Category Archives: Colorado Senate

Kennedy/Andrasik Exposé Shakes Up Morse Recall Attempt

14
  by: Colorado Pols Tue May 7, 2013 at 8:26 AM MDT

The local Colorado Springs media appears to have finally become aware that something is not quite right in the "grassroots" signature drive to place a recall of Colorado Senate President John Morse on the Senate District 11 ballot this fall. A scathing new report last night from NBC affiliate News 5's Jacqui Heinrich puts key questions about the "grassroots" nature of this paid petition effort to rest–and corroborates Kennedy Enterprises' shady history as laid out to voters in radio ads and robocalls this weekend.

The recall effort is targeting those leaders who showed the strongest support for gun control bills, with Senate President John Morse seemingly at the top of the list. His camp is fighting back with a counter-campaign opposing the recall effort, and while it's clear what both sides are trying to do, it's not clear who is behind the recall campaign.

"This is what we do for a living. We travel around the country, we go from city to city, state to state, we put issues and candidates on the ballot for basically anybody who has money," a man who identifies himself as Tracy Taylor can be heard saying on an undercover video El Paso County Democrats say was taken at a training session for signature gatherers at Kennedy Enterprises. They're group that was hired to gather signatures to support recalling Senate President John Morse. In the past few weeks their workers have been seen gathering signatures outside grocery stores and in neighborhoods around Colorado Springs.

"It's absolutely legal, it's just unethical," Kathleen Ricker, Party Chair for the El Paso County Democrats told News 5…

Though Kennedy Enterprises didn't answer News 5's inquiries as to whether they did background checks on current employees, we did confirm the company faced allegations that they did hire criminals including at least one sex offender that was going door to door on a petition issue back in 2008.

andrasik1As for the organization at least nominally running the show here? Meet Nick Andrasik, gentle viewers!

As it turns out, Kennedy Enterprises was hired by the Basic Freedom Defense Fund, run by Nick Andrasik. Andrasik has been in the news recently for using unsavory language on his blog to describe some pro-gun control politicians– something recall supporters think could distract from the overall message of the campaign. But since B.F.D.F. is a 501C4 organization, Andrasik doesn't have to disclose who is donating money to the cause, although some out-of-staters have announced online that they're funding it.

It's a big relief to see this story, as the facts of this paid recall effort against Sen. Morse and possibly others in retaliation for the passage of gun safety legislation this year have been pretty seriously misrepresented up to now. This story from News 5 captures everything we've been talking about for weeks: from the distasteful and marginal nature of the original organizers complete with Andrasik's overworking the "c-word" describing female legislators, to the mercenary frankness of "consultant" Tracy Taylor at Kennedy Enterprises.

Will it make a difference? That can't be determined yet of course, and Heinrich's report certainly notes that there are plenty of locals willing to complain about Sen. Morse, on and off camera. But opponents of this recall attempt needed to show that their claims about shady, potentially criminal unscreened petition gatherers are not baseless. Furthermore, the above photo of the hirsute Mr. Andrasik entranced by his giant phallic pistol, as shown to thousands of Colorado Springs viewers last night along with his offensive choice of words, isn't going to help the average well-adjusted adult voter find common ground with this recall effort.


Full story: Kennedy/Andrasik Exposé Shakes Up Morse Recall Attempt

BREAKING: Partial Conditional Amendment 64 Repeal Drops

20
  by: Colorado Pols Mon May 6, 2013 at 7:37 PM MDT

UPDATE #3: Colorado Public Radio's Megan Verlee:

As he announced the 11th hour resolution’s demise to his chamber, Senate President John Morse warned his colleagues that the marijuana industry doesn’t have any incentive to campaign for the tax measure this fall, and may fight legislative efforts to raise taxes on it in the future.

This measure “was an attempt to get the industry’s attention,” said Morse, “I implore those in the industry, get behind 1318 and help pass this tax, so we can give voters exactly what they asked for and not just half of what they asked for.”

—–

UPDATE #2: And this bill is dead–a little over three hours after introduction, FOX 31's Eli Stokols updates:

[A]fter a long pow-wow, the Senate decided not to add the bill to the second reading calendar, effectively killing it, but only after every lobbyist and lawmaker in the building with a skin in the Amendment 64 game almost loss their lunch.

