Note: This interview comes from our D.C. bureau where your intrepid reporter interviewed Representative Salazar at his office here in Washington, D.C. No expense is too great to bring our readers these interviews. (Plus I was in D.C. for a trade show.)
John Salazar exudes quiet competence. Yes there's his policies, his outlook, his reasons for being there and that matters too. But throughout the conversation you have someone who is clearly competent and yet makes no big deal of his knowledge and success. And in fact downplays it. This is a very common trait in very effective people in most jobs – including politics.
He started off talking about his background and family. He is very proud of his family, and especially his parents. He is also very proud that he is a farmer. There are now only 4 or 5 farmers in the House – a big drop from the early days of our country when the majority were. (This is due to the fact that under 2% of the workforce now farms.) This is where John Salazar comes from – family, community, & farming.
He then talked about the death of bipartisanship. He initially thought I was a Republican (clearly he does not read my posts here), probably because I told him my mom is an elected Republican. So he was challenging me on the present Republican approach of refusing to cooperate on anything and instead playing everything for political advantage. He dates that change to the ascendency of Newt Gringich.
I mentioned my theory that the change was that Newt & Co. fought us Dems on everything, even when they agreed with what was proposed, because in that fight they gained political advantage. And in that effort of always putting political advantage before country, they changed the dynamics. John did not disagree with that.
He clearly wants to work in a bi-partisan manner. But he also sees the present Republican approach, and Rush Limbaugh's statements, as detrimental to the country and to the political comity in Washington. In other words, when the Republicans are willing to seriously work in a bi-partisan manner, John Salazar will be happy to do so. He is proud that he was able to work with Marilyn Musgrave on some farming issues. But he clearly does demand that it be true bipartisanship.
So here's my theory as to why he got the appropriations gig. Yes a lot of things go into that decision. But I think a major part is both his quiet competence and his willingness to work in a true bipartisan manner. To get the bulk of the job done on appropriations this is exactly what you need – some representatives concentrating on the work and doing it well.
So what is he working on? Well the Army is not going to get Pinon Canyon as long as John Salazar has a breath left in his body. The one thing that got him riled up was when he would discuss how you had issues where on one side you have lobbyists and large organizations and on the other side you have a bunch of individuals with no political oomph. He sees his most important job in the House to be an advocate for those that have no power in a contest such as Pinon Canyon.
When asked about his priorities his #1 priority is the economy and jobs. He paid due homage to this issue and discussed how the stimulus bill is already starting to have some impact. But it was a short discussion on this issue.
Then came energy. And here there was a lot more detail, a lot more discussion. He wants to see major Major MAJOR efforts into renewables. He was ticking off every renewable source I have ever heard of and for biofuels he listed stuff I had never heard of before (there's that farming background). And it was intelligent as well as facing both what we do know and what we have to figure out (there's that quiet competence part).
He talked about clean coal, stating that we have to figure out how to do it, but that we have such an overabundance of coal that this is a technology that we must figure out. He talked about nuclear, how it clearly is safe, specifically referencing the Navy's nuclear program, and how storage is the big issue. He also talked about how nuclear waste can be recycled. And he gave realistic numbers for how much of our energy can come from renewable sources in the near future.
What's even more impressive than his clear knowledge of where we sit on energy, is he is willing to lay out all of the pieces to the puzzle even though many of these parts get some interest groups really upset. This is someone who is putting what this country needs to do before what is their optimal political stand.
Finally came healthcare. He did not dive into it like he did energy but he had one great observation. He said that we clearly can provide everyone with very basic healthcare without increasing our costs, because the present system is presently so honked up. Not fancy, not a large menu of options – but very basic care. And he also said that as a country it is our responsibility to provide this as a right for each citizen.
I also asked him if he gets any downtime. That got a laugh. He has times in D.C. where there are 5 meetings in his offices and he is moving between all 5 as they go on. He is working from when he wakes up till when he falls asleep in D.C. and in Colorado he has the largest district in the state. But he then went on to talk about the joy in travelling all over the state, the beauty of the vistas, the importance of meeting his constituents to hear their concerns. And how he's going home every weekend so he can see his wife & kids.
A Rep who works at the job has a really hard life. Clearly what drives John Salazar is he sees that his efforts makes things better for his constituents, for Colorado, and for the country. With that as his motivation, it makes for a good legislator.
So what do we get with Representative John Salazar? I think being on appropriations means that John, unlike most other Reps, is tasked with the big picture issues we face. But even in that position, being effective requires concentrating in a few areas. He will stay on top of farming issues. He will pay attention on the economy and healthcare – having certain goals on each. But my guess is he'll have the most impact on energy. Oh, and if he sees the weak being tromped on by the powerful – watch out.
