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. -"'-~ . \ ;_1 Page 60 The Pueblo Chieftain, Pueblo, Colo., Wednesday, December 6, 2000 SL V crowd backs dunes park proposal By ERIN SMITH The Pueblo Chiefrain \~ \\!".:.J ALAMOS A - When Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., asked for a show of hands from those opposed to turning the Great Sand Dunes National Monument into a national park, not one appeared from the group of about 50 people allending the senalOr's town meet- ing Tuesday morning. . Allard said the same question had been put to audiences in Fort Garland and La Jara on Monday w{th the same result. ;Allard said he supports 'the monumenl-lo-park idea and the purchase of the 100,000-acre Baca Ranch because it would make the San Luis Valley. a destination for lOurists. It would improve the eC(lnomy and would save the water under the Baca Ranch, something which has been a source of con- cern for .valley residents since 1986, when American Water Development Inc. tried 10 get 100,000 acre-feet of water a year to pump outside the valley. Allard did not know how nego- tiations for the ranch purchase are progressing. Out. of respect for (JJ.:~;."'...'. f" '" ;:-, :: ':'\" L private property rights, he indi- cated he would not be in favor of lelling the government acquire the ranch by the process of eminent domain. He said if the park plan goes through and the Nature Conser- vancy of Colorado manages to purchase the ranch, the govern- ment then would buy the ranch from the conservancy over time. Other issues addressed at lawn meetings included the economy. Allard said the government has eliminated deficit spending and now the challenge is to pay down the debt. We are at a point when we could have a balanced budget even without Social Security, Allard said, adding that Social Security needs to be allowed to keep its excess dollars in cash deposils rather than having them go into the general fund where Ihey are spent. He said that it is important to change Social Security because if the system continues as is, Social Security. will be bankrupt by the year 2014. Allard also said: . This is the year of the census and it is "very important for Colorado" to get an accurate U.S. Sen. count. Wayne Allard "We are on the verge of a new representative in Congress," he said. . It is unlikely thatlhe reduction or elimination of the estate tax will come up again while President Clinton is still in office. . He believes if the nation goes to a flat tax or a national sales tax instead of income tax, it will be vilalto get rid of the 16th Amend- ment, which created income tax, or in the future there might be two taxing systems in place. . The proposed closure of Fort Lyon, one of the most expensive veterans' facilities in the country, is expected 10 mean satellite health services for veterans in Alamosa, Lamar and La Junta, saving veter- ans from having to go great dis- tances for health care. Allard is suggesting use of current facilities in the areas, including partnerships with private care. . He opposes nationalized health care and believes Ihe health care crisis could be solved if small businesses and individuals could deduct] 00 percent of health insur- ance premiums.