Something like that.

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Full story: BREAKING: Partial Conditional Amendment 64 Repeal Drops

Hick Spikes Wattenberg Water Testing Bill

4
  by: Colorado Pols Mon May 6, 2013 at 6:17 PM MDT

 FOX 31's Eli Stokols:

It’s been known for weeks that House Bill 1316, which would require oil and gas companies in the Greater Wattenburg Area to abide by the same groundwater testing regimes as the rest of the state, didn’t have much of a chance to pass the Senate.

On Monday, the Senate killed the measure when three Democrats joined Republicans in voting it down.

Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, opposed the measure outright, arguing that the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission had voted unanimously in favor of the new water testing rules last year, rules he’s since heralded as the strongest and best in the country.

Environmental groups, irked by Hickenlooper’s opposition to much of their oil and gas legislation, noted that if the rule was indeed as strong as the governor says it is, the Greater Wattenburg Area should have to abide by it as well…

The other side of this argument is that the higher density of wells in this area should make water testing a higher priority–or at least no excuse to relax water testing standards simply because there is more drilling in the area. It's one of those things that really only seems possible as a result of lobbyist-imposed groupthink. A common sense look at the question tends to produce the opposite conclusion as the COGCC did.

But this year, Hickenlooper is getting what he wants when it comes to oil and gas bills. Right now, Hickenlooper has the political power to stop his fellow Democrats on this issue, and he is not being shy about wielding it.

As we've said, the political risks of opposing legislation that could make oil and gas exploration safer are nonetheless quite significant for Hickenlooper. The very direct chain of responsibility for something like drinking water contamination, and a bill to close a loophole granting an area an exemption from the water testing standard that applies to the rest of the state, is not something we would want in our political closets.

In very real terms, serious political problems are now just one headline away for "Gov. Frackenlooper."


Full story: Hick Spikes Wattenberg Water Testing Bill

What Surprises Await Before Session’s End?

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  by: Colorado Pols Mon May 6, 2013 at 10:17 AM MDT

The first regular legislative session of the 69th Colorado General Assembly ends no later than midnight on Wednesday. Reporters and spin doctors are busily compiling their end-of-session wrapups–but as the Durango Herald's Joe Hanel reports, there's an awful lot left to resolve, and plenty of opportunities for a fresh blowout before sine die:

The clock is ticking on the final days of one of the most active legislative sessions in anyone’s memory.

For many exhausted lawmakers, it can’t end soon enough.

But a few others will need every last hour to pass their last bills – most notably marijuana regulation, tighter rules on gas- and-oil drillers, and new telecommunications regulations.

The Legislature has until just before midnight Wednesday to finish more than 90 bills that remained on its calendar Friday afternoon. But only a handful of those will consume most of the time and energy…

It's expected that the oil and gas regulation bills will result in the most fireworks over the next three days–the marijuana bills are expected to pass in order to head off a more laissez-faire implementation of Amendment 64 than would otherwise occur. And, of course, there remain vulnerabilities innumerable as so many "uncontroversial" bills await passage. This is why, despite so many major battles already decided in the most momentous legislative session in Colorado that anyone can remember, we can't quite impart the final spin on things just yet.


Full story: What Surprises Await Before Session’s End?

A New Feature: “Today In BS”

9
  by: Colorado Pols Sun May 5, 2013 at 12:56 PM MDT

nobsThis year at Colorado Pols, we've faced a real challenge keeping track of the drastically higher volume of unsourced, un-factchecked, and uncritically reported nonsense filling the space between rational debate over the issues affecting Colorado politics during the current legislative session. Particularly with regard to the gun safety debate, but with examples ranging the gamut of legislative agenda items and political issues this year, It has been tougher than ever to even note for the record so many absurdly false statements and claims, let alone give them the critical attention they deserve.

What we're trying to say is, there is more BS clouding Colorado politics today then perhaps ever before.

