Blog Archives

The demonstration was one of more than a dozen protests nationwide coordinated by Tea Party Patriots

DENVER–More than 100 protesters jammed onto the sidewalk in front of the Internal Revenue Service office Tuesday to decry the agency’s targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny.

“IRS=Bully” was among the messages on signs held by demonstrators, who took turns speaking to the crowd with a megaphone as passing cars honked in support during lunch hour in downtown Denver.

“We are done being shut down, shut out and shut up, period,” said Randy Corporon, chairman of the Arapahoe County Tea Party, which organized the protest.

The demonstration was one of more than a dozen protests nationwide coordinated by Tea Party Patriots. Other cities reporting rallies outside IRS offices Tuesday included Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Kansas City, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Read more »

It’s unclear whether Morse wrote the#Sheriffs4Criminals hashtag sent out by the Colo. Senate Dems, or if it was sent by a staffer

DENVER–Locked in a fight for his political life, Senate President John Morse is showing that he’s not afraid to deliver a few low blows.

The Colorado Senate Democrats, which he leads, issued a Twitter message Friday accusing 55 county sheriffs of siding with “criminals.” Read more »

Fifty-five of the state’s 62 county sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit Friday challenging the gun-control measures

DENVER–It’s not every day that Colorado’s county sheriffs are accused of supporting criminals, but that’s what happened Friday after 55 sheriffs filed a lawsuit against two new gun-control laws.

The Colorado Senate Democrats issued a message on Twitter saying, “2day CO sheriffs stood in opposition of CO’s new gun laws, but not w/law-abiding citizens, but with criminals.” Read more »

MAKETA: “I can’t enforce what’s unenforceable”

DENVER–A group of 54 Colorado county sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit Friday against two newly signed Democratic gun-control bills, calling the measures unconstitutional, impossible to enforce and a threat to public safety.

“This isn’t good public policy. These are really awful bills,” said Weld County Sheriff John Cooke at a Friday press conference. “They are unenforceable and encourage disrespect for the law, which puts both law enforcement and the public in greater danger.” Read more »

DUNLAP:  Cold-blooded sociopath or mentally ill victim of abuse?

DENVER–She knew Nathan Dunlap when they were teenagers. She worked with him at Chuck E. Cheese, saw him socially, and once went to a party at his house. Now she wants him put to death. Read more »

HICKENLOOPER: “We’ll try to figure out some way we can get everybody a little pissed off”

DENVER–On the desk of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is a plate full of legislative hot potatoes that threatens to leave him with a serious case of political indigestion.

The governor is under growing pressure to defy his party and veto several Democratic bills, led by a measure that would hike the renewable-energy mandate. Read more »

Judge Carlos Samour Jr. said he would decide whether to accept the insanity defense before a May 31 hearing

CENTENNIAL–The accused Aurora theater shooter entered a plea Monday of not guilty by reason of insanity, playing the only card he may have in an effort to save himself from execution. Read more »

No Republicans voted for the legislation, which was drawn up by Democrats, interest groups, and some county clerks

DENVER–A sweeping elections bill signed Friday by Gov. John Hickenlooper makes it easier to vote in Colorado, and that could be a problem, say critics.

Everyone agrees that the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act will increase participation by sending every registered voter a ballot and allowing same-day registration at voting centers, which will consolidate and replace the current precinct-polling system. Read more »

The proposal was the last in a package of ill-fated bills designed to crack down on the state’s oil-and-gas industry

DENVER–The Colorado General Assembly adjourned Wednesday after a stranger-than-fiction moment that saw Democrats kill a key environmental bill even though it was expected to pass with bipartisan support.

House Bill 1267 would have raised fines on oil-and-gas violations from $1,000 to $15,000 per day, the first increase since 1955. Read more »

H.B. 1267 seeks to increase fines from $1,000 per day to $15,000 per day for significant environmental violations

DENVER–Virtually every Democratic Party constituency emerged a winner in the 2013 legislative session, except one: foes of the oil-and-gas industry.

They’ll get one more chance Wednesday to salvage their agenda with House Bill 1267, a measure that would hike fines on industry rule-breakers. Read more »