DEC gets kicked off the island...

...and you're next, poll book system. (More: Rocky, SquareState and, for posterity, VoterJones)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, CD1 Democratic representative Diana DeGette has introduced legislation to help avoid a repeat of November 7, 2006. A press release states, in part:

[DeGette's] legislation amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by requiring the development of voluntary standards for electronic poll books. These poll books allow election officials to use electronic means to determine voter eligibility. The standards called for in this legislation provide guidance on how electronic poll books should operate and require these devices to be tested and certified.

Things get testy on the campaign trail

Joe Biden and John Edwards speak out on the field. Yikes.

Democrats take action on prescription drugs

The Colorado House and Governor Bill Ritter are both taking action to lower the cost of prescription drugs. A press release from the House reads, in part:

House leaders fast-tracked a bill that would provide more than 260,000 people in Colorado with huge discounts on prescription drugs. "I'm thrilled that this historic bill is one of the first bills that Governor Ritter will sign," said Rep. [Alice] Madden. "We're not going to wait any longer to provide affordable prescription drugs to the people who really need them."

The bill would create the Colorado Cares Rx program, which allows the state to negotiate a fixed price for generic and non-patented drugs with manufacturers. Pharmacies that voluntarily participate in the program would then be able to sell the drugs to needy citizens who are eligible to participate in the program.

Meanwhile, Ritter today signed an executive order directing the state to "establish a Preferred Drug List for the purchase of prescription pharmaceuticals for Medicaid clients." The move is expected to save the state at least $1.6 million.

Alan Philp not going to the pokey

No charges against the Trailhead Group honcho. (Rocky, CoCo)

Colorado voters have "schizophrenia" on healthcare

I stared at this article in the Rocky forever yesterday, without really knowing what to say about it. Some subjects are too important for snark.

Recent polling shows that Colorado voters consider healthcare a top priority, and many are willing to pay higher taxes for a universal system. But voters are confused by the misinformation that's been spread by the free market faithful.

Universal healthcare delivers better outcomes at lower costs. And a voucher system (such as the one you can read about here) preserves many of the benefits associated with competition.

America's healthcare system is costly and ineffective. And the solution is right in front of us.

Tancredo treasurer tied to FAIR

Not too long ago, I mentioned that many Republicans are uncomfortable with Tom Tancredo's relationship with the Federation for American Immigration Reform. But Tancredo has made no move to sever his ties with the group. In fact, today's Rocky reports that Tancredo's campaign treasurer "has served as a deputy director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform."

In other Tancredo news, Dave Barry thinks the CD6 representative is an "ignorant yokel blowhard," a "xenophobic dimwit," and a "clueless tourist dork."

2008 update: Biden, Obama and Feingold out doing stuff

This afternoon I got an email stating that I should be "among the first to know" that Joe Biden is running for President. Which is good, because I've been referring to him as "2008 Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden" for more than a month now.

(More: Huffington, CBS, Fox)

The announcement seems likely to get swamped by Senator Barack Obama's recently announced legislation to pull our troops out of Iraq.

(More: TPM, MyDD)

Meanwhile Senator Russ Feingold, who is not running for President, is moving to cut off funding for the escalation.

(More: Kos, SquareState)

What's Bob Schaffer doing?

He's running! Wait, maybe not.

Ritter directs help to southeast communities

According to a press release from the governor's office, Bill Ritter has directed the Department of Labor Affairs to provide a total of $635,000 to eight communities in the southeast corner of the state:

"Southeast Colorado counties are stretched to the limit," Ritter said. "Many have already far exceeded their snow-removal budgets. I'm committed to helping our communities recover from the ongoing impacts of the winter storms."

The money, creatively enough, is coming from the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program. The press release explains:

The program assists communities affected by the growth and decline of energy and mineral industries in the state. Funds come from the state severance tax on energy and mineral production and from a portion of the state's share of royalties paid to the federal government for mining and drilling on federally owned land. The Legislature created the program in 1977.

