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Special session ‘robbing the taxpayers of their money’ caused by deception on Gallagher repeal, Rep. Bradley says
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Special session ‘robbing the taxpayers of their money’ caused by deception on Gallagher repeal, Rep. Bradley says

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It is simply Day 2 of the 74th General Assembly's special session, but it has already become contentious. Take, for instance, the mere mention of the Gallagher Amendment by Douglas County Republican Rep. Brandi Bradley. "This body deceived the people and here we are five years later without property tax relief," she said. That deception, she says, was the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment in 2020. It set forth property tax guidelines for the state for 38 years, but was undone in 2020 by voters. "The voters voted out Gallagher," countered Democrat Rep. Marc Snyder. "Voters did vote out Gallagher in the misplaced trust that it would be replaced," said Republican Rep. Ken DeGraaf. So, for the second time in 10 months, lawmakers have ...
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‘DEVASTATED’, the story of fentanyl in Colorado, will be shown Thursday in Fort Morgan
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‘DEVASTATED’, the story of fentanyl in Colorado, will be shown Thursday in Fort Morgan

By DRAKE HUNTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The equivalent of a capacity school bus is killed each week by fentanyl, making the drug the leading cause of death for those ages 18 to 45 in America. It has been termed by the Drug Enforcement Administration as the "deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced." The story of fentanyl in Colorado, as told by the movie DEVASTATED, has been shown for the second time in Morgan County on the Eastern Plains this week. DEVASTATED delves into the stories of parents who have lost children to the drug, with members of law enforcement, addicts, dealers, politicians and the medical community participating in the movie. "The fentanyl issue is not only an epidemic issue statewide, but it is a monster in our own backyard affecting every aspect of o...
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Rep. Holtorf offers cattle class 101 to ‘city slickers’ in special session tax discussion
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Rep. Holtorf offers cattle class 101 to ‘city slickers’ in special session tax discussion

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice What is the impact of rising taxation on a cattle ranch or agricultural operation? That's what Eastern Colorado rancher Richard Holtorf asked what he termed "city slickers" in the Colorado Legislature to consider Tuesday as he offered a master's class in the costly prospects of cattle-raising, while perhaps straying from the topic at hand. "To run cattle, you have to have grassland," Rep. Holtorf said. "To have grassland, you have to own or lease grassland. There is a property tax element to that." In Eastern Colorado where Holtorf ranches, many cattle raisers and agriculture producers work on 640-acre "sections" of land or larger. The land is dry and most cattle raisers restrict grazing to no more than a head per 15 acres, or supplement w...
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Liberty Scorecard releases six position points to guide lawmakers in special session
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Liberty Scorecard releases six position points to guide lawmakers in special session

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Members of the 74th General Assembly are not the only ones working overtime during a special session called by Gov. Jared Polis. So is Liberty Scorecard Colorado. The team behind Liberty Scorecard has released six position points to guide the special session, after review of bills proposed for the session's single focus of property tax relief. The House and Senate convened the special session Monday, with Democrat House Speaker Julie McCluskie lamenting two special sessions and a regular session all within about 10 months. "When we concluded our regular session in May, we came together and delivered a bipartisan property tax bill that reduced rates, capped growth and permanently fixed our antiquated property tax system," she said. "It was ...
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‘Their property taxes have gone up exponentially’: Rose Pugliese addresses Mighty 19 in opening of special session
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‘Their property taxes have gone up exponentially’: Rose Pugliese addresses Mighty 19 in opening of special session

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When the second regular session of Colorado's 74th General Assembly closed earlier this year, lawmakers believed they had reached consensus on a property tax plan. Senate Bill 24-233, led by Republican prime sponsors Rep. Lisa Frizell and Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, cleared the House with about two-thirds of Republicans supporting the bill and just two Republicans in the Senate opposed. Then a pair of citizen initiatives on the subject earned enough support to reach the fall ballot and lead Gov. Jared Polis to call a special session on property tax. That special session opened Monday, with many on the political right opposed to the deal that allowed for the special session to be called. "We did good work [with SB 24-233]," said House Minority Lea...
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First bills of special session released by sponsors, including five by Republicans
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First bills of special session released by sponsors, including five by Republicans

