Government
Neguse, Lamborn urge National Guard to pay unpaid bonuses promised to service members
Two members of Congress from Colorado are urging the National Guard Bureau to disburse unpaid bonuses promised to almost 13,000 current and former service members for their service. In a letter penned by Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse of Lafayette and Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs, the legislators urge Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief […]
Manchin for president … of the United States or West Virginia University?
A version of this commentary originally appeared in West Virginia Watch. Recently in a pre-recorded video, Sen. Joe Manchin, West Virginia’s last remaining Democrat in Congress, announced that he will not seek reelection for his U.S. Senate seat that he’s held for the last 13 years. Sitting in front of a very presidential looking red […]
Pair of special session bills heads to governor’s desk as property tax relief nears finish line
Two bills from the Colorado Legislature’s special session on property taxes are headed to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis after weekend work, and lawmakers could wrap up work on the rest of the legislation as soon as Monday. While Polis called the special session to focus on softening the impact of rising property taxes […]
Rosalynn Carter acclaimed by admirers for her pioneering advocacy for mental health, caregiving
This story originally appeared in the Georgia Recorder. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has died, according to the Carter Center, leaving a rich legacy of championing mental health and women’s rights. She will be buried at the ranch house in Plains she and former President Jimmy Carter built in 1961. She died Sunday just days […]
Colorado could be among first states in federal childhood hunger reduction program
While the headline issue of the ongoing special legislative session is working out property tax relief for next year, Colorado Democrats also want to use the unexpected time in the Capitol building to opt in to a new federal program that provides summer nutrition assistance for students in low-income households. Senate Bill 23B-2 would let […]
Colorado Democrats advance property tax agenda during special session
As Colorado lawmakers convened for a special legislative session on Friday devoted to hammering out property tax relief, it became evident that bipartisan compromise is unlikely as the two parties disagree on how deep of a cut is feasible and how to best pay for it. By late Friday evening, a dustup over procedure delayed […]
Biden signs stopgap spending bill, avoiding government shutdown
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has signed the stopgap spending bill, giving his administration and Congress about two months to work out agreement on the dozen annual spending bills. Those appropriations measures were supposed to become law by the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, but disagreement about whether to adhere to the […]
Colorado Democrats want same property tax rate cut in special session that was in failed Prop HH
Colorado Democratic lawmakers plan to run a property tax relief package similar to the one offered in the defeated Proposition HH, which voters rejected by nearly 20 points earlier this month, during a special legislative session that convenes Friday. The primary property tax bill would reduce the state’s residential assessment rate for the 2023 tax […]
Boebert challengers diverge on best use of public lands in western Colorado
EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. – The top two Democrats vying to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the 2024 election have very different takes on her ardently pro-drilling battle with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Boebert opposes the agency’s pending national conservation rule and its plan for restricting natural gas production on large […]
Democracy is on fire. Consider this your wake-up call.
This commentary originally appeared in the Daily Montanan. For the better half of a decade now, I have had friends, some family members and even casual acquaintances give me the same excuse. Maybe you’ve heard it, too. It goes something like this: You know the news is really depressing and I just can’t handle it, […]
Wee hours U.S. Senate drama: GOP colleagues on the floor battle Tuberville blockade
WASHINGTON — After a marathon day and late-night vote to avert a Thanksgiving government shutdown, four U.S. Senate Republicans held the floor until the wee hours Thursday, urging their Alabama colleague to lift his months-long objections to hundreds of U.S. military nominations. Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, Joni Ernst of Iowa […]
Congress sends stopgap spending bill to Biden’s desk, averting shutdown for now
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators voted 87-11 to approve legislation Wednesday that would fund the government into next year, clearing the measure for President Joe Biden’s signature. The stopgap spending bill, sometimes called a continuing resolution or CR, would fund part of the government until mid-January and the rest of the programs within the annual appropriations […]