rssPosts by Joseph Boven
Campaign disclosure reform down but not out
Special interest groups will continue to be able to use 501c(4) organizations to donate money to political campaigns anonymously in Colorado for another year, if not longer, after the final gavel fell on this year’s legislative session without a bill being introduced.
ACLU calls on Department of Justice to investigate Denver PD
The ACLU of Colorado joined together with other civil rights groups Wednesday to call on the Department of Justice to investigate what they called a pattern of civil rights violation by Denver law enforcement.
Colorado House GOP backs down on ‘payday payback’ in tense last day of session
In the end, it came to the sort of calculation payday lenders might understand. After spending political capital fast and furiously in the last hours of the legislative session Wednesday, Colorado House Republicans seemed to accept that spending any more in the service of the payday loan industry would end in more loss than gain. They did the smart thing and just stopped spending altogether. They decided to withdraw the amendment they had attached to the annual rules bill on Tuesday that would have rolled back payday fee regulations put in place last year.
Special session or courts only options left for redistricting
After months of intense talks and partisan attempts to rearrange the congressional districts by Republicans and Democrats, the Colorado General Assembly’s redistricting attempt failed to produce a map. The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee killed an amended Republican map, moving the battle out of the Legislature–at least for now.
Pro-payday lawmakers attempt late-session regulations roll-back
DENVER– The payday lending industry isn’t giving up on this legislative session in Colorado. Lawmakers who have failed at several attempts to roll back regulations passed last session limiting high payday interest rates and fees are now reportedly planning to attach to a bureaucratic rule-making bill an amendment that would thin the payday regulations. The legislative session ends at midnight tomorrow.
As legislative session ticks rapidly down, Colorado redistricting bills move forward
DENVER– It’s closing time. The swing-state Colorado legislature has one day left in the regular session this year for Republicans and Democrats to come together and deliver a congressional redistricting plan to the governor. The Republican-controlled House managed to pass its version onto the Senate this morning and, after a stop-and-start filibuster that stretched into the wee hours last night, the Democratic-controlled Senate today moved its version forward for a final reading.
Senate kills high-driving bill, cites fuzzy science
The Colorado Senate killed a bill that would have established a legal limit in Colorado to the amount of THC drivers can have in their system. Lawmakers on the right and left who voted against the bill felt they were attempting to make policy without adequate information. House Bill 1261, sponsored in the Senate by Grand Junction Republican Steve King, died 20 nays to 15 ayes.
Marijuana DUI bill rises from the ashes, expected to pass
On Friday, a bill to make it easier to charge stoned drivers with DUI rose from the dead and is now expected to pass by Wednesday.
Bill to increase cost of payday loans dies in committee
A bill to increase fees on payday loans died Thursday, leaving consumer advocates happy and payday lenders less so.
Redistricting bills heard while negotiations continue
Democrats and Republicans held hearings on dueling redistricting maps at the Capitol Thursday while party leadership negotiated with the governor to find a solution to partisan gridlock.
