staging.rockymountainvoice.com

State

Democrats make deal with governor to redirect TABOR refunds to low-income families
State, The Colorado Sun

Democrats make deal with governor to redirect TABOR refunds to low-income families

By Brian Eason and Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun Democrats in the Colorado legislature on Tuesday announced a deal with Gov. Jared Polis to make sweeping changes to the state tax code that reduce income taxes and redirect hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer refunds to low-income parents and the middle class. The tax package, spread across a handful of different bills in the final days of this year’s lawmaking term, represents an escalation of the legislature’s recent efforts to reimagine the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — a darling of the conservative movement — as a vehicle for progressive policy. Under the TABOR amendment, the government must refund money to taxpayers when revenue rises faster than the combined rate of inflation and population growth. This fiscal year, it’s...
Caldara: Colorado’s majority Democrats assault free speech
Commentary, completecolorado.com, State

Caldara: Colorado’s majority Democrats assault free speech

By Jon Caldara | Complete Colorado (You can listen to this column, read by the author, here.) Among all protections throughout human existence for political minorities, none greater was ever created before the First Amendment. For the better part of my life, it was classic liberals and the political left who fought for the right of dissent, guaranteeing government shall not abridge speech. It was the cultural warriors of my childhood through school, media and Hollywood who drilled into us themes like: “innocent until proven guilty”; “the ends don’t justify the means”; “I disagree with what you say, but defend your right to say it”; and “dissent is patriotic.” Why? Because the political majority needs no protection for its self-expression. The political minority does. ...
Sheena Kadi, a Democratic Party official, resigns from state treasurer’s office
coloradopolitics.com, State

Sheena Kadi, a Democratic Party official, resigns from state treasurer’s office

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Sheena Kadi, who has served as public information officer and communications director for state Treasurer Dave Young, has resigned effective Tuesday. Kadi is under a protective order issued on behalf of Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, after Kadi accused Herod of being a "sexual predator," using the X account she also used for communications on behalf of the state treasurer. Kadi made more than a dozen accusations on X, many of which remained on her account. A post accusing Herod of sexual assault last December has since been deleted.  In a Feb. 12 ruling, Denver County Court Judge Clarissa Gonzales found Kadi’s accusations not credible and granted Herod a year-long protective order. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Bill declaring Women Veterans Appreciation Day on June 12 headed to Gov. Polis
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Bill declaring Women Veterans Appreciation Day on June 12 headed to Gov. Polis

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A bill led by Eastern Colorado legislators will declare a Women Veterans Appreciation Day, if signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis. House Bill 1236 cleared the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee without objection last week and Monday earned unanimous support of the Colorado Senate. "There's a lot of reasons why we need to celebrate women veterans," said Sen. Byron Pelton, a co-prime sponsor of the legislation in the Colorado Senate. "Being a veteran myself, I know the difference of treatment of myself and those I served with that happen to be female." The bill establishes June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day in Colorado. The other prime sponsors of the bill were Rep. Richard Holtorf and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer. Th...
Gov. Polis signs Democrats’ $40.6 billion state budget containing $2 billion more in spending
coloradopolitics.com, State

Gov. Polis signs Democrats’ $40.6 billion state budget containing $2 billion more in spending

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed the state's $40.6 billion budget for the next fiscal year, which includes $2 billion more in spending. "This bipartisan budget builds a stronger, brighter, and safe future for Colorado where we invest in students, have housing people can afford near work and transportation options, and live in safer communities," the governor said in a statement. There was less money available for this budget than in previous years, noted Joint Budget Committee Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. "But the hallmark of a good budget, is that no matter how much you have, you're listening to your constituents ... prioritizing the funds you have to meet the moment," Bird said.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Barnhart: Abortion is Not Healthcare
Commentary, State

Barnhart: Abortion is Not Healthcare

By Faye Barnhart | Guest Columnist Abortion is not healthcare. Abortion intentionally tortures a child to death. Abortion violates a mother's body to rip away her child by unnaturally stretching her cervix or putting her into preterm labor and painfully dismembering her child or poisoning, starving, or scalding her child so that she delivers a dead baby. There is nothing healthy or caring about that. Abortion is the opposite of healthcare in that it intentionally causes death and unnecessary pain and suffering. There is no reason to intentionally take away the life of a child. Natural childbirth or Caesarean section intended to save the child’s life are safer for mother, too. It is more dangerous for a mother to deliver a dead baby than a living one, as the living child helps posi...
House Republican minority boasts passage of two bills into law, advancing five others they led
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

House Republican minority boasts passage of two bills into law, advancing five others they led

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A pair of bills carried by Republican members of the Colorado House have been signed into law, along with a few other victories as the countdown to closure of the state legislature draws near. There are nine business days left in session, with sine die, the closing day of the session, scheduled for May 8. In an email detailing the successes of the 'Mighty 19' Republicans in the House, noted were the signing into law of Senate Bill 87 sponsored in the House by Rep. Mary Bradfield to ease prescriptions of topical medications and House Bill 1072 sponsored by Rep. Lisa Frizell to protect victims of sexual crimes. Five other bills with Republican support have passed the House. Senate Bill 125 to enact an interstate compact for the placement ...
‘Citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol’, Rep. Holtorf says on Stinchfield
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol’, Rep. Holtorf says on Stinchfield

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Anyone choosing to visit the state's capitol is doing so at their own peril in Colorado, Minority House Whip Rep. Richard Holtorf told Grant Stinchfield during a recent appearance on Real America's Voice. "Denver citizens and Colorado citizens are not safe coming to the state capitol, or the capitol of Colorado," he said in a video clip posted on his Twitter/X account. He's critical of City of Denver budget reductions, some to police in the state's capitol city, at the same time as out-of-control illegal migration, the clip details. He also details a concern toward crime related to illegal immigrants being unable to find work. "When these immigrants can't find jobs, they're going to turn to crime," Holtorf said. Fluent in Spanish, Holto...
Colorado State University lands $25 million grant to boost methane detection work
Colorado Springs Gazette, State

Colorado State University lands $25 million grant to boost methane detection work

By Scott Weiser | Colorado Springs Gazette The largest and most active methane emissions detection test bed in the world is located in Colorado. It just landed a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its methane leak simulator site in Fort Collins. The Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) is part of a collaboration between Colorado State University and the oil and gas industry to provide an advanced testing facility for new types of methane detecting equipment. The simulator is “eight acres of Hollywood well pads,” said Daniel Zimmerle, director of the methane emissions program at CSU. “I like to call it Hollywood well pads because it looks like well pads, we can make them emit like well pads. So, it is just like a Hollywood set except it...
Amendments to Colorado’s school finance formula could move opponents closer to support
coloradopolitics.com, State

Amendments to Colorado’s school finance formula could move opponents closer to support

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics With more than a dozen amendments being added to the new school finance formula, outspoken opponents that have come out against the measure may move closer to a position of support. As reported by Colorado Politics Thursday, the bill that would revamp the state's school finance formula was amended in the House Appropriations Committee Friday morning. HB 1448 starts with the base per-pupil funding, excluding high school students and online enrollment. Then, it adds in at-risk funding, money for English language learners, and special education. The cost-of-living factor would be applied after that, along with a locale factor, a district size factor, and then "extended" high school and online funding. The cost is estimated at around $500 milli...