February 04, 2019 12:20 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Monday (February 4)

• 2 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Let the record show that the New England Patriots officially killed the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2019; there was more drama during “The Puppy Bowl.” It’s time to “Get More Smarter.” If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example). If you are more of a visual learner, check out The Get More Smarter Show.

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► President Trump is still threatening that he might make an “emergency declaration” in order to build his great big border wall. But as the Washington Post reports, Senate Republicans are positively terrified because of what would happen next:

According to one of the country’s leading experts on national emergencies, it appears that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can trigger a process that could require the GOP-controlled Senate to hold a vote on such a declaration by Trump — which would put Senate Republicans in a horrible political position.

Trump reiterated his threat to declare a national emergency in an interview with CBS News that aired over the weekend. “I don’t take anything off the table,” Trump said, adding in a typically mangled construction that he still retains the “alternative” of “national emergency.”

But Pelosi has recourse against such a declaration — and if she exercises it, Senate Republicans may have to vote on where they stand on it.

Senate Republicans would likely be forced to take a public position on an “emergency declaration,” which leaves them backed into a corner between a rock and a hard place:

…the Senate could vote not to consider that resolution or change its rules to avoid such a vote. But in those scenarios, the Senate would, in effect, be voting to greenlight Trump’s emergency declaration.

D’oh!

► Politico answers your questions about the State of the Union speech, which President Trump is scheduled to deliver on Tuesday.

► Former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is expected to enter the 2020 race for U.S. Senate, according to Ernest Luning of the publication formerly known as the Colorado Statesman. Romanoff kinda, sorta leaked his Senate plans in mid-December before  an associate walked it back on his behalf.

Romanoff unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Denver) for the Democratic Senate nomination in 2010; in 2014 he came up short against Republican Rep. Mike Coffman in CO-6. Former State Senator and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Mike Johnston announced his U.S. Senate bid last week.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Freshman Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Boulderish) is hosting a special guest at Tuesday’s State of the Union speech in Washington D.C. From a press release:

Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02), himself a son of African refugees, has invited a student in the DACA program from Colorado State University to attend the State of the Union on Tuesday February 5th as his guest. Elias, a student studying Chemical and Biological Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Colorado State University, came to America at a young age when his parents immigrated from Mexico, and currently lives and works part-time in Fort Collins where he attends school.

“The partisan differences surrounding our immigration system have been placed front and center in today’s political discussion,” said Congressman Neguse. “In this moment, it is incredibly important for us to consider the individuals like Elias who have come to this country as children, or arrived seeking asylum from unimaginable violence in South America. The immigrant story is at the foundation of who we are as Americans, and we cannot allow the national discourse to ignore the stories of our Dreamers, refugees and those seeking opportunity in America. It is my hope that this Administration will work with Congress to achieve true comprehensive immigration reform. The United States is a country of immigrants — it is the core and credo of who we are as a nation. We need to work towards real solutions instead of demonizing and fear-mongering.”

► Senator Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) supports an EPA decision to NOT regulate toxic chemicals in Colorado’s drinking water.

► Marshall Zelinger of 9News answers viewer questions about proposed changes that would ditch the “electoral college” system for Presidential elections.

► Colorado Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet are taking another shot at getting money for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

► Last week, Sen. Cory Gardner became one of the first high-profile Republicans to officially endorse President Trump’s 2020 re-election bid. This made the Big Orange Guy very pleased:

Thank you to Senator Rob Portman and Senator Cory Gardner for the early and warm endorsement. We will ALL WIN in 2020 together!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 1, 2019

► Freshman Rep. Jason Crow (D-Aurora) talks with Denver7 about his experiences in his first month in Congress.

► Colorado Public Radio takes a look at Gov. Jared Polis’ plan for free, full-day kindergarten in Colorado.

► State lawmakers have scrapped a plan to make Election Day an official holiday amid concerns that such a move might actually depress voter turnout.

► As Denver7 reports, it’s still too early to gauge the impact that the federal government shutdown had on preserving public lands in Colorado.

► The Grand Junction Sentinel looks at potential legislation from Democrats to create a paid family leave program in Colorado.

► Senator Michael Bennet (D-Denver) sings “Kumbaya.”

Your Daily Dose Of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

► Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton is suing a company that he used to help get his name onto the 2018 Primary ballot. From the Denver Post:

The lawsuit, filed June 25 in Denver District Court, alleges Kennedy Enterprises breached its contract when it “unethically and unlawfully failed to disclose that it was gathering petition signatures using shadow circulators,” according to documents obtained by The Denver Post on Friday.

Stapleton is asking to be awarded the $260,000 he paid the Colorado Springs-based signature collection firm, attorneys’ fees and “such other and further relief as is just and proper.”…

…The court filings detail how Stapleton, who was then Colorado’s treasurer, and his team scrambled to figure out what happened and whether he could legally remain on the ballot in the wake of news reports in March 2018 alleging misconduct by Dan Kennedy’s firm.

Stapleton declined to comment because the case is ongoing, with a scheduled trial date of April 24.

This story could get a lot worse for Colorado Republicans.

► Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam entered the political press conference “WTF Hall of Fame” with his bizarre performance on Saturday.

There is a massive list of prominent Democratic politicians calling on Northam to resign amidst controversy surrounding this yearbook photo.

► Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States of America!

Yes, really.

ICYMI

► “Anus Fisting Granny.”

► Denver voters will get to consider a measure decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms when they vote this spring.

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