Author: Peter Marcus
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Without companion legislation, Colorado budget is out of balance
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The $26.8 billion state budget has passed both chambers, but it is out of balance without further action by the legislature. When the House on Monday passed the annual spending plan on a vote of 38-27, with the majority of Republicans opposing the so-called “Long Bill,” it delayed passage of a handful of “orbital” bills that…
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Hardly special…
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Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday morning ended months of anticipation and anxiety over a possible special session to address oil and gas regulation in the face of looming ballot initiatives, announcing that he was unable to strike a grand bargain. The Democratic governor and former geologist had hoped to stave off a series of ballot…
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Beauprez clarifies controversial comments on immigration; SEIU, Latino leaders stage mock funeral
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Republicans are being increasingly attacked by Latino leaders and Democrats over a failure to push immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship, something they feel could come back to haunt the party in the November elections. GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez is the latest of local Colorado Republicans to face criticism following controversial remarks…
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And this one’s about a real horse race…
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Two former state legislators submitted signatures on Monday for a ballot initiative that proponents believe would raise millions of dollars for K-12 education by expanding casino gambling to racetracks. But with millions of dollars already pouring into the race, opponents — largely made up of current Colorado casino owners — are alleging an ulterior motive…
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McLachlan vs. Brown — A rematch in HD 59
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A rematch in southwest Colorado’s House District 59 is likely to end up being one of the state’s most expensive legislative races, as Democrats will fight to preserve the seat against an onslaught of Republican and conservative third-party attacks. Democrat Mike McLachlan, a Durango attorney, is facing off once again against Republican Ignacio rancher J.…
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Counterterrorism experts share views at CELL event
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Two of the nation’s leading experts on counterterrorism abroad spoke in Denver on Tuesday at a time when international tensions are flaring over an Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and extremists continue to occupy large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Melanie Pearlman, Greg Dobbs at The CELL event. Former U.S. Attorney General Michael…
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Local control ballot measures continue to prove controversial
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Opponents of proposed ballot initiatives that aim to give local governments more control over oil and gas regulation presented a campaign finance complaint before an administrative-law judge on Wednesday. The complaint comes despite ongoing negotiations for a special session to derail the ballot proposals through a legislative solution. But those talks remain complicated, with controversy…
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Former legislator seeks senate seat lost in recall
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Following a bitter recall election in which former Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs was ousted from office over his support for gun control, Democrats are eager to take back the Senate District 11 seat. They have chosen former Rep. Mike Merrifield of Manitou Springs to lead them to victory. But Sen. Bernie Herpin,…
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Restructuring of state legislature effort resurrected
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A campaign to restructure the state legislature with the aim of giving rural Colorado more of a voice first suspended its efforts after a lackluster response, but then days later announced that it was forging ahead. The Restoring Colorado campaign grew out of the so-called “51st state movement,” in which rural Coloradans pushed an unsuccessful…
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State’s new gun-control laws upheld by court
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A U.S. District Court judge on Thursday released a 50-page ruling that systematically and carefully tears apart a lawsuit filed by gun rights supporters, upholding Colorado’s laws banning high-capacity ammunition magazines and requiring universal background checks. More than 30 groups and individuals sued the state over the gun control laws passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature…