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Author: Brian Porter

HB 1010 an attempt to expand governor’s power, Rep. Hartsook complains
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HB 1010 an attempt to expand governor’s power, Rep. Hartsook complains

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Anthony Hartsook is concerned with the tsunami of bills he sees filtering through the legislature. "Numerous bills expanding government control continue to flood the General Assembly, threatening businesses and economic freedom," he wrote in a report to his District 44 constituency. One example, Hartsook says, is Democrat-led House Bill 25-1010, which aims to protect consumers from "price gouging during a declared disaster." Like many bills floating through the legislature, it does more than its title or brief description might indicate. "This legislation hands unbridled power and authority to the governor to declare a disaster, based on an 'imminent threat,'" Hartsook said. "We’ve seen this playbook before — for 16 months, the ...
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‘This is our Alamo!’: Gun owners rallying March 11 against SB 3 in Colorado House committee
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‘This is our Alamo!’: Gun owners rallying March 11 against SB 3 in Colorado House committee

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A bill which some gun advocates say would lead to extinction of their rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday, March 11, in the House's Judiciary Committee. Senate Bill 25-003, led through the upper chamber by Sens. Julie Gonzales and Tom Sullivan, prohibits the transfer, sale and purchase of semiauto firearms with certain exclusions permitted to allow the bill to clear the Colorado Senate on a 19-15 vote, with all Republicans and three Democrats opposed. At issue is whether, in the interest of stemming mass shootings in the state, if Coloradans should sacrifice constitutionally-provided gun ownership rights. Sullivan says the measure works to enforce the "high-capacity magazine ban" from 2014, but othe...
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10 months after hailstorm closed it, Rep. Boebert is demanding reopening of Yuma post office
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10 months after hailstorm closed it, Rep. Boebert is demanding reopening of Yuma post office

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice On the Eastern Plains of Colorado, tornadic storms delivering high wind, hail and damage can be commonplace. Property can be damaged by multiple storms a year. While Adams and Weld counties are known to be the state's top targets for tornadoes, all of Eastern Colorado sits within "Tornado Alley," so coined by U.S. Air Force meteorologists. One of those storms about 10 months ago delivered large hail to Yuma, Colo., and resulted in the closure of the local post office. Some in Yuma recall hail being larger than a baseball and up to the size of a softball. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Windsor, is pleading to get the post office reopened. "I am writing to address the ongoing closure of the Yuma Post Office, which has remainedinoperable due ...
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Richard Holtorf, retired Army colonel, former state House whip and cattle rancher, will seek Colorado GOP chair
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Richard Holtorf, retired Army colonel, former state House whip and cattle rancher, will seek Colorado GOP chair

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Richard Holtorf, a former state representative and the chairman of the Washington County Republican Party, announced Saturday in an exclusive interview with Rocky Mountain Voice his intention to seek the chairmanship of the Colorado Republican Party. "As a longtime Republican in the state of Colorado, knowing the dire straights the party is in due to a failed strategic plan by previous leadership and the enormous infighting because of that," Holtorf said, "and analyzing the field of candidates, I felt Colorado Republicans deserved the best candidate possible." After attending Akron High School in a small Eastern Colorado town where he still resides, some would argue Holtorf had three successful careers, and this could be his fourth. He ser...
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Businessman Steve Sundberg seeking re-election in Aurora’s Ward 2
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Businessman Steve Sundberg seeking re-election in Aurora’s Ward 2

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Around Aurora, some just call him the "one with the beard." Steve Sundberg is a soft-spoken member of the Aurora City Council and serves as mayor pro-tem. He's known to shun the limelight, but more than the beard is a reason he's an easily recognized figure around town. “Having operated a restaurant in Aurora for 28 years and, as the owner the past few, you learnquickly about listening to people and investing in your customers,” Sundberg said. “That’s really what drove my business and my interest in serving these same individuals and families on City Council." Sundberg has announced his intention to seek another four-year term in City Council Ward 2. His priorities have been two-fold: unifying the diverse population of Aurora, and publi...
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‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans
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‘I’m for choice,’ Rep. Crank says, on health services for America’s veterans

