marcus Archives

Supporters of 12-month supply of contraceptives bill worried it will die in Colorado Senate

Apr 4, 2017

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A bipartisan bill to allow women to obtain a year’s worth of prescription contraceptives passed the House with widespread support, but faces an uncertain future in the Republican Senate. House Bill 1186 was assigned to the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, a committee used by the majority party to kill unfavorable legislation. In…

George Brauchler poised to run for Colorado governor

Apr 4, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler appears poised to announce a run for governor as early as Wednesday. The Republican – who skyrocketed into the political limelight after criticizing Gov. John Hickenlooper for issuing a stay of execution to convicted killer Nathan Dunlap in 2013 – posted an announcement teaser video to his Facebook campaign page…

Colorado Springs transportation tax concerns difficult to address

Apr 3, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham said he understands the concerns of Colorado Springs taxpayers on transportation funding, but that a solution is difficult to reach. Grantham, from Cañon City, responded to concerns raised by Mayor John Suthers, a fellow Republican, who last week told Colorado Politics that he can’t support a tax increase for statewide transportation…

Democrat Michael Bennet will not filibuster Neil Gorsuch nomination

Apr 3, 2017

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Peter Marcus

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, says he will not vote to filibuster Trump U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. News of Bennet’s decision – a question that has been hanging over the Democrat’s head for weeks – was first reported by Colorado Independent columnist Mike Littwin. Bennet reiterated his thoughts in a statement Monday morning. “Neither Republicans…

This week at the Colorado Capitol: Budget, multimodal transportation and pet sitting

Apr 3, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Here are the legislative committee hearings of note for the week ahead at the Colorado Capitol. Committee schedules are subject to change. The daily schedule is available on the legislature’s website. Monday House Finance, 1:30 p.m., Room LSB-A Senate Bill 27 to increase the penalty of texting while driving Tuesday House Appropriations, 8 a.m., Room LSB-A Senate Bill…

Colorado Springs’ state Sen. Owen Hill to challenge U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in 5th Congressional District

Apr 2, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Owen Hill, a young, charismatic state senator from Colorado Springs, will challenge U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in what is sure to be a competitive Republican primary. Colorado Politics spoke with Hill on Thursday ahead of an intended Monday “soft” campaign launch, in which the two-term state senator said frustration with Lamborn has “reached a real deafening…

Compromise in the works on Hospital Provider Fee to fund rural Colorado

Mar 21, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Senate Democratic Leader Lucia Guzman on Tuesday asked a committee to kill legislation that would have restructured the Hospital Provider Fee, saying she is working on a bipartisan fix. Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, the president pro tem, is working with Guzman, though he declined to offer details on the proposal, which is still being crafted.…

Poll shows Colorado voters favor limiting marijuana home-grows

Mar 21, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Colorado voters favor limiting the number of marijuana plants that can be grown at home, according to a survey obtained by Colorado Politics. There is broad support for limiting home grows to 12 plants, according to the Keating Research poll, which was conducted between March 8-13. Colorado voters favor the 12-plant limit by 21 points, 57…

TABOR reform bill by maverick Republicans meets demise in GOP committee

Mar 20, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Senate Republicans on Monday killed a TABOR reform effort by one of their own to allow the state to retain excess revenue when economic times are good. On a party-line vote, the TABOR reform measure died in a Republican-controlled “kill committee,” where legislation deemed unfavorable by the majority party is sent to die. What was…

Senate Republicans: Budget debate is about priorities, not ‘cuts’

Mar 20, 2017

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Peter Marcus

Majority Republicans in the Colorado Senate say it is unfair to frame upcoming budget talks as being about “cuts,” pointing out that spending continues to grow. A quarterly revenue forecast presented by Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office on Friday indicated that lawmakers must trim about $700 million in order to pass a balanced budget based on…