Dear Editor,

Senator Cory Gardner wrote, “I’ll always fight to protect our public lands...”  and then cornered a hypocrisy award. Senators Bennett and Gardner deserve credit for securing permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Gardner however blocked the passage of four carefully-vetted wilderness bills during his 6 years in office.

Widely supported wilderness designation was sought for Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Gardner was requested to support wilderness in the San Juan Mountains, the Thompson Divide near Aspen, and along the Continental Divide. In spite of the broad support, he refused and is the only Republican Senator from Colorado not to sponsor a wilderness bill.

Gardner has supported the dishonest Trump agenda close to 99% of the time.

He accepted millions from the National Rifle Association and, as payback, blocked sensible background checks after the Sandy Hook slaughter.

Gardner is a Climate Change Denier and has supported Trumps’ efforts to allow more damaging methane to be released into the atmosphere from oil and gas drilling. Our supposed public servant has accepted millions from the oil and gas industry.

Gardner forced the Bureau of Land Management to share an office with the oil and gas industry in Grand Junction where they have been forced to roll back environmental protection for public lands.

He supported Trumps’ rollback of dozens of environmental laws, including the weakening of the Clean Air and Water Acts.

He has voted to appoint every toady lobbyist nominated by Trump to manage important federal agencies including the EPA, BLM, and Interior Department.

Gardner sided with McConnell in blocking consideration of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court, and predictably voted for Kavanaugh.

John Hickenlooper cares much more for our state and our future. Please support him with your vote.

Alan Apt
Nederland