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HB 1170 would create new non-profit lobbyist category without financial disclosures
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

HB 1170 would create new non-profit lobbyist category without financial disclosures

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Whether those advocating for non-profits in the Colorado capitol or back home in legislative districts should be held to the same disclosure standards as other lobbyists was a discussion Monday of the House's State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. At issue in House Bill 25-1170, by Democrat Reps. Eliza Hamrick and Andrew Boesenecker, is whether a third category of lobbyist for non-profit organizations should be established. Currently, lobbyists are required to register with the secretary of state as either a professional or volunteer lobbyist. The bill would also ask lawmakers to support a disclosure exemption related to payments non-profit lobbyists may receive from the organization for which they are advocating. HB 1170 wa...
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Walcher: How many border guards do we need?
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Approved, Commentary, Greg Walcher, Rocky Mountain Voice

Walcher: How many border guards do we need?

By Greg Walcher | Guest Commentary, GregWalcher.com Police have an unflattering nickname, “Permit Patty,” for someone who calls police over frivolous complaints. It originated when a woman called the police on a little girl selling lemonade at a streetside stand – as generations of kids have done – without a permit. It illustrates a commonsense truth, namely that not everything in life should require a permit, and not every infraction is a matter for the police. Most of us instinctively understand that, but the federal government never has. Virtually all government agencies operate from a top-down, command-and-control model that emphasizes enforcement over incentives. And most of them have a law enforcement division to make sure everyone complies with their edicts and rules. The fede...
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SB 70, taking aim at online selling of stolen goods, advances to House
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

SB 70, taking aim at online selling of stolen goods, advances to House

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice An inconceivable quantity of goods are bought and sold daily by Coloradans online, and a measure passed out of the Colorado Senate on Monday aims to protect Coloradans from purchasing any goods which may be stolen. Senate Bill 25-070, by El Paso County Republican Sen. Larry Liston and Eagle County Democrat Sen. Dylan Roberts, cleared a 28-3 vote on final reading in the upper chamber. It would require the disclosure, to consumers, of product listings of a high-volume nature by sellers, and require development of a reporting mechanism to the online marketplace. It lost the support of at least one Republican lawmaker after that. "This is one of those bills where I wish I could split my vote," said Sen. Mark Baisley. "The first part, I like im...
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Lundberg: Challenging the open primary system in Colorado
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Lundberg: Challenging the open primary system in Colorado

By Kevin Lundberg | Guest Columnist, Rocky Mountain Voice As chairman for the Colorado GOP lawsuit committee, following is an update on the progress of our case challenging the semi-open primary in federal court.  Our contention is that political parties, being a private organization, should not be required to allow non-party members to vote in that party’s elections, selecting their nominee for general elections. This legal standard was actually established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Jones case in 2000. In 2021, the State Republican Central Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling for a legal challenge of Prop. 108. That ballot initiative was approved by a narrow majority vote in the 2016 general election and was first applied to primary elections in 2018. I...
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Unleashed: The Wild West Comeback—How We Take Back Colorado
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Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Unleashed: The Wild West Comeback—How We Take Back Colorado

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Heidi Ganahl is back, and she’s on fire. In the latest episode of Unleashed, she dives into the urgent fight to restore freedom in Colorado—breaking down how grassroots activism, coalition-building, and an unapologetic commitment to conservative values will shape the future of our state. One of the biggest takeaways? The battle for Colorado isn’t just about the Republican Party—it’s about a liberty movement that puts principles before party politics. Heidi lays out how conservatives, libertarians, and independent-minded Coloradans can work together to push back against radical policies while bypassing the establishment's dysfunction. Frustrated by mainstream media spin, Heidi created Rocky Mountain Voice as Colorado’s home for independent conservative...
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Devotional: Learning to trust God’s Armor in all aspects of your life
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: Learning to trust God’s Armor in all aspects of your life

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice During my military career, while on a special task force, I needed to qualify in "high ropes" to master rappelling from skyscrapers, steep mountains or any necessary situation. The training was rigorous in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, especially since I feared heights. Upon our arrival for training, we were introduced to the life-saving tools we would rely on. Many skills were taught and refined during this demanding experience. One particular lesson stood out — whenever a student froze or panicked high in the air, the instructor would shout confidently and with authority, “TRUST YOUR EQUIPMENT!” Most Christians are familiar with the Apostle Paul’s description of God’s Armor, referred to as “The Armor of God,” in his Letter to t...
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As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A battle is brewing over the future of Sandstone Ranch Open Space. Douglas County’s proposal to introduce primitive camping at the site has sparked overwhelming opposition from residents, firefighters and local organizations. With fire dangers looming, a lack of emergency response infrastructure and no prior public input, critics are calling the plan reckless and dangerous. Residents have mobilized, gathering more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the plan, and two local government bodies have already passed resolutions formally opposing the initiative. A public awareness event is planned for Saturday, and concerned citizens are preparing to speak out at the next board of county commissioners meeting. “We’re ...
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Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice The average residential property rental in Denver is $2,050, a decrease of $117 in a year from a peak in August 2024, according to Zillow.com. In Colorado Springs the rental market has seen almost no change in a year, while in other cities like Pueblo and Grand Junction rents have increased, Zillow.com says. The rise of rents, or potentially the decline, is all a product of supply of rentals and demand by renters, some industry experts say, but two Colorado Democrat representatives have written a bill to try and prevent landlord price fixing. They say multiple online companies offer algorithms that allow landlords to collude to set rental price points. House Bill 25-1004, by Denver County Reps. Steven Woodrow and Javier Mabrey, aims to cor...
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‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ryan Armagost has a background of serving as a U.S. Marine, deputy sheriff and firefighter, making him no stranger to challenging situations. Yet, none of those roles, he says, compare to being a state legislator. Armagost is a Republican serving in Colorado House District 64, which lies in Larimer and Weld counties. "This is definitely the most challenging job I've had," Armagost said. "The constant level of negotiation, bargaining and compromising — and everything that we have to do is equivalent to a bad marriage." 'Whip'ing the GOP members With the departure of Rep. Richard Holtorf from the Golden Dome, Armagost became the minority party's whip in the 75th Colorado Legislature. He had previously been the unof...
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Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Lawmakers take aim at food waste, passing HB 1059 out of House and HB 1166 out of committee

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice As Rep. Ron Weinberg's bill taking aim at food waste in school cafeterias from Julesburg to Cortez and all points in between was sailing through the Colorado House on final reading this week, his companion piece of legislation was getting similar treatment Thursday in a House committee. House Bill 25-1166, by the Larimer County Republican and Democrat Rep. Lisa Feret, would expand the Department of Public Health and Environment's role to include training and encourage donation of food through a waste reduction initiative. Specifically, the bill would allow retail food establishments to sell or donate food online and to sell chilled or frozen food at a discount to individuals eligible for food assistance, and also to have grocers replace "sell...
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