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Here’s what’s in the $36 billion state budget proposal now being debated by Colorado lawmakers

The full Colorado legislature this week began debating a $36 billion state budget proposal that, buoyed by a strong economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and a flood of federal stimulus dollars, would boost funding to K-12 and higher education, give state employees a 3% raise and expand state efforts to improve public safety and […]

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Colorado’s Democratic statewide officeholders began 2022 with a significant campaign cash advantage

Incumbent Democrats holding the offices of governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer significantly outraised their Republican opponents in the final three months of 2021, according to campaign finance filings submitted Tuesday. But super PACs supporting Republican state Senate candidates in Colorado narrowed the gap with their Democratic counterparts, getting help from a national GOP […]

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“You’re under threat”: Voting rights resolutions at Colorado statehouse become election-year pitch from Democrats

Speaker Alec Garnett looked into the camera live-broadcasting his remarks from the Colorado House chambers on Tuesday and made a pitch to Coloradans.  “The choice is clear,” the Denver Democrat said during debate over a resolution seeking to reaffirm the 2020 presidential results and calling on Congress to pass Democrats’ stalled voting access bills.  Garnett […]

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These Colorado legislative districts are poised to be the new battlegrounds after redistricting

The new Colorado House and Senate maps drawn through the once-in-a-decade redistricting process would shift the state’s legislative battlegrounds. The maps still need final approval from the Colorado Supreme Court, but if they are adopted fights for control of the General Assembly would likely no longer be mostly contained to the Denver area.  For instance, […]

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First draft of Colorado’s new state Senate, House district maps could pit 20 incumbents against each other

Colorado House and Senate district maps drawn as the state begins its once-a-decade redistricting process placed a number of incumbent lawmakers into the same districts, setting the stage for election battles next year.  The maps, rough drafts prepared by nonpartisan redistricting staff and presented Tuesday morning to the Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission, are expected […]

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Colorado governor vetoes bill that would have let candidates run for lieutenant governor and another elected position at the same time

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday vetoed a bill that passed the legislature with broad support and would have allowed candidates to run for lieutenant governor and another elected position — with the exception of U.S. Senate and U.S. House — at the same time. “While I recognize that some states in the country allow […]

Posted inColoradans, News, Politics and Government

Colorado lawmakers are poised to add gender identity and expression to anti-discrimination statutes

By Patty Nieberg, The Associated Press/Report for America Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would add “gender identity” and “gender expression” to anti-discrimination statutes as state lawmakers across the country are introducing bills aimed at curbing transgender rights. There are 21 states with full nondiscrimination protections that include gender identity, according to the National […]