John Salazar: “The President-elect asked me to leave this U.S. Senate post to help him change the world.”

The Mountain pine beetle epidemic in Colorado and throughout the West is devastating. It is destroying our forests and threatening our communities.

I will take whatever steps are necessary, and within the scope of my authority, to redress improper decision-making regarding endangered species determinations.

I believe it is time we looked for a bipartisan legislation that will once again allow forest-management decisions to be made by those who wear the emblem of the Forest Service.

We have been able to address some of the issues along the urban interface areas, but, as you see, the devastation is incredible in Colorado.