The Colorado Independent

Latest Headlines

Outside interest groups set to play huge role in 2012 elections

romney80
By | 02.04.12 | 6:56 am

Broadcast media still dominates the world of political campaign ads, which are financed more than ever by interest groups that will play an increasing role in the 2012 presidential election, according to media reports issued this week.

Unemployment fell again in January, still over 8 percent

By | 02.04.12 | 5:33 am

The U.S. unemployment rate fell 0.2 percent to 8.3 percent and employment rose by 243,000 jobs during the month of January, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

Colorado senators applaud BLM proposal to rein in oil shale leasing in American West

michael-bennetnew80
By | 02.03.12 | 2:25 pm

The Bureau of Land Management proposed a sharp cut Friday in the acreage available for oil shale and tar sands leasing in the West, including a 90 percent reduction of potential land in Colorado.

DeGette, Polis seek to expand fracking study, push for tougher health protections

polis80
By | 02.03.12 | 12:13 pm

U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Jared Polis are calling on President Obama to strengthen environmental and public health standards to protect against risks posed by hydraulic fracturing.

Planned Parenthood salutes Colorado Komen for leadership in funding policy flap

plannedprnthood80
By | 02.03.12 | 10:51 am

In the wake of news, breaking only an hour ago, that the renowned Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation would reverse its controversial decision to pull funds from Planned Parenthood, local Planned Parenthood representatives praised Colorado Komen affiliates for leading in what was clearly an internal Komen revolt against the decision, where local affiliates demanded national leaders put the mission to fight breast cancer and save women’s lives over anti-abortion politics.

Aspen Komen leads revolt against anti-Planned Parenthood national policy

i stand with planned parenthood
By | 02.03.12 | 9:43 am

The Aspen affiliate of juggernaut breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure rejected the national foundation’s new policy to end funding cancer screening and education provided by women’s health care and abortion provider Planned Parenthood. The news from Aspen came hours before reports began to leak this morning that national Komen leadership may be reversing its new funding policy. The Aspen news drew praise from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which runs vital breast cancer screenings for low-income women in Glenwood Springs roughly 25 miles outside the tony cosmopolitan ski town.

VIDEO: Ron Paul gets rock star treatment in Denver

ronpaul80
By | 02.03.12 | 5:09 am

For a 76-year-old Republican obstetrician from Texas, Ron Paul can certainly get his rock star on. Earlier this week, he packed more than 1000 screaming young fans into a hotel ballroom in the Stapleton area.

Udall applauds Denver Komen affiliate for standing by Planned Parenthood

udall80
By | 02.02.12 | 5:36 pm

At the end of a day that saw the mediasphere light up with reactions to news that juggernaut breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure aimed to end its financial support of Planned Parenthood, Senator Mark Udall praised Komen’s Denver affiliate for standing by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.

Colorado’s Udall, Bennet weigh response to evolving Komen-Planned Parenthood funding clash

Udall and Bennet
By | 02.02.12 | 3:06 pm

Colorado U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are penning a joint letter on the evolving relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and Planned Parenthood to reflect the unique situation developing between the organizations in Colorado, staffers told the Colorado Independent.

House Committee approves Lamborn bill to open more land to oil shale exploration

Rep. Lamborn
By | 02.02.12 | 6:56 am

Oil shale isn’t yet commercially viable but on Wednesday the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources passed Rep. Doug Lamborn’s bill to speed up its production in the West anyway.

Spotlight On: Marriage equality

LGBT leaders say marriage is just one of several important issues this year

This past weekend approximately 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists descended upon Baltimore, Md., for a national advocacy conference, while a few miles away the Republican branch of Congress — which consistently resists pro-LGBT policies – gathered for a retreat.

Despite an absent House (Democrats were also at a retreat in Cambridge, Md.), about 300 of those LGBT activists occupied the Capitol last Thursday for the first federal lobby day associated with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s 24th annual Creating Change conference. The Senate was still in session.

VIDEO: Al Franken cuts ad supporting marriage equality

Franken-80

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, lent his likeness to a new video series launched by the Human Rights Campaign called “Americans for Marriage Equality.” Franken is the first member of Congress to appear in a video for the campaign, which supports equal rights for same-sex couples, even as legislators in his home state have put a constitutional measure banning marriage equality on the 2012 ballot. The video was released late last week.

Discriminate against same-sex couples? Hell yes, say churches

Should religious organizations that receive public subsidies and take special tax breaks be allowed to discriminate against couples of the same gender? Yes, declare 39 religious leaders in an open letter (PDF) to “all Americans” released last week.

Hickenlooper endorses civil unions

Governor John Hickenlooper today, in his State of the State address, called on the Legislature to pass civil unions legislation.