Rocky Mountain Voice

Author: External Outlet

Democrats make deal with governor to redirect TABOR refunds to low-income families
Approved, 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
Approved, 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
Approved, 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
AG Weiser files legal complaint against Durango District 9-R for alleged ‘electoral favoritism’
Approved, Press for Transparency, Western Slope

AG Weiser files legal complaint against Durango District 9-R for alleged ‘electoral favoritism’

By Adam Howell | Press for Transparency An illegal election campaign contribution from Durango School District 9-R towards one of its school board members is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser on behalf of the Elections Division of the Secretary of State. The problem of electoral advocacy arose after Katie Stewart – a member of the Durango School District 9-R Board of Education – had announced her candidacy for the General Assembly in House District 59. Earlier this year, questions arose about whether Stewart was capable of serving on both the General Assembly and the school district at the same time. Also in question is the legality of serving both positions at the same time. However, it was in January 2024 when the Durango School Distric...
The poison Ivy League: How taxpayers subsidize wealthy universities
Approved, Heritage Foundation, National

The poison Ivy League: How taxpayers subsidize wealthy universities

By Jay Greene, PhD | Heritage Foundation The federal government provides enormous subsidies to the wealthiest universities in the country. People may imagine that the bulk of these subsidies assist low-income students in covering the high and rising costs of attending these universities, but that is not what the federal government primarily funds. The largest type of subsidy that wealthy universities receive is in the form of payments for overhead costs on federal research grants. During fiscal year (FY) 2022, Ivy League universities received $1.8 billion for overhead on government-funded research grants. That represents 84 percent of the total amount of government subsidy those universities received. Research grants are not subsidies, because every dollar received has to be sp...
Gov. Polis signs Democrats’ $40.6 billion state budget containing $2 billion more in spending
Approved, 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
Korean War Army Col. Ralph Puckett, 97, recipient of Medal of Honor, lies in honor at Capitol ceremony
Approved, National, Stars & Stripes

Korean War Army Col. Ralph Puckett, 97, recipient of Medal of Honor, lies in honor at Capitol ceremony

By STEPHEN GROVES | Stars & Stripes Congress gave one of its highest final tributes on Monday — a lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol — to Ralph Puckett Jr., who led an outnumbered company in battle during the Korean War and was the last surviving veteran of that war to receive the Medal of Honor. Puckett, who retired as an Army colonel, died earlier this month at the age of 97 at his home in Columbus, Ga. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021, the nation’s highest military honor, seven decades after his actions during the war. The lying in honor ceremony at the Capitol is reserved for the nation’s most distinguished private citizens. Only seven others have received the honor, and the latest, in 2022, was Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, who was the last surviving Medal of...
Ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck lets loose in ‘exit interview,’ spilling secrets on Congress
Approved, National, Washington Examiner

Ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck lets loose in ‘exit interview,’ spilling secrets on Congress

By Annabella Rosciglione | Washington Examiner Former Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck shared some of his greatest frustrations and lifted the lid on how Congress works in an interview airing several retiring lawmakers’ thoughts on how the House is operating. Buck, who started representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in 2015, announced his retirement, resigned early, and left his seat wide open. Late last year, he announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, citing “lying” from his party about the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol.  “It has been an honor to serve the people of Colorado’s 4th District in Congress for the past 9 years,” Buck said in a short statement announcing his exit from Congress.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE W...
Gallup poll: Immigration again tops list of most important problems in US
Approved, National, THE HILL

Gallup poll: Immigration again tops list of most important problems in US

By LAUREN SFORZA | The Hill For the third straight month, immigration topped the list of the most important problems for Americans in the Gallup poll. The poll found that 27 percent of Americans said the most important issue facing the country right now is immigration — marking the longest consecutive period in Gallup polling that immigration has been a top issue in the U.S. Twenty-eight percent of Americans said both in February and in March that immigration was the most important problem in the country. February marked the first-time immigration was listed as a top concern since 2019, according to the Gallup poll at the time. The April poll found Republicans were much more likely than Democrats to list immigration as one of the most important issues. READ THE FULL STORY AT...
Donald Trump held in contempt for violating gag order in New York trial
Approved, National, Politico

Donald Trump held in contempt for violating gag order in New York trial

By BEN FEUERHERD and ERICA ORDEN | Politico Donald Trump was held in contempt by Justice Juan Merchan Tuesday morning for social media posts and other statements the former president made that violated a gag order imposed in his Manhattan criminal case. The judge ordered Trump to pay a $9,000 fine — $1,000 for each violation. And he warned Trump that additional violations could land him in jail. “Defendant is hereby warned that the Court will not tolerate willful violations of its lawful orders and that if necessary and appropriate under the circumstances, it will impose an incarceratory punishment,” the judge wrote in an eight-page decision. READ THE FULL STORY AT POLITICO