Legislative Session - staging.rockymountainvoice.com

‘Assault weapons’ bill, opposed by hundreds in marathon hearing, advances in House

20Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Assault weapons’ bill, opposed by hundreds in marathon hearing, advances in House

Public pleads for 12 hours with Colorado House committee to reject bill attorneys called ‘inconsistent, unconstitutional’ and others say ‘infringes’ on 2nd Amendment By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Hundreds of Coloradans provided a master’s course to lawmakers on the Founding Fathers, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution Tuesday in opposition to House Bill 1292, but it was to no avail. The presentation of the bill, by Democratic Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernandez, to the House Judiciary Committee drew pro-gun advocates to call it an “all out war” and “infringement” on gun owners, and to instead call for hardening of targets at schools throughout Colorado. A bill they say was written by special interests, ignores personal responsibility, could shu...

RMGO leaders, members to rally Tuesday morning against “assault weapons” ban

18Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

Rocky Mountain Voice, State

RMGO leaders, members to rally Tuesday morning against “assault weapons” ban

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Rocky Mountain Gun Owners will rally on the west steps of the state capitol at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, in opposition to specific anti-gun legislation under consideration. House Bill 1292, by Democrat Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernandez, to prohibit “assault weapons” will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday at the Old State Library. The bill has a broad definition of “assault weapon”, which could make rifled barrel pistols and rifles illegal, along with pistol grip shotguns, and many other guns. Additionally, Senate Bill 131, known as the “sensitive spaces” gun bill, will be heard at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Old Supreme Court. Sensitive spaces are defined in the bill as a park or playg...

Thanks to TABOR, $2B in refunds likely headed back Colorado taxpayers.

16Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

State, The Colorado Sun

Thanks to TABOR, $2B in refunds likely headed back Colorado taxpayers.

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun Colorado budget writers may be headed back to the drawing board. Slower population growth and rising fee revenue could trigger upwards of $300 million more state taxpayer refunds than expected in the current budget year, under economic forecasts presented to the Joint Budget Committee on Friday. The latest forecasts leave top lawmakers well short of what they expected to be able to spend in next year’s budget, with less than a week left to finalize the 2024-25 spending plan before it has to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN

Hillman: Colorado Democrats are no longer the party of free speech

15Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

Commentary, Mark Hillman

Hillman: Colorado Democrats are no longer the party of free speech

By Mark Hillman | Capital Review Remember when Democrats fiercely defended freedom of speech and freedom of expression with few limitations? That was when Colorado Democrats still had to compete with Republicans for statewide elected offices and legislative majorities. Having grasped the political upper hand, Democrats are now sadly in thrall to Progressivism and its requisite censorship of dissenters. Instead of proclaiming, “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” Democrats at our State Capitol now practice “free speech for me, but not for thee.” Consider the prevailing limitations on debate in the Colorado House of Representatives. Once called “The People’s House,” the chamber majority now shows little regard for core constitution...

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

14Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

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

Colorado’s Circular Firing Squad on the 2nd Amendment

13Mar

By The Colorado Freedom ForceNo Comments

Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, The Colorado Freedom Force

Colorado’s Circular Firing Squad on the 2nd Amendment

By The Colorado Freedom Force Whether the decided-upon strategy of the anti-2nd Amendment legislators in Colorado is “Throw everything up against the wall and see what sticks”, or just “divide and conquer”, their numerous attempts at whittling away at the 2nd Amendment can be hard to keep up with. From a straightforward “assault weapons” ban to imposing more fees or adding an 11% excise tax to guns and ammunition, Colorado’s Democrats have formed a circular firing squad around this fundamental right. You can learn about all seven active bills, use online forms to contact your representatives or read the entirety of a bill through the Colorado Freedom Force website. READ MORE ON THE BILLS AT COLORADO FREEDOM FORCE

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

12Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

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...

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

12Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

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 ...

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

11Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

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

Tracking the no good, terrible, really bad bills

10Mar

By nadiaNo Comments

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”.