Colorado is a relatively small state, so in political matters, it counts on the energy and influence of its congressional delegation to build clout on Capitol Hill and advance the state’s federal interests. That’s the context for the recent critiques of Sen. Wayne Allard.
Ten years after he was first elected, Colorado’s senior senator lurks mainly in congressional shadows. His cloak of invisibility suits his personality but does little to serve the interests of the state or the nation.
Time magazine recently pierced Allard’s invisibility in an article naming him one of the country’s five worst senators. “The veterinarian rarely speaks on the floor or holds news conferences to push his ideas. Few of the bills he has introduced over the past year have passed; in fact, since Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar entered the Senate last year, Salazar’s legislative output has dwarfed Allard’s, even though Allard has the advantages of seniority and of being a Republican in a G.O.P.-dominated Congress,” the article says.
We think Allard is a diligent lawmaker but he squanders any influence he might have with a narrow agenda and by casting his vote without a first or second thought. The White House knows it can count on Allard, and so he is the rare senator whose vote is off limits to leverage or compromise.
In the ways of the Senate, by wielding a rubber stamp, Allard actually reduces his influence with GOP leaders and the White House. He sides with the White House on key issues 98 percent of the time, according to a study by Congressional Quarterly. Even Reps. Tom Tancredo and Marilyn Musgrave – and no one doubts their conservative credentials – aren’t that single-minded. Among Colorado congressional members, only Rep. Bob Beauprez toes the party line as often as Allard.
Allard’s chief of staff, Sean Conway, defends his boss by saying he helped Colorado get an increase in transportation funding last year. However, Colorado still ranks near the bottom in how much money it gets per person for roads and doesn’t get as much money back as it sends to Washington.
In any event, a U.S. senator needs to do much more. There are only 100 of them, after all, and the best ones balance their efforts between work on behalf their state and work on national and international issues.
The senator will direct an oversight hearing next week to review the work of the Government Accountability Office, a rare moment in the congressional spotlight. As the Senate returns from recess, it is a perfect time for Allard to begin showing some independence and relevancy. Advocates should find a man with an open mind when they approach Allard on such issues as tax cuts, environmental protection, budget discipline and Iraq policy. Oh yes, and transportation.
