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Democrats want a ‘pet tax’ and registry in Colorado
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Democrats want a ‘pet tax’ and registry in Colorado

By The Lobby In yet another attempt to nickel and dime hardworking Coloradans, Democrats have proposed a ridiculous new bill that would create a burdensome "Pet Animal Registration System." Colorado House Bill 24-1163 aims to impose a tax of up to $8.50 on every pet in the state, including invertebrates, with the tax being payable annually. Not only does this bill require pet owners to register their pets with the state, but it also mandates the assignment of a "designated caregiver" for each pet. Failure to name a caregiver would result in an annual cost of $25 per pet. There is no limit or cap on the taxation, meaning that pet owners could potentially face exorbitant costs. This tax would be in addition to any local taxes, such as dog licenses, further burdening pet ...
The Replacements: 28 lawmakers appointed to 29 seats by small groups of party insiders
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

The Replacements: 28 lawmakers appointed to 29 seats by small groups of party insiders

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics With close to a third of lawmakers being appointed to office instead of elected by voters, the Colorado General Assembly likely holds a record that few state legislatures would want.  A Colorado Politics analysis showed that of 24 out of the 28 current state lawmakers appointed by vacancy committees, fewer than 40 party insiders on average picked the individuals who would represent the people at the state Capitol, instead of the 89,000 residents of a House district or the 165,000 people who live in a Senate's political boundary.  The 28 lawmakers who gained their positions — one legislator was picked twice to two different seats for a total of 29 appointments — through a vacancy go back all the way to 2010, when now-Sen....
GOP governors and ‘God’s Army’ caravan descend on border with urgent call to end immigration crisis
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

GOP governors and ‘God’s Army’ caravan descend on border with urgent call to end immigration crisis

By Anna Giaritelli | Denver Gazette Fifteen Republican governors and a conservative convoy of truckers that has dubbed itself "God's Army" will descend on the southern border this weekend as part of separate events to draw attention to the illegal immigration crisis. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) will host leaders from 14 other red states in the McAllen, Texas, area of the Rio Grande Valley on Sunday afternoon for a briefing on the state's effort to bolster security at the Mexico border and hold a press conference about the impact of "President Joe Biden's reckless open border policies." In the lead-up to Abbott's border event, Americans frustrated with the more than 9 million people who have been observed or encountered while illegally entering the country...
Colorado House Democrats pass resolution to stifle honest debate and silence GOP voices
Approved, State, thelobby-co.com

Colorado House Democrats pass resolution to stifle honest debate and silence GOP voices

By The Lobby In a stunning display of partisan politics, Colorado House Democrats have passed House Resolution 24-1004, drawing strong protests from House Republicans who argue that changing these rules is a deliberate attempt to suppress conservative voices. The resolution, offered by House Majority Leader Monica Duran, passed on a party-line vote of 42-19, further highlighting the growing divide between the two parties. Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs spoke out against the resolution on behalf of her caucus, pointing out the hypocrisy of Governor Jared Polis and House Speaker Julie McCluskie. Minority Leader Rose Pugliese speaking in opposition to House Resolution 24-1004, February 2, 2024. Both Polis and McCluskie had called for more civility and "...
In re-election rematch, Biden and Trump throw sharp jabs over the economy
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

In re-election rematch, Biden and Trump throw sharp jabs over the economy

By Naomi Lim | Colorado Springs Gazette President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are posturing over the economy as they prepare for what is poised to be a 2020 general election do-over this November. Their endeavors to redefine their economic records and receive credit for a rosier outlook after the COVID-19 pandemic coincide with their appeals to working-class voters and the unions that represent some of them, with the demographic underpinning their respective 2016 and 2020 wins in states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In his pivot toward the campaign, Biden has underscored positive economic data, including Friday's strong jobs report, last week's reports that the economy expanded by 3.1% during t...
FBI charged with Jan. 6 ‘cover-up’ in Ashli Babbitt shooting case
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

FBI charged with Jan. 6 ‘cover-up’ in Ashli Babbitt shooting case

By Paul Bedard | Denver Gazette A watchdog group is escalating its battle with the Justice Department over the FBI's refusal to turn over files on Ashli Babbitt, the United States Air Force veteran shot and killed during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot over the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory over former President Donald Trump. Judicial Watch, claiming a “cover-up,” on Friday filed a suit in federal court claiming that the FBI has twice refused to comply with Freedom of Information Act demands for any files it has on Babbitt and her husband Aaron. The FOIA lawsuit was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Republicans skeptical the ‘case has been made’ to push Biden impeachment into reality
Approved, denvergazette.com, National

Republicans skeptical the ‘case has been made’ to push Biden impeachment into reality

By Jack Birle | Denver Gazette As House Republicans move one step closer to impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, more members of the House GOP conference are skeptical about impeaching his boss. The House GOP has dedicated a significant portion of its current stint in control of the chamber exploring and hyping up impeaching President Joe Biden, but some within the conference still think the case has yet to be made to the public. “While I think that it’s pretty clear, I don’t know that the case has been made adequately to the American people,” Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) said, according to CNN. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
U.S. Department of Education investigates Denver Public Schools over use of race
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local, National

U.S. Department of Education investigates Denver Public Schools over use of race

By Nicole C. Brambila | Colorado Politics The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened two discrimination complaints filed against Denver Public Schools’ use of race in selecting committee members to evaluate the district’s "discipline matrix" and in deciding which students can take math extension courses. The complaints, filed by the Mountain States Legal Foundation in November and September, respectively, alleged that the district gives preferential treatment to persons of color and inferred that its use of the word "diverse" is a veiled reference to considering race and people's gender identity. Will Trachman, general counsel for Mountain States Legal Foundation, said the district cannot discriminate against White students or individuals who identify wi...
Denver police arrest 13-year-old accused of killing bus passenger for blocking aisle
Approved, Denver Metro, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver police arrest 13-year-old accused of killing bus passenger for blocking aisle

By Daniel Boniface | Denver Gazette A 13-year-old boy was arrested after Denver police alleged he fatally shot a 60-year-old man after an argument on a bus on Saturday. The Denver Police Department said the verbal exchange appears to have started because the victim's leg was blocking the aisle on the bus. The verbal exchange escalated and the boy shot the victim, police said. Denver police officers responded to the bus, which was located at South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue, around 6:41 p.m. When officers got there, they found the 60-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE