Rep. Ty Winter pushes rural pharmacy protections and advance discussion on nuclear energy for Southeastern Colorado
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Representative Ty Winter described bipartisan pharmacy reimbursement fixes aimed at preserving independent rural pharmacies and outlined efforts to study permitting and economic development opportunities tied to nuclear energy and baseload power for Southeastern Colorado and Pueblo County.
Representative Ty Winter told the Capital Success Group that protecting rural independent pharmacies and exploring nuclear energy permitting are priorities for Southeastern Colorado.
On independent pharmacies: Winter described statewide legislation designed to preserve independent pharmacies and ensure fair reimbursement and dispensing fees for rural outlets. Citing on-the-ground reporting and conversations with pharmacists, he said some independent pharmacies face unsustainable reimbursement rates and that the law seeks to ensure fair pharmacy reimbursement and a dispensing fee to preserve local access. ``What this bill does is make sure that there's a fair reimbursement rate, and they also get a dispensing fee,'' Winter said.
On nuclear energy and economic base: Winter outlined a multi-pronged push to open permitting and study pathways for nuclear energy in Colorado as part of a broader strategy to replace lost jobs and tax base in coal-impacted counties. He said the aim is to create a regulatory framework that would allow localities to consider nuclear development as an option and to capture severance-like revenues where applicable. ``I think a lot of people in this room realize that... This nuclear energy thing's a huge thing for this county and this town because we made sure that you can catch severance tax off of this. Does that mean Pueblo has to build a nuclear plant? No. You guys still have control over what you're gonna do,'' Winter said.
Why it matters: Winter framed both efforts as economic survival measures for rural communities facing industry decline. He emphasized that permitting changes and clearer fiscal analysis of state-level mandates would help counties evaluate tradeoffs and hold larger jurisdictions accountable for policies that have local impacts.
Next steps: Winter said he will continue working with sponsors in the legislature to develop permitting language, fiscal notes and outreach to affected communities; he also urged county leaders to insist on transparent fiscal-impact assessments for future state mandates.