Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

Protect Kids Colorado working toward ballot initiative, ‘moving the needle’ on bills, co-founder Erin Lee says
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Protect Kids Colorado working toward ballot initiative, ‘moving the needle’ on bills, co-founder Erin Lee says

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Protect Kids Colorado is locked in for another run this summer at a ballot initiative protecting children, co-founder Erin Lee said Monday evening in an organizational call. "We're a broad coalition," Lee said. "We are proudly non-partisan. We come together for initiatives that protect kids and strengthen families." She has grown concerned with school districts and hospitals which have not complied with directives from the federal government related to gender-affirming medicine and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Members of her organization have been watching bills of interest in the 75th Colorado Legislature and appearing to testify with a position. Examples of some positive bills she gave include House Bill 25-1251, by Republic...
Reps. Boebert, Evans to faceoff with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in hearing today
Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Reps. Boebert, Evans to faceoff with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in hearing today

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice The national spotlight will shine brightly on Denver and Mayor Mike Johnston's sanctuary city policies during the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today. He's among American mayors who will appear in front of the Committee. Across the dias will be Committee member U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Committee waiver U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, two Coloradans who have had a front row seat to the rise in fentanyl deaths, crime, gang influence and more they likely will attribute to having been caused by sanctuary policies. "We are going to highlight how these sanctuary city and state policies fail public safety, make America less safe, and why we need to continue the path forward to build safe communities that we all deserve,” Evans...
Rep. DeGraaf gets a laugh out of stove-labeling bill he calls a ‘feel-good’ measure for Democrats
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. DeGraaf gets a laugh out of stove-labeling bill he calls a ‘feel-good’ measure for Democrats

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice In a moment Tuesday which appeared to even make the Colorado House Speaker, a Democrat, chuckle, Republican Rep. Ken Degraaf criticized House Bill 25-1161 before it was passed out of the chamber on party lines. The measure, by Democrat Rep. Alex Valdez and Democrat Sen. Cathy Kipp, requires the labeling of gas stoves to indicate "this appliance should be ventilated to the exterior when in use." The bill does not explicitly cause an installer to vent a gas stove outdoors. "I know you'll vote for it, because it is a feel-good bill," said DeGraaf, suggesting the bill is simply virtue signaling by the political Left. "I'll make fun of you for it anyways." He explained how stoves generally work in homes throughout the state, including in areas ...
Walcher: Paying for what ought to be free
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Walcher: Paying for what ought to be free

By Greg Walcher | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice If I offered you a thousand dollars not to steal my car, would you be any less likely to steal it? What if I offered you a million? If you’re like most people, you would answer that you weren’t planning to steal it anyway. You’re not a thief so the discussion is pointless. Although if I were serious, you might take the money anyway. That isn’t much different than some of the revelations of government grants we are learning about through recent DOGE discoveries, controversial though they are. I’m just looking at grants related to natural resources and the environment, but can’t help wondering why the government has been paying so much to so many organizations and companies – to do what they were doing anyway. For example, sho...
In fix to vet shortage, HB 1131 will graduate more vets, CSU dean says as measure advances in Senate
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In fix to vet shortage, HB 1131 will graduate more vets, CSU dean says as measure advances in Senate

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Veterinarians are in extremely short supply in all four corners of Colorado. The solution? The authors of House Bill 25-1131 say, ironically, a veterinarian shortage can be fixed through the graduation of more veterinarians. "We are seeing a shortage of veterinarians all over rural Colorado, and the state, quite frankly," Republican Sen. Byron Pelton said. The bill was termed a free-market solution to the state’s growing veterinary shortage by Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson and Democrat Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, who ushered it through the Colorado House on a 65-0 vote of the lower chamber. The bill was similarly advanced Monday out of the Senate's Education Committee on a unanimous vote and is being fast-tracked through the upper chamber ...
U.S. Rep. Boebert announces March mobile office hours in 4th District
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

U.S. Rep. Boebert announces March mobile office hours in 4th District

By Rocky Mountain Voice Mobile office hours will be offered in March at eight locations throughout the 4th District for constituents to interact with the office staff of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. The mobile office hours are intended to offer services to constituents needing in-person guidance, in convenient locations in addition to the Eaton and Castle Rock office locations. “Our congressional mobile office hours provide an opportunity for constituents from across the 4th District to get the assistance they need from our staffers who can help them in a variety of ways,” Boebert said. “Meeting Coloradans where they are is a critical part of the work our office does, and I know our mobile office hours will be a huge help to constituents of all backgrounds and locations.” Among th...
State Senate celebrates 3/3 — a tip of the hat to the original 303 area code — in kickoff of ‘Buy Colorado Week’
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

State Senate celebrates 3/3 — a tip of the hat to the original 303 area code — in kickoff of ‘Buy Colorado Week’

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice At one time in Colorado, whether you lived in the high country, the flatlands or anywhere in between, your area code was 303. Today, there are five area codes in the state, but Senate Joint Resolution 25-008 passed Monday honors the history of the one area code and of Colorado business. "Today is 3/3, or better yet, 3/03," Democrat Sen. Jeff Bridges said in announcing the bill on the floor Monday. "What day better than today to celebrate Colorado's small businesses." The resolution naming March 3, 2025, as "Buy Colorado Day" and March 3-10 as "Buy Colorado Week" notes the 700,000 small businesses employing 1.2 million and the nine Fortune 500 companies calling the state home. The resolution fails to note the state has one of the most chall...
‘We’re freedom-loving Americans,’ former Sen. Lundberg said after Larimer Co. GOP meeting protested
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

‘We’re freedom-loving Americans,’ former Sen. Lundberg said after Larimer Co. GOP meeting protested

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice It quite possibly is the strangest conversation former Colorado Sen. Kevin Lundberg has had in a while. As he walked into the Larimer County Republican Party monthly meeting last week, Lundberg briefly stopped at the door to engage with protesters to the meeting he was about to attend. "There were 8-10 people holding signs," he said, retelling the story during his weekly call with grassroots conservatives. "I greeted them pleasantly." One protester was holding a sign which read, "please support the Constitution," which struck Lundberg as odd. The protestors were being allowed their First Amendment freedom to assemble at the entry to the meeting. He responded to that protester that he agreed, and it was a reason he was going in to do the...
Gaines: The newest use for AI? Summarizing bills so they can be understood
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Gaines: The newest use for AI? Summarizing bills so they can be understood

By Cory Gaines | Guest Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project In last year's legislative session there were 705 bills introduced, with 525 passed.  I’ve not seen anything official, but the rumors I have heard have it that there are currently 200 bills in the queue for the 75th Legislature this year, with a prediction that the total number of bills could hit 600 to 700 by May. What spurred my looking at bill numbers this year was an email forwarded from a friend.  It was a marketing email by Colorado Capitol Watch (CCW), a group that bills itself as the “the premier” bill and legislator tracking site for Colorado.  The email offered a novel service:  using AI to make summaries of legislation.   Members of CCW are entitled to use their AI tool to h...
Soper: My reflections on the first 50 days of the 75th General Assembly
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Soper: My reflections on the first 50 days of the 75th General Assembly

By Rep. Matt Soper | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Since arriving at the state capitol in 2019, I have prioritized policy over politics, and this session is no different. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight key policies on the horizon and the legislation I am working on.  Aside from our chamber work, I am currently the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, vice chair of the Committee on Legal Services, and a member of the Agriculture, Water, and Natural Resources Committee, as well as the year-round Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. Agriculture & water: Priorities for Colorado Since arriving in the legislature, I have been committed to protecting our water, livestock, farmers and way of life, and I take great pride in carrying that re...

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