June 23, 2015 02:29 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Tuesday (June 23)

• 1 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

If you blink this week, you’re going to miss a big story. 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…

► Slowly but surely, the mainstream media is picking up the second phase of the Coffmangate story. News reports today confirm that Colorado GOP chairman Steve House has contacted both local and federal prosecutors about being allegedly blackmailed by a group of Republican politicos headed up by Attorney General Cynthia Coffman. AP’s Nick Riccardi:

A lawyer for the Colorado Republican Party has spoken with prosecutors about the state party chairman’s accusation that the attorney general and others tried to blackmail him into resigning, a spokesman said Tuesday…

The scandal has roiled Colorado Republicans and cast a shadow over the party’s hopes for a successful 2016 election in a pivotal swing state. It’s also damaged Coffman, a rising star in the party.

Meanwhile, a conservative blog posted a story claiming to “expose” House’s alleged affair, but we also received a lengthy audio clip of the same person denying the affair categorically. Neither of which really matters, since extortion is still illegal even if you’ve cheated on your wife.

► President Barack Obama’s controversial trade agenda caught a break from the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate (and Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado):

The trade bill advanced by a 60-37 margin, with the minimum votes needed to break a Democratic-led filibuster against so-called Trade Promotion Authority. Thirteen Democrats sided with GOP leaders on the vote, and five Republicans, including presidential contenders Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, voted against the legislation.

► An hour after we helpfully brought it to his attention, Rep. Ken Buck announced yesterday that he will return donations from a white supremacist believed to have helped inspire the Charleston church shooter.

► Ellen Roberts, in an act of mercy towards her gaffe-prone self, opts out of running for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Four states including Colorado are are suing the federal government over new “fracking” rules:

States including Wyoming claim they already have effective regulations for oil and gas drilling. The federal government and environmental groups say the rules are necessary to protect federal land.

► A scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research says that climate change is worsening storms like the one responsible for the devastating 2013 Front Range floods:

Severe storm events always have formed, and will continue to do so, out of the natural chaos of global weather.

But the argument advanced by Kevin Trenberth, distinguished senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and his colleagues, is that human-caused global warming is now exacerbating such storms’ impacts.

► Drama in Denver city government as incoming councilman Rafael Espinoza accuses Mayor Michael Hancock of jamming through development projects without adequate oversight or input.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► It’s looking like a standing-room-only crowd for former President Jimmy Carter’s speech in Carbondale tonight.

► The Colorado Independent’s take on Bernie Sanders’ big rally Sunday.

► The economy is up, but personal income in Colorado took a small hit in the first quarter.

ICYMI

► More on this weekend’s protest against police brutality at Pridefest.

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