Gov. Jared Polis on Friday signed the so-called red flag gun bill into law, the most extensive gun-control legislation passed in Colorado since 2013, when a host of measures were approved in the wake of the Aurora theater shooting. While questions around the policy at the Colorado General Assembly might be answered, it doesn’t mean […]
Leroy Garcia
Posted inPolitics and Government
Ken Buck wins Colorado GOP chairman race and endorses recall elections for Democrats
ENGLEWOOD — The newly elected chairman of the Republican Party in Colorado endorsed recall efforts against Democrats in a strident speech in which he vowed to “let the world know this is not a blue state.” U.S. Rep. Ken Buck won the four-way contest to lead the party after three dramatic deadlocked votes that mostly […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Senate passes red flag gun bill, moving it one step from Gov. Jared Polis’ signature
The Colorado Senate on Thursday passed the so-called red flag gun bill, moving the measure within a step of Gov. Jared Polis’ desk, where he’s expected to sign it into law. House Bill 1177 cleared the chamber on an 18-17 vote. It now heads back to the House for approval of Senate amendments. Senate President […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Democrat Leroy Garcia, Colorado Senate president, will cast “no” vote on red flag bill
Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia will abandon one of his party’s priority pieces of legislation when the so-called red flag gun bill comes up for a final vote in the state Senate in the coming days. Garcia first announced his decision to vote “no” on the measure to The Pueblo Chieftain on Tuesday. “I took […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
With tensions rising in the Colorado Senate, the breaking point is reached — over an attendance record
On Friday night, in the midst of about 10 hours of debate over the “red flag” gun bill, Senate President Leroy Garcia made a request — one that would normally go unnoticed — that became the straw that broke the partisan camel’s back: He called that all of the chamber’s 35 lawmakers be summoned for […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Colorado Senate Democrats violated state constitution with computer reading of 2,000-page bill, judge says
A Denver judge has ruled that Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia and the chamber’s secretary violated the state’s constitution when they let several computers read a roughly 2,000-page bill at an “incomprehensible” pace to combat GOP efforts to slow down legislative work. The decision by District Court Judge David H. Goldberg dictates that Garcia and […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Chaos and conflict brewing at the Colorado Capitol as Democrats push a big agenda and the GOP resists
The atmosphere at the Colorado Capitol is becoming chaotic. A major overhaul of the oil and gas industry is drawing protests. Other controversial legislation is pushing debates late into the night. Gov. Jared Polis is feuding with lawmakers from his own party. Democrats are battling each other on major priorities, including a repeal of the […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Jared Polis makes history as he becomes Colorado’s governor. Here’s what it means.
Jared S. Polis took the oath of office Tuesday, becoming the nation’s first openly gay man elected as governor and Colorado’s first Jewish chief executive. The Democrat from Boulder is the state’s 43rd governor and his partner, Marlon Reis, is the state’s first first gentleman. The ceremony took place on the Capitol steps under banners […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
WATCH: Gov.-elect Jared Polis is being sworn in as Colorado’s 43rd governor
Jared Polis will become Colorado’s 43rd governor on Tuesday as he is sworn into office during a day of inaugural festivities, marking a new day of leadership for the state. It also means the end of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s eight years in the state’s highest office as he inches closer to a 2020 presidential bid. […]
Posted inAnnotated, News, Politics and Government
Leroy Garcia’s opening remarks are notable for what he didn’t mention. Here’s the Colorado Senate president’s speech, annotated.
The 72nd General Assembly, with Democrats at the helm of the House and Senate, convened Friday for the 120-day lawmaking term. The new Democratic leaders in each chamber — House Speaker KC Becker and Senate President Leroy Garcia — gave opening-day remarks that outlined their visions for the 2019 session and the party’s legislative agenda. […]