peter marcus
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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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Time for special session dwindles
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The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the remaining proposed ballot titles pushed by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis that attempt to offer local jurisdictions the power to regulate oil and gas activity, including banning hydraulic fracturing and increasing setbacks. The high court’s ruling came just days after citizens in Loveland rejected a ballot question that…
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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…
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Gun rights candidates win Jeffco senate seats
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Perhaps the biggest victory for conservative candidates challenging mainstream Republicans in the primary elections on Tuesday occurred in Jefferson County where a bitter and divisive push by pro-life and gun rights groups propelled their candidates to commanding wins. In Senate District 19, Laura Woods defeated Lang Sias 55 percent to 45 percent, earning 6,700 votes…
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Caldara: Let the sunshine in
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The leader of a free-market think tank is pushing a proposed ballot initiative that would require open meetings for school boards during collective bargaining or employment contract negotiations. Jon Caldara, president of the libertarian-leaning Independence Institute, said the proposal is not meant to be political, despite the many political implications that come with collective bargaining…
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Caldara: Let the sunshine in
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The leader of a free-market think tank is pushing a proposed ballot initiative that would require open meetings for school boards during collective bargaining or employment contract negotiations. Jon Caldara, president of the libertarian-leaning Independence Institute, said the proposal is not meant to be political, despite the many political implications that come with collective bargaining…
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Deal, or no deal? Time’s running out
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A deal brokered by Gov. John Hickenlooper to avoid an onslaught of proposed ballot questions that could lead to more bans on hydraulic fracturing remains complicated at best, as both environmentalists and industry executives are fractured. The wishful grand bargain spearheaded by Hickenlooper, a Democrat, aims to get U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, to drop…
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Hick flick considered electioneering
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Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert opined on Thursday afternoon that a well-known, conservative Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit should not be treated as traditional media and is thereby subject to financial disclosures in making a political film focused on Gov. John Hickenlooper and elected officials in Colorado. Citizens United, famous for initiating a U.S. Supreme Court…
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Let more citizens judge the judges?
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A local lawyer frustrated with the system in Colorado to retain judges and hold them accountable has proposed two ballot initiatives that aim to restructure the system and offer citizens their own form of justice. Chris Forsyth, who has practiced law for 20 years, said he has seen the damage judges can bring to the…