Our country, our state and the 3rd Congressional District are seeing economic gains obtained due to pro-growth policies including tax reform, and I’m proud my votes have put more money into the pockets of hardworking Americans.

Many Americans are small-business owners, and I used to be one for many years. I know how government can help, and ensure a fair and safe marketplace. I also know how it can get in the way of creating more jobs and higher incomes. Being a small-business owner gave me the knowledge and experience I needed to inform my votes and positions on how to move our economy forward and return prosperity to Main Street.

Scott R. Tipton

We are at our best when Washington gets out of the way and encourages innovation, growth and opportunity. Tax reform has been a great example of moving Washington out of the way to unleash the full potential of our economy. Under tax reform, the average 3rd District resident will keep an additional $1,417. Additionally, 70 percent of Coloradans claim the standard tax deduction and tax reform nearly doubled it. It’s great to see so many hardworking Coloradans and Americans keeping more of what they earn.

Nationwide, 4 million Americans received more than $4 billion in bonuses, and 90 percent of Americans have seen more money in their paychecks. All of this great news comes as a result of recent tax reform — great things happen when government gets out of the way. More improvements will come as the economy continues to grow as a result of tax reform and other pro-growth policies, but more work is needed to ensure Colorado and the 3rd District continue to reap the benefits of our growing economy.

I hear from fellow Coloradans in the 3rd District about the improving economy. I frequently travel in the district meeting with constituents one-on-one; I meet with farmers, ranchers, small-business owners and everyone in-between to gather their input. The legislation I sponsor and co-sponsor, and the votes I cast are inspired by my commitment to represent the 3rd District.

My commitment to you is unwavering and the issues affecting our district are many. I recently sponsored legislation that will increase investment into ski country. As I have always said, the recreation economy is vital to many communities here in Colorado. An issue we have now is with the permitting process and its inefficiency. The bill I introduced will make the permitting process more efficient. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service collects fees from permits that allows for projects to take place in ski areas. The money collected from these fees is not directed for any specific use. H.R. 5171, the Ski Area Fee Retention Act, will allow for a portion of the money collected from fees to be specifically retained for use to increase the capacity of the National Forest Service to issue permits. This bill will help ski communities invest in their future.

Our future also depends on securing our water rights, and I will always defend them. I introduced H.R. 2939, the Water Rights Protection Act, that will put a stop to federal overreach through deregulation. Right now, the federal government could still make attempts to circumvent state water law by requiring the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a permit condition for the use of public land. There is nothing codified in law to prevent this — as we have seen the government do in recent years. This poses a massive threat to Colorado’s ski areas as well as the farmers, ranchers and landowners who rely on the availability of water. My bill would prohibit these types of federal takings and defend ski areas, ranchers and all western water users.

Our district is on the right track, and I look forward to protecting the gains we’ve made and continuing to represent the people of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and continue working hard on their behalf.

Scott Tipton

Colorado 3rd Congressional District Republican incumbent