Trump’s EPA is readying to settle financial claims against the agency for when bumbling bureaucrats created a massive spill at the Gold King Mine under Obama’s watch turning waterways across three states orange.
But now there’s a new roadblock — U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet doesn’t want to actually pay any of those settlements if it comes out of the EPA’s budget.
That’s according to the last few paragraphs buried in a Denver Post article explaining that the agency will have reviewed all 400 claims that resulted from the “accident” by month’s end.
A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said local residents have “waited far too long for compensation” but that the Colorado Democrat wouldn’t support any proposal that would require a substantial cut from the EPA.
“Michael does not believe it’s necessary to erode the EPA’s budget … in order to pay the claims,” said Samantha Slater, his spokeswoman, in a statement.
Exactly who does Bennet think should pay for the EPA disaster if not the EPA?
Perhaps he thinks the money should come out of food stamps or Medicare? Or there’s the Democrat’s favorite playbook, raid Social Security.
Bennet’s refusal to support payments from the EPA is breathtaking in its arrogance.
He’s actually standing with polluters against the victims whose lives were impacted and businesses that were hurt by the government’s incompetence.
It’s a slap in the face to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and the Navajo Nation.
Environmentalists will probably look past this, but voters won’t. Bennet can kiss his presidential aspirations bye-bye.