Lobbying spending sets new record in Colorado
Business interests, associations, nonprofits and other groups spent a record $36.4 million to lobby Colorado lawmakers and government agencies this year.
According to state records analyzed by The Colorado Sun, the money spent in fiscal year 2019 is up 9% from the $33.4 million spent the year before.
Cannabis businesses spent nearly $1.4 million, and oil and gas interests over $1 million.
The spending to influence policy in Colorado has steadily increased over the past five years. The 2019 numbers are 22 percent higher than in 2015.
More than 600 firms and individuals representing more than 1,000 clients registered to lobby the Democratic-controlled legislature and state government in fiscal year 2019.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold says the level of spending is concerning because only large organizations can afford lobbyists.
Aurora’s new councilmembers to focus on consent decree, decorum, public comment
Kyla Pearce
kyla.pearce@gazette.com
Updated 1 hour ago
Aurora’s five new councilmembers-elect on Friday discussed policing and the consent decree, decorum among members and public comment. The five new members, all progressive candidates, shifted Aurora’s previously seven-to-three conservative majority to a six-to-four progressive majority. While votes are still...
Appeals court reverses Fremont County judge’s sanction on DA’s office over evidence misunderstanding
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that a Fremont County judge was wrong to reduce the severity of a criminal charge because she believed the district attorney’s office failed to turn over police reports that, in reality, did not exist....
Republicans swat down Democratic offer to end shutdown as impasse continues into 38th day
Mary Clare Jalonick
mary-clare-jalonick@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly swatted down a Democratic offer to reopen the government and extend expiring health care subsidies for a year, calling it a “nonstarter” as the partisan impasse over the shutdown continued into...
Tensions flare in Adams 14 as school board member films speakers during public comment
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 4 hours ago
As Nicholas Hernandez approached the podium to speak during public comment, Adams 14 School Board Director Luz “Lucy” Molina-Aguayo pulled out her cellphone and began filming. She did the same when others spoke during an Oct. 21 meeting, including former...
Judicial discipline changes moving at a slow pace
David Migoya
david.migoya@gazette.com
Updated 3 hours ago
Colorado’s judicial system is barely closer to fixing what some have called a broken process of disciplining judges a year after voters approved a new method of dealing with the issue and eight months after revelations the state fosters a...
Trump accuses foreign-owned meat packers of inflating US beef prices and calls for investigation
Darlene Superville
darlene.superville@associatedpress.com
Updated 7 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday accused foreign-owned meat packers of driving up the price of beef in the U.S. and asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation. The Republican president announced the move on social media days after...
To Your Health: Thriving Denver gala raises vital funds for safety net hospital | NONPROFIT REGISTER
Joanne Davidson
joanne-davidson@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 7 hours ago
DENVER HEALTH FOUNDATION Denver News: A Who’s Who of Colorado politicians, past and present, were among the 1,100-plus gathering at the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center on Nov. 1 for Thriving Denver: The Denver Health Foundation Gala. Among them: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper;...
Federal judge blocks Colorado law requiring social media platforms to provide warnings to children
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
A federal judge blocked Colorado on Thursday from implementing a requirement that social media companies notify users younger than 18 of the effects to their mental and physical health from using the platforms. Lawmakers enacted House Bill 1136 by wide...
Another translocated wolf dies in Colorado, bringing total to 12
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Wildlife officials on Friday morning announced that another British Columbia wolf, a female with the tag 2506, died in southwest Colorado. Officials said necropsy will be performed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife did not identify...
DIA to cut flights until government shutdown ends
Deborah Grigsby
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 11 hours ago
Denver International Airport will reduce its flights by up to 10% while the government shutdown persists. The news comes after the Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would be reducing air traffic across 40 “high-volume” markets, as air traffic...
PREV
PREVIOUS
Colorado state senator to be first to give birth during session
State Sen. Brittany Pettersen in January will become Colorado’s first senator to give birth in office – and the first state legislator to do so during the session – her husband, Ian Silverii, has announced. “We’ve got some news, literally,” Silverii, executive director Progress Now Colorado, tweeted Tuesday. “Drop your name recommendations below. Just kidding. We’re […]
Planned Parenthood leaves federal family planning program over abortion dispute
Planned Parenthood says it’s pulling out of the Title X federal family planning program rather than abide by a new Trump administration rule prohibiting clinics from referring women for abortions. Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood’s acting president and CEO, said the organization’s nationwide network of health centers would remain open and strive to make up […]