Mark Paschall allegedly not a pillar of the community

Bad Republican! (Rocky, Post, Pols)

Bill Ritter recommends funding for UCCS Science and Engineering Building

Ritter goes where Owens feared to tread. A press release states:

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today he is recommending $7 million in capital funding for the new science and engineering complex at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs... "One of the most effective economic-development tools state government can provide is a renewed commitment to higher education," Ritter said. "The UCCS project is a perfect example of how we can make long-term investments that will reap incredible returns in the years to come."

Raf Noboa on Iraq

"I owed - and freely gave - my devotion. But we were due - and never received - clarity of judgment, care for our welfare, and a pledge that Iraq's threat to America was truly the equal of the price that so many have already paid, and now more are called to pay."

More about how cool Ken Salazar is

Ken Salazar is so popular. I think I prefer "Clintazar" over "Hillaken."

As if the convention doesn't make us relevant enough...

...we may move our caucuses up.

Tancredo gets chilly reception in New Hampshire

The Rocky Mountain News (via Coyote Gulch) finds Tom Tancredo getting a cold shoulder in New Hampshire.

The story quotes Tancredo, "Yeah, I'm an underdog, but it's been the case almost every single time I've run.'' Which is totally accurate. Unless you count his races against Toltz in 2000, Wright in 2002, Conti in 2004, and Winter in 2006.

The many, many people who are not Diana DeGette

At some point during Democratic CD1 representative Diana DeGette's media luncheon, I realized that many people are not Diana DeGette. Like me. And you. And all the people discussed below.

The 106th Congress was not Diana DeGette.

DeGette started by running down the early accomplishments of the 110th Congress. In just the first 100 hours, Congress passed bills to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, increase the minimum wage, improve America's energy situation, and more.

Then DeGette talked about global climate change and Iraq War escalation. And she listed the leadership posts she'll hold in the House.

One goal she won't pursue: The impeachment of George Bush. She said it would be a distraction from issues like healthcare and global warming.

The contrast between the Democrats of the year 2007 and their Republican counterparts from eight years ago couldn't have been clearer. Imagine how much better off America would have been if the Republican-controlled 106th Congress had put aside its petty and nasty partisan games and focused on moving America forward.

George Bush is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette is an advocate of increased protection for children on the Internet. She is drafting legislation that would require ISPs to keep records for one year, making it possible for police to trace crimes back to the perpetrators. Privacy advocates worry that the bill could infringe on the rights of Internet users. But DeGette, herself an ACLU member, envisions safeguards to protect the innocent. Law enforcement officials would have demonstrate probable cause and obtain a subpoena before accessing records. And Internet providers would be asked to retain identifying data only, not communications.

The President has his war on terror. DeGette has her war on online predators. But DeGette has the skill and vision to wage her war without trampling the Constitution. Bush does not.

Tom Tancredo is not Diana DeGette.

I often tell the story of the elderly African-America woman who stopped me on a Denver sidewalk to tell me how much she loved Diana DeGette. I was doing a lit drop for Bill Ritter. And I asked the lady if she would be voting for him in November.

"I will if he's in the same party as Diana DeGette," she answered.

I asked DeGette how she'd managed to engender this sort of loyalty while leading a national campaign to legalize federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. She talked about her roots in Denver and her passion for seeing the West prosper.

Like DeGette, Congressman Tom Tancredo is a national player with a signature issue. But Tancredo's issue has consumed him to the point where he has lost touch with his district. DeGette's has not.

Joe Lieberman is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette represents a district that's sure to re-elect her as many times as she cares to run. Yet she still listens to her constituents. And makes time to reach out to party leaders, liberal activists and the media.

Joe Liberman lost the 2006 Democratic primary not just because of his opinion on Iraq or his fondness for Bush. He was shown the door because he looked the party faithful in the eye and told them he did not care about their opinions. He thought he was above the democratic process.

Despite the relative safety of her CD1 seat, DeGette is still taking risks and earning and re-earning her election. I don't know how much longer she'll serve. But it's hard to imagine a better representative for Denver.

More at SquareState, Daily Kos and Colorado Confidential.