Meanwhile, as we've discussed repeatedly, the local press seems intent on minutely fact-checking one side of the debate, while allowing irredeemable cockamamie nonsense from the other side to go either unreported or worse, reported without any kind of fact-checking. There are lots of theories for why this is happening, but it may be as simple as a desire to keep the fight "fair"–and as a result, newsworthy to journalists driven to enforce a dogmatic "equivalency" between the two sides. For our part, we have been careful to report gaffes from both Republicans and Democrats this year, and that has emerged as a difference between our coverage and that of most local media. We'll have much more to say about the omissions and systematic misreporting from local media this legislative session in the coming days.

In the meantime, we're starting a new irregular feature called "Today In BS." In an effort to more quickly and comprehensively note for the record brazenly false statements made in Colorado politics, we hope to frequently and briefly post such items with their debunking–and move on. That way, when a local mainstream journalist reprints the name nonsensical allegation a few days/weeks later with no context, you'll already know the truth. 

Today's example is a quote being widely attributed by conservatives to Senate President John Morse.

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Full story: A New Feature: “Today In BS”

Reporter shouldn’t have characterized Morse recall campaign as a grassroots effort

7
  by: Jason Salzman Sat May 4, 2013 at 10:27 AM MDT

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

On its website last week, ABC News reported that petition drives to remove CO state legislators from office, in retaliation for their support of gun safety legislation, are "being run by political newcomers who claim little or no experience working on elections."

ABC News' Chris Good wrote in an online story that "activists are relying on volunteers, and no campaign has raised more than a few thousand dollars."

Good's piece appeared three days after Colorado Pols posted a video apparently demonstrating that the Morse recall effort, at least, is not a grassroots effort but a sophisticated political hit campaign involving hired guns from outside Colorado.

It appears ABC didn't bother to check out the video, which contains an audio recording of a man, who identifies himself as Tracy Taylor, the "owner" of a "national petitioning company." 

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Full story: Reporter shouldn’t have characterized Morse recall campaign as a grassroots effort

Decline to sign: don’t be a victim

7
  by: Colorado Recall Watch Fri May 3, 2013 at 6:01 PM MDT

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

On Saturday, May 4th, A Whole Lot of People for John Morse, an issue committee organized by a group of Colorado Springs citizens to support John Morse, will launch a public alert campaign.  The campaign will warn residents about the checkered past of a company hired to collect personal information and petition signatures in a paid recall attack. 

In an effort to stop the misguided recall attack launched by a vocal minority, radio ads will inform the public of this company’s history of allegations including fraud, deception, and hiring criminals.  A Whole Lot of People for John Morse is an independent group that is not coordinating with any candidate committee. 

“We think it’s really important that Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs residents know that a signature gathering company with a highly questionable track record is going door-to-door in our community,” said Christy LeLait, Campaign Manager for A Whole Lot of People for John Morse.

“Kennedy Enterprises has a shady history of fraud and deception,” LeLait continued.  “To our knowledge, they don’t perform background checks on their signature gatherers. And these are people who have access to our personal information.”

This public alert campaign will include radio ads, online ads, and a website where citizens can report fraudulent activity of this company.  A link to the ad is available at Colorado Recall Watch, and included below.

AUDIO: http://coloradorecallwatch.com/COSR0260_no_slate.mp3


Full story: Decline to sign: don’t be a victim

Gov. Hickenlooper working overtime to bring toxic waste and pollution to your neighborhood!

2
  by: checks-and-balances Thu May 2, 2013 at 5:54 PM MDT

A lot’s changed since 1955 when a gallon of gas was about 29 cents. One thing that hasn’t changed are Colorado’s fines for oil and gas drilling violations – despite a huge drilling boom and large increase in spills over the past several years. Under current law, most violations can’t be fined more than a $1,000 per day, with an overall cap of $10,000.

 

And it turns out that the state rarely enforces these laws. Analyses by the Denver Post and Fort Collins Coloradoan found that that state regulators rarely fine violators who pollute, and less than 7 percent of industry violations since 1996 have resulted in fines.

 

The Parachute Creek spill, caused by Williams, has polluted soil and water with cancer causing benzene and yet 56 days later, Williams has yet to be fined for polluting and risking public health.

