The pro-legalization ads feature U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and began running this week
DENVER – Supporters of a plan to provide legal status and a path to citizenship to an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants got a boost this week in the form of a $300,000 television advertising blitz designed to build support for a bipartisan push to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws. Read more »
The Colorado Democrat played with Obama and two Republican senators on Monday
WASHINGTON — Senator Mark Udall joined President Obama for a round of golf Monday, hoping to help elevate the game of his former Democratic colleague both on the links and in the halls of Congress.
The Colorado Democrat played with Obama and two Republican senators, Bob Corker of Tennessee and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. On a cool, overcast afternoon, Udall wore a navy blue windbreaker, tan chinos, and dark shoes. Read more »
GOVT WATCHDOG: State and local expenditures on Medicaid and health-care for government employees and retirees are projected to grow
WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office released a report on the condition of local and state finances Monday. It did not contain any revelations or groundbreaking news, but will nonetheless pique the interest of those who follow Colorado politics.
The 15-page document provides insight into the recent past, present, and future of local government’s coffers. Here are The Colorado Observer’s top two takeaways: Read more »
Opponents of the internet tax argue that it will hurt businesses already struggling in a lean economy
WASHINGTON — Long before they were members of Congress, Scott Tipton and Jared Polis were the owners of retail businesses.
Tipton, 57, was the co-owner of Mesa Pottery, a pottery store in Cortez, a classic small town in the four corners region of Colorado. Polis, 37, was the founder of ProFlowers.com, an online retailer that he sold in 2006 for a reported $477 million. Read more »
Western water rights are under threat by the federal government, according to Congressman Scott Tipton
WASHINGTON — A Colorado House Republican accused the federal government of using a little-known directive to wrest water rights away from Western states and private-property owners.
Rep. Scott Tipton of Cortez said U.S. Interior Department officials have seized on a 2012 order called the National Blueways Initiative to usurp private water rights. Read more »
This is not the first time DeGette has needed to reconcile the competing interests of labor and other Democrat constituencies
WASHINGTON — An influential Colorado House Democrat is rethinking her opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver said she is undecided on legislation to allow the construction of the tar sands pipeline to continue.
“What I want to make sure is the bill will comply with all of the environmental regulations,” she said in an interview off the House floor Wednesday. “I want to review the bill again.” Read more »
Nine federal agencies oversaw 82 wind-related initiatives in 2011, according to the report
WASHINGTON — Billions of dollars in federal spending on wind-energy initiatives likely have been excessive and unnecessary, according to the government’s own watchdog.
The federal departments of Energy and Agriculture handed out taxpayer dollars to start-up wind companies without checking whether the funding was needed, the report from the General Accountability Office states. Read more »
Lawmakers are concerned that the Homeland Security Department may be repeating past intelligence mistakes
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano says her agency was alerted at the time a suspect in the Boston bombings travelled to Russia, contradicting earlier reports that the FBI’s investigation missed the trip because of a spelling error. Read more »
Numerous pet projects of the authors are included in the 800-page bill, including a special provision for foreign ski instructors crafted by Sen. Michael Bennet
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) was shouted down Monday during a contentious immigration reform hearing after accusing Republicans of using the Boston terrorist attack as a delay tactic to stall a bill he claims might have prevented the bombings.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was forced to postpone key testimony of Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano when the hearings began Friday because of last week’s bombings and manhunt that shut down the Boston area. Read more »
GRASSLEY: “How do we ensure that people who wish to do us harm are not eligible for benefits under the immigration laws”
WASHINGTON – The suspects in the Boston bombings were a focal point of Friday’s Senate hearing to review a contentious immigration bill, as one key lawmaker sought to determine whether flaws in the current system allowed the Chechens easy entry into the U.S. Read more »
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