Only 364 more days until you can use that April Fool’s Day prank you just thought up last night. It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example).
TOP OF MIND TODAY…
► They don’t call it “the Long Bill” because they are being ironic. The State Senate gave initial approval to a $25 billion state budget after more than 6 hours of bickering. Republicans insist on continuing to debate the issue of immunizations for children.
► California is drier than a sandpaper sandwich, and Gov. Jerry Brown is calling for mandatory water restrictions for the first time in state history. Ten bucks says water conservation is going to be the issue of the summer.
Get even more smarter after the jump…
SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…
► Indiana legislators announced this morning that they have come up with a “revised” religious freedom law that explicitly prohibits discrimination against LGBT folks. But does it really mean anything? As Politico reports:
According to the conference committee report, the RFRA legislation explicitly prohibits businesses from refusing “to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing” to anyone based on their race, color, religion, ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or military service. The report also makes clear that the law would not set up a defense for civil action or criminal prosecution for refusal of services and does not negate any rights that are currently under the state constitution.
[House Speaker Brian] Bosma said it is unrealistic at this time to expect lawmakers to implement LGBT protections in the state’s civil-rights law.
“That’s a huge policy change here,” he told reporters, but adding, “that discussion has begun, whether Hoosiers want to have it or not.”
The new section still exempts churches or other non-profit religious organizations that are exempt from federal income taxes, as well as religious leaders working in that capacity.
► Dr. Chaps will not resign from the legislature. Rep. Gordon “Dr. Chaps” Klingenschmitt did appreciate our April Fool’s Day post, however.
► If all else fails, and it usually does, just blame Democrats! Senator Laura Waters Woods
took to Twitter to complain that Democrats killed one of her budget amendments. Of course, that’s not mathematically possible in a State Senate where Republicans hold a one-seat advantage; eight Republicans also voted NO on the amendment.
Democrats killed the Long Bill amendment that would defund PARCC. Constituents take notice!! #coleg #copolitics
— Senator Woods (@SenLauraWoods) April 1, 2015
► The Western Conservative Summit, hosted annually by Colorado Christian University, might need a bigger room this year; every major GOP Presidential candidate (and Ben Carson!) is scheduled to attend July’s event.
► Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program will wrap up today.
OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK
► Colorado lawmakers declined to extend bear hunting season in Colorado. State Rep. J. Paul Brown (R-Montrose) will need to keep his bear-punching arm in good shape.
► Lakewood Democrat Chris Kennedy has filed to run for the HD-23 seat that will be vacated by term-limited Rep. Max Tyler in 2016.
► “I apologize again for our streets,” says outgoing Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach.
ICYMI
► Jack Healy of the New York Times looks at Colorado’s quandary over marijuana taxes and TABOR refund requirements.
► Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham were in Denver yesterday to talk about terrorism and “violent extremism.” The conference on “nonviolent extremism” was across the hall.
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Columbia Journalism Review follows up on the Colorado Springs Gazette’s anti-marijuana editorializing-masquerading-as-reporting.
In other J. Cletus Brown (R-ignorance) news, don’t overlook his patriotic legislative stance and rousing declaration in favor of “freedom” (what else?).
Minimum wage is tyranny! Who knew?!?
(My personal thanks to the representative from Ignorance. Without you we’re in grave danger of becoming all-Klingenschmitt-all-the-time here.)
I believe that any Rep. Cletus post needs to include a link to the bear punching audio.
The Springs mayor should’ve said “I apologize again for Doug Bruce.”
This is the true result of the anti-government, anti-tax, I-don’t-need-nuthin’, I-lifted-myself-up-by-my-own-bootstraps Con Bullshit of the years since Reagan. Finally, when every street has potholes and/or construction work (that should have been done 20 years ago), and you’re getting flat tires and busted suspensions on your precious “Nelly”, and you can’t even drive to the market without running an obstacle course, these morons see that hey, maybe we should do a little investing in the streets up front – instead of never.
That’s the “cost/benefit” analysis they talked about but never did.
Really! The condition of the roads is secondary compared to other crap generated by, and in, that city. And not just Doug Bruce but the other clowns, too. What about Dr. Chaps, Schultheis, Terry Maketa, Lamborn, Kent Lambert, Rev. Haggard, James Dobson.
So many nut cases, so little time…..
The Springenschmitt corollary: Road conditions are proportional to the intelligence of the local electorate.
Just be patient. The free market fairy will fix the roads. Eventually. Maybe.
A minor correction, if you please:
The debate over the long bill began at 1:45 p.m. It concluded shortly before 11 p.m. That, in my book, is more than eight hours. I have the bags under my eyes to prove it; I was one of the last people out of the chamber last night.
Denver “2015” Auditors Election
Tim O’Brien was approved by the Colorado Legislator to be the State Auditor 12 years. He has guided a large department of people to conduct 750 State audits. Saving the state $200,000,000. He has been a licensed CPA in the state since 1974. Look at his web site, seeing all of these facts, O’Brien has the leadership and experience for the best auditor for our city. I don’t see any Auditing or Accounting experience in the background of Nevitt.He keeps saying “none of the others have”. Noting Nevitt has been on the City Council for 8 years, how can he conduct an audit of the Council with out it being a conflict of interest? He has accepted money from developers that are chosen by the Council for bids.
Watching the two debates, Nevitt stumbles his way with his answers to the questions. He clearly has no idea how to run this office.