Penry: one of the 'other' GOP candidates has differing views from McInnis' 'expand' position

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Penry wins kudos on base expansion

By PABLO CARLOS MORA
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

October 24, 2009 12:06 am

TRINIDAD - Josh Penry found a receptive audience Friday among Southern Coloradans opposed to the Army’s proposed expansion of its Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
       “The Army needs to come clean with folks out here,” Penry said in meetings at Trinidad State Junior College and later in Walsenburg.
       “Until the Army takes eminent domain and condemnation off the table,” the Republican candidate for governor said he will oppose expansion.
       Penry, a state senator from Grand Junction, contrasted his stand on Pinon Canyon expansion with that of Scott McInnis, the former 3rd Congressional District representative who also is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter. Republican Dan Maes also is in the race.
       “McInnis said it was not about private property rights and people who oppose the expansion are anti-military. That is irresponsible and reckless,” Penry said. “Fort Carson is important. So are private property rights.”


CHIEFTAIN PHOTOS/PABLO CARLOS MORA -- Penry visited Walsenburg and Trinidad on Friday in his bid to become Colorado’s governor.

       The Army contends that Colorado Springs-based Fort Carson must be allowed to expand its Pinon Canyon site from its current 238,000 acres by at least 100,000 acres and perhaps much more to accommodate more troops being stationed there.
       The Army proposal has taken fire from farmers and ranchers in the proposed expansion area.

Gary Baldwin asks Penry a question Friday during a meeting in Walsenburg.

      Penry is not opposed to any expansion of the training site but rather to the use of eminent domain or condemnation to take private property for the expansion, according to Andrew Cole, his press secretary.
      “If (the Army) took eminent domain off the table and there are willing sellers, then that is their choice,” Cole said Friday. “Until that is taken off the table, then he is against the move. Willing sellers can do as they please with their land.”
       Penry fielded numerous questions in both towns:

• On health care reform, Penry said, “The health care proposal is a terrible idea. We can’t afford it. Government-run, socialized medicine does not work. It leads to rationing.”
• When a Huerfano County resident said the energy industry “has destroyed 80 percent of the groundwater in the county,” Penry said state law provides safeguards for water and other natural resources.

“We need to keep the lights on,” Penry said. “Companies should be held accountable when they make mistakes. We need to strike a balance between regulation and the environment that incentivizes companies to use the right technology.”

• On illegal immigration, Penry said, “First, we need to secure the border. Then we ask, ‘Who do we need here?’ on the employment side.”

       Penry backs the controversial “e-verify” system in which employers check a federal database before hiring anyone to determine if they are eligible to work in this country. Critics say the system is rife with errors that unfairly deny jobs to Hispanics and others.
       “And sanctuary cities shouldn’t get state aid,” he said, referring to cities such as Denver that allegedly follow certain practices to protect illegal immigrants.

pmora@chieftain.com

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