a universal health care system in Colorado via state constitutional amendment. Polis said he, like all voting Coloradans, need to weigh the proposal carefully. Polis also noted that he's a "strong supporter" of a federal public option for health care.
"We're always a little nervous to be first to go," Polis said of a proposal like ColoradoCare. "... It's a bold step."