July 22, 2015 11:24 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Wednesday (July 22)

• 17 Comments
• by: Colorado Pols

Maybe we need to do this in reverse — just raise your hand if you are not seeking the Republican Presidential nomination. Let’s 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…

► The petition drive in Jefferson County to recall three far-right Jeffco School Board Members is nearly complete — after only a few weeks of signature-gathering. Activists appear to be close to collecting more than 15,000 signatures well ahead of the September 8 deadline. 

► The August Congressional recess is just around the corner, but there’s a lot left to be done before everyone flees Washington D.C. One of the biggest looming decisions, finding money for federal highways and infrastructure, appears to be heading nowhere in the House despite Senate support.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► New polling results from Quinnipiac University were released today, offering another look on how Presidential candidates are perceived in Colorado. As Jesse Paul reports for the Denver Post:

An early Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday finds former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is lagging behind three of the top Republican presidential candidates in swing state Colorado.

The poll shows Clinton behind Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and the matchup with Florida Gov. Jeb Bush within the margin of error.

The Presidential election is still 18 months away, and this is Quinnipiac we’re talking about, so make sure you have a few grains of salt nearby.

BTW, Quinnipiac: Please look up “time zones.” Quinnipiac is doing another media briefing on Thursday on polling results for same-sex marriage, global warming, and other issue-related questions. but according to their press release, you’d have to make yourself available at 6:00 a.m. (EST). Good luck getting someone from Colorado on the phone at 4:00 in the freaking morning.

► Surprise! The Colorado Republican Party is facing more legal problems outside of the Coffmangate Scandal.

► John Frank of the Denver Post reports on Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Denver on Tuesday:

Vice President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of affordable access to higher education as a key driver of the nation’s economic future, using a visit to Denver on Tuesday to trumpet the administration’s plan to make community college tuition-free for two years.

“We have to have the most modern workforce in the world,” Biden told a panel of local officials, business owners and students at the Community College of Denver.

“Six in 10 jobs in the next decade require something beyond high school,” he continued. “The idea that you can graduate from high school and live a middle-class life in 2020, 2025, 2030 is not probable.”

Biden’s visit is the latest in a cross-country tour to tout the administration’s economic record and generate support for the community college plan that President Barack Obama detailed in January’s State of the Union address.

► The federal wind power tax credit was included in a package of tax credit extensions approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

► Influential Colorado politico Ted Trimpa will be honored on Aug. 22 with a “lifetime achievement award” from LGBT-rights group One Colorado. Lynn Bartels profiles Trimpa for the Denver Post.

► Perry Haney is really very interested in becoming a Member of Congress. He is less particular about which district he would represent.

► Veteran Denver Post reporter Mark Jaffe is accepting a buyout offer and leaving the newspaper. 

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Bet you didn’t know that today was “Lao-Hmong Recognition Day” in Golden. Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-Jefferson County) is co-sponsoring an effort to make July 22nd “National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day,” according to a press release:

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), with support from Reps. Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jim Langevin (RI-04), Jim Costa (CA-16), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU0) and Jim McDermott (WA-07), have introduced a joint resolution to designate July 22 as “National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day.”

“Historically, the Lao-Hmong people were one of our country’s most loyal allies. During the Vietnam War, they fought bravely alongside U.S. soldiers.  Many emigrated to the U.S. and now proudly call this country their home. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice to our nation,” said Rep. Perlmutter.

In 1995, Golden, Colorado became the first city in the United States to designate a Lao-Hmong Recognition Day. Since then, other areas in the country followed suit, declaring July 22 “Lao-Hmong Recognition Day”.  The establishment of this day recognizes the bravery, sacrifice, and loyalty to the United States exhibited by the Lao-Hmong. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 Lao-Hmong people living in Colorado.

► When you look up Barry Arrington in the yellow pages (do “yellow pages” still exist?), should you check first under “Noted Anti-LGBT Attorneys”?

ICYMI

► Famous person Donald Trump gave a speech in South Carolina as part of his “Presidential campaign,” and he took the opportunity to publicly give out the personal phone number of Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) who is also seeking the GOP Presidential nomination. Classy guy.

► U.S. Hwy 36 now tolls for thee.

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