By TCS Publisher and Editor in Chief Jared Wright _@JaredWright_

Monday, February 29, 2016

DENVER – Good morning and happy Leap Day to you on the eve of Super Tuesday. Here’s to a productive week wherever you might be as we enter this important phase of the election year.

“I want to caucus in Iowa. I’ll caucus all over the state. I don’t caucus in California. You don’t caucus where you live. It doesn’t look good.” — Pat Paulsen

Now your substrata feed straight from the politics pipeline:

Sanders visits Fort Collins, another Colorado lawmaker catches the Bern —Yesterday, Bernie Sanders visited the Centennial State again, marking his fourth official campaign stop in Colorado, holding a rally at Moby Arena on the CSU campus in Fort Collins. While at the rally, Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, was visibly pumped up at the event and all smiles, and … well, he caught the Bern, endorsing Sanders for president later that night. Does Sanders have a path forward, though? — Two things to keep in mind, the last batch of Hillary Clinton emails gets released today from the State Department, and that investigation is not over. Of course, Sanders sticks it out. NPR released a story on how Sanders could win Super Tuesday … Or Lose really badly. If South Carolina is any indicator, it’s likely to be the latter. But again, why let up under these circumstances if you are Sanders?

Related: Read a fascinating New York Times report on SOS Hillary Clinton and Libya

Buffet leaving the door open just a crack? — While he is a Hillary Clinton supporter, Warren Buffet says he does admire Bernie Sanders. “What I like about Bernie Sanders is he’ll say exactly what he believes. He is not tailoring his message week by week. You’ll find with some of the candidates that they shift around, or they don’t answer the question. With Bernie, you know exactly what he thinks,” Buffett told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning. Buffet added, however, that, “Bernie has a tendency to demonize institutions, and he thinks the solution would be simpler and he would turn the system somewhat upside down.”

Where we stand after a full weekend in presidential politics —ICYMI, Clinton won big in South Carolina’s Democratic primary on Saturday, piling more delegates on her already substantial lead over Sanders — most of these coming from superdelegates:

The current delegate count (D and R):

Democratic

Clinton: 544Sanders: 85

2,383 needed for the nomination out of 4,136 available

Republican

Trump: 82Cruz: 17Rubio: 16Kasich: 6Carson: 4

1,237 needed for nomination out of 2,340 available

Current national polling:

From a CNN/ORC International Poll released this morning:

Republican

Trump: 49%Rubio: 16%Cruz: 15%Carson: 10%Kasich: 6%

Democratic

Clinton: 55%Sanders: 38%

Clinton starts targeting Trump — In her victory night speech, Clinton called out Trump for his comments on wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” A telling strategy in terms of where this race stands on the election roadmap currently between the two front-runners. Read the full report on this here.

Read the full report on Clinton’s S.C. victory here

Trump needs a crowded field — ICYMI, Stuart Rothenberg reports Trump is more vulnerable than most in the media are letting on. Rothenberg: “It’s possible to win a primary with one-third of the vote, but it’s difficult to win a two-way or three-way race getting one in three voters. And that is a problem for Trump. His ceiling may prevent him from being the second choice of many Republicans.”

Read the full report here.

Trump disavows support of former KKK leader — After denying he knows who David Duke is (video) — in 2000, he called Duke “a bigot, a racist, a problem” (video) —Donald Trump has now walked back his comments that he knows nothing about David Duke and stated he could not hear the questions clearly on his interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” yesterday.

This morning, Trump said on NBC’s “Today” that he had been given a “very bad earpiece” for his interview with Tapper and that he “disavowed David Duke all weekend long on Facebook and Twitter.” HOT MIC, ‘Go home, Christie’ —ICYMI, over the weekend, Trump told Chris Christie (video) following Christie’s intro of Trump to a Tennessee rally on Saturday — and having spent two days on the campaign trail with Trump through Southern states —  to “get on the plane and go home.” This act — perceived as disingenuity by many — blew up on social media over the weekend, as you may have seen (unless you were doing something perhaps more productive with your time enjoying the gorgeous Colorado weather). Trump Senior Advisor Dan Scavino responded on Twitter stating, “Donald Trump told Chris Christie to go home (as was planned) to be with family tonight. Being blown out of proportion, BIG LEAGUE!!” The Steadman Awards — Sen. Pat Steadman released his popular 5th annual (and final) “Oscar” awards for members of the General Assembly. Best Actress in a supporting role — Sen. Lucia Guzman. Best Actor in a supporting role — Sen. Jessie Ulibarri. Best Editing — Sen. Mark Scheffel, and more.

See Steadman’s full awards list here.

