Rocky Mountain Voice

Menu

Tag: Government transparency

Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam
No Comments
State, Approved, Colorado Freedom of Information

Push to Enshrine the Public’s Right to Know in Colorado Constitution Gains Steam

By Jeffrey A. Roberts | Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition Colorado’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press, broadly stating that “every person shall be free to speak, write or publish whatever he will on any subject.” Should it also guarantee freedom of information? An ad hoc group that includes the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is exploring that idea this summer for a possible ballot initiative in 2026. The impetus is what seems to be a backsliding in the General Assembly on government transparency matters: The legislature exempted itself from major portions of the Colorado Open Meetings Law in 2024 and lawmakers next year will likely try for a third straight session to weaken the Colorado Open Records Act. Also involved in the ...
Read More
July 1: New Colorado laws take effect on guns, courts—and mental health
No Comments
denvergazette.com, Approved, State

July 1: New Colorado laws take effect on guns, courts—and mental health

By Marissa Ventrelli | Denver Gazette While most bills passed in Colorado become law the minute the governor puts pen to paper, many aren't officially in effect for months or over a year after passage. Here are the laws passed during the last two legislative sessions that will go into effect on July 1 of this year.  Laws passed in 2024 House Bill 1130: Sponsored by then-Rep. Lindsey Daughterty, D-Arvada, former Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, Sen. Paul Lundeen, R-Colorado Springs, and former Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, the measure requires biometric data such as fingerprints and facial features to be destroyed within two years of collection or once it is no longer needed, whichever comes first, and to be stored securely until destruction. Violation constitutes a deceptive...
Read More
Turley: The critics overlook what Trump’s investigation into the cover-up of Biden’s mental deterioration
No Comments
U.S. News & World Report, National

Turley: The critics overlook what Trump’s investigation into the cover-up of Biden’s mental deterioration

By Jonathan Turley | Commentary, U.S. News & World Report We need accountability and greater transparency on matters of presidential health and competence. “Jackie, are you here? Where’s Jackie?” When then-President Joe Biden asked in September 2022 if U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, an Indiana Republican who had died weeks earlier in a car accident, was in a meeting, observers were shocked. Biden had not only issued a statement of condolence, he had lowered the flags at the White House in her honor. As Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple noted last week, that moment should have been a wake-up call. In Washington parlance, it left no room for “plausible deniability” about whether Biden was still fit to hold the office of president. And it wasn’t jus...
Read More
Garbo: Biden deserves compassion—but who lied to keep control?
No Comments
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Garbo: Biden deserves compassion—but who lied to keep control?

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice First, let’s say what should be said: cancer is brutal. No matter the person or politics, a diagnosis of aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer is devastating. President Biden is a husband, a father, and a human being.  No one should go through this lightly, and anyone with a shred of decency should extend basic compassion to him and his family as they face this battle. But that human sympathy must not excuse institutional deception.  Because while the President now fights a very real and serious illness, the American people are left to confront an even more insidious disease: deliberate dishonesty from those in power. They told us he was fine. Not just “managing” - but vigorous, “fit for duty,” “in excellent ...
Read More
Final week at the Capitol: Democrats target TABOR, transparency and immigration enforcement
No Comments
Approved, DENVER7, State

Final week at the Capitol: Democrats target TABOR, transparency and immigration enforcement

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 DENVER — With under a week to go before they adjourn this year’s legislative session, Colorado lawmakers still have a lot of work ahead of them. Dozens of bills are still under consideration, including several controversial proposals. “It feels like 80% of the work happens in the last two weeks,” said State Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Our budget was pretty late in being finalized, and so, nothing can really move until we know how much money we're working with, or in this case, how much money we're not working with.” Froelich is one of the primary sponsors of Senate Bill 25-161, which would reform the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The bill cleared its second-to-last vote in the Colorado House of Representatives on Thursday. “Th...
Read More