legislative news
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Sen. Owen Hill: Yoga master
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State Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs, demonstrates his yoga expertise with a particularly difficult position called “the crow”. Hill struck the pose after a hearing last Wednesday on Senate Bill 186, which would exempt yoga teachers from the authority of the Division of Private Occupational Education. Hill, who chairs the Senate Education Committee where the…
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Dem chair race heats up
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Who will chart the course? The three candidates for chair of the Colorado Democratic Party agreed that the state party needs to chart its own course distinct from Washington, D.C., at a forum on Sunday in Denver. But the candidates disagreed sharply over whether stunning losses in last year’s election mean it’s time for a…
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Reactions mixed to task force recs
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The task force established by Gov. John Hickenlooper last summer to resolve conflicts between the oil and gas industry, local governments and environmentalists over drilling in Colorado voted Tuesday to deliver a handful of proposals to the governor but fell short of producing the sweeping compromise some had anticipated. “Is it a resounding success? No.…
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GOP: ‘High stakes’ battle for state leadership
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More than 75 die-hard conservatives braved a blizzard on Wednesday night to hear Colorado Republican Party chair Ryan Call, who is seeking a third term heading the party, and his challenger, former gubernatorial candidate Steve House, discuss their visions for the GOP at a forum in Greenwood Village. “We all agree that either one we’d…
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Legislative Brief
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Follow up: Bill deadlines — Wednesday marks the first deadline for bills to move out of their original chambers, unless they are granted late bill status or otherwise had deadlines extended. This session looks to be off to a slow start in getting bills to the governor, highlighting the divisive nature of this year’s General…
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Sen. Bill Cadman’s House of Cards
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If you’ve been watching “House of Cards” on Netflix, you might be misled to believe legislative politics requires sophisticated strategic planning. Alas, this is rarely the case. In most instances, our solons make it up as they move along — playing their cards pretty much when and as they are dealt. If that strikes you…
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Growing marijuana industry embraces regulations
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“We want to regulate our industry.” Have you ever heard a businessperson utter those words? Stephanie Hopper says them — a lot. Hopper is the COO of Ballpark Holistic Dispensary, a pot shop two blocks down the road from Coors Field in downtown Denver. Her business booms every time Colorado’s baseball fans pilgrim to see…
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House kicks immigrant driver’s license fight back to Senate
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The Democratic-led House on Wednesday sent a supplemental bill back to the Republican-led Senate that will start another round of dueling press releases around ideological differences over driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The House voted 54-11 to pass Senate Bill 15-161, which would provide about $2.5 million in supplemental funding for the rest of the…
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State chairs: highly qualified to herd ungrateful cats
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Four years ago both the Colorado Republican and Democratic Parties elected unusually young chairmen. Historically, both parties often turned to senior donors or business heavyweights for whom this recognition was, in part, a reward for long service and/or a readiness to pull out their own checkbooks in support of party candidates. The election of Ryan…
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After midterm autopsy, Colorado and national Democrats scramble to realign message
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When Sen. Cory Gardner unseated Democratic incumbent Mark Udall in the 2014 midterm elections, he was the first challenger to boot a sitting Colorado U.S. senator out of office since 1978. The highly competitive race topped priority lists on both sides of the aisle. But on election night, only the Republican camp celebrated. Not only…