Diana DeGette teaser post

I just returned from a media luncheon with Diana DeGette. Also in attendance, johne and TakeBackTheHouse from SquareState (which is inconveniently down right now); the intrepid Erin from Colorado Confidential (shown taking notes in this photo); and writers from various media outlets including NPR, La Voz, Clear Channel, The Denver Business Journal, and The Colorado Statesman. I'm going to do a write-up tonight. Stay tuned.

Tom Tancredo "misstates the facts"

The hysteria is the same, but the fiction is new:

Rep. Steve Cohen said Tancredo's press statement, under a headline that says Cohen was rejected "because of his race," misstates the facts. He never asked to join the caucus and was never rejected, he said.

Edwards, Obama or Clinton: We can't lose

Our three 2008 frontrunners all commit to universal healthcare in this Chicago Tribune article.

Friday morning, according to Thursday night

I doubt I'll be blogging Friday morning, as I'll be preparing for the Diana DeGette media lunch that's been mentioned on Daily Kos and SquareState.

Tom Tancredo rethinks amnesty

Tom Tancredo's Presidential bid requires the support of mainstream Republicans. And mainstream Republicans don't like his hardline stance on illegal immigration. So he's wiggling. From The Austin American-Statesman, via TancredoWatch, via ColoradoPols:

Tancredo has repeatedly opposed a guest-worker program because he said it would reward immigrants who entered the country illegally. But now, "if I see we're truly enforcing the law... I'd be willing to talk about a potential guest worker program."

Cross-posted at SquareState.

Diana DeGette named Vice Chair of Energy and Commerce Committee

A press release begins like so:

Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that she has been asked by Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) to serve as Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. DeGette also announced today that she has been asked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the U.S. House Page Board.

The wheels in my brain spin for several seconds as I consider adding a House page joke. I think better of it. I hit the publish key.

Your 2008 update for January 24, 2007

The media has a big, dumb crush on the Hillary/Obama storyline. Edwards and Biden are reacting to Iraq escalation. And John Kerry's not running in 2008.

Which would be the richer primary? Those that are running - Richardson, Obama, Hillary, Biden and Edwards? Or those that aren't - Kerry, Feingold, Warner and Bayh?

Robert Novak just hates Colorado?

What is it with Novak attacking Colorado congressmen? First it was Tancredo. Now he's after Ed Perlmutter.

Bill Ritter's PUC pick praised

The Denver Post reports:

Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday nominated former consumer counsel Ron Binz to head the Colorado Public Utilities Commission... The appointment was hailed by consumer advocates who had accused Gregory Sopkin, the former chairman of the PUC, of being too close to the businesses he regulated.

But business interests voiced approval of the pick, too:

"I have known Ron Binz for nearly a decade and find him extremely knowledgeable and objective on telecommunications issues," said Chuck Ward, Qwest president for Colorado.

I'm so gullible

The President says he wants to make it easier for Americans to buy health insurance and I'm like, "Hm, sounds good." And then I read Kirsten Hannum's post, which explains that Bush's proposal will essentially force poor, old, sick people to pay more while rich, young, healthy people receive a tax windfall. And I feel dumb for ever believing anything the POTUS says.

Colorado GOP wants to gum up the works somehow

And if they can't do it with abortion, they'll do it with immigration:

Republicans are unwilling to let the illegal immigration issue die this legislative session, even as they admit their proposals are probably headed nowhere.

ColoradoPols has more here.

Colorado Democrats react to SOTU

I am keeping a thread updated with Democratic reaction at SquareState.

Colorado GOP bogging things down as much as possible

There's a new wrinkle to the Republicans' Whine and Vote No strategy. Gumming up the works with bills that have no chance of becoming law. From today's Rocky Mountain News:

Two Republican lawmakers announced Monday that they will sponsor legislation to ban abortion in Colorado, except in cases where the life of the mother is in question.

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, and Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, said their bill will be similar to the abortion ban passed by the South Dakota Legislature in 2005. A key difference is that Democrats control the legislature in Colorado, and for that reason the bill is not expected to pass.

