Author: Peter Marcus
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Campaign finance reform measures die in Colorado legislature
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A Republican-controlled Senate committee on Wednesday killed two campaign finance reform measures that Democrats pushed this year as part of a package. Both measures died on Republican party-line votes in the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. House Bill 1261 would have required a description of the entities that are spending money to influence…
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Budget-balancing measures pass House, but legislature’s work is hardly over
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story previously stated that there were two votes on Senate Bill 256. Two votes were initially recorded on the legislature’s website. But staff for House Democrats say the vote was erroneously ended, and so there was actually only one recorded vote on the bill, which was 33-31. The Colorado House on Tuesday…
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Tough marijuana position from national prosecutors offers guidance to White House
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District attorneys from across the nation recently backed a position statement that declares that marijuana legalization has increased access by children and that supports federal enforcement. The perspective – ironically released by the National District Attorneys Association on April 20, the 420 day of marijuana celebration – could help guide policy direction by the Trump administration, which…
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Colorado Senate committee gives wag to bill that would legalize online pet-sitting
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Even lawmakers without a “dog in the fight” backed a measure Monday that would allow online pet-sitting services to operate legally in Colorado. House Bill 1228 would address state law, which prohibits services that provide in-home pet care unless the service operates under the same rules and regulations as larger boarding and daycare pet facilities.…
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Colorado bill allowing bars to stay open past 2 a.m. dies in legislature
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The Colorado Senate on Monday killed legislation that would have allowed local governments to allow bars to stay open past 2 a.m. The Senate delayed a vote on House Bill 1123 until after the legislative session, which effectively killed the measure. Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, expressed concerns with the measure in a letter last…
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Exclusive: Jared Polis explains why he is thinking about running for governor
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Leaning over a table in an upscale downtown Denver Mexican restaurant, Jared Polis eats nachos while energetically contemplating a run for governor. “I’m going to be deciding in the next month or two whether or not to launch a statewide race for governor,” Polis, a five-term congressman for the 2nd Congressional District, told Colorado Politics…
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Insights: Meltdown in Colorado legislature over centerpiece issues
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The legislature experienced a meltdown on Thursday. At around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, the Capitol press corps was summoned to Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham’s office for an 8 a.m. meeting on Thursday. Republicans were super secretive about it. “Senate President Kevin Grantham will meet with the professional press at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, April 20,…
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Colorado House rejects effort to ban cannabis use in churches; approves PTSD
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As marijuana enthusiasts gathered in Denver’s Civic Center on Thursday, praying for rain to hold during 420 festivities, lawmakers across the park rejected an effort to ban cannabis use in churches. The legislature on Thursday also approved adding post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, pushed a last-minute…
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Troubled Colorado transportation funding bill faces roadblocks
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A proposal to raise money for transportation infrastructure appears to have crashed in the legislature as supporters scramble to secure the votes needed to keep the bill moving. Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Canon City, a sponsor of the centerpiece transportation funding effort, acknowledged that he has struggled to convince his caucus to support the measure. “The…
