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Rep. Evans will join House Oversight Committee questioning Denver mayor on sanctuary policies
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Rep. Evans will join House Oversight Committee questioning Denver mayor on sanctuary policies

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When Mike Johnston arrives in March to offer his testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Denver mayor might recognize a member of the panel questioning him. U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Weld County resident, has been authorized, presumably by Chairman James Comer, to waive onto the committee to question Johnston, and potentially the mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York City. Rep. Comer, in his capacity as chairman of the committee, announced Wednesday that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and New York City Mayor Eric Adams would join Johnston on the March 5 panel investigating the policies of sanctuary cities and their impact on public safety and federal immigration enforcement. He has...
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Garbo: Colorado’s Senate Bill 3 is the greatest threat to freedom yet
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Garbo: Colorado’s Senate Bill 3 is the greatest threat to freedom yet

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado stands at a critical crossroads. Senate Bill 3, which has already cleared its committee hurdle, is scheduled for a full Senate vote this Friday, Feb. 7. This bill, if passed, will be a devastating blow to the constitutional rights of every law-abiding Coloradan, marking a dangerous descent into anti-freedom territory that betrays the very principles upon which this nation was founded. SB 3 seeks to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale and purchase of a broad category of semiautomatic firearms and devices that increase the rate of fire. This is not just a simple regulation; it is a direct, unapologetic assault on the 2nd Amendment, which clearly states, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,...
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Lundberg: My list of the good and the bad bills (so far) of the 75th session
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Lundberg: My list of the good and the bad bills (so far) of the 75th session

By Kevin Lundberg | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I have been reviewing most of the bills introduced in the Colorado legislature for the past 23 years. I haven’t kept exact records, but that amounts to more than 15,000 bills and resolutions. From that perspective, I have the following observations about the current crop of bills we have already seen this year. With the Democrats in full control of the House, Senate and governor's office, it is no surprise that there are a lot of bills that promote a woke agenda, expand government reach, increase taxes (which they label fees) and give homage to the global warming extremists. There are also many very good bills that could head our state in the right direction, but most of these bills will never get past their first committe...
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Rep. Weinberg’s constitutional carry bill would give Coloradans rights that 29 other states already have
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Rep. Weinberg’s constitutional carry bill would give Coloradans rights that 29 other states already have

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, written by James Madison, was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791, along with the other Bill of Rights, Americans believed the Founders had provided a right that "shall not be infringed" to own and possess firearms, wherever they may be and however they may wish. A bill introduced this week in the Colorado House would mostly and finally provide that unrestricted right. House Bill 25-1164, by Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg, would add Colorado to the growing majority of states with constitutional carry. It is a more long-awaited bill for gun owners than the repeal of the high-capacity magazine law. Constitutional carry is as it sounds, a right, as intended in the constitution, where anyone who can legally...
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Senate Dems’ whip says ‘I am a no’ to SB 3, the semi-auto gun ban bill, absent of significant changes
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Senate Dems’ whip says ‘I am a no’ to SB 3, the semi-auto gun ban bill, absent of significant changes

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The house of cards on Colorado Senate Bill 25-003 appears to be collapsing in the wee hours before it is set for a vote. Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, a Pueblo County Democrat and the majority party's whip, has declared his opposition to the bill "prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase of specified semiautomatic firearms" that some have said would make Colorado the most anti-gun state in the country. https://twitter.com/NickForCO/status/1886526899926786130 SB 3, sponsored by Democrat Sens. Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales and by Democrat Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Meg Froelich, is slated for a second reading postponed from Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. Friday, when a vote could be taken. "I believe that, broadly, semi-au...
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How Durango’s school board kept a charter school out by prioritizing DEI over parents
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How Durango’s school board kept a charter school out by prioritizing DEI over parents

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ascent Classical Academy seemed to have the community support, the resources and the experience to launch another successful charter school in Colorado. Parents in Durango seemed to want the option. More than 600 families signed letters of intent, but the Durango School Board said no in 2022. This wasn’t a decision based on academic concerns, some say. The school board, backed by a mobilized teachers’ union, rejected Ascent on ideological grounds, blocking an alternative educational model that didn’t align with its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) priorities. The Durango school board rejected Ascent twice, despite the Colorado State Board of Education’s original ruling in the charter school’s favor. The official r...
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Editorial: HB 1055 fixes a $3 million mistake and protects small business, taxpayers
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Editorial: HB 1055 fixes a $3 million mistake and protects small business, taxpayers

By Editorial Board | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As House Bill 25-1055, by Republican Rep. Max Brooks, approaches a committee hearing on Thursday, Feb. 6, stakeholders are emphasizing its significant implications for the state's business environment. The bill seeks to repeal the Democrat-led House Bill 24-1353, which mandates that firearm dealers obtain a state permit to operate. Critics argue that maintaining HB 1353 could impose substantial financial and regulatory burdens on Colorado small business owners. According to the Joint Budget Committee's fiscal analysis, HB 1353 requires an initial general fund expenditure of $618,973 in fiscal year 2024-25 to set up the program, with ongoing costs projected of nearly $3.1 million annually in subsequent years. Additionally, imple...
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Colorado House committees to tackle school lunch waste, NIL deals; Senate to hear 911 obstruction bill
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Colorado House committees to tackle school lunch waste, NIL deals; Senate to hear 911 obstruction bill

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice In schools across Colorado, the waste during a lunch period might be astounding — on average a school-age child throws away 67 pounds of food annually. One bill in the Colorado House aims to limit it. House Bill 25-1059, by Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg and sponsored in the Senate by Democrat Sen. Janice Marchman and Republican Sen. Janice Rich, asks school officials to establish policies by which it can reduce waste in school cafeterias and food preparation facilities. The bill will be heard Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the House Education Committee upon adjournment of the House in Room 0107. School policies may address "food waste diversion and aversion initiatives, including composting and share tables," which the bill indicates would permit st...
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Boll: In a transition from principles to compromise, Douglas County School Board’s CRT conundrum
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Boll: In a transition from principles to compromise, Douglas County School Board’s CRT conundrum

By Laureen Boll | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As a long-term resident of Douglas County — and a parent who watched my children navigate K-12 education in Douglas County School District (DCSD) — I’ve witnessed the shift from community engagement to ideological battles. I was always an engaged parent, volunteering at my kids’ schools, knowing most teachers on a first-name basis, and voting in school board elections. However, my perspective on school governance dramatically changed with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. As public schools remained closed, despite evidence suggesting low risk for children — while private schools just a few blocks away were re-opening — I began attending virtual school board meetings. The decisions made by the school board to keep the schools ...
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Ganahl: What is the significance of Republican organizational meetings?
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Ganahl: What is the significance of Republican organizational meetings?

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice It is essential for every Republican to recognize the importance of the upcoming organizational meetings. These gatherings, held in odd-numbered years, play a pivotal role in shaping the party's direction at both county and state levels. The election of new leadership during these meetings will significantly influence the party's effectiveness, adherence to conservative principles and overall success in future elections. Key dates and objectives County-level organizational meetings are scheduled between Feb. 1-15, followed by the state party meeting, which occurs between Feb. 15 to April 1 and has been set for March 29. The primary objective of these meetings is to elect new party leaders — including the chair, vice-chair an...
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