DENVER– This afternoon, Democrats in the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee killed Senate Joint Resolution 22-008 concerning Colorado Energy Development.
The Resolution, sponsored by Senators Sonnenberg (R – Sterling) and Cooke (R – Greeley) along with Representatives McKean (R – Loveland) and Holtorf (R – Akron), urged Governor Jared Polis and President Joe Biden to support policies to promote the production responsible energy in Colorado, and to take measures to that ensure long-term American energy leadership, security, and progress. The resolution also called on state regulatory agencies to issue more permits to increase the production of energy for use at home and abroad.
The Joint Resolution was killed by Democrats on a party-line vote amidst an unprecedented spike in the cost of energy globally. Exacerbated by an endless barrage of bureaucratic regulation and buttressed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the price of gas has increased by 120% in Colorado since May 2020.
“This resolution merely urged the Governor to rejuvenate the state’s energy production and wean ourselves off of foreign energy dependence,” Senator Sonneberg remarked. “Democrats have only aggravated this affordability crisis and the people of Colorado are paying for it. I am immensely disappointed that our Democrat colleagues failed to act on this.”
“It has never been more clear that the state of Colorado needs to recommit itself to oil and gas production,” Senator Cooke said. “By revitalizing energy production here at home, we can jump-start our stagnated economy by lowering the cost of energy for everyday Coloradans and by creating hundreds of high paying jobs located right here in our state.”
Rep. McKean said, “This resolution would have addressed long-term solutions to Colorado’s affordability crisis; Republicans have not only a vision for the long-term economic stability of Colorado but practical energy solutions to achieve that vision. It is unfortunate that Democrats were unwilling to have that conversation and find a way to move forward.”
Rep. Holtorf said, “Coloradans deserve increased national and international energy security that will increase financial and economic stability across the state and our country. The Western world cannot afford to be reliant on foreign adversaries for their basic energy resources, which has led to skyrocketing prices as the war wages in Ukraine, especially when we have abundant energy resources right here in Colorado. It is saddening to see that Colorado Democrats are unwilling to change their failing policies.”
Earlier this year, Republican legislators unveiled the Commitment to Colorado Legislative Package, which prioritizes policies aimed at making Colorado more affordable.
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