Rocky Mountain Voice

Author: Brian Porter

Rep. Scott Bottoms declares to church, ‘I am going to run for governor’
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Rep. Scott Bottoms declares to church, ‘I am going to run for governor’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Rep. Scott Bottoms, rated as the second-most conservative member of the Colorado General Assembly, has indicated he will seek the Republican Party's nomination for governor. "I am going to run for governor," Bottoms told members of the Church at Briargate before beginning his weekly Sunday morning sermon. Bottoms, in addition to serving El Paso County in District 15 in the Colorado House, is lead pastor at the Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, and indicated a desire for the church to hear his announcement first. "If I don't get elected, nothing changes, except probably 4-5 bitter sermons for the next few weeks after that," Bottoms said. He is rated by Colorado Liberty Scorecard as one of three legislators among 100 in 2024 to hav...
Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry
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Rep. Winter asks Coloradans to ‘get out to the stock show’ and see the state’s $47 billion industry

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A leading voice of agriculture in the Colorado House, Rep. Ty Winter reminded urban and rural legislators alike Tuesday of the National Western Stock Show in Denver. "Its stock show week here in Denver," said Winter, the assistant minority leader and representative for nine Southeastern Colorado counties. The 119th edition of the National Western Stock Show runs through Jan. 26 with a variety of livestock exhibitions, rodeos and more. "Please get out and see your ag producers," said Winter, in an announcement from the floor of the House. "See what they do to make sure you have food on the table and clothes on your back." Among Winter's district in Southern Colorado is Prowers County, which boasts $430 million in annual agricultural prod...
‘It’s a sad day in Colorado’: Sen. Pelton recalls Bill McCartney era at Colorado
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‘It’s a sad day in Colorado’: Sen. Pelton recalls Bill McCartney era at Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It wasn't an easy life growing up on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, Sen. Byron Pelton recalled Monday for the Colorado Senate. He became a fan of the Colorado Buffaloes and almost no one then was on the Eastern Plains, and still isn't today. Colorado State? Yes. Nebraska Cornhuskers? Yes. Oklahoma Sooners? Maybe. But, Colorado Buffaloes fans were few and far between, he recalled in memorializing legendary Colorado Buffaloes coach Bill McCartney, who died Friday. "It's a sad day in Colorado that we lost him," Pelton said. "I'm so thankful for having him as a part of this great state." In 13 seasons, McCartney compiled a record of 93-55-5, won three Big Eight championships and earned the co-national championship in 1990 in a split with Geor...
‘You can’t win them all,’ but poll by Rep. Barron finds legislators (mostly) believe in Broncos
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‘You can’t win them all,’ but poll by Rep. Barron finds legislators (mostly) believe in Broncos

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If ever there was a vote that should have earned 100% unity between the majority and minority in the Colorado House, this was it. Rep. Carlos Barron, a Republican from District 48 in Weld and Adams Counties, got the first full week of the 75th legislative session started by reflecting on a Denver Broncos wild card playoff loss and the team's future Monday, as he called for approval of the Colorado House journal. "As we all know, our Denver Broncos were eliminated yesterday," Barron began, with a disapproving gasp from House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Democrat. Barron continued, "It is a bittersweet day, but as famous Mexican wrestlers say, 'You can't win them all.' " In the spirit of the Broncos having their best season in a decade behi...
Coloradans are clamoring for ‘unity, action and hope’ Minority Leader Lundeen tells Senate
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Coloradans are clamoring for ‘unity, action and hope’ Minority Leader Lundeen tells Senate

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It's a tough time to be a Coloradan, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen summarized for the Colorado Senate as the 75th General Assembly opened this week. "In recent years, our state has been burdened with policies that are at best heavy-handed, at worst suffocating," he said. Such as, Lundeen said, regulations, fees and the hated 10-cent per-bag fee each time a Coloradan goes to the mini-mart or the grocery store. They are policies that "weigh heavily on the families we are here to serve," Lundeen said. Some have estimated the 10-cent bag fee is a $500 annual tax for the average family. The Republican warned that economic anxieties of Coloradans are real, tangible and growing. "We have passed policies that overreach," he said. "Laws th...
House Republicans launch 23 policy positions in 25-second video to open session
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House Republicans launch 23 policy positions in 25-second video to open session

