ALERT: Republicans in the 4th Congressional District late last night chose Greg Lopez, a two-time failed gubernatorial candidate with a history of run-ins with law enforcement, to be their nominee in the June 25 special election that will determine who serves out U.S. Rep. Ken Buck‘s term.
Senate President Steve Fenberg says he would vote for a bill banning so-called assault weapons if given the chance.
But the Boulder Democrat isn’t sure House BIll 1292, which would ban the purchase, sale and transfer of a broad swath of semi-automatic weapons, defined in the measure as assault weapons, would be as effective as promised. And for that reason he doubts it will get enough support in his chamber to pass if it makes it out of the House as expected.
“These aren’t my reservations necessarily. (But) it’s difficult, as we’ve seen, to have effective gun violence prevention policies on a state level,” Fenberg said. “Obviously I’m not saying ‘let’s not do anything at the state level, let’s pass it to the feds,’ because we know they’re not going to do anything. But I do think there are legitimate conversations about promising something big to society, knowing that the policy in and of itself isn’t going to produce all those results.”
Fenberg said he hopes the measure would save lives if it passes and is signed into law — which appears improbable —”but I also think we know there’s a lot of assault weapons already out there in people’s hands.”
House BIll 1292 doesn’t ban possession of so-called assault weapons, so it wouldn’t reduce the number of guns Coloradans already own.
Fenberg said the majority of his caucus believes “that we shouldn’t have assault weapons out there in the hands of so many people.” But he doesn’t know if that translates to the policy getting across the finish line.
“People who want to do harm are probably still going to be able to find ways to do harm,” Fenberg said. “So I think it’s more nuanced than just simply: Do we have 18 votes to pass an assault weapon bill?”
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CORRECTION: The lead item in Tuesday’s newsletter incorrectly reported the final action the Joint Budget Committee took related to a state car theft prevention program. The JBC on Monday approved $8.1 million to expand the program, after previously rejecting the administration’s request for additional funding.
MORE: We pressed Fenberg on how Democrats can try to explain that nuance to their voter base who are pushing for the passage of House Bill 1292.
“It’s really hard,” he said. “I support all of these policies and don’t think we should be in a position where we are promising our constituents that it will end all gun violence, because it won’t. It’s really hard in this day and age to have nuance in political conversations with really sensitive topics like guns. It just is.”
Fenberg said it’s easy to get on a stage before a group of voters and demand an assault weapons ban.
“And I’m not saying I haven’t demanded an assault weapon ban on a stage before,” he said. “But I also think we do have the responsibility to be honest and frank with our constituents at times. And that is that passing this bill isn’t going to change everything overnight.”
ADDENDUM: It’s still not clear when —or even if — the measure will come to a floor vote in the House.
At a Tuesday briefing with reporters, House Majority Leader Monica Duran told The Colorado Sun she’s waiting to see if any senators will sponsor the measure before holding a floor debate on the controversial bill. (By rule, bills can’t be heard in the Senate or House without a lead sponsor.)
“It’s really important that — especially assault weapons and any gun bill of any magnitude —I want to make sure there’s a Senate sponsor,” the Wheat Ridge Democrat said. “If we’re going to bring it to the floor, have debate, I want to make sure we have a process to go through (in the Senate).”
Debating House Bill 1292 on the House floor would probably take at least two full days. And some Democrats in the chamber would be forced to take a difficult vote. That’s a lot of wasted time and political capital if the measure can’t even get a hearing in the Senate.
House Speaker Julie McCluskie suggested she remains undecided on the measure, noting that only half of the six counties she represents support it.
“I’m listening closely to the input from my district. When and if that bill comes to the floor, I’ll be listening to debate,” McCluskie told The Sun on Tuesday. “I promise to let you know where I land before it leaves the House — if it does.”
Keep in mind: All of the legislative action may be for naught if Gov. Jared Polis decides to veto the measure. He hasn’t taken a formal position on the bill and in the past has questioned whether a ban on so-called assault weapons would even hold up in court.
THE NARRATIVE
Colorado House OKs millions in budget changes
The Colorado House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to more than a dozen amendments to the state budget, redirecting millions of dollars to mental health treatment, education and senior services.
It’s too early to say how many will make it into the final spending plan for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The $40.6 billion proposal introduced this week by the Joint Budget Committee was balanced, but just barely — and some of the changes approved Thursday could force the state to dip into its reserves to avoid an operating deficit, something top lawmakers have been reluctant to do.
Moreover, the state Senate still gets to have its say, before the JBC will be tasked once again with balancing the budget in conference committee after the two chambers have tacked on their own priorities. Typically it’s only amendments that pass both chambers that are adopted.
