jovan melton
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Sexual harassment cases taking a toll on lawmakers, not just the accused
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DENVER – As the Colorado Senate debated the fate of Sen. Randy Baumgardner over sexual harassment charges in a rare evening session, Sen. Lucia Guzman was thinking of sunrise on Good Friday, a time of atonement and healing. The resolution to expel Baumgardner failed in a 17-17 tie after a four-hour hearing. In speech after speech,…
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Politicians try their hand at April Fool’s gags
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DENVER – State Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver and her partner in pranks Rep. Jovan Melton of Aurora were a day late but not a doughnut short Monday, catching lawmakers and statehouse staff off-guard for their April Fool’s trap. They loaded doughnuts with mayo and shared the mistreats the day after national observance for practical…
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Colorado House Black Caucus counts $7.1M in budget wins
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DENVER – The largest group of black lawmakers in Colorado history touted the amendments they secured in the House version of the state budget Thursday. The House Black Caucus took credit for six amendments putting more than $7.1 million into mentoring programs, community corrections treatment services, mental health for peace officers, substance abuse treatment for expecting…
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House Republicans vote against bill continuing Civil Rights Division and Commission
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DENVER – All but two members of the Colorado House Republican caucus Wednesday voted against a bill to continue the Colorado Division of Civil Rights and Colorado Commission on Civil Rights. The 36-26 vote, which drew only two Republican votes in favor, signals the real fight: when House Bill 1256 reaches the Republican-majority Senate, and all-but-assured Republican changes…
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Grantham on the Colorado legislature: It’s become a "theater of the absurd"
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DENVER – Senate Republicans Monday morning took just about everyone to task over inappropriate remarks in the House and Senate, beginning in their own chamber. The House wasn’t exempt from their criticisms, either, after a Democratic member of that chamber last Friday threatened to call for the expulsion of another member over a disagreement in…
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Rep. Donald Valdez calls out fellow House Democrat on House floor
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The issue of harassment at the state Capitol took a turn Friday, when a Democratic member of the House claimed he’d been harassed by another member, a fellow Democrat, and threatened to call for an expulsion resolution. Rep. Donald Valdez of La Jara took to the House microphone Friday morning to complain that he had…
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Right to rest bill fails in a Colorado House committee — again
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A Colorado House committee once again killed legislation that would allow homeless people to camp or linger where they want, countering municipal urban camping bans across the state. Police and municipal government officials again testified that allowing people to camp wherever they want doesn’t connect them to shelter or mental health services or other help.…
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Colorado House expels Rep. Steve Lebsock, 52-9
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The Colorado House voted to expel Rep. Steve Lebsock, a Democrat from Thornton, Friday, the first such move since a member was found to take a bribe on a floor of the chamber in 1915. Lebsock left the Capitol as soon as the vote was taken without speaking to the press. Within an hour before…
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House Republicans attempt to block expulsion vote; joint caucus grills investigator
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Colorado House Republicans tried to stall an expulsion vote on Democratic Rep. Steve Lebsock Thursday, including a call for a prosecutor to get involved. The chamber was a flurry of activity heading into the final hours of the investigation into 11 allegations of sexual misconduct, as Lebsock tussled with his own members and Republicans sought…
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Bipartisan bill would create ‘tasting rooms’ in Colorado pot shops
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Have a little taste of kush, Colorado. That’s the aim of a new bill to set up pot tasting rooms in towns that want them across the state. House Bill 1258 would allow those with existing marijuana retail licenses to add a caveat that customers can use some of it on the premises, much like…
