politics
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Colorado Joint Budget Committee rejects DOC’s $2.4M request for more beds
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The state’s Joint Budget Committee voted on Wednesday to deny the Department of Corrections’ $2.4 million request for additional prison beds, citing the department’s lack of a plan to address its ongoing overcrowding problems. In September, the committee approved the DOC’s $2.8 million supplemental request for additional beds following the governor’s implementation of the Prison…
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Colorado attorney general invites public to report ICE ‘misconduct’
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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has launched a new online mechanism that allows Colorado residents to report “misconduct” by federal immigration agents, his office announced on Wednesday. “Nobody is above the rule of law, including federal agents such as ICE or border patrol,” he said. “This new reporting form is about keeping our communities safe…
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Enterprise fees surge as more of Colorado’s budget escapes TABOR limits
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More than 30 years after Colorado voters approved the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, a growing share of state spending now falls outside the voter-approved limits intended to restrain government growth. A new report shows that fee-funded “enterprises” — state-owned businesses exempt from TABOR’s revenue cap — have expanded dramatically, raising worries that lawmakers are increasingly…
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Gov. Polis, Democratic lawmakers introduce trio of housing affordability bills
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Democratic lawmakers were joined by housing advocates and Gov. Jared Polis at the Capitol on Wednesday to announce a trio of bills they say will increase affordable housing in Colorado. “This session, Colorado Democrats are focused on lowering costs, and these three bills will spur more housing now that Coloradans can afford,” said Speaker of…
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Gov. Jared Polis’ final address draws mixed reaction
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Gov. Jared Polis used his final State of the State address to reflect on seven years of policy changes, blending cultural references and nostalgia, and drawing sharply different reactions from people. Lawmakers both past and present — as well as representatives from state agencies, nonprofit organizations and other guests — listened to Polis speak for…
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Douglas County Sheriff, DA sue Polis administration over immigration policy
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Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly and District Attorney George Brauchler filed a lawsuit against Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, challenging the constitutionality of a state statute on immigration visas. Filed on Wednesday, the suit also named Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Director of Public Safety Stan Hilkey, and Division of Criminal Justice Director Matt Luan as…
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Colorado GOP House leader emphasizes parental rights, affordability woes
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The new Republican leader of the House emphasized worries about affordability, rising political violence, and parental rights in a speech to his colleagues on Wednesday. Rep. Jarvis Caldwell, who was selected to replace former Minority Leader Rose Pugliese following her resignation in the fall, began his speech by saying he was going to do something…
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House Speaker urges colleagues to fight Trump, who ‘would hold Colorado hostage’
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A top Colorado Democrat on Wednesday characterized Colorado as under siege by the Trump administration, as she invoked Winston Churchill and urged colleagues to fight back. “In this moment, when the White House would hold Colorado hostage, I’m reminded of a Churchill saying: ‘You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor,…
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Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs mayors list competency, AI among priorities for legislative session
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The mayors of Colorado’s three largest cities — representing a combined population of about 1.5 million — are urging state lawmakers to tackle some of their communities’ most pressing challenges in the upcoming legislative session, notably in the areas of crime and regulation. In a letter to Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado General Assembly,…
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Following scandals and accusations of toxicity, Colorado House leaders seek a reset in 2026
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The 2025 legislative session saw its fair share of scandals — from accusations of misusing campaign finances, claims of online bullying, and the resignation of the House’s top Republican due to “toxicity” — and it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will behave themselves this year. Regardless, leaders said they are committed to fostering a…