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Nine bills in the Colorado House and two more in the Colorado Senate are set to be introduced in the special session of the 74th General Assembly, along with others which have not been pre-released. The special session, called by Gov. Jared Polis, opened at 10 a.m. Monday. The special session has a singular purpose to address property tax in an effort for lawmakers to avoid citizen-led Prop. 108 and Constitutional Amendment 50 from reaching the ballot. Following is a glance at the Republican bills set to be introduced: Senate Bill 24B-0009, by Republican Sens. Mark Baisley and Kevin Van Winkle, would require the property tax levy of a special taxing district to be calculated by dividing the actual value of the property by the total actual ...
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Grice: The last person in the room caused this nightmare in America
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Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Grice: The last person in the room caused this nightmare in America

By Rick Grice | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice For three-plus years now, a constant topic of conversation among most sentient observers of the American political scene has been, “Who do you really think is actually running the White House?”  Susan Rice? Barack Obama? Lately, Jill Biden?  Who?  I know that in countless conversations I’ve had during the Biden-Harris presidency, that very question has come up repeatedly. Now we know the answer: Kamala Harris.  She has boasted that for every major decision made during the Biden-Harris regime, she was the last person in the room.  Whether or not one believes that assertion, she claimed it so she must, without exception, be held to it.  Therefore, she signed onto, and by inference, agreed with every disas...
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Republicans oust leadership in meeting Chair Williams calls ‘fraudulent’
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Republicans oust leadership in meeting Chair Williams calls ‘fraudulent’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice BRIGHTON -- About 77 Republicans and another 105 by proxy gathered at a church here for the second time in a month Saturday to decide the future leadership of the party. At issue for some was the leadership of Chairman Dave Williams, along with Vice Chairwoman Hope Scheppelman and Secretary Anna Ferguson. In decisions which are sure to be disputed by others in the party and certainly its leadership, all three elected leaders were taken out by the faction and replaced by well-known rivals of Williams during what his allies have termed a "so-called" meeting that is "illegal". Michael Allen, the 4th Judicial District attorney, accused Williams of attacking other Republicans, abuse of position to divert party funds to his personal campaign and...
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Williams: Colorado Republican Party will sue to prevent special session
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Williams: Colorado Republican Party will sue to prevent special session

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Members of the Colorado Legislature are set to convene in a 74th Special Session on Monday at the Colorado State Capitol Building to settle the issue of property tax. Gov. Jared Polis called the session to prevent two propositions from advancing to the ballot and for a voter decision on the matter come November. One of those measures, Prop. 108, this week qualified for the ballot, Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced. And that is where the Colorado Republican Party believes the matter should stay -- in the hands of the voters. The party will sue to prevent legislators and the parties which filed the measures -- Advance Colorado -- from deals to undo the process and negotiate a different property tax outcome, Republican Party Chairman...
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Sonnenberg: It is ‘a great day for all’ in Logan County
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sonnenberg: It is ‘a great day for all’ in Logan County

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice High winds and a daily summer storm hit the Eastern Plains again Friday, a common weather feature for this time of the year, but Josh Sonnenberg is hopeful to avoid it just once, on Saturday. The chairman of the Logan County Republican Party is hosting the organization's annual scramble golf tournament and dinner at Riverview Golf Course. "Every year, we host this tournament and it is a great day for all of us to join together and enjoy each other's company," he said. "Win or lose, at the end of the day, we have all celebrated together and are excited and rejuvenated to finish out this election cycle." He sent a "last call" email Friday morning to Logan County Republicans that tournament and dinner sports were still available. Contact Sonn...
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