\u201cIt\u2019s almost part of our culture that you walk and carry a sign and support your causes, and I think we do not want to inhibit that. We want to give people every opportunity, but at the same time … we have to separate vandalism from peaceful protest,\u201d Rankin said.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his six years in the House of Representatives, two years as a senator and six years on the Joint Budget Committee, Rankin said he has focused especially on representing the rural interests of western Colorado and education in the past few years. Rankin said he co-started the Education Leadership Council, which he continues to co-chair. Rankin said he also has focused on health care costs in rural Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I actually worked with a bipartisan team, and we passed a bill called \u201creinsurance\u201d which dropped rates about 30% for that segment. … At the same time, we ran a bill to enable local negotiations,\u201d Rankin said. \u201cSo, you put those two together, and we\u2019ve reduced some people\u2019s insurance by almost 50%. I\u2019m really fighting to keep that and keep it funded in this era of budget cuts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rankin said his three main focuses have been working on the budget, health care and education. He noted that he also continues to support economic development, small business and tourism. Rankin said he might be considered a moderate conservative as he feels he can make a bigger difference in bipartisan arenas like the Joint Budget Committee.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/Election2020logo-300x187.png\")
<\/a> Head to SummitDaily.com\/election<\/a> for information about voter registration, candidates, election results and more. <\/i> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I went on the budget committee six years ago, I knew that it was a bipartisan job, but I felt like I could make a bigger difference there. I\u2019ve been around, I\u2019ve run corporations and stuff, and I really want to work on problems rather than just be political all the time. I want to look back and say I did something like education, like health care. So I knew that it would be a bipartisan job, and then that role would then lead to me being bipartisan in other arenas,\u201d Rankin said.<\/p>\n
Rankin said he views being moderate as an advantage and measures the success of his work in being able to say he has helped his constituents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have basic conservative values. I want the government to be as small as reasonably possible, I want taxes to be low, I really believe in individuals\u2019 freedom,\u201d Rankin said.<\/p>\n
Rankin noted that he worked with the governor\u2019s office to open short-term rentals and is currently working to keep the senior property tax exemption in place amid budget cuts. Rankin also is supporting the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment.<\/p>\n