Gardner Takes Another Long Weekend After Failing to Act on Jobless Aid That 330,000 Coloradans Depend On

Two & A Half Months Since House Democrats Took Action, GOP Spends Another Week “Bickering” as Gardner Fundraises

72 Days Ago, Gardner Said Going on Recess Would be “Unfathomable”

Denver, CO - Senator Cory Gardner and Senate Republicans have taken another long weekend -- adding to their two vacations and week of “bickering” -- while failing to act to restore emergency unemployment insurance for the 330,000 Coloradans who were depending on the payments to pay the bills and support their families. After breaking his promise that there was “no doubt” emergency insurance would be extended, Gardner admitted that he supports slashing the emergency unemployment payments, saying the lifeline creates “unfair competition.” 

Gardner’s GOP is pushing to slash the program by two-thirds, cutting relief that hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are depending on by $1600/month. House Democrats passed sweeping pandemic relief legislation more than two and a half months ago that would have fully funded the emergency unemployment insurance program, but Gardner and the Senate GOP have refused to even discuss the bill. 

Coloradans across the state have protested and written to their newspapers demanding that Gardner take action to extend emergency unemployment payments and provide the urgent support Colorado schools and hospitals need. 

But instead, Gardner continues to side with his party bosses and corporate special interests -- this week, he held a high-dollar private fundraiser with Lindsey Graham. 

Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Eli Rosen:

“Instead of working for the 330,000 Coloradans who are relying on the federal emergency unemployment boost to put food on the table, Senator Gardner is taking a long weekend and failing Coloradans yet again. ‘Unfathomable’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

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