John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet hold Senate spending votes over NCAR

The U.S. Senate adjourned for the year without passing a major appropriations package after Colorado’s senators held up the bills over the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.

U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet objected Thursday night to an agreement on preliminary votes connected to the five-bill package, which would fund more than 85% of the federal government through next September, The Hill reported. The outlet said their demand to keep NCAR open led to the collapse of hopes for a bipartisan deal before the Senate’s adjournment, kicking the debate into January.

On Tuesday night, Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, confirmed plans to shut down the renowned climate research center and move “vital activities such as weather research.”

“President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration,” Hickenlooper and Bennet said in a joint statement. “His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country. We are holding the Senate’s appropriations package to demand full funding for NCAR.

“As Trump’s rampage continues, we will pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado.”

In announcing the NCAR decision, Vought called the center “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.” But scientists defended NCAR and pointed out that its work goes well beyond investigating climate change.