Even if the bill miraculously escaped the legislature, it would likely be vetoed. During the 2006 Colorado gubernatorial campaign, Governor Bill Ritter, who is pro-life, said he would not have signed the South Dakota bill into law. The Ritter campaign website states:

I strongly oppose any effort that would seek to criminalize women or their doctors over this issue. I would strongly oppose legislation similar to the one recently passed by the South Dakota legislature.

So what we have here is two Republicans playing partisan games on taxpayer time. What a shock.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

2008 presidential campaigns take to the web: Part 2

The righties at Patrick Ruffini think John Edwards has the best campaign website. They don't know how right they are. Edwards' site is more than just a pretty package. It offers tons of content and tools users can employ to set up their own communities and action plans.

Consider the websites of the 2006 Colorado governor's race. Bob Beauprez's website and blog were gorgeous. But Bill Ritter's ruled when it came to content - breaking news, dozens of white papers, on-the-scene updates, PDFs, YouTube links, and a blog that allowed comments. At the end of the day, voters chose content over packaging, substance over style.

Are you ready for the convention?

It's going to be a riot.

2008 presidential campaigns take to the web: Part 1

Romney, Clinton & Co. are learning.

Monday is the new Sunday

I'm offline today. Stay warm out there.

Bill Richardson is in

Despite my stated support for John Edwards, at least one poll found my politics align closely with Richardson's. So I look forward to seeing him on the campaign trail.

Ritter appoints Russell George to head CDOT

I learned last night from Colorado Confidential that Governor Bill Ritter has appointed Russell George to head CDOT. It wasn't the news I was hoping for.

1. George headed the Department of Natural Resources for Bill Owens. Last November, the voters of Colorado demanded change, not a rehash of the Owens administration.

2. George has a reputation for compromise. But his compromises seem to end up with the oil and gas industry getting what it wants. For instance, oil and gas interests wanted to drill the Roan Plateau. Environmentalists wanted to stop them. A drilling plan was given the go-ahead last September. George shrugged and said, "We got it as good as we could."

3. George didn't want the job. (CoCo's article quotes Bill Ritter, "I wouldn't take 'no' as an answer... I kept reminding Russell he is a public servant and Colorado needed him in this position.") The appointment was necessary to pacify complaints from the Western Slope.

So to quiet a few angry voices, Ritter made an uninspiring appointment of someone with uncertain commitment to the job at hand.

I didn't post the news until this morning because I wanted to see if the Post's story on the appointment told me anything that changed my opinion.

George does have an impressive resume. And the move illustrates Ritter's determination to govern from the middle. So I'm crossing my fingers and waiting for further evidence. Colorado badly needs an innovative, comprehensive 21st Century transportation system based on clean burning technology. I can only hope that George is the best person to get us there.

The Rocky adores Tom Tancredo

Explain how a dispute between Senator Ken Salazar and Congressman Tom Tancredo justifies the Rocky headline, "Colorado senators clash over Spanish speech." Um, did we elect a Senator Tancredo at some point?

I'm sure the Rocky will fix the headline shortly. At least, I sincerely hope they will.

Salazar delivered a speech in English and Spanish. Tancredo got whiny. That's the extent of the argument. And it exposes three critical facts:

1. Salazar has more courage than I sometimes give him credit for.

2. Tancredo's problem is not with illegal immigration. It's with what he sees as the dillution of a white, Judeo-Christian heritage. As Luis wrote at Square State, "Ah, but Tancredo is only opposed to the 'illegal' aspect of immigration -- it has nothing to do with having a problem with Latino culture. Riiiiiiiight."

3. The Denver papers love Tom Tancredo. Truly, madly, deeply. And nauseatingly.

There's more at Daily Kos.

Global warming real. And worse than you feared.

