There’s no excuse for Colorado’s U.S. senators missing a significant vote Monday on whether to confirm President Biden’s nominee for Interior Secretary.
The Senate majority leader announced the scheduled vote last Tuesday, and as early as Wednesday forecasters were already predicting the massive snowstorm to strike Colorado Saturday and Sunday.
Both U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper were in Washington, D.C. for votes Thursday.
Why on Earth did Hickenlooper get on a plane to fly to Colorado before the storm, knowing full well he would likely be snowed in and unable to return Sunday night for Monday’s key vote?
I’m so disappointed Denver’s record snowstorm kept me from voting for @DebHaalandNM‘s final confirmation — would have been an AYE, of course!
She shares our goals of protecting public lands, growing our outdoor rec economy, & tackling climate change. Can’t wait to work with her!
— Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) March 15, 2021
Hick’s disappointed? Not nearly as much as Coloradans are that their senators missed a key vote for Interior secretary, the Biden administration official who will have control over all of the state’s public lands.
The Senate has only had 18 days of votes this entire year, and Colorado’s Democrats have already missed one.
Deb Haaland, by the way, was confirmed as secretary by a vote of 51 to 40.
Both Bennet and Hick claim they supported her, despite her refusal to commit to keeping the BLM headquarters in Colorado.
Bennet did not offer an explanation* for his absence or his whereabouts, nor have any social media posts acknowledged the weekend snowstorm.
However, Bennet did express his concern for the situation in Ethiopia.
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the growing reports of crimes against civilians. The Ethiopian government must help end the violence and allow humanitarian workers, human rights monitors, and journalists full access.
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) March 15, 2021
* Bennet has since offered the same sorry excuse as Hick. He chose to fly to Colorado to get snowed in rather than staying in Washington for the scheduled vote.
Congratulations to @Interior Secretary @DebHaalandNM on her historic confirmation!
Storms in Denver kept me from voting last night, but nothing will stop me from working with her to protect our public lands.
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) March 16, 2021