 

Despite all of this, not only has Governor Hickenlooper failed to stand up for Colorado families and protect public health, but he’s actually working overtime to help make it easier for the oil and gas industry to pollute your water and communities.

 

According to a new report from the Center for Western Priorities, six oil and gas companies were responsible for 85 percent of all the spills that resulted in water contamination last year. Turns out that Governor Hickenlooper’s ‘besties’ Anadarko Petroleum subsidiary and Noble Energy, Inc. (of the Anadarko-Noble loophole) were two of the six big polluters.

 

Earlier this week, Fox 31 Denver reported that Gov. Hickenlooper watered down legislation to protect public health and water by strengthening oil and gas drilling violation fines.

 

Apparently, these laws just aren’t lax enough for Governor Hickenlooper and his oil and gas industry boosters. According to the Fox 31’s news coverage:

 

Andy White, the governor’s [Hickenlooper] lobbyist on all oil and gas-related legislation…sided Friday with Republicans on the Appropriations Committee and stripped those provisions — the minimum daily fine and the removal of an overall cap on fees — from the bill before sending it to the Senate floor.

 

Now the question is: Will the state legislature do the right thing – protect public health and water- by holding the oil and gas companies responsible when they pollute or will Gov. Hickenpuppet continue doing the bidding of the oil and gas industry to the detriment to Colorado families and communities?

 

 

 

 


Full story: Gov. Hickenlooper working overtime to bring toxic waste and pollution to your neighborhood!

Election Modernization Bill Passes Senate

24
  by: Colorado Pols Thu May 2, 2013 at 2:50 PM MDT

FOX 31's Eli Stokols reports:

The 20-15 vote, with all Democrats in favor of and all Republicans against the measure, came after a four-hour debate with almost every Republican senator arguing that bill will open up the state’s elections to rampant fraud.

“You’re already winning the elections,” Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said. “Do you need to steal them too?” [Pols emphasis]

The Colorado Association of County Clerks, which is made up more Republicans than Democrats, helped draft the bill and supports it. But Republicans at the Capitol and Secretary of State Scott Gessler have called House Bill 1303 a “partisan power play” aimed at helping Democrats consolidate recent electoral gains that will open the voting process up to rampant fraud.

The long debate over passage of House Bill 1303 has been characterized by dire warnings that the bill, in particular the provision for same-day registration of voters, would lead to "rampant voter fraud"–despite the fact that county clerks of both parties, the officials actually responsible for carrying out elections in Colorado, support it. Eleven states and the District of Columbia already have same day registration on the books, and there is no evidence that it has led to a higher incidence of trouble anywhere it has been enacted. What has happened, though, is a roughly 10% increase in overall voter turnout in states that have same day registration.

With these arguments hashed, rehashed, and re-rehashed, the final Senate debate today veered into the silly: 

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Full story: Election Modernization Bill Passes Senate

Gardner’s GOP Tent Is Still too Small for the Dreamers

12
  by: Jason Salzman Thu May 2, 2013 at 10:47 AM MDT

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Just after the November election, a chastened Cory Gardner told Fox 31's Eli Stokols:

Gardner: “Republicans have always talked about having a big tent, but it doesn’t do any good if the tent doesn’t have any chairs in it. Bringing Latinos to the forefront, bringing women in, is absolutely critical.”

So you'd think Gardner, who represents Colorado's 4th Congressional District, would, over the ensuing six months, at least make room in the GOP tent for the children of illegal immigrants, who were brought to this country through no fault of their own.

You'd think Gardner would get on board with Colorado's ASSET law, which allows colleges to offer these so-called "Dreamers" the normal in-state tuition rate.

But on Monday, the same day that Gov. John Hickenlooper signed ASSET into law, Gardner told KNUS' Steve Kelley, that he still opposes Colorado's new policy of granting in-state tuition to the Dreamers, because Gardner does not believe the U.S. borders are secure enough, and that's his first priority. 