On February 2, a team of 450 lead authors, 800 contributing authors, and 2,500 peer reviewers will unveil the first volume of a four-volume study of climate change. The results aren't pretty. Global warming is real, it's mankind's fault, and the results may destroy much of the planet. The Rocky Mountain News reports:

All 23 models agree that the planet will continue to warm as levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping "greenhouse" gases rise in the coming decades... [E]xtreme weather - heat waves, droughts and heavy rains, for example - will likely become more frequent and more intense in coming decades. Dry spells could lengthen significantly across the western United States, southern Europe and other areas... [E]ven if greenhouse gas levels could be magically stabilized today, sea levels would rise 10 to 20 inches per century for the next 400 years or more, imperiling coastal regions.

The Colorado and national Democrats are fighting for legislation that will reduce pollutants and reconfigure our economy around clean energy. This might be the most important political battle in America today.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

Bob Beauprez calls for the execution of Barack Obama

And your execution, too. If you oppose the Iraq War. From Colorado Media Matters:

On Newsradio 850 KOA's The Mike Rosen Show, guest host Bob Beauprez -- a former Colorado Republican congressman and gubernatorial candidate -- responded to a caller who suggested that people opposed to the war in Iraq are "traitors" and "ought to be shot" by stating that doing so would constitute "good old Western justice."

Some days, I can't believe how easily we beat Bob Beauprez in 2006. Other days, I'm suprised anyone voted for him at all.

Hillary Clinton: "I'm in"

It's official. Hillary Clinton is running for President. The reason I'm not blogging her video, as I did with Obama's and Edwards', is that it's not on YouTube.

Hat-tip to rnoboa.

Time hails "the exuberant and slightly eccentric Democrats of Colorado"

Time gets it. The Democratic domination of the Mountain West doesn't stem from conservative nominees. It's about pragmatism, the issues, and a lack of the sort of political grandstanding the Colorado Republicans tried to pull yesterday.

Hat-tip to CoCo for the Time link.

What's the most vulnerable Senate seat in the country?

The open seat in Colorado. That's nothing Coloradolib readers didn't already know. But for posterity, from The Washington Post:

Allard's announcement jumps this race up to the top of Democrats' opportunity list. Despite the chatter about a candidacy by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Rep. Mark Udall should have the Democratic field to himself. For Republicans, former Rep. Scott McInnis is in the race, and his former House colleague, Bob Schaffer, is actively considering it. If those two men comprise the top tier of GOP primary candidates, expect a nasty fight between fiscal conservatives (McInnis) and social conservatives (Schaffer) within the Colorado Republican Party.

DeGette, Dems pass CLEAN Energy Act of 2007

Like their colleagues in the Colorado legislature, national Democrats are making renewable energy an early priority. Today's press release from Congresswoman Diana DeGette states:

"Today Congress took the first real step towards giving our nation a 21st Century energy policy," said DeGette. "For too long, the only type of energy plan Republicans advanced involved drilling in the Arctic or giving more handouts to Big Oil. This bill starts to correct those shortsighted policies by repealing taxpayer funded giveaways to oil companies and redirecting that money towards clean renewable energy."

The bill, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 6), takes important steps towards a smarter energy future by:

1. Repealing $14 billion in subsidies given to the largest oil companies and investing those funds in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

2. Ensuring oil companies that were awarded the 1998 and 1999 leases for drilling pay their fair share in royalties.

3. Closing loopholes and ending giveaways for Big Oil in the tax code and in the 2005 Energy bill.

4. Creating a Strategic Renewable Energy Reserve to invest in clean, renewable energy resources and alternative fuels, promote new energy technologies, develop greater efficiency and improve energy conservation.

Minor changes at Coloradolib

Most of the posts at Coloradolib are what I call "link plus snark." But I make occasional attempts at analysis and reportage. Starting now, these posts will be labeled "punditry" and "frontlines," respectively. I added the appropriate links to my sidebar. While I was at it, I added Haley's Comment, Ave Cassandra, Denver Ozone and Coyote Gulch to my blogroll. And changed my archiving system from weekly to monthly.

Tom Tancredo and the definition of conservatism

The American voter imagines that there are only two political philosophies. Pete Stark sits somewhere on the left and Jean Schmidt sits somewhere on the right and the rest of us fit somewhere on a continuum between them.

The truth is much messier. And nowhere is that more obvious than in the case of CD6 representative and 2008 presidential contender Tom Tancredo.

