Rocky Mountain Voice

Author: External Outlet

York: Medicaid, The Big Beautiful Bill—and Obama’s revenge
Washington Examiner, Approved, National

York: Medicaid, The Big Beautiful Bill—and Obama’s revenge

By Byron York | Commentary, Washington Examiner MEDICAID, THE BBB, AND OBAMA’S REVENGE. It’s reasonable to view the angry debate over the Medicaid provisions of the recently signed-into-law One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with Democrats accusing President Donald Trump and Republicans of taking away healthcare from millions of people, as the inevitable result of the scheme that then-President Barack Obama and Democrats set in motion in 2010. Back then, many in the party wanted to create a single-payer national healthcare system but did not have the political support to do so. So Democratic leaders debated among themselves about how to get as far as they could with their existing (big) majorities in the House and Senate. After much effort, they came up with the Affordable Care Act, better...
Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control
Colorado Politics, Approved, Commentary, Local

Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control

By Kim Gilmartin | Commentary, Colorado Politics In response to a recent CoPo column about John Adams Academy Douglas County (JAADC), columnist Paula Noonan’s opinion piece is heavy on rhetoric and light on facts. As a co-founder of JAADC, I am compelled to correct the misinformation and misleading claims for the sake of the public, not the punditry. First, one of the core accusations, that JAADC’s curriculum is outdated, narrowly ideological and dismissive of modern disciplines like science and technology, could not be further from the truth. JAADC’s curriculum includes a full complement of science and math courses grounded in logic, inquiry and observation, which are foundational elements of the scientific method. Classical schools nationwide are not only producing though...
El Paso County sheriff transfers 19 illegal immigrant offenders to ICE
denvergazette.com, Approved, Local

El Paso County sheriff transfers 19 illegal immigrant offenders to ICE

By Aidan Hulting | Denver Gazette Nineteen people who the El Paso County Sheriff's Office says were in the country illegally, and have allegedly committed crimes in El Paso County, are now in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. This marks the second list the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has released this summer detailing its ongoing cooperation with ICE. “As part of our continued commitment to transparency, I am once again releasing a list of individuals and their associated criminal charges related to the safe and secure transfer of custody to our federal partners at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “We will continue to provide this information in a timely manner to demonstrate compliance with Colorad...
Gazette editorial board: ‘Sam’s Story’ is a tragic testimony to Colorado’s marijuana crisis
denvergazette.com, Approved, State

Gazette editorial board: ‘Sam’s Story’ is a tragic testimony to Colorado’s marijuana crisis

The Gazette editorial board | Commentary, Denver Gazette It’s both embarrassing and galling that an elected University of Colorado regent — who also happens to be the state’s most politically connected marijuana dealer — tried to squelch a public health campaign alerting parents to the perils her products pose to our youth. Denver pot shop owner and first-term CU Regent Wanda James at first claimed, preposterously, the campaign was racist. Then, she denounced it as “recycled junk science” even if — oops — its author was no less an authority than the Colorado School of Public Health. Outrageously, she even tried to use her clout to crush the campaign. It all backfired on James last week. The Board of Regents voted to censure her for her misuse of her public office in a shameless bi...
Joondeph: The rise of Democrat theater kids isn’t politics—it’s performance art
American Thinker, Approved, Commentary, National

Joondeph: The rise of Democrat theater kids isn’t politics—it’s performance art

By Dr. Brian C. Joondeph | Commentary, American Thinker Theater kids, especially those in politics, are described as those who are overly dramatic, prone to theatrical gestures, insincere, and unnecessarily showy. Google’s AI highlights several characteristics of theater kids: Performance – Politicians’ public personae are like acts on a stage, focusing on presentation and emotion rather than substance or real engagement with their constituents. Cringe factor – In trying to seem relatable, “one of the gang," they come off as inauthentic, forced, awkward, and embarrassing.  Lack of authenticity – The term “theater kid” is a pejorative, suggesting that the politician is insincere and only performing to advance their political agenda or goals. Negative connotation...
House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Freshman state Rep. Carlos Barron, R-Fort Lupton, has been selected as the House Minority Whip, the Republican caucus announced Monday.  “I’m honored to serve as Caucus Whip and thankful for the trust of my colleagues,” said Barron. “Together, we’ll work to protect our rights, strengthen our economy, and stand up for Colorado families.” Barron will replace Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, who announced last month that he would be resigning from the legislature in September.  Barron, who also serves on Fort Lupton's City Council, was elected to the General Assembly in 2024. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for over two decades.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown
State, Approved, Colorado Politics

Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Amid the staccato of legislation that Democrats at the Colorado Capitol adopted to expand what sponsors described as transgender "rights," a growing number of parents are pushing back, arguing that the state government has overreached, impeding their ability to raise their children the way they see fit. In the last few years, parents — and their allies in the Colorado General Assembly — have become more vocal in their opposition to proposals championed by progressive groups. "I think everyone is concerned," said Colleen Enos, director of government relations for Christian Home Educators of Colorado. "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, Republican or independent, everyone is concerned about what's happening and how the state is trying to...
Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam
State, Approved, Colorado Freedom of Information

Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam

By Jeffrey A. Roberts | Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press, broadly stating that “every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject.” Should it also guarantee freedom of information? An ad hoc group that includes the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is exploring that idea this summer for a possible ballot initiative in 2026. The impetus is what seems to be a backsliding in the General Assembly on government transparency matters: The legislature exempted itself from major portions of the Colorado Open Meetings Law in 2024 and lawmakers next year will likely try for a third straight session to weaken the Colorado Open Records Act. Also involved in the ...
Deep State DC Bureaucrats Go Global in effort to Sabotage Trump from Overseas
National, Approved, The Daily Caller

Deep State DC Bureaucrats Go Global in effort to Sabotage Trump from Overseas

By Reagan Reese | The Daily Caller Fired officials of the shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department are teaming up in an effort to combat Trump as they worry about the “future of democracy” under his leadership, according to NOTUS. The State Department moved to cut USAID, with the agency officially closing its doors July 1. Now former USAID and State officials are finding ways to undermine Trump, ganging up together to hold workshops on the topic of “noncooperation” to help build a community willing to engage in minor rebellious acts and perhaps eventually a national strike, former officials told NOTUS. “Take it from those of us who worked in authoritarian countries: We’ve become one,” a current federal official told NOTUS. “They were so ...
Colorado Child Care Crisis: Nearly Half of a Single Parent’s Pay Goes to Care
State, Approved, kdvr.com

Colorado Child Care Crisis: Nearly Half of a Single Parent’s Pay Goes to Care

By Brooke Williams | KDVR Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Amid a rising cost of living, caring for a child is expensive anywhere in the U.S., but especially in Colorado, according to a new report. Personal finance website WalletHub conducted a study on all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Researchers analyzed the prices of family-based and center-based child care and made adjustments based on median income to rank the states with the highest and lowest costs of child care for both couples and single parents. The study found that in some parts of the country, couples could spend up to 13% of their income on child care, and a single parent could spend 51%. The report notes that both parents are employed in more than two-thirds of families with children, according to the Bureau of Labor Statisti...