Fueled by opposition to a measure seeking to create a public health insurance option, lobbying spending at the Colorado Capitol again reached a record. Nearly $44 million was spent during the 2020-21 fiscal year, which ended June 30, according to a Colorado Sun analysis of filings with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. That’s up […]
Colorado Capitol
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, Economy, Environment, Health, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
“A lot of big items still out there”: Colorado lawmakers have a massive to-do list with only a month left
The Colorado legislature is entering the final month of its 2021 lawmaking term with a host of unresolved, complicated Democratic priorities, including an effort to reshape the state’s transportation funding system, an overhaul of the health care industry and an equity-focused rework of the tax code. Also pending are four gun control bills, a measure […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado governor signs $34 billion budget into law, setting aside historic reserves and funding $800M stimulus package
Gov. Jared Polis signed Colorado’s $34.1 billion fiscal year 2021-22 budget into law on Monday, restoring cuts made as the coronavirus crisis descended on the state last year while also saving a historic amount for future economic downturns. The Joint Budget Committee, the legislature’s budget-writing panel, had to contend with constantly changing tax-revenue projections that […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
8 big things you need to know about Colorado’s $34 billion state budget
Colorado lawmakers this week began debating the state’s $34.1 billion budget, which helps chart a path out of the coronavirus crisis and sets aside millions of dollars for equity-related initiatives and a historic sum for future economic downturns. The legislature was able to reverse funding cuts made as the pandemic descended upon the state last […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Here are the Colorado legislative districts that stand to change the most during redistricting
State Sen. Cleave Simpson’s southern Colorado district covers nearly 27,000 square miles, including all or part of 16 counties and 80 cities and towns. It ranges from Trinidad in the south to Pueblo in the north and from Creede in the west to Lamar in the east. And next year, Senate District 35 and other […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Colorado lawmakers should channel Ronald Reagan — don’t build that fence
In his farewell speech, President Ronald Reagan famously spoke about America as a shining city upon a hill. His eloquent vision did not include a fence, wrought-iron or otherwise, surrounding the city. Colorado’s Capitol building, which sits on a literal hill, should not be walled off either. After vandals caused more than $1 million in […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers consider permanent fence around state Capitol
The Colorado Legislature is considering allocating about $1 million toward permanent fencing around most of the state Capitol building in downtown Denver in response to vandalism during protests last year, a newspaper reported. Recent renderings reviewed by The Denver Post showed plans for a six-foot-tall (1.8-meter-tall), wrought-iron black fence that circles the building but does not cut […]
Posted inColoradans, News, Politics and Government
Tribes want Native statue to replace one at Colorado Capitol linked to Sand Creek massacre
By Patty Nieberg, The Associated Press/Report for America Months after protesters tore down a statue of a U.S. soldier who took part in the slaughter of Native Americans, tribal members and descendants of those who survived the Civil War-era attack urged Colorado lawmakers on Thursday to replace it with the likeness of an Indigenous woman […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Colorado universities and colleges could face more cuts if state doesn’t restore funding, leaders say
By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado Fearful of extensive layoffs and potentially deep cuts to student services, leaders of Colorado’s public colleges and universities are pressing lawmakers to restore $493 million the state chopped off their budgets last year. The academic leaders are campaigning as if the health, and perhaps existence, of their campuses are at […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s governor wants a big, fast coronavirus stimulus package. State lawmakers worry about the details.
As the Colorado legislature returns to work on Tuesday, the No. 1 priority for Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers will be passing an economic stimulus package to help lift the state out of the effects of the coronavirus crisis. But the question of how big the package should be and how fast the General […]