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John Fabbricatore Considering Run for CD-4 Special Election
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

John Fabbricatore Considering Run for CD-4 Special Election

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff AURORA, CO – In a statement released today, John Fabbricatore, a seasoned professional with decades of service in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including during the Trump administration, announced that he's considering a run for the upcoming special election in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Expressing deep concern over what he perceives as a breakdown in immigration enforcement and disregard for the rule of law under the current administration, Fabbricatore emphasized the urgency of addressing the border crisis and its impact on national security and community safety. "After the sudden opening in the 4th District, I've been humbled by the overwhelming support and encouragement from fellow Coloradans," Fabbricatore stated. "M...
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Lauren Boebert won’t pursue special election nomination to replace Ken Buck after his abrupt resignation
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State, The Colorado Sun

Lauren Boebert won’t pursue special election nomination to replace Ken Buck after his abrupt resignation

Boebert is still running, however, in the Republican primary to be the GOP nominee for the November election in the 4th Congressional District By Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert said Wednesday that she will not pursue the Republican special election nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District after he departs Congress at the end of next week.  Boebert is still running, however, in the Republican primary to be the GOP nominee for the November election in the 4th District. In a written statement, Boebert called Buck’s resignation “a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election” for her opponents. “Forcing an unnecessary special election on the same day as the primary election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck ...
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Report: Bill to end Colorado oil, gas permitting could be $2B tax revenue road to ruin
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State, The Center Square

Report: Bill to end Colorado oil, gas permitting could be $2B tax revenue road to ruin

By Joe Mueller | The Center Square  A bill to substantially restrict oil and gas permitting in Colorado would result in widespread financial and environmental impacts, according to a new report by a research group. The report, published by the Common Sense Institute, a free-enterprise think tank, says Senate Bill 24-159 would negatively impact the state’s economy as well as tax revenue at the state and local levels. The legislation also would result in increased emissions, according to the report, which referenced the recently published Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0 Report to support its point. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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Saying no to veto, Gov. Jared Polis signs bill exempting lawmakers from open meetings law
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Saying no to veto, Gov. Jared Polis signs bill exempting lawmakers from open meetings law

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Just hours after the bill reached his desk, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a measure that would exempt lawmakers from the state's open meetings law, ultimately saying the matter deals with separations of powers between his office and the Colorado General Assembly.    The law is effective immediately.  In a signing statement, the governor said he accepted Senate Bill 24-157 to "provide clarity to the Legislature as it seeks to resolve ambiguities around their own conduct under the Colorado Open Meetings Law." Polis noted the bill applies only to the legislature, not the executive or judicial branches. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado rental car fee hike would raise money for Front Range and mountain passenger rail systems
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado rental car fee hike would raise money for Front Range and mountain passenger rail systems

By Jesse Paul | Colorado Sun Colorado’s state-imposed rental car fee would increase by as much as $3 per day under a soon-to-be-introduced bill in the legislature aimed at attracting federal investment in proposed Front Range and mountain passenger train systems. The fee increase would generate an estimated $50 million in revenue annually, money that would be used as a match to secure federal grants. Lawmakers are specifically hoping for a share of the $66 billion Congress set aside in 2021 for rail development in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  “We have a short window to pull down this federal infrastructure money,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat and the lead sponsor of the forthcoming bill. “I really want to make sure Colorado...
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Bill to legally allow Colorado lawmakers to violate parts of open meeting laws, in place since 1972, heads to governor
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Bill to legally allow Colorado lawmakers to violate parts of open meeting laws, in place since 1972, heads to governor

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Despite a last-ditch effort by some House lawmakers on Monday, a bill that will exempt the Colorado General Assembly from following parts of the open meetings law established in 1972 is now in the hands of Gov. Jared Polis. What Polis thinks of the measure, which the House passed on a 39-22 vote, remains unknown. The state's 1972 Sunshine Law declares that it is a "matter of statewide concern and the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.” But lawmakers at the state Capitol, who complain the law hinders their ability to have private conversations about public policy and bills, including through text or email with their colleagues, seek to rewrite the law. READ TH...
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Colorado lawmakers eye regulation of dating apps to prevent assault, rape
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado lawmakers eye regulation of dating apps to prevent assault, rape

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The number of couples who have met on a dating app or website has skyrocketed since online dating services first debuted over two decades ago. While many find happy and healthy relationships through the online services, others looking for love have not been so lucky. Currently, Colorado is ranked as the fifth-most dangerous state for online dating, pushing legislators to propose a comprehensive bill that will provide its citizens some peace of mind. The ranking took into account data, including cybercrime stats, rates of romantic fraud, and violent crime stemming from online interactions. Wading into issue, Senate Bill 011 requires online dating services to create and publish safety policies, including information on whether ...
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Colorado House Democrats push concealed weapons training bill forward
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado House Democrats push concealed weapons training bill forward

By Marissa Ventrelli  | Colorado Politics With Democrats calling it common sense legislation to get gun owners better educated, Republicans argued last week that the proposed changes to Colorado's concealed carry permitting process infringes on Second Amendment rights. In its second reading on the House floor on March 8, House Bill 1174 mandates that all concealed carry permit training classes must be conducted in person with a curriculum to cover firearm safety, storage, state and federal gun laws, and self-defense and de-escalation tactics. Applicants must pass a written exam and live-fire exercise; renewals require a refresher course. In a vote along party lines, the bill passed through the Committee of the Whole and will proceed to its third reading before making its...
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Polis’ environmental justice plans are in limbo at the Colorado state Capitol. Here’s why.
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State, The Colorado Sun

Polis’ environmental justice plans are in limbo at the Colorado state Capitol. Here’s why.

By Brian Eason | Colorado Sun Gov. Jared Polis’ plans to bolster pollution enforcement in disadvantaged communities are in limbo after the Joint Budget Committee earlier this month voted down the administration’s request for eight new employees. In rejecting the $900,000 request for the 2024-25 budget year, which starts July 1, the JBC sided with a recommendation from its staff that raised questions about the Department of Public Health and Environment’s commitment to meeting its own goals. At first glance, the preliminary vote fit a recent pattern of Democratic lawmakers pushing the administration further to the left on environmental justice issues than it’s willing to go. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Tracking the no good, terrible, really bad bills
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Tracking the no good, terrible, really bad bills

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Another week has passed in the Colorado Legislature, and that means more bad bills, Kevin Lundberg writes in his weekly report. There are 544 bills to have been introduced. The inevitable list of really bad bills, and some good ones (that are probably destined to a party-line defeat) is growing at a very fast pace. Lundberg attempts to ease the madness in his report of the list of “Significant Bills for 2024”.
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