DeGette rallies state civil rights activists to spotlight, counteract new GOP voter laws

DENVER– Colorado Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette and representatives of the state’s top civil rights organizations this weekend railed against efforts by Republican lawmakers and officials around the country to recast voter rules. Flooded with pale mountain sun on the west steps of the capitol, the speakers took turns detailing ways new registration and voting requirements and restrictions will make it more difficult for millions of Americans to cast ballots in presidential election year 2012.

Power to the people, say the people

Despite the demise of a bill to increase the percentage of votes needed to pass a voter initiated constitutional amendment in the Legislature this year, grassroots advocates recently voiced their opposition to the move they see as part of a trend by legislators to limit the power of the people.

Sec of State Gessler lands on legislative ‘loser’ lists for voter ID debacle

As the architect and main lobbyist for a failed voter ID bill, Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler is landing on “losers” lists for the just-wrapped 2011 state legislative session. He ranked number five loser on the lefty activist ProgressNow list brought out last week and this morning rated a photo and a brief write up in the Denver Post legislative losers column.

Pinnacol spending bill may limit expenses even further

A bill designed to put a stop to lavish “business” trips taken by government entities, such as Pinnacol Assurance, was laid over Wednesday after Democratic senators proclaimed the bill still too lenient with taxpayer dollars. The bill was laid over in the Senate Judiciary Committee to determine support for an amendment.

Video: Capitol press “April foolsed”

Journalists showed up to an 8:30 a.m. press conference today where the identity of #coleg Twitter jokster(s) YO! JBC RAPS was to be revealed. It was an April Fools’ joke.

Gessler/Holbert bill would target ineligible voters: Voter advocates cry foul

A bill designed by Secretary of State Scott Gessler and sponsored by Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, to ensure the integrity of the Colorado voting system is being called a means to reduce voter participation by voters’ rights advocates.

Pace goes after Pinnacol’s pink golf balls

House Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, and Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, announced a bill Tuesday designed to limit Pinnacol Assurance’s travel expenditures after it was revealed that Pinnacol had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on everything from spas to pink golf balls for top producers of the company.

Colorado voter registration bill is a solution in search of a problem, critics say

Colorado Senator Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, told the Colorado Independent Tuesday that a bill requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote would protect the integrity of one of Colorado’s most sacred systems. Others disagreed.

Report: Colorado voting system could be much improved by November

A report authored by election watchdog organizations Common Cause and Demos points to a series of unaddressed problems likely to suppress the vote in Colorado this November. The issues pointed out in the report are alarming in part for…

Federal judge rails at Secretary of State Coffman to stop purges

A federal judge took a swipe at an “obdurate” Secretary of State Mike Coffman this afternoon by ordering Colorado’s top election official to stop violating federal law by purging voters.

The Advancement Project, a voter protection organization, filed suit against Coffman late last week for canceling as many 30,000 voters within 90 days of the federal election, a breach of the National Voter Registration Act. Coffman’s office settled with the Advancement Project late Wednesday evening, agreeing to let purged individuals vote by provisional ballot. But he has purged an additional 146 voters since then.