Reps sacrificing public health for profit

I am deeply disturbed by the blatant disregard for public health by the Trump administration. Our health should not be a political issue, let alone a partisan one.

The value placed on the health of the people and the planet pales in comparison to the value of corporate profit in the medical, agribusiness and energy sectors. Rep. Scott Tipton and Sen. Cory Gardner's positions reflect that of their party: that "regulations kill jobs."

The obvious implication of small government and lack of regulation is the continued rape and pillage of the environment and therefore of the health of "We The People."

Many studies in medical literature document the health effects of fossil-fuel extraction on people and on the planet, which makes sense since our air, water and soil have such a great (but nonetheless, denied) effect on human health.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health published Fracking industry wells associated with premature birth on Oct. 8, 2015. Endocrine disruptors have been documented in the water in Garfield County (Rep. Tipton's district): "Estrogen and androgen receptor activities of hydraulic fracturing chemicals and surface and ground water in a drilling-dense region." (Endocrinology. 2014 Mar;155(3):897-907). Physicians for Social Responsibility has voluminous material on the health effects of fracking (http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health).

Nonetheless, Tipton spearheaded the repeal of the Methane Flare Rule, instituted by the Environmental Protection Agency in March 2016, stating: "The finalized methane emissions rule will have a negligible impact on air quality, while creating a significant new regulatory paperwork and red tape burden on energy producers ..." (https://tipton.house.gov/press-release/tipton-statement-epa-methane-rule).

The largest methane cloud in the U.S. affects our health, while the wasted methane affects our economy.

Interestingly, neither elected official will have a town hall meeting despite multiple requests, though Tipton found time to meet with the Southwest Colorado Livestock Association in Cortez on Feb. 11, and he and Gardner (who referred to us as "paid protesters" when he was overwhelmed by our input) spoke to the Alamosa County Republicans on March 4.

If our government is of, by and for the people, why is our health not a higher priority?

Lauri Costello, M.D.

Durango