Author: David O. Williams
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Divide over transportation funding possible
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The Colorado Legislature this session is mired in an ideological traffic jam over budget issues that will impact funding for everything from education to Medicaid reimbursement. But for mountain-dwellers and Denver weekend warriors whose lifeline is Interstate 70, the biggest battle they care about is transportation funding. Two lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle…
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Interior Department timeout on coal leases blasted, cheered in Colorado
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The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Friday a three-year halt to new coal-mining leases on federal lands while it reviews its royalty and leasing program, a move that drew quick condemnation from the U.S. congressman whose district includes the most mines in Colorado. “This decision reeks of contempt for rural America and for the…
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Public lands issues likely to rise again in 2016 session
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With the ongoing takeover of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon led by a member of the Bundy family and its allies as a backdrop, several Republican lawmakers in Colorado said they understand frustration with federal government mismanagement of public lands, but they stopped short of committing to more state-control legislation this session. A Colorado…
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Roberts urges restraint this session, proposes Medicaid opt-out bill
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State Senate President Pro Tem Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, says she’s focused on lowering healthcare costs in the legislative session that begins next week and isn’t distracted by the possible domino effect if U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton decides to run against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. Roberts, who last June officially pulled her name from the long…
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Dems, GOP differ sharply on how to boost hard-hit Western Slope
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While Colorado’s economy continues its solid rebound along the state’s Front Range, areas of the Western Slope are still stuck in the mud of the Great Recession, especially counties dependent on coal mining and gas drilling. There are sharp differences between rural-district Democrats and Republicans on how best to ease that economic pain. State Sen.…
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Supreme Court denies Hickenlooper on Clean Power Plan dispute with Coffman
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The Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday denied a petition by Gov. John Hickenlooper questioning the legality of Attorney General Cynthia Coffman joining a multi-state lawsuit to block the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. In denying Hickenlooper’s petition by a 5-2 margin, the Supreme Court said the governor already has an “adequate alternative remedy” and cited Salazar…
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Lamborn expresses sympathy as Dems call Planned Parenthood attack terrorism
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U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn over the weekend declined to comment on the growing political firestorm over Friday’s shooting that killed three and wounded nine at a Planned Parenthood clinic in his hometown. Lamborn, a Colorado Springs Republican who has represented the 5th Congressional District since 2007, on Friday called for prayers for the family and…
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Ballot push heats up as drilling rules plod along
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A group drafting ballot measures aimed at giving Colorado residents more control over oil and gas drilling in neighborhoods told The Colorado Statesman on Wednesday that the lack of action by state regulators has given “greater impetus” to their cause. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission this week was unable to reach consensus on…
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Mining industry backs ‘Good Samaritan’ fix for Gold King
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Mention the practice of re-mining to anyone familiar with Colorado mining history, and the specter of the 1990’s Summitville disaster — dwarfing last summer’s Gold King Mine spill into the Animas River — is likely to loom large. Taxpayers have doled out more than $150 million to try to clean up the mess left by…
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In wake of Obama’s rejection of pipeline, Bennet stands behind Keystone vote
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Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet stood behind his vote earlier this year in favor of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline after the Obama administration rejected it on Friday after seven years of study and contentious debate. “For years, the Keystone XL pipeline has been overhyped on both sides of the debate,” Bennet said in…