Colorado Rep. Polis leads House effort to reform No Child Left Behind

On the heels of news that the Obama administration has granted Colorado and 10 other states a waiver from the controversial requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind education law, Colorado Democratic Congressman Jared Polis introduced a House version of the Growth to Excellence Act (H.R. 3845) written by Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall. The bill would rework No Child Left Behind by granting greater authority to the states to develop student achievement and school accountability policies.

Colorado scores No Child Left Behind waiver

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today applauded the Obama administration decision to grant Colorado schools a waiver from the regulatory requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law. A former superintendent of the Denver Public School system, Bennet has long railed against the law as well-intended but comically flawed, the “biggest federal overreach ever in domestic policy,” he said in a Senate floor speech last year.

Minus Lamborn, Colorado congressional delegation pushes for wind energy tax credit

Eight of Colorado’s nine congressional delegates are calling for the extension of the federal wind production tax credit to be added to the nation’s pending payroll tax reduction package.

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

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.

Udall applauds Denver Komen affiliate for standing by Planned Parenthood

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

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.

Obama clean energy push draws partisan reaction from Colorado lawmakers

President Obama’s call to increase domestic energy production Tuesday received a rosy reception from Colorado’s lefty lawmakers but was all but ignored by its conservative congressional delegation who are still smarting from the commander-in-chief’s recent blocking of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Senate internet piracy bill shelved; Udall thanks protesters for support

The U.S. Senate has postponed voting on the controversial anti-online piracy Protect IP Act (PIPA), the upper chamber’s version of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which was pushed hard by entertainment corporations over the last two years but shelved in the House this week after a massive opposition movement saw top internet sites shutdown in protest and citizen emails swamp Capitol Hill servers.

DougCo deputy sheriff hero Garcia survives gun fight, spurs rare bipartisan agreement

Two years ago Douglas County Deputy Sheriff Michael Garcia was working an extra duty assignment when he pulled over drunk businessman Richard Anderson, who had just held a gun to a bar manager’s head and refused to pay his bill. Anderson exited his Pathfinder, walked toward Deputy Garcia and let burst a hail of 13 bullets, hitting Garcia in the arm. Garcia returned fire, eventually landing shots in Anderson’s stomach and neck. Garcia radioed for medical help for Anderson and now he’s receiving a Congressional Badge of Bravery, pulling down kudos from Democratic U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet and Douglas County Republican Congressman Mike Coffman.

National Ski Areas Association sues U.S. Forest Service over contested water rights

The National Ski Areas Association filed a lawsuit (pdf) in federal court late Monday, arguing that a new clause the U.S. Forest Service is inserting into ski area permits is an illegal taking of property.

The litigation is the…