This March, Colorado State Sen. Faith Winter stood at a podium in the State Capitol and spoke to a gathered crowd about reducing the state’s air pollution. After introductions, Winter, Gov. Jared Polis and others unveiled a package of environmental bills that aim to increase access to public transit, build more energy efficient buildings, and construct safe […]
Faith Winter
Posted inNews
Colorado is about to spend $28 million to fund free summer bus and train trips. It remains unclear if riders will flock.
If you build it, will they really come? Or, more specifically, if you make transit free for one month will Coloradans start riding it and then come back when they have to pay? Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Jared Polis hope the answer is “yes” as they prepare to spend $28 million on a program aimed […]
Posted inEducation, Equity, Health, News
How programs across Colorado aim to end “period poverty” with free tampons and pads
As the new school term begins at Denver Public Schools, students who menstruate may be surprised to find new additions near the paper towels and soap in girls’, all-gender and teacher restrooms: free tampons and menstrual pads. While many private and public schools in the state have tampons and pads available for sale in restrooms, […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Despite partisan rhetoric at the Colorado Capitol, just 4.4% of bills this year passed along purely party lines
A record 504 bills introduced in the Colorado legislature became law this year, and 94% of them had at least one Republican vote. And half of the 39 Republicans in the state House and Senate voted for 58% of those bills, according to a Colorado Sun analysis. That’s despite a third year of Democratic rule […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Democrats pursued a no-policy-left-behind mantra for Colorado’s 2021 legislative session
Colorado Democrats’ massive bill to drive down health care costs suddenly appeared to be in real trouble. It was late May in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and three of the four Democrats on the panel were raising concerns about the policy in House Bill 1232. “I believe we have a lot more […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Littwin: Jared Polis may be big on emission-reduction goals, but just don’t let regulators try to enforce them
If there’s anything we’ve learned during Jared Polis’ tenure as governor, it’s that whenever progressive Democrats in the legislature square off with Polis — which happens more often than you’d think — you should put your money on the governor. The latest example is a climate-action bill — SB21-200 — that would have enforced emission-reduction […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Politics and Government
How much damage does climate change cause in Colorado? Leaders are trying to put a price tag on it.
The East Troublesome fire, Colorado’s second largest ever, was sweeping across Grand County forests on Oct. 25, 2020, part of a record-breaking wildfire season that forced evacuations, destroyed homes and took lives. Half a world away, heavy rains were flooding the Bagerhat District in Bangladesh, in one of the worst monsoon seasons on record. And […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Colorado could hand out up to $149 million in disputed conservation easement tax credits
Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would return up to $149 million to holders of conservation easement tax credits previously disqualified by the state, a revival of a decades-old scandal that appraisers say would be rewarding fraud. The measure, Senate Bill 33, would restore controversial easement tax credits issued from 2000 to 2013, some […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government, Transportation
REPLAY: The Colorado Sun hosts a discussion on the state’s transportation-funding future
The Colorado Sun is hosting a virtual event on the state’s transportation-funding future on Wednesday night. Joining us will be: State Rep. Matt Gray, D-Broomfield Sen. Faith Winter, D-Westminster Sen. Ray Scott, R-Mesa County Sandra Hagen Solin, founder of Capitol Solutions Register here to participate. The free virtual event begins at 6 p.m. You can […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Effort to force Colorado to cut greenhouse emissions faster exposes exasperation with Polis administration
For more than a year, frustrated Colorado lawmakers and environmental groups have struggled to push the Polis administration to move faster to meet mandated cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Now they are advancing a bill to set emission caps and deadlines — over the objections of the governor. The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee moved […]