Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

Rocky Mountain Voice

Rep. Soper joining sex-assault victims to urge reform in addressing 400-day rape kit processing delays
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Soper joining sex-assault victims to urge reform in addressing 400-day rape kit processing delays

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In Colorado, when someone is raped, it may take more than a year before a district attorney can assess the evidence and open an investigation. The problem is because of long delays in processing rape kits, which takes more than 400 days now, exceeding the state’s 90-day goal.  To put the rape kit backlog issue into perspective, investigations cannot begin without the results of the forensic analysis, making the overall delay even more damaging. "The longer we're delaying the ability for the criminal justice system to even begin — not just to complete a trial, but for law enforcement and prosecutors to start an investigation — justice is completely stalled," said Republican Rep. Matt Soper, who represents District 54 in th...
Read More
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd joined by constituents while taking ceremonial oath of office
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd joined by constituents while taking ceremonial oath of office

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In consideration of constituents who elected him, and were not able to be at his swearing in, or who may have traveled to the inauguration, only to have it moved indoors, U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-3rd District, invited people to the U.S. District Court house on Monday, Jan. 27, to attend a ceremonial swearing into office. The Hon. Gordon Gallagher presided over the ceremony, where there was a standing-room only crowd.  “We are here today for the ceremonial swearing in of Congressman Jeff Hurd. I say ceremonial because the 119th Congress was officially sworn in several weeks ago in Washington, D.C., and he is already hard at work," Gallagher said. Judge Gallagher had obviously given a great deal of thought to his ceremon...
Read More
Ganahl: The actions of Gov. Polis and Democrats speak louder than words — Colorado is a sanctuary state
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Ganahl: The actions of Gov. Polis and Democrats speak louder than words — Colorado is a sanctuary state

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Despite Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' assertions to the contrary, the state has increasingly been adopting policies and laws that align with the characteristics of a sanctuary state, significantly limiting the enforcement capabilities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within its borders.  Discussions have been vibrant on the topic of whether Colorado should be considered a sanctuary state, given the state's legislative actions over the past few years. One of the most significant pieces of legislation is HB23-1100, which fundamentally restricts local governments' ability to contract with ICE for the detention of immigrants in local jails. This bill also bans the establishment of private immigration detention centers in...
Read More
Rep. Luck questions why tribal members aren’t part of Colorado’s American Indian Affairs Committee
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Luck questions why tribal members aren’t part of Colorado’s American Indian Affairs Committee

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Whether tribal members should be provided a place on Colorado's American Indian Affairs Committee was a consideration for a pair of House members Monday during a hearing for House Bill 25-1057 in front of the State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. "We listen, we pay attention and we learn," said Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, a prime sponsor of the bill establishing the five-year American Indian Affairs Interim Committee. The committee's purpose is to "examine issues and challenges that impact American Indian Tribal Nations," the bill summary reads. It would consist of six members of the general assembly who serve for the duration of the committee, outside of a resignation or are no longer in office. The committee can meet up...
Read More
Gaines: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Trump directives vs. his Red Flag Law position
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Gaines: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Trump directives vs. his Red Flag Law position

By Cory Gaines | Guest Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project I saw a recent CPR article about the conflict between Trump's directives on immigration and Colorado's sanctuary state laws. In that article, the reporter put up a statement by our own Colorado Attorney General (and gubernatorial candidate) Phil Weiser. That statement is in the screenshot linked above. I thought it would make an interesting contrast to compare what AG Weiser said re. Trump policy vs. Colorado sanctuary law to what AG Weiser said not too long after passage of Colorado's Red Flag Law. I found a couple of CPR articles with quotes from AG Weiser. Both date to 2019, the year of passage for the first iteration of the Red Flag Law. The second link below is to an April 1, 2019 article and the third is t...
Read More
McKenna: Courts will likely decide birthright citizenship, but better route would be constitutional amendment
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

McKenna: Courts will likely decide birthright citizenship, but better route would be constitutional amendment

By Stephen C. McKenna | Guest Commentary, themckennaproject.com Colorado recently joined twenty-one other states in suing the federal government over President Trump’s Executive Order ending birthright citizenship. Setting aside for a moment the argument of whether the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship, I am wondering why so many claim to be so outraged by the idea. In Colorado’s case, it cannot be because gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Phil Weiser has a deep and abiding respect for the constitution. He and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is also eyeing the governor’s mansion, embarrassed Colorado by trying to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot, which the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled 9-0 was unconstitutional. These politicians appear...
Read More
Rep. Luck’s bill to increase transparency in legislation gains broad committee support
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Luck’s bill to increase transparency in legislation gains broad committee support

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If you are not a political insider, the two-month period between electing your state lawmakers to the General Assembly and the filing of bills as the state legislature begins might be filled with radio silence. That's the point of a bill from Rep. Stephanie Luck, a Southern Colorado Republican in District 60. House Bill 25-1069 would seek to increase transparency in the legislative process for all Coloradans. It was heard Monday in the House's State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill would create an online forum for a member of the General Assembly to voluntarily share drafts or titles of bills being considered with the public. "Our constituents seek more than just periodic updates," said Democrat Eliza Hamrick, a ...
Read More
Colorado Farm Show is Jan. 28-30 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley
No Comments
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Colorado Farm Show is Jan. 28-30 at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A winter rite of passage in agriculture returns this week, as the Colorado Farm Show takes place at Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley. The three-day exhibition of farm and ranch equipment, vendors, exhibits, seminars and more takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, and Wednesday, Jan. 29, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Admission is free. A $5 fee for parking assists in funding of youth agricultural scholarships. Read the full schedule of events HERE. See the list of scholarship recipients HERE. See exhibitor maps HERE. See the Greeley Tribune's Farm Show Guide HERE.
Read More
‘Top shelf’ lawmaker Rep. Dan Woog finds inspiration at capitol from his collegiate hockey past
No Comments
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Top shelf’ lawmaker Rep. Dan Woog finds inspiration at capitol from his collegiate hockey past

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Dan Woog doesn’t hesitate when asked which hit was harder — one on the ice as a hockey player or one in politics as an elected official. “Hockey taught me resilience,” said Woog, a former collegiate athlete from Minnesota and the newly-elected House District 19 state representative. “As an athlete, you never quit. You practice, work hard and learn to work with people you might not always agree with.” These lessons prepared him for the highs and lows of his political journey, including his 2022 re-election loss. Hockey, Woog explained, also instilled a drive to persevere through setbacks: “I just believe in the will,” he said. “If we have the will and never give up, great things can happen.”  That drive brought ...
Read More
Garbo: When taxation becomes extortion, we should expose the abuse of power in Colorado’s budget crisis
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Garbo: When taxation becomes extortion, we should expose the abuse of power in Colorado’s budget crisis

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Taxation, at its core, is meant to serve a noble purpose. Governments levy taxes to fund essential services, protect citizens, and ensure the infrastructure of a functioning society. However, there is a fine line between taxation and extortion — a line that is crossed when the power to tax is abused, funds are squandered, and citizens are burdened with excessive financial demands for the benefit of a select few. When those in power exploit taxation to enrich themselves, preserve their influence or mask fiscal irresponsibility, taxation ceases to be a tool for the public good and devolves into an instrument of oppression. This dangerous shift is not new, nor is it without profound moral and spiritual implications. To unders...
Read More