mike weissman
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Colorado House Republicans offer amendments to remake civil rights commission
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The House Judiciary Committee Tuesday voted 10-1 to draft a bill to extend the Colorado Division of Civil Rights and the civil rights commission for nine more years. House Republicans offered six amendments that attempted to make sweeping changes to the commission, without success. All of the Republican amendments failed on a 4-7 party-line vote. The…
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Guaranteed time off to vote gets initial OK thanks to liberal listening
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Who knew this was a law already? Coloradans are guaranteed by law two hours on Election Day to vote, almost enough time for a round of golf if you don’t have any friends. But that doesn’t really make sense anymore, since the legislature switched Colorado to mail-ballot elections in 2013; you stand in line only…
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Legislative panel wants more discretion for judges on sex offenders and habitual offenders
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The way justice is meted out in Colorado could change, giving judges more say in habitual offender and sex offender cases, through bills bound for the legislature. The Sentencing in the Criminal Justice System Interim Study Committee is proposing bills to allow judges more leeway in sentencing to make sure the punishment fits the crime. The…
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Lawmakers lament special session that yielded no result
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Colorado lawmakers, depending on party affiliation, thought the special session that ended Tuesday on a party-line vote in the Republican-controlled Senate Transportation Committee represented a missed opportunity to fix their mistake or a staunch defense of the state Constitution. Republicans opposed the fix and preferred voters decide the tax issue, or at least get specific legal guidance…
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Principles of Liberty Colorado organization releases legislative scorecard, honors ‘rock stars’
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State Rep. Justin Everett, a Littleton Republican, ranked highest among Colorado lawmakers in the annual Principles of Liberty scorecard, the conservative organization announced Saturday at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver. Known as “Justin Neverett” and “Dr. No” for his propensity for voting “no” on legislation, Everett was one of nine legislators, all Republicans, to…
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Republican Attorney General Cynthia Coffman hails equality in Colorado at LGBT pride rally
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Colorado has some of the nation’s toughest non-discrimination laws but still has work to do, Republican Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said at a Denver rally for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered equality Sunday. Coffman, the lone Republican on a stage filled with Democratic elected officials and candidates, told the crowd she could also be the only…
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House committee advances lump-sum payments bill for the wrongly convicted
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Members of the state House judiciary committee Tuesday voted unanimously in support of a bill that would see state compensation paid in a lump sum to wrongly convicted Coloradans, a change supporters argue helps exonerated prisoners without bank accounts and financial credit adjust to life beyond prison walls. Robert Dewey testified in favor of Senate…
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In battle pitting religious freedom against discrimination, a small surprise victory
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Colorado House Republicans pitched a religious liberty bill last Wednesday to the Democratic-controlled State Affairs committee. It was the same kind of bill that has stirred hornets nest-like national protests in other states for fear that religious liberty might translate on the ground as discrimination. Republicans knew the bill, HB 1013, would die in committee,…
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Nicolais: In 2017, Legislature’s judiciary committees are in good hands
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For the Colorado Legislature, the new year means new bills and new issues to tackle under the gold dome. In one of the legislative chambers, the state Senate, this new season in state politics will also mean plenty of new faces as well. Even before the session convenes on Jan. 11, the judiciary committees will begin their work.…