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If Republican House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese did not make it clear enough Wednesday in her address to the Colorado House upon the opening of the 75th General Assembly, the caucus simplified her words. In a 25-second video also released Wednesday, the caucus shared 23 items which it pledges to address during the session. The first item was the topic of the day on Wednesday: affordability. “This session, the House Republicans remain steadfast in addressing the issues of importance to Coloradans,” she said. “Affordability remains at the forefront of our discussions. You will see that in our legislation.” https://twitter.com/COHouseGOP/status/1877394769120235677 The caucus is further expected to focus on lowering crime, defend TAB...
‘We need our roads fixed’: ‘Peltonia’ Sen. Byron Pelton opens 75th session with reminder for Gov. Polis
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‘We need our roads fixed’: ‘Peltonia’ Sen. Byron Pelton opens 75th session with reminder for Gov. Polis

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, claims to have already been at work for his constituency as the 75th General Assembly opened Wednesday. Luckily, for Pelton, he ran into Gov. Jared Polis, and offered a gentle nudge, as Pelton — who claims to be from a place called "Peltonia" — is apt to do. "The governor was talking to his transportation team and I reminded him that, in rural Colorado, where most of the money is generated in this state — $47 billion of agriculture money — that we need our roads fixed, especially in Senate District 1," Pelton said. It should not be a foreign subject to the governor. Pelton's predecessor in District 1, Jerry Sonnenberg, once famously said: "We have potholes so big you better be wearing your spurs to hang on." ...
Minority Leader Pugliese pledges Republicans will find solutions for all Coloradans in 75th session
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Minority Leader Pugliese pledges Republicans will find solutions for all Coloradans in 75th session

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When Rose Pugliese left behind her children to begin the 75th General Assembly in Denver, as children will do she was asked why she did the job of Colorado House minority leader. "Because the people trusted me to be there, to be their voice," she answered. "They didn't just do that for me, but for everyone there." The 75th legislative session officially opened at 10:09 a.m. Wednesday in the Colorado House. Pugliese addressed the House as the minority leader following the Speaker's election. "This session, the House Republicans remain steadfast in addressing the issues of importance to Coloradans," she said. "Affordability remains at the forefront of our discussions. You will see that in our legislation." Among the areas where the Republ...
One early moment in 75th Legislature demonstrates unity of House Republican caucus
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One early moment in 75th Legislature demonstrates unity of House Republican caucus

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice What's the difference between the Republican caucus in the Colorado House of Representatives and the U.S. House? Unity. On Wednesday, as the Colorado House opened the 75th General Assembly, Republicans displayed unity by unanimously supporting Minority Leader Rose Pugliese to become the Colorado House Speaker. Although her nomination might simply be viewed as symbolic, with Republicans in the minority and Democrat Julie McCluskie later elected on a party-line vote, it showed the caucus to have unified under Pugliese. "It is important to have people on both sides of the aisle for [members] to vote on," said Rep. Scott Bottoms, R-El Paso County, in his nomination of Pugliese. "When we take back the House in a few years, I expect Democrats to...
House opens 75th session with Rep. DeGraaf questioning, if passwords were leaked can election be certified?
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House opens 75th session with Rep. DeGraaf questioning, if passwords were leaked can election be certified?

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It did not take long for the opening of the 75th General Assembly to reach a hiccup Wednesday. Republican Rep. Ken DeGraaf objected to the Colorado House credentials committee report, typically a first order of business when opening the legislature, based upon concerns related to Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office leaking election system passwords. The credentials report is presented to the whole of the House and voted on to start the process of seating representatives. DeGraaf was critical of a system Griswold has self-described as the "gold standard". He rose to state the objection to the credentials report. "This [the password leak publicly] lasted a full four months," DeGraaf said. "This is the keys to the kingdom." His fu...