With any luck, tonight’s GOP Presidential debate will be the last time we have to listen to at least half the candidates. To Iowa…and beyond!!! 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).
► Colorado Democrats are again trying to push legislation on equal pay for women. No, this is not the mid-20th Century. As Joey Bunch reports for the Denver Post:
Friday is the seventh anniversary of President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, so Thursday Colorado Democrats will renew efforts on equal pay by unveiling two bills on the issue…
…Neither of the bills involve Colorado’s Equal Pay Commission, which was not renewed last year after Republicans argued that the commission had had a hard time scheduling meetings and produced little or no substantive work in its previous eight years.
A report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics last year indicated Colorado women make 77.9 percent of what men receive in weekly wages, below the 82.1 percent national gender gap average. The gap for minorities is even greater, proponents argue.
In response, Republicans will argue something about “businesses have every right to pay men more money than women because, freedom, or something.”
► We’re still kinda partial to “Frackapalooza.”
► Our friends at “The Fix” think they know the real reason that Donald Trump is skipping tonight’s final pre-Iowa caucus Presidential debate in Des Moines. The first reason — that Trump is sick of debating — is just a piece of the story. The primary reason Trump won’t debate tonight is because he looks stronger by staying away:
For Trump then another debate this close to the Iowa caucuses has almost no upside. His attacks on Ted Cruz are working. All of the second tier candidates are either attacking each other or Cruz. Thousands of people are coming to every one of his rallies — including the one he will hold tonight in Iowa while his rivals debate. He is getting wall-to-wall media coverage and will continue to do so.
What Trump wants to do then is run out the clock. Take as few risks as possible between now and Monday. He and his campaign know that if he wins the Iowa caucuses, he will almost certainly cruise in the New Hampshire primary eight days later. Win those first two states and Trump starts to look (even more) like a juggernaut for the Republican nomination.
On the other hand, perhaps Trump just wants to hear more from Jim Gilmore.
Get even more smarter after the jump…
► Republican State Rep. JoAnn Windholz won’t face a recall effort over her disgusting 2015 comments on the Planned Parenthood attack in Colorado Springs. Instead, pro-choice groups will just let Windholz’s own words make the case against her re-election bid.
► It’s quite possible that Republican Rep. Kevin Priola didn’t even realize the irony in his actions this week. As we wrote yesterday, Priola voted “NO” in committee on a Parental Leave bill intended to allow parents to be more engaged in their children’s lives without fear of losing their job. The vote was delayed, however, because Priola had to leave early to take one of his children to the doctor.
Seriously.
► State Sen. Tim Neville (R-Jefferson County) continues to shepherd legislation intended to allow Coloradans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. This is a stupid bill with a stupid rationale, but it will certainly help Neville in his campaign to win the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate this year.
► Colorado legislators are discussing a bill to create a “Public Lands Day” in the state. From the Durango Herald:
A vote on a measure that would create a Public Lands Day in Colorado was delayed Wednesday, as the bill’s sponsor works to garner support.
Senate Bill 21 was considered by a Senate committee, as a war over public lands rages across the nation, with much of the attention placed on a standoff in Oregon. The measure would designate the fourth Monday of March each year for Coloradans to get outside and show their appreciation for the state’s vast amount of state and federal public lands.
“I believe public lands and access to them represent the most noble democratic ideals that this country has to offer,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail.
The legislation comes as the nation watches the situation in Oregon, where a group has occupied a federal wildlife refuge headquarters, protesting federal land policies.
Yeah, cool, fine…but are we going to get a day of from work?
► Confused about a universal health care ballot measure that proponents hope to put before voters in November (er, October, with mail ballots and all)? The Colorado Independent has you covered with an explanation.
► Don’t worry — the gas leaking into the ground from oil and gas operations probably won’t make you sick. However…it might explode.
► The Rocky Flat Downwinders group would be a cool name for a band. Alas, it has already been taken by a group worried (rightfully) about radiation contamination from the old Rocky Flats nuclear facility near Boulder.
► The League of Conservation Voters is launching an online ad campaign criticizing Congressman Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) for trying to block new federal Clean Water rules.
► Need more proof that Republicans are (reluctantly) falling behind Donald Trump? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee plans to join Trump at his event this evening following Huckabee’s appearance at the “Kids’ Table” debate on FOX News.
► Read this story and see if you still don’t think the #YallQaeda militants in Oregon are just terrorists in camouflage pants.
Get More Smarter by liking Colorado Pols on Facebook!
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Republican Pipe Dreams: will someone please tell them they are living in the past and the amber is hardening and their benefactors are paranoid hypocritical economic rapists?
Washington Post goes on a "both sides do it", anti-Bernie, exculpatory bender:
I’m sure this Op-Ed was on MB’s desk this morning, courtesy of a loyal, Both Sides Do It, staffer.
I think you're kind of missing the point which is that your chances of having these presidential candidates, including Bernie, deliver what they promise are pretty much nill. I love Bernie but if you're voting for him, for instance, in order to get medicare for all or free higher ed you aren't going to get those things even if he wins. Congress just isn't going to change that much under any possible scenario. Various things the above mentioned Rs are running on will never happen either. Why this would have a particular significance for Bennet would escape me if not for the fact that it's your post, Zap.
But, but, the jobpocalypse…
Colorado fares better than oil patch states for job gains