staging.rockymountainvoice.com

Menu

thelobby-co.com

Douglas County Takes Legal Action Against State of Colorado Over Property Tax Relief Denial
No Comments
Denver Metro, Local, thelobby-co.com

Douglas County Takes Legal Action Against State of Colorado Over Property Tax Relief Denial

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Douglas County, known for its affluent suburban communities, has taken a legal step this week to resolve the state’s property tax mess by suing the state board responsible for evaluating property assessments. The county claims that officials overstepped their authority and wrongly prevented the county from providing much-needed tax relief to thousands of homeowners. The decision by the board last month and the subsequent appeal to a judge come at a time when Colorado is embroiled in a heated debate over how to address the soaring property tax bills that have burdened residents this year. In its lawsuit filed against the state Board of Equalization, Douglas County accuses the board of making an "arbitrary and capricious" decision by unanimously denyin...
Read More
Democrat Congressman Challenges Republicans to Remove Statue of Liberty in Immigration Debate
No Comments
National, thelobby-co.com

Democrat Congressman Challenges Republicans to Remove Statue of Liberty in Immigration Debate

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM In a stunning display of misplaced rhetoric, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) has taken aim at his Republican colleagues, challenging them to introduce a bill that would remove the Statue of Liberty. Frost's provocative statement came during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, where he criticized Republicans, particularly Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), for their immigration stances and their support of the H.R. 2 bill. Frost, a first-term legislator, read a portion of the poem "The New Colossus," which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. The poem, intended as a message to immigrants arriving at Ellis Island in the 1800s, has long symbolized America's welcoming embrace of those seeking a better life. However, Frost's cynical use of ...
Read More
Colorado Democrat Lawmakers’ Excessive Legal Defense of Secret Ballot System Costs Taxpayers Over $54,000
No Comments
State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado Democrat Lawmakers’ Excessive Legal Defense of Secret Ballot System Costs Taxpayers Over $54,000

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Colorado Democrat lawmakers have spent over $54,000 in taxpayer funds to defend their secret ballot system in court, only to be ordered by a judge to cease its use due to violations of the Open Meetings Law. According to documents obtained by KUNC News through an open records request, the total cost of the case is not final, as there is an expected additional invoice from the attorneys hired by the lawmakers. Suzanne Taheri, the lawyer representing the plaintiff who prevailed in the lawsuit, plans to seek court costs from the legislature as well. Despite the ruling on January 5, it remains unclear whether lawmakers, including Sen. President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, plan to appeal the decision, as their spokesperson did not respond to inquiries fro...
Read More
Colorado State Legislature Introduces Seven Bills with Implications for the Business Community
No Comments
State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado State Legislature Introduces Seven Bills with Implications for the Business Community

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM As the Colorado state legislature enters its third week, lawmakers have already introduced several bills that could have a significant impact on the business community. Here are seven that were introduced on the first day of the 2024 Colorado General Assembly: Senate Bill 24-020: Alcohol Beverage Delivery and Takeout by Sen. Dylan Roberts, Rep. William Lindstedt, and Rep. Rose Pugliese, this bill aims to allow businesses to continue offering alcoholic beverages for takeout and delivery beyond the current sunset date of July 1, 2025. House Bill 24-1008: Wage Claims Construction Industry Contractors proposed legislation, sponsored by House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Rep. Meg Froelich, Sen. Jessie Danielson, and S...
Read More
Liberal Democrats Push Failed Drug Policy in Colorado, Ignoring Public Concerns
No Comments
State, thelobby-co.com

Liberal Democrats Push Failed Drug Policy in Colorado, Ignoring Public Concerns

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Once again, Denver progressives are pushing for the legalization and funding of "drug shooting galleries" in Colorado. Rep. Elisabeth Epps and Sen. Kevin Priola are making their second attempt to pass legislation that would establish "safe injection sites" for illegal drug users. However, this ultra-liberal program has proven to be a complete failure in other cities and was overwhelmingly rejected by the Democrat majority during the previous legislative session. Epps and Priola were the prime sponsors of a similar effort in 2023, which ultimately failed to gain support in a Democrat-controlled Senate committee after passing in the House. Interestingly, the current 2024 effort only includes the names of Epps and Priola, in contrast to the previous bill t...
Read More
Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount
No Comments
Downtown Denver, Local, thelobby-co.com

Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Denver, known for its vibrant dining scene, is facing a challenging year as more than 200 restaurants closed their doors in the city last year. The rising costs of running a restaurant, coupled with a sluggish economy, have made it increasingly difficult for business owners to survive in the Denver metro area. According to Colin Larson, the Director of Government Affairs with the Colorado Restaurant Association, Denver typically sees a 5% growth in the number of new restaurants each year. However, last year, there was a shocking 13% decline, resulting in the closure of over 220 restaurants in Denver alone. Larson predicts that this trend will continue in the coming year, spelling trouble for the local dining industry. One of the major challenges face...
Read More
Chinese Scientists Develop Mutant Coronavirus Strain with Alarming Lethality in Mice, Raising Concerns of Potential Spillover to Humans
No Comments
National, thelobby-co.com

Chinese Scientists Develop Mutant Coronavirus Strain with Alarming Lethality in Mice, Raising Concerns of Potential Spillover to Humans

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Chinese scientists have been conducting experiments involving a mutant strain of the coronavirus that has proven to be 100 percent lethal in mice. This research, which has raised serious concerns about the possibility of another pandemic, was carried out by scientists in Beijing who have direct links to the Chinese military. The scientists cloned a Covid-like virus called GX_P2V, which was originally found in pangolins, and used it to infect mice. What makes this experiment particularly alarming is that the mice were "humanized," meaning they were genetically engineered to express a protein found in humans. The objective was to observe how the virus would react in a human-like environment. https://www.youtube.com/embed/AtPhOHCVwbY?feature=oembed&am...
Read More
Majority of Americans Expect Donald Trump to Win Against Joe Biden, According to Poll
No Comments
National, thelobby-co.com

Majority of Americans Expect Donald Trump to Win Against Joe Biden, According to Poll

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Joe Biden should prepare to receive a big smackdown if a new poll can be believed. The poll conducted by The Economist/YouGov reveals that a significant majority of Americans believe former President Donald Trump would defeat President Biden if they were their parties' respective nominees for president. The poll asked respondents to predict the winner "regardless of who you prefer," and 44 percent chose Trump, while 35 percent chose Biden. The remaining 21 percent were undecided. Interestingly, the poll also found that Americans are evenly split in terms of candidate support, with 43 percent supporting Biden and an equal percentage supporting Trump. Six percent of respondents selected "other," 5 percent were unsure, and 3 percent stated that they wou...
Read More
Governor Jared Polis Leaves Colorado Lawmakers Confused with Mixed Messages on His Tax Policy
No Comments
State, thelobby-co.com

Governor Jared Polis Leaves Colorado Lawmakers Confused with Mixed Messages on His Tax Policy

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM During his recent State of the State address, Governor Jared Polis presented an ambitious agenda for massive government spending on public transit, education, job training, and crime fighting. However, he surprised many by emphatically calling once again for an income tax cut that would primarily benefit the upper middle class. This unexpected stance challenged the Democratic majority. The Governor’s proposal highlights the confusion and division within the tax and spend Democrat Party. At the core of the debate is Colorado's tax system, which underwent a significant change in 1987 when the state legislature implemented a regressive flat tax, taxing all income at the same rate. This change was further solidified in 1992 with the passage of the Taxpay...
Read More
Colorado’s Cannabis Market Faces Lowest Sales Since 2015, Leaving Some to Wonder If Coloradans Have Moved On
No Comments
State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado’s Cannabis Market Faces Lowest Sales Since 2015, Leaving Some to Wonder If Coloradans Have Moved On

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Colorado's cannabis market experienced a significant decline in November 2023, reaching its lowest sales level since February 2015. This downward trend has continued for several months, according to data from the state's Department of Revenue. In November, both recreational and medical cannabis sales amounted to $110.3 million, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. The adult-use market, which constitutes approximately 87% of total sales, saw a year-on-year decrease of around 16% to $95.8 million. Additionally, medical cannabis sales fell by 11.5% to $14.5 million. The decline in sales can be attributed to a decrease in the number of growers and manufacturers operating in the state. This reduction in supply has had a direct impact on the overa...
Read More