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Full story: Gardner’s GOP Tent Is Still too Small for the Dreamers

Colorado ASSET Act Signed Into Law

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  by: Colorado Pols Mon April 29, 2013 at 3:41 PM MDT

assetsigning
Photo by Colorado House Democrats

UPDATE: FOX 31's Eli Stokols:

“It’s perseverance,” [former Rep. Val] Vigil told FOX31 Denver afterward. “You know when you truly believe in an issue, you don’t give it up.”

…Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, a former teacher and principal, described the despair of one of his former students who graduated high school only to watch state lawmakers, for the last three years, defeat legislation aimed at making college more affordable for undocumented students.

“That student right now is working in a fast food restaurant, waiting for the chance to fulfill his dreams of one day becoming an engineer,” Johnston said. “Well, today, we’re here to tell you that the doors are open and the dream is alive.” [Pols emphasis]

——

Another long-sought goal achieved by the 69th Colorado General Assembly, reports Huffington Post's Matt Ferner:

Undocumented immigrant students in Colorado can celebrate today — a bill that grants undocumented students in-state college tuition rates was signed into Colorado law by Gov. John Hickenlooper today.

Colorado now joins thirteen other states to allow undocumented immigrant students who graduate from state high schools to attend college at an in-state tuition rate. According to The Associated Press, some of Colorado's undocumented students had been paying more than three times higher than the rate in-state students pay.

A congratulatory statement from Sen. Mark Udall:

Mark Udall, who has been a vocal advocate for comprehensive and accountable immigration reform, welcomed the signing into law of Colorado's ASSET bill — legislation that secures fair tuition rates for students who attend at least three years of high school in Colorado, regardless of their immigration status. Udall said Colorado's leadership on this issue should spur Congress to follow suit and pass common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.

"Colorado is leading the way to ensure that every Colorado student, regardless of where they come from or their immigration status, has equal access to opportunity. I am proud to stand with Gov. Hickenlooper and my colleagues in the Colorado General Assembly in welcoming this important milestone, the signing of the ASSET Bill, and what it means for high-achieving high school graduates and our future economic growth," Udall said. "I will take Colorado's example with me to Washington and continue fighting for a balanced, bipartisan immigration-reform proposal. I stand with business, religious, agricultural and labor leaders — and Coloradans of all backgrounds — when I say the time has come for Congress to set partisanship aside and follow suit. We must pass comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act."

We'll round up more statements and coverage as they come in.


Full story: Colorado ASSET Act Signed Into Law

Sex Offender Petition Gatherers: Seriously, Bad Idea

20
  by: Colorado Pols Mon April 29, 2013 at 12:25 PM MDT

As news broke over the weekend that paid petition gathering company Kennedy Enterprises has joined the recall effort against at least one Colorado legislator, Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs, there have been several aspects of this story worthy of attention. Yesterday, we released video footage of a training session last week at Kennedy Enterprises, outlining the money gatherers can make and the possibility of a lucrative career traveling "from city to city, state to state" collecting signatures "for basically anybody who has money."

If the presence of buy-an-election paid circulators in Morse's recall doesn't trouble you, and it indeed might not trouble the more politically cynical among us, there is another issue–the longstanding employment practices of petition gathering company Kennedy Enterprises. In 2008, Kennedy conducted the petition campaign for three GOP-backed ballot measures, including Amendment 47, the so-called "right to work" initiative. 9NEWS reported on an investigation into petition gatherers for that campaign (article no longer online):

Some people gathering signatures for ballot initiatives who approach Coloradans have criminal records, according to court record searches conducted by 9Wants to Know. [Pols emphasis] 9NEWS found signature gatherers convicted of sexual assault on a child, theft, harassment, trespassing and drug possession. Most signature gatherers are hired by private companies and paid for each signature they receive…

"It's a little frightening," said House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder)…

Court records show signature gatherer Ferrell Griffin was sentenced in 2007 for drug possession. Police had already busted him twice before in 2002 and 1992. He's on parole and gathering signatures for ballot issues in Denver this year. Secretary of State records show John Bizzell gathered signatures in Pueblo this year too. He's a registered sex offender who is back in prison on drug charges.

John Respondek has a criminal record that dates back to 1996. He's been convicted of theft five times since 1996. His record also includes trespassing and harassment. 9Wants to Know caught up with Respondek while he was gathering signatures in Denver.

