Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

Fabbricatore to be joined Thursday at Aurora rally for border security by U.S. Reps Boebert, Roy
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Fabbricatore to be joined Thursday at Aurora rally for border security by U.S. Reps Boebert, Roy

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When Colorado Gov. Jared Polis termed the alleged gang infiltration of an apartment complex in Aurora "imagination" and his allies alleged it to be right-wing conspiracy, John Fabbricatore acted. He confirmed activity of the violent Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua in Aurora and his X/Twitter account became a tip line. “I am greatly concerned about the uptick in crime, gang presence and flood of fentanyl acrossour borders," Fabbricatore said. "The Biden-Harris administration has allowed floods of unvetted illegal migrants to cross our borders." The former regional director of ICE and the Republican nominee in Colorado's 6th District for the U.S. House will be joined Thursday by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, and U.S. Rep. Chip ...
Jack: Initiative 138 reminds us to beware of the Greeks, even those bearing gifts
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Jack: Initiative 138 reminds us to beware of the Greeks, even those bearing gifts

By Bill Jack | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Once again, the nanny state is seeking to invade the jurisdiction of parents and the family.  This time, however, government overreach is cleverly disguised as a gift to parents. Initiative 138, appearing on this November’s ballot, allegedly guarantees parents will always have the right to direct the education of their children through school choice. Read the fine print and you will see the threat hidden within the gift. These words will be added to the Colorado Constitution: “Each K-12 child has the right to school choice.” Those words are the Trojan Horse that mask an invasion by a hostile state into parental rights.  What appears to be the surrender by the state to parental rights hides within its belly the invasion of stat...
Libertarian Joss withdraws from 8th District race, endorses Evans in bid to unseat Caraveo
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Libertarian Joss withdraws from 8th District race, endorses Evans in bid to unseat Caraveo

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice In a race which could be decided by a paper-thin margin, 8th District U.S. House Republican nominee Gabe Evans may have just drawn the most valuable endorsement. Eric Joss, the Libertarian Party's nominee for the 8th District, has announced his decision to withdraw and offer his support to Evans. It could be a 2% or better swing in the race. "Leadership means you listen to your constituents and come to a consensus on common things," Joss said. "A few weeks ago we were far apart on some common issues, and now we're a whole lot closer." Evans has signed what was described as Liberty Pledge 2.0, agreeing to support many liberty issues, if elected to Congress. "One of the big sticking points [previously] was we had to agree to abolish the i...
What’s on the ballot? In Denver, tax increases, new debt, nearly $1 billion school bond
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

What’s on the ballot? In Denver, tax increases, new debt, nearly $1 billion school bond

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice A variety of topics will confront Denver voters on the November ballot, decisions which could shape the future of Colorado's capitol city. Voters will be asked about whether to allow illegal immigrants to serve in the fire and police departments, to weigh-in on a pair of bans related to animal fur and livestock slaughter, collective bargaining, tax increases and a nearly $1 billion bond package for Denver schools. That's all before Denver voters consider statewide measures on the ballot. Following is a brief look at each ballot item with links to the full ballot measure text provided, when available. The descriptor may not end up being the ballot title: Affordable housing funding: The measure would, if passed, increase the local sales tax...
Hardin: In Colorado, gray wolves is a battle between conservation, hunting and rural livelihoods
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Hardin: In Colorado, gray wolves is a battle between conservation, hunting and rural livelihoods

By Amanda Hardin | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The reintroduction of gray wolves into Colorado has become one of the most contentious environmental debates in recent years, stirring passionate arguments from wildlife advocates, hunters, ranchers and conservationists. The plan, which was solidified by the passage of Prop. 114 in 2020, calls for the restoration of gray wolves to their historic range in the state. While this move has been celebrated by some as a victory for biodiversity and ecological balance, it has also sparked significant controversy, particularly regarding its implications for land conservation, hunting practices and rural livelihoods. The Case for Reintroduction Proponents of gray wolf reintroduction argue that the species plays a crucial role in main...
Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’

By Joel Sorenson, commentary | Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday, August 17th , one of the newest grassroots organizations, the ElPaso County Young Republicans, revived an old GOP tradition called the “TeddyRoastavelt,” as a call back to the more successful days of the party and a promise towrite a new energetic chapter in local Republican politics. Steve and Lisa Brandt generously hosted the Young Republicans at their barn in BlackForest, and the event was attended by many of the group’s over-100 engaged youngconservatives as well as many local elected officials, including CD5 Republicannominee Jeff Crank. The event was designed to officially launch the campaign efforts of the organization,which had been building momentum throughout the summer at a slate of socialsincluding a trek...
Evans tours southern border near El Paso, criticizes that Caraveo has not
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Evans tours southern border near El Paso, criticizes that Caraveo has not

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Gabe Evans, the Republican nominee for the 8th District seat in the U.S. House, visited the southern border near El Paso on Thursday. “The open-border policies of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Yadira Caraveo have had dire results: more deaths, a record number of individuals on the terrorist watch list crossing into the U.S., and record levels of poisonous fentanyl released into the U.S.," Evans said. "In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded an astonishing 2.5 million border crossings, plus an unknown additional number of got-aways." He reports 375 individuals on the terrorist watch list have been apprehended crossing into the U.S., and 99 have been released into the U.S., as of July. Evans is vying to unseat Democrat Caraveo in...
Smrz: Venezuelan Gang Expands In Denver
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Smrz: Venezuelan Gang Expands In Denver

By Jimmy Smrz | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Denver is facing an unprecedented threat as the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) expands its operations into the city. Notorious for its involvement in extortion, kidnapping, and murder, TDA has given its members a “green light” to attack and open fire on Denver police officers, sparking serious concerns about the safety of the city. With local law enforcement already stretched thin by budget cuts and escalating crime, Denver's Mayor Mike Johnston and the city seem ill-prepared for this threat. Global Cartel, Local Consequences TDA’s influence reaches far beyond Venezuela, where it has operated with impunity, and is now taking root in U.S. sanctuary, cities including New York, Chicago, and ...
Sloan: RFK Jr.’s Trump endorsement redefines the Kennedy legacy
Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sloan: RFK Jr.’s Trump endorsement redefines the Kennedy legacy

By KELLY SLOAN | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice We have discovered, over these last few months, that even the surname “Kennedy” is no longer adequate insulation against the ire of the current Democratic Party. Stalwart party loyalists and an unsympathetic media never much cared for Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s quixotic attempt to unseat President Biden anyway, but his withdrawal from the race and subsequent endorsement of Donald Trump proved almost too much for some of the more hysteria-prone out there. Lawrence O’Donnell, never one for sober analysis or circumspection, called RFK jr. “the Jeffery Dahmer of the animal kingdom” – presumably a reference to his propensity for dumping dead bears in Central Park and cutting up whale carcasses for ease of transport, an activity which has evide...
Some counties did not lower levies as assessments increased, gouging taxpayers, Rep. Taggart says
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Some counties did not lower levies as assessments increased, gouging taxpayers, Rep. Taggart says

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The reason lawmakers in the 74th General Assembly are back in session boils down to one reason, Republican Rep. Rick Taggart says. Some county governments did not adjust their mill levies while property owners received assessment increases in a double-whammy. "I understand they are concerned, but they had a windfall and could have helped our taxpayers by adjusting their mill levies," Taggart said. "Quite honestly, had they done that we probably wouldn't be here today. [Amendment] 50 and [Prop.] 108 probably wouldn't exist. That's the reason why we are here." He used two counties as examples of the gouging taxpayers have faced. "Adams County had additional revenues of $288 million. That's an increase of 23.3%," Taggart said. "In my caree...