Rocky Mountain Headlines Roundup
Close-Knit Udalls Split on Budget Issues?
By New West, 4-01-11
Senators and cousins Mark Udall (D-Colorado) and Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), two members of a family nicknamed the “Kennedys of the West,” have different takes on some topical issues, Politico reported this week. While both Udalls have led remarkably similar political careers, Mark recently voted to ban earmarks and has generally acted more aggressively than Tom when it comes to tackling the federal budget deficit.
Despite their differences on fiscal policy, they remain close. In the Politico piece, they attributed their bond in part to having shared an unusual experience while mountain climbing:
Both Mark and Tom Udall grow giddy at the chance to talk about their common passion: mountain climbing. The cousins are fond of recounting the story of their chance encounter while climbing Aconcagua, which at 23,000 feet is the tallest peak in the Americas.
“He was coming down, and I was going up,” Tom said. “It was pretty extraordinary that we were both on the same mountain at the same time without planning it.”
“We’re in a lot of ways closer than brothers,” Mark said. “We’ve cheated death together.”
The cousins’ passion for outdoor recreation often shines through in their legislation. Mark Udall recently sponsored a bill that would make it easier for ski resorts on Forest Service land to host summer activities.
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