By Jess Cohen
In case you missed it last week, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper disrupted Republicans’ plan to give $72 billion to ICE with his amendment to block taxpayer handouts for Tina Peters and convicted election criminals from Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion slush fund. Republicans left town rather than facing Hickenlooper’s amendment.
“Republicans fled Washington instead of voting on my amendment to stop Tina Peters from getting a payout from Trump’s corrupt taxpayer slush fund,” said Hickenlooper posted on X/Twitter when Republicans gave up their plans last Thursday. “There’s no way we’ll let them get away with this. Every day that Congress doesn’t send another penny to Trump’s secret police is a win.”
Hickenlooper has refused to accept ICE’s lawlessness. He has voted against funding for ICE, shown up at ICE facilities for oversight visits, and helped Coloradans who are detained. Hickenlooper has helped introduce legislation to force their agents to take off their masks, and to protect schools, hospitals, and places of worship from raids.
Republicans will now have to return to Washington after Memorial Day recess to face Hickenlooper’s amendment.
According to Fox 21 News:
The Senate is delaying a $72 billion ICE and immigration bill until next month over a new $1.8 billion fund for people claiming political prosecution. The justice department just launched the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” but some Democrats and a few Republicans worry it could go to people convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Senators were expected to push amendments this week, including Colorado’s John Hickenlooper who wants to block payments to people convicted of election-related crimes, including Tina Peters. This comes after Vice President J.D. Vance said Peters could qualify for the money, calling her a grandmother treated unfairly. But, Hickenlooper disagrees.
“He’s going to include Tina Peters in that,” said Hickenlooper. “Right, so she’s going to be a part of the slush fund. I mean, we will fight that tooth and nail. We will do everything we can in the Senate… in the House.”
Jess Cohen writes for Sen. Hickenlooper’s office.