Political Positions
Salazar is concerned with water rights in particular. He has said his top priority on Capitol Hill will be ensuring that water derived from the snow melt of Colorado's Western Slope will stay in his district instead of being sent to California or Nevada.
Though a Democrat, he has conservative leanings — he opposes expanding gun control and supports permanent repeal of the inheritance tax and lower taxes. He also supports allowing Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. He belongs to the Blue Dog Democrats, leading him to oppose measures such as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009. He voted in favor of the Stupak Amendment restricting federal funding of elective abortions. He however voted for the Senate version of the health care bill lacking the Stupak Amendment language.
As a veteran, a son of a veteran, and father of a child serving in the Colorado National Guard as of 2004, Salazar has also been vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits. Salazar introduced the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, designed to protect the integrity of medals, to the House of Representatives, which he has cited as his best achievement in politics.
Salazar was considered for the post of Secretary of Agriculture by Barack Obama but Tom Vilsack was chosen instead.
Read more about this topic: John Salazar
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