National

“INSANE”: Gun-control advocates’ demonization of the conservative proposal is another sign that efforts to address the Newtown tragedy are becoming polarized

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver assailed a Republican governor’s suggestion that school personnel should be armed to combat a gunmsn like that of the Newtown, Conn. massacre, calling it “the craziest idea” she has heard. Read more »

Despite the fact that recent public opinion polls show broad public support for spending cuts, the conservative blueprint has received little public discussion

DENVER – Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) – a group of fiscally conservative House Republicans – slammed Congressional Democrats on Tuesday for failing to put forward a substantive proposal to curb federal spending or deal with the rapidly expanding national debt. Read more »

At least two Republican lawmakers have called for reconsidering the Federal Gun Free Schools Zone Act in the days since the Newtown massacre

DENVER–With calls for tougher firearms laws peaking in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, one reform long supported by conservatives may be gaining traction: Eliminate gun-free school zones. Read more »

Most members of the Colorado congressional delegation have said the country should enforce existing gun regulations rather than add new curbs

WASHINGTON — Hours after learning of a shooting massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., the nine members of Colorado’s congressional delegation released a joint statement that expressed sympathy and offered help to the 26 victims, family members, and their neighbors. Read more »

CONFLICT? Bennet’s job as DSCC chief is to raise money for Democrat candidates and help the party hold on to its Senate majority

WASHINGTON — Two senators have thought twice about Sen. Michael Bennet’s new job as head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a partisan organization whose goal seems to be at cross-purposes with the Colorado Democrat’s work with a bipartisan group of senators whose stated goal is to fix the federal government’s fiscal woes. Read more »

GRIDLOCK: Dems see little need to compromise with Republicans over tax rates that are due to increase at the end of the year if no deal is reached

WASHINGTON –  Lawmakers talk about tough votes they take in their careers, but Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Lone Tree) did not say his vote on the “fiscal cliff” would be one of them when he voted for the Budget Control Act in August 2011.

The legislation required Washington to find $4 trillion in spending cuts and tax hikes by the end of 2012 or face automatic, across-the-board spending reductions and steep tax hikes. Read more »

LAZY BUREAUCRATS? According a recent poll, a majority of Americans say government employees are paid more and work less than those in the private sector

DENVER – As state and federal lawmakers grapple with anemic private sector job creation and widening budget gaps, fiscal hawks often cite the growing number of public sector bureaucrats — and what they see as their excessive compensation packages — as one place policymakers should look to pare back runaway government spending. Read more »

Benson warned of steep financial consequences if the university system did not comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jared Polis decried an email that University of Colorado President Bruce D. Benson sent to alumni last week about the possibility of its four campuses losing federal funding if marijuana is permitted to be smoked there. Read more »

WINDFALL: States that saw the biggest increases in federal energy production revenues were those that promoted hydraulic fracturing

WASHINGTON — With an assist from Western states that permit hydraulic fracturing, the federal government has generated $1 billion more from domestic energy production on public lands and offshore areas this year than last year. Read more »

DC PARTISAN: Mr. Bennet’s new responsibilities as a chief promoter of the Democratic Party’s radical national agenda may tarnish his moderate image

Coloradans were greeted with news this week that their Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) was hand-picked by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to head up the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

In this new post, Mr. Bennet will be Mr. Reid’s attack dog in chief, charged with defending Democrat incumbents and candidates running for the the U.S. Senate, whatever the cost. Read more »