The curious case of Tim “George Washington” Leonard — Newly-appointed Rep. Tim Leonard took a somewhat odd and clumsy foreign affairs stand … as a Ron Paul isolationist, apparently — on a very popular bill, HB-1284, to prevent PERA from making investments in companies that have economic prohibitions against Israel (anti-BDS). Leonard used a procedural motion to amend the committee of the whole report so he could place a recorded vote against the bill — simply because he was going to be gone the next day and would not be able to cast a recorded third reading vote. The bill passed third reading 54-10 with Leonard absent. But, because of the COW, he is certainly on record as being the only American Constitutional Party member, I mean Republican, to vote against the bill.

Leonard told The Statesman, “I think a bill like this just entangles our state in foreign affairs.”

Apparently, the fact that PERA makes several investments in foreign entities every year and perhaps should not be making risky investments in politically-charged businesses, or the fact that nearly every aspect of Colorado’s economy has an international connection, or the fact that Colorado has 6 active U.S. military bases, or the fact that Colorado is — believe it or not — an integral political subdivision of the United States that faces many, if not all of, the same foreign threats and influences as the rest of the country, or the fact that Colorado enjoys a strong connection with Israel, did not factor into Leonard’s line of thinking (if, in fact, any thinking actually occurred during his knee jerk reaction of throwing all the procedural levers on the House floor) when he made a public spectacle of himself on a solid, bi-partisan bill.

“Look,” Leonard told The Statesman, “I take seriously what George Washington said. He advised us against involving our country in foreign entanglements, let alone a state in our country. There’s no upside to this.”

Insert 18th-century, colonial wig-clad ostrich head in sand here.

Read a full report on the incident from The Statesman’s John Tomasic here.

“You can’t build a wall round a village. The sun and the wind will always find their way in.” — Igor Goldkind

Birthdays: Former Marc Holtzman campaign staffer Anthony Surace celebrates his birthday today as does Western Slope, Elk Mesa Ranch owner and Republican campaign activist Brett Jolley. Happy birthday to you both.

Events:

LGBT Lobby Day — Mon., Feb. 29, Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St, Denver, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm, Sign up here: bit.ly/2016LobbyDay

Unidos Con Bernie Canvass Launch with state Rep. Joe Salazar — Mon., Feb. 29, 7235 E Colfax Ave, Denver, 4:00 pm

Super Tuesday — Alabama, Alaska Caucus (R), American Samoa Caucus (D), Arkansas, Colorado caucuses, Democrats Abroad, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota Caucus (R), Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming Caucus (R) — March 1

Forging in the West, Celebrate Pueblo and the new documentary film — Thurs., Mar. 3, Haveypro Cinema Studio, 1836 Blake St, Ste 203, Denver, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm, RSVP to 303-296-7448 or alysha@haveypro.com

Denver County GOP Friday Breakfast with Senate Candidates — Darryl Glenn and Tim Neville are confirmed to speak at the breakfast. Ryan Frazier has reportedly cancelled — March 4, 7:00 am, Pete’s Greektown Cafe, 2910 E Colfax Ave

Government in the Grocery with Rep. Alec Garnett — Garnett listens to the concerns of shoppers and constituents by setting up a table in local grocery stores. Sat., Mar. 5, Natural Grocers, 1433 Washington St., Denver, 9:30 am — 11:30 am

Millennial Freedom Forum — Sunday, Mar. 6, Cherry Creek Country Club, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, RSVP at millenialfreedomforum.org

Golden View Classical Academy Sentinel Soiree — Sat., Mar. 12, Golden View Classical Academy, 601 Corporate Circle, Golden, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, best Colorado cocktail attire, RSVP to Hillary@WestBrookGroup.com

Agriculture Day at the Capitol — Set for Tuesdays, March 16 — get ready for awesome food and great folks to descend upon the Capitol.

Colorado Young Democrats 2016 Legislative Showdown — Wed., Mar. 16, The 1up, 717 E Colfax Ave, Denver, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Please join Sen. Ulibarri, Rep. Garnett, Rep. Melton, Rep. Moreno, and other legislators for one of our signature annual events.

17th Annual Icon Awards Gala — Fri., Mar. 18, Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown, 6:00 pm, Ticket includes appetizers, seated dinner, open bar, fabulous entertainment and dancing! Voted year after year as the best party in Denver! Tickets available at: http://bit.ly/1PN5Jj3

Rosting Mike Rosen — Sat. Mar. 19, Denver Marriot Tech Center, 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm, www.taps.org/classic

2nd Annual Westminster Chamber Awards Gala — Fri., Apr. 29, Westminster Chamber of Commerce, Denver Marriott Westminster, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm. Join us for our 2nd Annual Awards Gala on April 29th at the Denver Marriott Westminster. Awards will be given to area business in different catagories. Food, Music and a Silent Auction will be part of this years event. There will be a 1 hour preview for VIP members and higher from 5-6pm and doors open to the public at 6pm. Purchase your ticket early and save $5 per ticket.

