Current News

Judiciary issues take center stage

1/18/2013
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

Judiciary issues could become the most difficult and contentious topics facing the legislature this year. Lawmakers will tackle the uncharted world of recreational marijuana regulation, a troubled child protection system and polarizing discussions on gun control.

But it is also the bigger judiciary picture that lawmakers will need to focus on. Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender — in his last annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the legislature on Jan. 11 — described the judiciary in Colorado to be “alive and well.” That’s not to say, however, that there isn’t still work to be done, Bender implored legislators.

Battle brewing over beer in supermarkets

Priola bill would expand licenses from one to five for retailers
1/18/2013
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

Another legislative brouhaha is brewing this year over whether to allow more supermarkets and convenience stores in Colorado to sell full-strength beer, wine and liquor.

The battle is nothing new to the legislature. This year would mark the fifth most recent attempt at allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer. The last effort was in 2011 when two bills that would have allowed the sale died.

Gessler grilled on secretary of state’s practices

Elected official says he’s working to further ‘American Dream’
1/18/2013
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler on Monday defended using office resources to clear non-citizens from state voter rolls. His remarks came as Democratic lawmakers grilled the secretary over glitches with online voter registration, prohibiting mailing of ballots to inactive voters, and controversial relationships with county clerks.

Incumbent GOP Chair Call announces for reelection

DougCo chair Baisley and grassroots organizer Horn plan to challenge
1/12/2013
By Ernest Luning
The Colorado Statesman

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Ryan Call will face at least two challengers in his bid for a second term, which he made official this week. Douglas County GOP Chairman Mark Baisley plans to announce his run on Tuesday, The Colorado Statesman has learned, and Centennial-based grassroots organizer Lori Horn is also running for the top spot. State Republicans pick their leadership team in early March at the party’s biennial reorganization meeting.

Governor delivers third State of the State address

Calls for renewed efforts to curb gun violence
1/11/2013
By Ernest Luning
The Colorado Statesman

On the heels of “a hard year” in Colorado — punctuated by rampant wildfires and a mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater — Gov. John Hickenlooper urged lawmakers on Thursday to respond to adversity the way westerners always have.

Environmentalist, oil & gas officials continue to clash

‘Fractivists’ not pleased with Guv
1/11/2013
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

The debate over hydraulic fracturing this week appeared to run deeper than the controversial wells themselves. And if a good compromise is truly an agreement that no party is happy with, then the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission should be quite pleased with its progress.

Investigation into Gessler’s use of public funds continues

Ethics commission pursues complaint filed by Ethics Watch
1/11/2013
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

The state’s independent ethics commission on Monday rejected requests by attorneys for Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler to drop an investigation into his alleged inappropriate use of public dollars.

Liberal-leaning Colorado Ethics Watch, which filed a complaint against Gessler with the four-member bipartisan Independent Ethics Commission, has produced records showing that taxpayers funded the secretary’s trip to attend a Republican National Lawyers Association event in Sarasota, Fla. at the time the Republican National Convention was taking place in Tampa, Fla.

‘Twas the swing-state election…

12/24/2012
By Ernest Luning
The Colorado Statesman

’Twas the swing-state election, and all through the year
Colorado was crucial, or so ’twould appear.
From the peaks to the plains there was no place to hide:
Undecided electors hung on for the ride.

Colorado’s electors go for Obama

“A very special part of Colorado history,” Gessler acknowledges
12/21/2012
By Ernest Luning
The Colorado Statesman

Although President Barack Obama won the popular vote in Colorado last month, it didn’t officially count until Monday when nine Democrats convened at the State Capitol to cast the final ballots for Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the constitutionally mandated ritual of the Electoral College, a formal step toward filling the highest office in the land. It was the second time in four years that Colorado’s electors had voted for Obama and Biden.

Gunning for reforms of mental health

Governor unveils proposals in wake of recent gun shootings
12/21/2012
By Peter Marcus
The Colorado Statesman

Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday unveiled proposals for comprehensive reforms to the state’s mental health system in the wake of senseless shootings in Colorado and across the nation that have ignited a polarizing conversation on prevention.