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Colorado Joint Budget Committee addresses wolf reintroduction concerns with budget footnotes
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Joint Budget Committee addresses wolf reintroduction concerns with budget footnotes

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics While agricultural organizations did not succeed in their efforts to halt the reintroduction of more wolves, they found a more sympathetic ear among policymakers at the state Capitol. In their work on "footnotes," which are directions to state departments on administering appropriations, the Joint Budget Committee adopted two items related to the wolf reintroduction program. Footnotes do not have the force of law, although state agencies comply. Even when the governor vetoes a footnote, usually due to a separation of powers issue, he often directs the agencies to comply anyway. The first said the annual $2.1 million general fund appropriation should be used to implement Proposition 114, the narrowly-adopted 2020 ballot measure that resulted...
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Democrats dealt messaging blow after NRCC defamation threat forces Medicaid billboards to come down
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Approved, State, Washington Examiner

Democrats dealt messaging blow after NRCC defamation threat forces Medicaid billboards to come down

ByRachel Schilke | Washington Examiner A vendor in charge of displaying House Democrats’ billboards accusing vulnerable Republicans of voting to cut Medicaid and give tax breaks to Elon Musk was forced to take them down after House Republicans’ campaign arm sent a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday. The Washington Examiner exclusively reported that House Majority Forward launched six billboards in vulnerable Republican districts, those of Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO), Don Bacon (R-NE), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA), on Tuesday. But now, the billboards have been pulled after the National Republican Congressional Committee sent a letter to Lamar Advertising Company, warning the vendor it “will b...
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SB25-003, the $27 million paywall on the Second Amendment
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

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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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

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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[UPDATED] RMV Candidate Questionnaire: The battle for CO GOP Chair
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

[UPDATED] RMV Candidate Questionnaire: The battle for CO GOP Chair

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff With the Colorado GOP Chair race heating up, more candidates have weighed in on the party’s future. When we first posed these questions, Brita Horn was the sole candidate to reply. Now, Darcy Schoening and Kevin McCarney have shared their perspectives, offering distinct strategies on voter outreach, fundraising and Proposition 108. We have not received answers from Jeremy Goodall, Richard Holtorf, or Lori Saine. As the March 29 election nears, their responses shed light on how each plans to rebuild and strengthen the party in a challenging political landscape. Why are you running for Chair? Brita Horn Darcy Schoening: I am running for Chair because winning starts locally—and right now, the Colorado GOP lacks the infrastructure, training,...
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Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids protest education cuts
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Approved, State, Westword

Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids protest education cuts

By Bennito L. Kelty | Westword Thousands of Colorado teachers, parents and kids gathered at the Colorado State Capitol on Thursday, March 20, to demand more funding for public schools and protest possible cuts as the state deals with a $1 billion budget shortfall. "Kids need a chance to do their best," said Siobhan Holland, a teacher for twenty years in the Adams 12 Five Star School District who came out to protest against cuts. "They need the funds and resources that will help them be successful."  Donning red shirts and sweaters printed with words "Red for Ed," an estimated 4,000 protesters amassed at the Capitol's west lawn to support public education funding on Thursday, according to the Colorado State Patrol, with signs reading "fully fund public education" and...
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Federal agency kills Colorado wolf connected to sheep deaths in Wyoming 
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Approved, State, The Post Independent

Federal agency kills Colorado wolf connected to sheep deaths in Wyoming 

By Ali Longwell | The Post Independent One of the male wolves that Colorado Parks and Wildlife relocated from British Columbia to Colorado in January has died.  The state wildlife agency confirmed on Thursday that it received a mortality alert for the wolf (2505-BC) on Sunday, March 16. The wolf was in north-central Wyoming at the time.  The wolf was killed following the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s investigation and response to a sheep predation event on private land in north-central Wyoming, according to Tanya Espinosa, a spokesperson for the federal agency.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE POST INDEPENDENT
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Bills restricting gun shows, ammo sales head to Senate floor
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Approved, completecolorado.com, State

Bills restricting gun shows, ammo sales head to Senate floor

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado DENVER — Two bills that would slap new restrictions on the sale of firearms and ammunition have Senate committee approval and are headed to the floor for full and final debate. House Bill 25-1238, titled Gun Show Requirements, includes onerous new barriers that would drastically change the way vendors do business at Colorado gun shows, as well as who can access the events. House Bill 25-1133, titled Requirements for Sales of Firearms Ammunition, mandates retailers lock up all ammunition, meaning customers cannot serve themselves off the shelves, as well as prohibits the retail sale of ammunition to a person who is younger than 21 years of age. Both bills passed the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee on Tuesday on strict ...
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Colorado housing ‘crisis’ grows, advocates push for more money
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Approved, State, The Center Square

Colorado housing ‘crisis’ grows, advocates push for more money

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Housing costs make Colorado one of the nation's most expensive states. This is according to a recent report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which listed Colorado as the sixth least affordable state in the country. The report focused on low-income housing and affordable homes, finding that 79% of extremely low-income renters in Colorado have a “severe cost burden” when it comes to finding housing. Extremely low-income renter households are defined as those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income, whichever is greater. In Denver, that is approximately $27,400 per year. “While Coloradans of nearly all income levels are experiencing difficulties with access to affordable housing, the cir...
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CU Board of Regents investigates funding threats over cannabis research campaign
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

CU Board of Regents investigates funding threats over cannabis research campaign

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff The University of Colorado Board of Regents has initiated an independent review into Regent Wanda James' actions regarding state funding for the Colorado School of Public Health. The move comes after James reportedly suggested pulling funding from the school due to concerns over its public awareness campaign on high-potency cannabis. In a joint statement released on March 18 Regents Chair Callie Rennison and Vice Chair Ken Montera confirmed that the board has requested a third-party investigation to determine whether James violated regent laws or policies. The Colorado School of Public Health, a joint effort of CU Anschutz, CSU and UNC, was tasked by the Colorado Legislature in 2021 with researching the public health impacts of high-potency THC, parti...
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