WASHINGTON – Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Senate, leaving Colorado’s two Democratic senators in the minority.
“Obviously, this is a whole new ballgame,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, in a postelection interview. Efforts to reach Sen. Michael Bennet were unsuccessful for this story.
Hickenlooper has served in the Senate since 2021, making this the first time he has served in the minority. The new Senate majority leader, John Thune, said Republicans will do everything they can to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
Hickenlooper said he remains focused on prioritizing Colorado, although his “options are limited.”
“What I hear is that they want to break and disrupt everything,” Hickenlooper said. “But not so much that people get too angry.”
Hickenlooper said it is “unclear what their (Republicans’) stance is going to be” on bills like the Gold Kings Mine Compensation Act which was introduced in September. The bill would bring compensation to those impacted by the 2015 Gold King Mine spill.
Under the last Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency had taken no action to compensate those directly impacted by the spill. If passed, the bill would direct the EPA to evaluate compensation claims and settle them within 180 days.
“People have identified funding,” Hickenlooper said. “I don't think they'll go back on that.”
The change in majority also threatens the senators’ subcommittee chairmanships. The majority party member with the greatest seniority on a committee traditionally serves as chair.
Bennet served as the chair of the Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources subcommittee and chair of Taxation and IRS Oversight. Hickenlooper served as the chair of the Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Data Security subcommittee and the chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety.
The Senate also confirms judges and Trump’s cabinet appointees.
Trump took to X and said he wants the power to appoint while the Senate is in recess. Historically, appointing on recess is uncommon, because when Congress is in recess for over 10 days the Senate holds an informal pro forma session to prevent any appointments during recess. If appointed on recess, the judges’ appointment would end at the beginning of the next session unless approved by Congress.
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2024
Although Trump’s recess appointment idea was something Hickenlooper had not heard of, newly elected Senate Majority Leader John Thune said recess appointments would be an option he would consider.
“We expect a level of cooperation from Democrats to work with us to get these folks installed,” Thune said. “Obviously, we will explore all options to make sure that they get moved quickly.”
For a vote to pass the Senate there must be a 60 vote majority. Therefore, the Democrats have some leverage when it comes to blocking Republican legislation. The 60 vote majority does not apply to any budget-related bills or appointees. Hickenlooper said there would be more protection on legislation like the Clean Water Act.
“If you want to take away people's right to have clean water, put that at risk, they'll never get 60 votes,” Hickenlooper said. “I don't believe that's going to happen but we're going to have to see.”
Maria Tedesco is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at mtedesco@durangoherald.com.
