Representative Gabe Evans Criticizes Opponent's 'Socialist Vegan' Stance and Proposed 'Vice Tax' on Animal Products
U.S. Representative Gabe Evans (R-CO), representing Colorado's 8th Congressional District, has publicly criticized his Democratic opponent, Manny Rutinel, labeling him a 'socialist vegan' who advocates for a 'vice tax' on meat, dairy, and eggs. During an interview on Breitbart News Daily, Evans stated that Rutinel's proposal aims to significantly increase the prices of animal protein, making them unaffordable, and thereby forcing people to adopt a plant-based diet. Evans highlighted Rutinel's past as an Earthjustice lawyer, where he reportedly sued meat companies, and his founding of Climate Refarm, a nonprofit focused on educating farmers and ranchers about the environmental impact of their practices. Evans emphasized that Rutinel's views are particularly problematic for his district, which he described as the 'beef and dairy capital of Colorado.' He also suggested that Rutinel is attempting to downplay these radical views, despite having expressed them recently.