Denver— Today, House and Senate Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly called on Governor Jared Polis and President Joe Biden to reverse harmful energy policies and restore America’s energy independence.
In Colorado and across the country, families’ budgets have already been stretched by record high inflation. Coloradans cannot afford a continued spike at the gas pump.
“In the last few weeks while our national inflation rate continues to rise, we’ve been seeing nearly record-breaking prices at the pump. The families of Colorado cannot afford this. We cannot afford these restrictive energy policies,” said House Minority Leader Hugh McKean (R-Loveland). “Adjusting these policies and allowing Colorado to lead the nation in energy production is one way to address the cost of living in Colorado. Producing and exporting our energy will bring stability and increased capital to Colorado’s economy.”
Legislative Republicans announced a Senate Joint Resolution, which urges Governor Polis and Democrats in the General Assembly to unleash the potential of Colorado energy producers, including responsible oil and gas development and to create energy solutions for the state, tapping Colorado’s vast resources and increasing the issuing of permits to expand oil and gas production and provide long-term economic security for the state.
Furthermore, the Resolution urges Governor Polis and President Biden to support energy policies that ensure long-term American energy leadership and progress by promoting the production of cleaner, environmentally responsible energy resources, preventing domestic and international energy poverty and reducing energy costs for all Americans.
“There is no reason why we should be paying other countries for our energy when we have every opportunity for responsible and environmentally conscious energy production right here in Colorado,” said Senator John Cooke (R-Greeley). “We have a real opportunity here to jump start our economy and bring back high paying jobs to our state. We are calling Governor Polis and our Democrat colleagues to rejuvenate our energy production and unleash the potential of Colorado energy producers.”
“The cost of living in this state has reached a point of crisis.” said Senator Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling). “Compared to 2020, Colorado families are spending thousands of dollars more just on basic needs like food and transportation. The barrage of regulation imposed on this state’s energy production, especially Senate Bill 181, is bleeding the people dry. It has never been more clear that the state of Colorado needs to recommit to oil and gas production. The people of Colorado cannot afford any more hindrances– they need affordable energy now.”
“While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the global oil supply, raising oil prices internationally, decades of harmful and restrictive regulation on energy production in the United States and in Colorado have weakened our national security, causing us to be dependent on foreign oil while the United States has the largest untapped oil supply worldwide,” said Representative Richard Holtorf (R-Akron). “Increasing American energy supply will lead to increased national and international security, allowing the United States to once again step up to its role as a leader of the free world, providing financial stability for the US and our allies abroad. We have the resources to stabilize international affairs and the global economy rather than allowing our adversaries to do so.”
Last year, Colorado Republicans came together to unveil our Commitment to Colorado, one of the key pillars of which is to address the affordability crisis. Throughout the session, Republicans have introduced numerous pieces of legislation to do just that. Tapping into Colorado’s energy supply is another way to respond to the affordability crisis and protect the people of Colorado from increased gas and energy prices.