Current News

GOP re-elects 'liberal' Wadhams

'Kick those liberals out!' implores challenger Tucker
3/26/2009

By Leslie Jorgensen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

“There’s your headline! Republicans elect liberal party chair!” exclaimed newly re-elected Colorado GOP Chair Dick Wadhams before bounding down the aisle to deliver his acceptance speech on the stage of the Douglas County High School auditorium.

Despite being labeled a “liberal” by one of his two challengers, Wadhams won by a landslide — capturing 310 of 366 votes cast by state GOP central committee members.

Steele tells young Republicans ‘Your time is now’

RNC Chair Steele leads ?Big Tent? revival
3/26/2009

By Leslie Jorgensen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Headlining the “Blueprint for Tomorrow” dinner on the eve of the state GOP’s leadership election, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was on a mission to ramp up enthusiasm, reawaken conservative fiscal values and revamp the party’s “small tent” image.

Romanoff skirts rumors, focuses on school buildings

3/26/2009

By Jason Kosena
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Back in the Capitol and making his first public appearance in many weeks, Denver Democrat and former Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff wasn’t saying much about rumors that he may run a primary against newly appointed U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.

Danish prince and princess reign at groundbreaking

3/26/2009

By Jason Kosena
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

BRIGHTON — Capping off a three-day spree of new job announcements, Gov. Bill Ritter joined Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in Brighton Wednesday at the official groundbreaking ceremony for two Vestas manufacturing plants. The plants, which will produce wind turbine components, are expected to employ 1,350 people when they open in 2010.

CACI delegation to lobby Bennet and Udall to oppose card check legislation

3/26/2009

The Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI), the statewide chamber of commerce with nearly 500 members, will send a delegation to Washington, D.C. March 31 and April 1 to lobby Colorado Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet against the proposed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), also known as “card check” union organizing legislation.

Delegation pushes for new veterans’ cemetery

3/26/2009

By Elizabeth Stortroen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Members of the state’s congressional delegation are increasing the pressure for a new national cemetery to serve Colorado’s veterans.

On Wednesday, March 25, Colorado’s U.S. Senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, both Democrats, introduced legislation to create a new national veterans’ cemetery in El Paso County.

GOP irate over ruling on mill levy

3/20/2009

By Jason Kosena
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Chalk up another victory for the Colorado Democrats.

By a 6-1 decision Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in favor of legislation backed by the Democrats that will keep property taxes from decreasing. The court said the 2007 legislation — which froze mill levies at their then-current levels — passed constitutional muster and does not violate the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which requires a popular vote in order to alter tax policy.

Wadhams leads race for state GOP chair

3/20/2009

By Leslie Jorgensen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The Colorado Republican Party will forge its future with the election of new officers at their party organizational meeting on Saturday at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock.

Republican vice chair race is wide open

Candidates split between rural and urban delegates
3/20/2009

By Leslie Jorgensen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

If Colorado Republicans are seeking a path out of the political wilderness, they may get the map from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who will speak at “Blueprint for tomorrow” dinner at the Denver Marriott South.

Quick approval of VA hospital cheers Bennet

3/20/2009

By Elizabeth Stortroen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The big news in U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s weekly conference call with the local media on March 18, was the announcement of the new Veteran Affairs hospital, which will be built near Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora.

Bennet also discussed the AIG bonus scandal and the reprise of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act 2009.

Bennet opened by thanking Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for ending nearly a decade of uncertainty about Colorado’s new VA hospital.