May 29, 2015 11:36 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (May 29)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Let’s just repeat Memorial Day weekend once more, eh? 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…

► State Rep. John Buckner (D-Aurora) has died at the age of 67 after dealing with a respiratory illness. Buckner took a leave from the legislature in late April because of health concerns.

► Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dan McMinimee has some explaining to do in the wake of the resignation of Communications Director Lisa Pinto (as first reported at Jeffco Pols). Pinto was hired by McMinimee despite the fact that she was largely unqualified for the job — aside from being a right-wing crony, of course. 

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► The annual Western Conservative Summit, sponsored by Colorado Christian University, expects at least 6 GOP Presidential candidates to attend a Q&A session. In any other Presidential election, this might have been a good turnout; it’s less exciting when that’s not even half of the Republican field. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Scott Walker, and Rick Santorum are scheduled to attend the event in late June.

► There was no winner in the first round of voting for President of FIFA, the international governing body for the sport of football soccer. In subsequent votes, President Sepp Blatter was re-elected to head one of the most corrupt organizations you’ll ever find.

► J. Dennis Hastert, the former Republican Speaker of the House, was indicted on Thursday over a series of charges dealing with banking laws and lying to the FBI. Denny Hastert served as House Speaker from 1999-2007; colleagues are expressing shock at his indictment.

► Colorado veterans are holding a rally in Aurora on Sunday in an effort to convince Congress to find the money to complete the problematic new Veterans Hospital. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-Jefferson County) is scheduled to attend; no word yet on whether we will see Rep. Mike Coffman, the Republican representative from Aurora who is also the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations under the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

► Bruce Finley of the Denver Post reports on new federal plans to protect the sage grouse:

New plans unveiled Thursday to protect greater sage grouse on 66 million acres of federal public lands in Colorado and the West are aimed at keeping the bird from being listed as an endangered species.

But whether that tougher protection will be enough remains uncertain.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said he’s optimistic federal land managers’ plans, which include limits on oil and gas drilling, will be sufficient to avoid a listing.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, sitting with Hickenlooper at The Denver Post after announcing the federal approach, said she, too, is “very, very hopeful” that the plans — which declare 43 million of those acres “priority habitat” where human activity must be minimized — will do the job.

However, that’s a decision that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists will make before a Sept. 30 deadline, she said.

► Before they left for the Memorial Day recess, Congress agreed to extend federal highway funding until July 31. That’s a problem for a lot of people, especially where public transportation in Pueblo is concerned.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► State Sen. Ellen Roberts (R-Durango) gets called out by her hometown paper for her attempt to be both pro-choice and anti-choice all at the same time.

► Colorado needs more journalists who are willing to ask tough questions of politicians — and equally tough follow-up questions.

► Reaction to new clean water rules from the EPA were as expected: Democrats are pleased, and Republicans are angry. 

ICYMI

► Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee will run for President as a Democrat. Chafee served in the Senate as a Republican before changing parties; he declined to run for re-election as Governor, in part because he was unlikely to win. So, President is the next logical step.

► Remember, Denver voters: If you don’t mail your ballot today for the June 2 runoff, you’ll probably want to drop it off in person to make sure it gets counted. Visit the website of the Denver Clerk and Recorder for more information.

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