Hefley's plate full in term's last year

Few people are asking Rep. Joel Hefley what he can do for them this year.

Questions from constituents instead break down into two categories. The first: Will you run for re-election? The other: What do you think of Tom De-Lay's troubles?

Hefley, a 10-term Republican from Colorado Springs, has done his best to deflect queries about his future while he decides whether to seek an 11th term. Half a dozen Republicans are lining up for a race if he steps aside.

Much of the wait is because Hefley doesn't want his decision tied to DeLay, the former majority leader who resigned his post amid accusations of corruption. Hefley chaired the ethics committee that chastised DeLay in 2004.

No matter what the congressman decides, he has at least one more year to serve. Issues ranging from the growth of Fort Carson to ethics rules reform highlight his 2006 agenda.

Protecting the Army post south of Colorado Springs has long been Hefley's signature issue. Last year was arguably his most successful year in that regard, as it was announced that 10,000 more troops will move to Fort Carson by 2008.

More needs to be done for those troops, said Hefley, the third- ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. He'll push for money for repairs to the Interstate 25/Highway 16 interchange and easements that will stop development around the post.

"I think that's going to go well," Hefley predicted.

Hefley is less certain about his bill to fund a study of expanding Pueblo Reservoir, considered essential for continued growth in Colorado Springs. The legislation hasn't moved out of committee for four years because cities or water districts in southeast Colorado objected to it.

Although negotiations between Colorado Springs Utilities and the last objecting organization, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, are going well, Hefley said he'll consider stepping in to speed them. He and Sen. Wayne Allard have said they want a local solution rather than one imposed from Washington, but more water storage is needed in Colorado, he said.

Two other issues from his six-county 5th Congressional District will take priority for Hefley.

He believes he can get legislation through this year to make Brown's Canyon in Chaffee County a wilderness area. And he will continue trying to establish a veterans cemetery near Colorado Springs, though that will be tough as long as the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to object, he said.

He is pushing ethics reform, a topic both parties are trying to take up after scandals involving Republican legislators. He's not satisfied, though, with the current plans that have been put forward.

For example, a measure introduced by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., would ban private entities from paying for congressional travel. Hefley thinks this restriction is too broad because if he is asked to fly and speak to a convention, he doesn't feel taxpayers should have to foot that bill.

Instead, he wants to tighten rules around "leadership" political action committees set up by House members. Often funded by lobbyists, these PACs are used to distribute funds to other campaigns, often influencing which members win leadership posts within Congress, he said.

"I think this is buying seats, and it's a scandal waiting to happen," Hefley said.

The House session will begin next week.

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Copyright 2006
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