Want your event listed? Just let me know.

From the wires:

The Hill’s Lydia Wheeler reports on Justice Clarence Thomas breaking his bench silence and asking questions, … perhaps pick up where Scalia left off?

Brandon Rittiman interviews USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Paige on 9News “Balance of Power” Paige: “A lot of Americans feel like the recession has never ended.”

The Denver Channel reports on getting ready for Colorado caucuses — including interviews with Republican state party chair Steve House and Democrat state party chair Rick Palacio

The Denver Post’s Mark Matthews reports on two Colorado’s GOP U.S. Senate candidates kicking it into high gear to make the ballot through the state assembly just ahead of Super Tuesday

The Denver Post’s Katy Canada reports on the Bernie Sanders rally at CSU, which she says drew out 6,500 people

The Denver Post’s Joey Bunch reports on ’10 things to know’ about the caucus … while drinking a beer

The Denver Post Editorial Board writes that the Colorado GOP “blundered” by abandoning the presidential tally at caucuses

The Denver Post’s Joey Bunch reports on the state of lobbying in Colorado and what some organizations say is a lack of transparency

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel’s Dennis Webb reports on the closure of another coal mine in Western Colorado, Bowie #2

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel’s Gary Harmon reports on Western Slope Democrats and Republicans gearing up for caucuses

The Boulder Daily Camera’s John Fryar reports that Boulder County homeowners are experiencing property-tax sticker shock with reappraised property values soaring from mid-2012

The Hill’s Cristina Marcos and Jordain Carney report on Sens. Rob Portman and Sheldon Whitehouse’s bill combating heroin and prescription drug abuse coming to the U.S. Senate floor today

The Hill’s Kyle Balluck and Mark Hensch report on Donald Trump’s 33 point lead nationally according to a CNN/ORC International poll released this morning

The Hill’s Julian Hattem reports on the the State Department’s release of the final batch of Hillary Clinton’s emails coming today

Roll Call columnist Patricia Murphy writes about Ted Cruz’s “math problem” on the road to the White House

Roll Call’s Niels Lesniewski reports on Cruz and Rubio playing for second place in the SEC

Colorado Capitol Watch —From our bill tracking partners:

Eighth Week at the Capitol, including LEAP YEAR

Bills to watch

2/29  HB-1016  Using Multiple Measures Of Student Academic Growth

House Ed, 1:30, 112

2/29  HB-1131  Public Ed Stds & Assessments  House Ed, 1:30, 112

2/29  HB-1233  Changes To Death Penalty Trials, House State, Vet, Mili Affairs, 1:30, 271

2/29  HB-1146  Born Alive Infant Protection Act, House State, Vet, Mili, 1:30, 271

3/2  HB-1111   Same Day Voter Registration With Photo ID  House State, Vet, Mili, Upon Adjournment, LSA

3/2  HB-1045  Starting The Child Tax Credit, House Finance, 1:30, LSA

3/3  HB-1269 Electronic And Mail Application For ID Cards  House Finance, Upon Adjournment, LSA

3/3  HB-1285  Privatizing Public Safety Driving Test Retake, House Finance, Upon Adjournment, LSA

3/3 HB-1267  Colorado Veterans’ Service-To-Career Pilot Program, House Business Affairs and Labor, 1:30, LSA

3/3  HB-1215 Purposes Of Parole  House Judiciary, 1:30, 112

3/3  HB-1144  Transparency College Courses High School Students  Senate Ed, 1:30, 356

3/3  SB-104  Incentives To Build Number Of Rural Teachers   Senate Ed, 1:30, 356

SUMMARY OF SEVENTH WEEK AT THE CAPITOL

FYI: P – Portrait Format; L – Landscape Format

 17 New Bills: P, L

12 New Bipartisan Bills: P, L

76 Bills Being Heard: P, L

 House Wrap-Up: P, L

Senate Wrap-Up: P, L

 All Bills: 437 as of 2/26 

All Bipartisan Bills: 212 as of 2/26 

– Calendars –

2/29 Bills in order of appearance 

2/29 Bills sortable by time, number, etc. 

All Upcoming Bills From Today Forward

House and Senate Calendars:

HOUSE – Your Feb. 29 Calendar here 

SENATE – Your Feb. 29 Calendar here 

You’re up to date. Have a good extra day this year! Until tomorrow …

Tell us what you know! — To submit a tip, event, happening, gossuping, chattering or other interesting tidbit to The Hot Sheet, click here to submit via our contact form … yes, even anonymously if you’re feeling all cloak and dagger.

JW