Here were the biggest changes made by the House:
On criminal justice: The Democratic majority cut $3.5 million from the Department of Corrections, citing conflicting forecasts of inmate counts. The JBC’s budget proposal used one from the administration showing the state’s prison population will rise next year, while another from legislative staff suggests the state doesn’t need any additional prison beds.
The amendment, from Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, eliminated the additional prison beds needed under the department’s forecast, and would redirect the money to a number of other programs. A program to divert the mentally ill from jail would receive $1.7 million — enough to fund pending legislation aimed at reducing the state’s waitlist for mental health treatment.
The remaining money would be split among a hodgepodge of other programs, including crime prevention, child care assistance and a workforce program for those reentering society after being incarcerated.
On education: Lawmakers added $1.5 million in general fund money to the Tony Grampsas Youth Services program, partially reversing a JBC decision from last week. The budget committee had rejected a request from the administration for $3.6 million in new funding for the grant, citing plummeting marijuana tax revenue.
The amendment, from Democratic Reps. Jennifer Bacon and Matthew Martinez, was paid for in part by cutting a car theft prevention program — one of Gov. Jared Polis’ top public safety priorities — by $450,000.
Lawmakers also pulled $2 million from the State Education Fund to increase funding for the state’s Ninth Grade Success Grant program, an amendment sponsored by Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, a Colorado Springs Republican.
The single most expensive amendment was bipartisan. Republican Mary Bradfield of Colorado Springs joined Democrats Mary Young of Greeley and Jenny Willford of Northglenn on a change that added $6.1 million for senior services. The amendment didn’t identify any corresponding cuts to pay for it.
A final vote on the budget is scheduled in the House on Monday. After that, the long bill heads to the Senate.
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THE POLITICAL TICKER
JOE NEGUSE: U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse announced on social media Wednesday that his wife, Andrea, was diagnosed last winter with cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy for months. The Lafayette Democrat said his wife recently completed her first phase of treatment. The couple have two young children. “While there are still many more steps in the journey that she’ll need to complete, we’re optimistic about the road ahead and are confident she’ll beat the disease — and as we’ve assured our five-year-old daughter, will be back to riding roller-coasters in no time,” Neguse, who is rumored to be a 2026 gubernatorial candidate in Colorado, posted on Facebook.
4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Laura Carno, who served as U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s campaign manager during her first congressional bid in 2020, has endorsed one of Boebert’s Republican primary opponents in the 4th Congressional District. Carno is backing conservative commentator Deborah Flora. “Just when we thought Congress’ approval ratings couldn’t get any lower, we see representatives putting their own self-interests over the needs of their constituents and the American people,” the conservative activist said in a written statement. “We need people like Deborah Flora who have the conservative principles and strength of character to honorably serve the district’s voters. She’ll be the leader we can trust to perform her duties faithfully and with integrity, traits that are lacking in Washington today.”
JOHN EASTMAN: A California judge recommended Wednesday that John Eastman, who tried to help former Donald Trump remain in office by overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election, should be disbarred in that state. Eastman is representing the Colorado GOP in a federal lawsuit seeking to block unaffiliated voters from participating in the party’s primary elections.
WOMEN IN OFFICE: Women hold 46% of the elected municipal offices in Colorado, which puts the state at No. 1 in the U.S., according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Nationally, men hold 67% of municipal elected offices. Colorado took the top spot for 2024 from Nevada, which was ranked first last year. Neighboring Nebraska was last on the list, with only 19% of municipal elected offices held by women.
STORY: Worker shortages loom large in Colorado’s $40.6B state budget proposal. Will pay raises be enough?
STORY: Federal data may be underestimating how many Coloradans have bad internet, report says
COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO: State lawmakers move to cut two-thirds of RTD board’s elected seats
COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO: Why Colorado’s oil and gas industry filed a ballot proposal to ban oil and gas drilling
POLITICO: He’s just Ken: Ex-Rep. Ken Buck talks Boebert and his Freedom Caucus firing
THIS WEEK’S PODCAST: A pivotal week in deciding who will replace Ken Buck in Congress
CONGRESS
Ken Buck may be gone, but his congressional offices remain open for business
Ken Buck may no longer be a U.S. representative, but his offices in Washington and in the 4th Congressional District are still open and staffed.
They’ll remain that way until Buck’s successor takes over sometime after the June 25 special election.
That’s because federal law places the employees of members of Congress who leave their positions in the middle of their terms under the supervision of the clerk of the U.S. House.
People who live in the 4th District can still get help with federal issues, such as passport renewals, from Buck’s offices in Castle Rock and Eaton. The House clerk’s office, however, recommends that 4th District residents with policy concerns contact one of the state’s two U.S. senators or wait until a successor is named.
Someone answered the phone at Buck’s former office in Washington on Wednesday morning and referred questions about its operations to Buck’s Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Jackson. He answered a text saying he was on “a long planned trip” and couldn’t respond until next week.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Corrections & Clarifications
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