Government
Billions in federal farm payments flow to a select group of producers, report shows
WASHINGTON — The top 10% of recipients of federal farm payments raked in more than 79% of total subsidies over the last 25 years — producing billions of dollars for a relatively small group of U.S. producers, according to a new analysis of federal data from an environmental group. In total, the federal government paid […]
Biden, McCarthy hold ‘productive’ and ‘frank’ debt limit talks as fiscal cliffs loom
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy huddled behind closed doors at the White House on Wednesday in the first of what will likely be several conversations as the country approaches two fiscal cliffs this year amid divided government. The top issue at the moment is when and how to address […]
Delayed medication delivery, unpredictable hours typify mail service woes in mountain communities
U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen of Colorado have both written to U.S. Postal Service leaders asking for a solution to mail delivery problems in rural Colorado communities as the service continues to struggle with staffing. Neguse wrote to the USPS manager for the Colorado-Wyoming District, Jason McMahill, asking for alternative methods to pick […]
DeGette among Democrats who push for support of national assault weapons ban
At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, pushed for congressional support of her bill aiming to ban high-capacity magazines along with U.S. Rep. David Cicilline’s Assault Weapons Ban Act, which the Rhode Island Democrat reintroduced today. The Assault Weapons Ban Act passed in the Democratic-controlled House last year, but failed […]
Bill to discourage Colorado police from lying to minors advances in House committee
The House Judiciary Committee at the Colorado Legislature advanced a bill Tuesday that would raise the admissibility standards of statements made by juveniles in court, a second legislative effort that seeks to prevent police from lying to minors during interrogations. House Bill 23-1042 passed along party lines in the committee, with the nine Democrats voting […]
Colorado Republican leaders sideline El Paso County chairwoman in contentious meeting
Leaders of the Colorado Republican Party on Monday voted to appoint a “neutral” person to oversee the El Paso County Republican Party reorganizational meeting and elections in less than two weeks. The extraordinary vote signaled that a majority of state party officials do not trust Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins of El Paso County to run the […]
A democracy can’t easily penalize lies by politicians like George Santos
This commentary originally appeared in The Conversation. George Santos is not the first politician to have lied, but the fables he told to get elected to Congress may be in a class by themselves. Historian Sean Wilentz remarked that while embellishments happen, Santos’ lies are different — “there is no example like it” in American […]
Colorado bill aims to increase transparency for Uber, Lyft driver pay
A trio of Colorado Democrats want to make popular ride-hailing service apps more transparent for the people who rely on them for work by requiring disclosure on how much drivers actually earn for each ride and shedding light on an often-hazy deactivation process. Senate Bill 23-98 would require that companies like Uber and Lyft, as […]
Colorado leaders hail drought ‘consensus’ among 6 of 7 Colorado River Basin states
Representatives from six of the seven states that make up the Colorado River Basin on Monday announced their agreement on an “alternative framework” that they say should form the basis of federal planning for the drought-imperiled water source for 40 million people across the U.S. Southwest. Colorado joined five other states in agreeing to the […]
DeGette among Democrats who propose bill to ban high-capacity gun magazines nationwide
In light of a rising number of mass shootings the country has seen in recent weeks, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, and two Democratic colleagues put forward another push to ban the sale of high-capacity gun magazines nationwide. The Keep Americans Safe Act would prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines capable of holding […]
Brough, Herod ahead early in fundraising for Denver mayor’s race
As the race for Denver mayor begins to heat up ahead of the city’s April 4 municipal elections, the early campaign launches and fundraising strength of two high-profile candidates have given them a head start over a crowded field of hopefuls. Kelly Brough, the former head of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Democratic […]
Colorado advocates praise FDA decision allowing abortion medication in pharmacies
Reproductive rights advocates in Colorado were feeling optimistic following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to expand access to the abortion pill mifepristone in early January — but a federal lawsuit filed just 10 days after the decision, which completely challenges the FDA’s approval of the drug in 2000, has made the future of medication […]