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RMV Contributor: When public office becomes a family business on the taxpayer’s dime
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RMV Contributor: When public office becomes a family business on the taxpayer’s dime

By RMV Contributor | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Elon Musk has exposed the grift of the politically-connected who abuse their access and offices to convert public dollars to private gain using tax-funded, non-governmental organizations (NGOs, typically non-profits). We have uncovered a local politician here in Colorado who appears to be doing this – and both she and several family members are benefitting financially. The politician in question is Lorena Garcia, the state house lawmaker for District 35, representing parts of Adams and Jefferson Counties.  Garcia was appointed to the Colorado legislature in early January 2023 after Adrienne Benavidez resigned for unspecified reasons (the mess created by questionable resignations and vacancy appointments in Colorado i...
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Epp: Shake Ups at CDoS — Is a Perkins Coie Alum Now Running CO Elections?
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Epp: Shake Ups at CDoS — Is a Perkins Coie Alum Now Running CO Elections?

By Ashe Epp | Colorado Free Press On Wednesday, the Secretary of State issued a much anticipated response to President Trump’s Election Integrity EO. Jena hasn’t posted on X since November, and the department has been quiet — hence the “much anticipated” billing. The release fell flat. But the header information is news. The Deputy Secretary of State is listed as Andrew Kline. What happened to Christopher Perry Beall? There has been no official announcement that (former?) Deputy Secretary Christopher Perry Beall left the Department. It’s an explosive development.  Colorado Free Press spoke to a county clerk that confirmed, “[He] told us Monday he took a five week sabbatical. He said he used to work for Phil Weiser, and he was going to go back to being a l...
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Holistic health practitioners fight back against HB25-1220’s threat to medical freedom
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Holistic health practitioners fight back against HB25-1220’s threat to medical freedom

By Tori Ganahl, Rocky Mountain Voice A new bill moving through the Colorado General Assembly, HB25-1220, is drawing sharp criticism from holistic health practitioners and nutritionists, who argue it amounts to government overreach that could criminalize alternative health practices and limit consumer choice. Proponents say the bill is necessary to protect public health by ensuring only qualified professionals provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT). The legislation would create the State Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, with the authority to license, regulate, and discipline professionals practicing medical nutrition therapy. Under the bill, individuals offering nutrition services must obtain a state license by September 1, 2026, or face penalties, including a class two misdemean...
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Hancock: Progressives set the stage, but Congressman Evans skipped the guillotine
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Hancock: Progressives set the stage, but Congressman Evans skipped the guillotine

By Michael A. Hancock | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice When political opponents are summoned not for conversation — but for execution. By now, the script is all too familiar. A group of self-styled “concerned citizens” — usually bearing placards, hashtags, and an unshakable belief in their moral certitude — convenes a town hall. They claim to be opening a forum for “dialogue” with their congressional representative.  But the scene is less Lincoln-Douglas debate and more kangaroo court. Their goal? Not to converse but to corner. Not to listen, but to lambast. And when the lamb refuses to volunteer for the slaughter, the howling begins. Such is the latest political scenario in the district of Congressman Gabe Evans, a conservative legislator whose greatest sin — acco...
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Did Grand Junction’s City Council enable a pay-to-play deal?
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Did Grand Junction’s City Council enable a pay-to-play deal?

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice When the City of Grand Junction accepted a $3 million donation from Intermountain Health (St. Mary’s Hospital) in exchange for naming rights to its new Community Recreation Center (CRC), the deal looked like a win for the community.  But behind that vote lies a contract process that critics say gave some bidders an unfair advantage — a deal many providers never had a fair shot at. A formal ethics complaint filed with the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (CIEC) accuses city officials of shaping a public request for proposals (RFPs) in a way that prioritized money over merit.  Among concerns that contributions guided the RFP process, there’s also allegations that some engaged in negotiating discussions lo...
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Tristan: Democrats are betting on fear to win back power
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Tristan: Democrats are betting on fear to win back power

By George Tristan | Guest Columnist, Rocky Mountain Voice Nearly all the plexiglass barriers have been removed from checkout lines in grocery stores. It is rare to find any of the 6-foot spaced markers that facilitated social distancing. And thankfully, toilet paper is back in full supply on store shelves. However, the fear of COVID lives on. Many people still wear masks – some even don gloves.  A law enforcement officer recently refused to shake my hand when I extended mine to thank him for his service.  Undoubtedly, the most significant recent example of the effect of fear on the human psyche, was the pandemic. The daily uptick in the global death toll gripped the world in fear. It drove the masses to stand in line to inject an experimental drug into their veins tha...
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Profit or patients? The 340B fight that could close Colorado hospitals
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Profit or patients? The 340B fight that could close Colorado hospitals

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice If Senate Bill 25-071 fails, Julie Lonborg says her neighbor could end up driving from Lone Tree to Thornton just to pick up a single prescription. That’s not some theoretical what-if. It’s a glimpse into what hospital leaders say is already unfolding in Colorado, especially for patients in rural communities who depend on access to affordable medication through the federal 340B drug discount program. SB25-071, known as the Colorado 340B Contract Pharmacy Protection Act, aims to stop pharmaceutical manufacturers from placing limits on where and how hospitals dispense discounted drugs to vulnerable patients.  Supporters say it’s the only thing standing between local hospitals and a set of restrictions from out-of-state...
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SB25-003, the $27 million paywall on the Second Amendment
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SB25-003, the $27 million paywall on the Second Amendment

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice It started at 8:00 a.m. By the time the clock neared 10:00 p.m., Colorado House Democrats had passed a bill critics say is the most economically discriminating gun control law in state history. SB25-003 cleared second reading on March 21, advancing despite fierce Republican resistance. Over the course of over 12 hours, GOP lawmakers argued that the bill sets up a pay-to-play structure that burdens working-class Coloradans, rural sheriffs and law-abiding gun owners with costs, bureaucracy and uncertainty. “Senate Bill three has passed second reading. It’s unfortunate for Coloradans, but you need to know the Colorado House Republicans put up a valiant fight for your Second Amendment rights,” Rep. Ty Winter said. https:/...
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Rep. Gonzalez: Colorado doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem
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Rep. Gonzalez: Colorado doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem

By Rep. Ryan Gonzalez | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In the state of Colorado, we are facing over a $1.2 BILLION dollar shortfall. As we are now halfway through the 2025 legislative session, we have seen little progress from the lawmaking majority on making hard and significant cuts to our budget.  Rather than admit the improper allocation of taxpayer dollars, the majority uses this predicament to go after and attack our Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR).  Our state budget this year is over 43 BILLION. In the last 6 years they have gone from a budget surplus to a very progressive spending spree at the expense of taxpayers.  More offices, tax credits, and programs that require funding and eat away at TABOR refunds have been – and continue to be –  the...
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Burke: Colorado leaders cheer women’s soccer while leaving girls vulnerable
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Burke: Colorado leaders cheer women’s soccer while leaving girls vulnerable

By Megan Burke | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Have you heard that Denver is welcoming a women’s professional soccer team and is hoping to build a new women’s soccer stadium? Wow, Colorado must be very supportive of women’s sports, right?  Unfortunately, our leaders will try to sell you on this notion while they have done nothing in this state to protect women’s sports.  In recent years, the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports has become a highly debated issue across the United States, and Denver is no exception. While the city champions itself as progressive and inclusive, it does nothing to protect the integrity and fairness of women’s sports.  In the name of inclusion, we are excluding women and girls from their very own category. Colo...
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