At town hall in Eagle, Hickenlooper faces questions about water, inflation, immigration
Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt beginning of the meeting
Scott Miller/Vail Daily
It seemed like most of the town of Eagle’s police force was present Wednesday at Sen. John Hickenlooper’s town hall at the Eagle County Building. It was soon apparent why they were there.
As the town hall kicked off, a trio of protesters, all from Ceasefire Now of the Roaring Fork Valley, began shouting at Hickenlooper, accusing him of enabling “genocide” in the war between Israel and Hamas. The protesters continued, despite calls from other audience members stating they wanted to ask questions of the senator.
Hickenlooper told the protesters he’s long advocated for a ceasefire on both sides of the Middle Eastern conflict, adding he favors a two-state solution between Palestinians and Israelis.
After about 10 minutes, police led the protesters from the room without incident.
After the town hall, Madeline Hughes, Hickenlooper’s deputy press secretary, said protests have become commonplace as the conflict in the Middle East has dragged on.
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Working out immigration
During the question-and-answer period, a resident stated she’s been in the county undocumented for more than 20 years, and asked why it seems newcomers have more opportunity than those who are already here.
Hickenlooper replied that “the way people have been treated at the border is unacceptable,” and noted that Congressional Democrats and Republicans recently hammered out an immigration bill — one he said was short-circuited by former President Donald Trump.
But, Hickenlooper added, “If we started to deport people who have been here … our economy would grind to a halt. You’re noticed, and you’re appreciated, more than you might know.”
Responding to a question about the cost of living, Hickenlooper replied that it seems many young people are pessimistic today.
“There’s no reason not to be optimistic,” he said. “There’s no reason we can’t solve (immigration issues) … it’s daunting, but I’m optimistic.”
Still, there are looming problems, he said, particularly regarding the country’s growing debt. Hickenlooper noted that one-third of the nation’s current budget services that debt.
“We need to do more with less,” he said.
Adam Quinton, an Edwards resident and a member of the Holy Cross Energy board, asked Hickenlooper about potential legislation to slow climate change. The senator expanded his comments to note that the federal government needs to take more effective action regarding climate change. That includes faster approval of projects including transmission lines for clean energy and and pipelines for hydrogen.
Hickenlooper noted that environmental groups’ tactics for years have focused on delaying projects.
“We don’t have that luxury of time,” Hickenlooper said. “We have to have decisions faster than 10 years.”
And, he added, federal departments don’t have strategic plans to address climate change. “If there’s no plan, people will have a hard time embracing (action),” he said.”
Responding to an audience member who asked about inflation and the cost of living, Hickenlooper noted that limited supply and strong demand will drive up prices.
“The ultimate answer is to limit who can come,” he said. “But that’s unAmerican to a lot of people.”
Talking about Shoshone
After the town hall, Hickenlooper took a few minutes to talk about the process of purchasing the Shoshone water right on the Colorado River.
Hickenlooper said he and fellow Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet are “two of the leading voices” in trying to resolve what he called the “crisis” of supply and demand along the river.
Hickenlooper’s work on the river dates back to his two terms as Colorado’s governor, from 2011 to 2019. Work started during that time on the Colorado Water Plan. That plan “demonstrates the state is united” behind the Shoshone water right, Hickenlooper said.
Hickenlooper noted that when he first went to Washington in 2021, he worked to build a coalition of Western legislators similar to the Western Governors Association. He and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Republican, are co-chairs of that group.
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Hickenlooper said he’s been in contact with Bureau of Reclamation Director Camille Touton about finding federal funding to find the remainder of the $99 million purchase price of the Shoshone water right.
“She originally thought she was going to have to pay 80% (of the purchase price),” Hickenlooper said. But with just more than half the price raised through state and local sources, the prospect of federal funding has increased — most likely through the federal “Inflation Reduction Act” of 2022.
While Colorado may have to put in a bit more to the deal, Hickenlooper said he’s confident. The deal, he said, “is a benefit to the whole country.”
