Tag: Frank McNulty

With a prayer from Archbishop Charles Chaput that called for legislators to consider the future of both the born and unborn in their decision making, Republicans officially took control of the Colorado House of Representatives as the Colorado General Assembly opened for business Wednesday.

John Hickenlooper was sworn in today as Colorado’s 42nd governor as flags flew at half mast to honor the dead and injured in Arizona. He told a small group of reporters gathered in his new office shortly after the ceremony that America depends on free speech for its democracy, but he said that history swings like a pendulum and that it is time for the country to come together.

Colorado House Republicans today announced new committee chairs for the 2011 session, which will convene in January. More profoundly, perhaps, Speaker of the House-elect...

The red wave that swept America in last week's election didn't exactly miss Colorado, but it was very selective. It will probably be felt most acutely in the State Legislature, where control will be split, the Republicans gaining a slim edge in the House and Dems solidly reclaiming the Senate.

About 300 people rallied on the west steps of the state capitol Monday morning to show their support for the proposed Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, which would require Xcel Energy to mothball or retrofit three coal-burning power plants in favor of cleaner-burning gas-powered facilities.

DENVER-- Perhaps no issue will underline the divide separating state Democrats and Republicans this legislative session as well as the war to rein in the payday loan industry. That war saw its first real skirmishes Monday at the capitol when roughly 150 payday-loan business owners and employees rallied outside the building in advance of a hearing on a bill that seeks to cap payday interest rates and limit the infamous cycle of personal payday-loan debt the industry depends upon to generate millions in profits.

Republicans looking to gut new Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) drilling regulations adopted in December and now subject to the approval of the state legislature just got some much-needed ammo in what promises to be a contentious fight.

Big talk of the week has shifted to who would replace Sen. Ken Salazar after he, in what is looking like a done deal, leaves his Senate seat to lead the Interior Department. But days after Colorado House Minority Leader Mike May announced he was stepping down, there's no word yet on who might lead Republicans in the House into the new year. Among the top contenders to emerge: Reps. David Balmer, Frank McNulty and Amy Stephens.

Another Republican lawmaker has stepped forward to complain that threats of 2010 primary challenges were wielded to muscle the results of House leadership elections last week. "I got a phone call, and it was suggested that if I would back out (of the caucus chair race), things could be easier or things could be harder," state Rep. Ellen Roberts told PolitickerCO. The Durango Republican lost a bid for caucus chair on Thursday to the more conservative Amy Stephens of Monument.

A Colorado Springs legislator complained to the state House Republican Caucus on Thursday that he'd been sucker-punched when a "multidimensional, or even multiambitional chess game" went awry and his co-conspirators backed off plans to challenge their party's sitting leadership.