Folks, when we noted the lack of background checks for this latest drive, this is what we were getting at. 

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Full story: Sex Offender Petition Gatherers: Seriously, Bad Idea

Another Crazy Internet Rumor Becomes GOP Talking Point

17
  by: Colorado Pols Mon April 29, 2013 at 8:38 AM MDT

As the Durango Herald's Joe Hanel reported this weekend:

Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction – the sponsor of the air tanker bill – said he is worried that large fires in the Colorado River Basin could clog reservoirs and cause a water supply “catastrophe” across the whole American Southwest.

“That is why that is a priority or could be a priority for those who wish us ill will, and those who would like to change the United States and the Western United States,” King said at a hearing for his bill.

Terrorist attacks in the forests have already happened, King’s allies said.

“We know for a fact that forest fires started in California were started by al-Qaida,” said Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, during debate in the Senate on Wednesday… [Pols emphasis]

There's a problem with Sen. Ted Harvey's allegation that "we know for a fact" forest fires in California "were started by al-Qaida."

California fire officials say it never happened. [Pols emphasis]

In the summer and fall of 2003, southern California was indeed devastated by wildfires, some of which were determined to be arson. And it's also true, as the AP reported in July of 2003, that FBI agents were briefed on an alleged terrorist plot involving wildfires. But there's plenty missing from this picture:

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Full story: Another Crazy Internet Rumor Becomes GOP Talking Point

Hidden Camera: Morse Recall Training at Kennedy Enterprises

6
  by: Colorado Pols Sun April 28, 2013 at 12:18 PM MDT

Must-see video just forwarded to us–an apparent hidden camera film of a training session at the Colorado Springs office of Kennedy Enterprises last week for petition gatherers working to recall Sen. President John Morse.

As we reported Friday, a large infusion of funds from as-yet unknown sources has brought one of the state's most shady (and successful) paid petition gathering companies, responsible for controversial petition efforts in support of Doug Bruce's "Bad Three" anti-tax initiatives among many other examples, into the until-now rag tag effort to recall Colorado legislators in retaliation for gun safety bills signed into law this year.

As this three minutes and twenty seconds of video makes crystal-clear, the petition campaign against Morse is now in the hands of 100% non-ideological mercenaries, whose only interest is successfully getting the issue they are paid to promote on the ballot–in this case, Morse's recall. They flat-out admit as much 0:27 into this video:

This is what we do for a living. We travel around the country, we go from city to city, state to state, we put issues and candidates on the ballot for basically anybody who has money. [Pols emphasis]

The trainer, who identified himself as Tracy Taylor of an unnamed national petition company, proceeds to explain briefly what the petition is about, then gets into details about the pay structure. It's quick cash for petition gatherers–whatever they produce over the weekends gets turned in on Monday, and they are promised a check by the following Thursday. Taylor concludes by noting his close ties to Dan Kennedy of Kennedy Enterprises where this training was held. 

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Full story: Hidden Camera: Morse Recall Training at Kennedy Enterprises

BREAKING: Mystery Recall Money Arrives, Paid Drive Begins

14
  by: Colorado Pols Fri April 26, 2013 at 12:26 PM MDT

Over the last few weeks, we've been talking about the incipient recall campaigns against several Colorado legislators in the wake of passage of gun safety legislation this year. There hasn't been much good to report on the recall campaigns so far, with public leaders and visible organizing efforts both revealing themselves to be, to put it charitably, less than ready for prime time. Our assessment of the potential success in getting any of these recall campaigns on the ballot has been pretty dim up to now.

That's about to change.

We've just learned that one of the most prominent (and ethically questionable) petition signature gathering firms in Colorado, Kennedy Enterprises, has been hired to take over petition drives for some or all of the recall campaigns presently underway. This new development has not yet been reflected in spending disclosure forms, but should be public knowledge in the next week. It's not known yet which of the recall campaigns that have been filed will be taken over by Kennedy, but this represents a major development: an outside capitalization by unknown funders of what had been an amateur and disorganized effort…

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Full story: BREAKING: Mystery Recall Money Arrives, Paid Drive Begins