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice When about 90% of the Colorado population wants to see a doctor for an ailment, they call for an appointment and generally within a week or less can be seen on a non-emergency. Other times, a family practice physician is known to "fit them in today" to an already booked schedule in an emergency. That's not so for the other 10%, one Army veteran told U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo. Springs, during a town hall this week. "I don't feel like dying for my country as a peaceful citizen," said the veteran, who had to wait one month to be seen with a stroke. "It is absolute hell getting treatment from the VA. Every time you call them, you spend an hour plus on hold." The veteran's name is being withheld from this story to protect his identity. ...
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Kassaw, a political refugee when he arrived 17 years ago, is seeking election to Aurora City Council
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Kassaw, a political refugee when he arrived 17 years ago, is seeking election to Aurora City Council

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Seventeen years ago, Ethiopian-born Amsalu Kassaw was a political refugee when he settled in Aurora. “Aurora is more than a city to me; it’s a symbol of opportunity, diversity, and unity,” Kassaw said. Seventeen years later, Kassaw is asking Aurora to support him once again. Kassaw has announced his candidacy for an at-large seat on City Council. “From my early days of building a new life in America to becoming a proud citizen, this community has shaped who I am today," he said. "Over the years, I have dedicated myself to promoting civic engagement, supporting small businesses and fostering collaboration among diverse communities.” Kassaw was selected last year to fill the unexpired term of Dustin Zvonek. Kassaw is the first Ethiopian i...
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Here’s the facts Rep. Gabe Evans used in hearing that Mayor Mike Johnston disputes
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Here’s the facts Rep. Gabe Evans used in hearing that Mayor Mike Johnston disputes

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice When confronted Wednesday with crime data by U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton, detailing Denver's trends, Mayor Mike Johnston said the former Arvada police lieutenant was confused. "I think you may have some bad facts, and I'm happy to clarify them for you," said Johnston, one of four large-city mayors questioned by the U.S. House's Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In other words, despite his career in policing, Johnston either believes Evans is lying or can't understand crime data. Evans retorted, "I'm happy to show all of the sources for my facts." https://twitter.com/repgabeevans/status/1897406777114681422 And his office did in an email to the media. Following is a glance at those claims by Evans: A report by...
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Rep. Jeff Crank ‘totally opposed’ to ‘just unconstitutional’ SB 3, he says in town hall
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Rep. Jeff Crank ‘totally opposed’ to ‘just unconstitutional’ SB 3, he says in town hall

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice As he debates the policy of the day in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo. Springs, has an eye on Colorado's General Assembly. He's concerned with the passage of Colorado Senate Bill 25-003 out of the Senate and to the House. The bill would prohibit the transfer, sale or purchase of a semiauto firearm not on a government-approved list and not without the taking and passage of government-prescribed classes some gun owners call a "permission slip". It has been called the most extreme gun bill in the country's history. Rep. Ryan Armagost, the co-founder of the House's Second Amendment Caucus, and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners have said the bill could be heard in the House's Judiciary Committee March 11 or 12, although it has not been add...
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Sanctuary mayors broke laws, engaged in ‘an act of treason’ and should be prosecuted, some Republicans say
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Sanctuary mayors broke laws, engaged in ‘an act of treason’ and should be prosecuted, some Republicans say

'We don't ask anyone's status at the time of arrest' — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice At least one member of Congress is referring criminal prosecution of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on grounds he violated his oath and U.S. law, and another alleges him to be a traitor to the country. Those were but two of the allegations the mayor faced during a marathon hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill in the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee pertaining to sanctuary cities. He was joined on a panel by the mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York City. "I've heard you say Denver's crime went down, well Aurora's crime went up," said U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Windsor, Colo., who visited the city this summer ...
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