Bennet’s Empty Chair Costing Rural Colorado

Record Shows Bennet Receives Failing Grade on Ag Committee Attendance

DENVER – Attendance records released today by the Buck for Colorado campaign reveal that appointed Senator Michael Bennet skipped 68% of Senate Agriculture Committee hearings – leaving an empty chair at the negotiation table for Colorado and a failure to provide oversight of a runaway administration.

Bennet’s absence comes as farmers and ranchers continue to face an onslaught of new costly regulations imposed from the Obama administration. The numbers are particularly surprising given Bennet’s statement upon being appointed Senator. According to Senator Bennet’s website, “My first request as a United States Senator was to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.” (Michael Bennet for Senate Website, “Colorado Agriculture and Rural Communities,” bennetforcolorado.com/issues, Accessed10/19/10).

 “While Senator Bennet says his position on the committee provides Colorado ‘a seat at the negotiation table,’ his failure to attend oversight hearings leaves our Colorado agriculture community an empty chair in Washington,” said John Swartout, Buck’s campaign manager.

Senator Bennet’s attendance record appears to contradict his pledge to the Colorado farmers and ranchers and stated on his own website, “I am on the Committee to stand up for Colorado agriculture and to ensure that Washington politics do not diminish a way of life that has been so important to our country’s economic security and fundamental to the spirit of Colorado and the West.” (Michael Bennet For Senate Website, “Colorado Agriculture And Rural Communities,” bennetforcolorado.com/issues, Accessed 10/19/10)

“When Senator Bennet had the opportunity to question EPA administrator Lisa Jackson about the costly consequences of the Obama-EPA job killing regulations, Michael Bennet appears to have been missing,” Swartout continued.“Farmers in particular are worried about the cost of several new regulations being handed down by the EPA – from farm dust to EPA’s backdoor global warming regulations. Perhaps he had a good reason for missing that one hearing.  We expect Coloradoans will want to know why.

“The bottom line is Colorado’s agricultural interests are hurting. The Obama administration is pushing through a number of job-killing regulations that are further harming our farmers and ranchers. Yet rubberstamp Bennet is once again missing in action. Bennet’s failure to hold this administration accountable is yet another reason why Coloradoans will be turning to Ken Buck this election.”

Third generation Colorado farmer Marc Arnush of Weld County had this to say about Bennet’s absences—

“As a third generation farmer and agribusiness-man in Prospect Valley, our family has always prided itself in working hard, treating people fairly while striving for a stronger tomorrow.  When I compare our family's history and tradition to the one Senator Bennet has created for himself in Washington, all I see is a pattern of votes and actions that threaten the future of family farms across Colorado. 

“Bennet’s support of Cap and Trade legislation will most certainly force my operation, and others like mine, out of business through unworkable rules and regulations that are not supported by science, but by fears.  Senator Bennet wouldn't understand the severe consequences to production agriculture with his support of this legislation though; he isn't attending many of the Senate Agriculture Committee meetings to hear us.

“The world belongs to those who show up, and I plan on showing up this November and casting my vote for Ken Buck; someone who understands Colorado Agriculture and takes his responsibilities seriously.”

Importance of Colorado Agriculture Industry

Colorado’s Agricultural Industry Contributes Approximately $20 Billion To The State’s Economy Annually. “Colorado’s diverse agricultural and food industry contributes significantly to the state’s economy -- generating economic activity in the range of $20 billion annually…” (Colorado Department Of Agriculture, “A Snapshot Of Colorado’s Agriculture Industry,” PowerPoint, www.colorado.gov, 3/19/09)

Colorado’s Agricultural Industry Also Supports More Than 100,000 Jobs. (Colorado Department Of Agriculture, “A Snapshot Of Colorado’s Agriculture Industry,” PowerPoint, www.colorado.gov, 3/19/09)

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