Tancredo is trying to position himself as a conservative. In The Denver Post, he was quoted as saying, "It appears to me that there is a void, which I think I can fill, (being) a true conservative with a conservative history."

But Tancredo's biggest fans are not the free-traders and religious fundamentalists that the average voter thinks of as conservative. Read what three prominent conservatives have written about him:

1. RedState questioned Tancredo's conservatism: A person with even modest social conservative convictions would simply not be funded by an organization whose activities are as repugnant as FAIR's."

2. Captain's Quarters derided Tancredo's aspirations: "Front runners in presidential politics usually get there by having a broad policy outlook and developing the kind of experience that lends credibility to their executive potential. Single-issue legislators rarely fare well when throwing their hats in the ring -- Bob Dornan springs to mind here -- and usually wind up as a laughingstock, and their issue marginalized. Tancredo's exploratory committee might want to take all of this into consideration before wasting political donations better used to help the eventual Republican nominee win the general election."

3. Robert Novak blamed Tancredo for Republican failures: "Although no more than 25 House Republicans follow Tancredo's rigid line, that is enough to obstruct a coherent Republican posture... In trouble on Iraq and federal spending, Republicans are being lured into a nativist posture that is political fool's gold."

The most passionate Tancredo backers are not Republicans the way that, say, George Will is a Republican. They're paleoconservatives, a school of the conservative movement that emphasizes family, cultural identity and a strong military. Things get blurry after this. Because it's easy for troubled souls to confuse "family, identity and strength" with "eugenics, race and violence." And that's how you get conflicts like the one RedState was writing about.

Over the last few days, Tancredo hasn't proved himself capable of winning over mainstream Republicans. He's hired a key Pat Buchanan supporter to run his campaign in New Hampshire. And despite his instance that he's popular in Iowa, the latest polls show him getting only 2% of the likely Republican primary vote. This might feel familiar to Tancredo. His 1998 election was the result of a five-way primary that he won with only 25.7% of the vote.

Maybe Tancredo's base isn't the GOP at all.

Over the past year, I've become convinced that a healthy percentage of the CD6 representative's support lies outside his party. I've personally heard anti-globalist Democrats sing his praises. Online, I've seen self-identified liberals post pro-Tancredo statements. It makes sense, in a way. After all, it's not just Republicans who feel uncertain about the future, insecure in their jobs, and scared of an increasingly multicultural country.

Let me put it another way. In the days before the 2006 election, Republican nominee Doug Lamborn in CD5 was pulling only 2% among Democrats. I will eat my computer if the same was true for Tancredo in CD6.

New Energy Economy hits the state legislature

This is why we block-walked, phone-banked and donated our hard-earned money. From The Rocky Mountain News:

Lawmakers highlighted more than a dozen alternative-power bills designed to build a new transmission system to channel solar and wind energy from rural areas to urban consumers, require utilities to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, and plant wind-powered generators at schools to help cut electricity costs while teaching students the science of alternative energy.

UPDATE: And not a moment too soon.

Allard, Salazar, DeGette, Udall, other Salazar, Musgrave, Lamborn, Perlmutter seek blizzard relief for farmers

Meanwhile, Tom Tancredo is busy proving he's a maverick. The Rocky explains.

As if you didn't know already...

...Udall's so totally running. And Elway's not.

Bill Ritter tackles the state budget

Bill Owens left behind a plan that calls for 1,000 new state employees, and grows the budget by far more than state law allows.

A former prosecutor, Governor Bill Ritter believes that he can save some money by reducing corrections costs. From The Denver Post:

Ritter said reducing fast-growing prison costs would give the state more money for other programs such as higher education and human services, which are vulnerable to budget cuts... Ritter also promised close scrutiny of the budget proposal he inherited from Republican Gov. Bill Owens and state agency heads... Ritter said he has already warned his department heads not to expect too much. "Our communication with our directors is that there is not new money," Ritter said.

The good, the bad and the funny

Coyote Gulch's 2006 in Water is amazing and exhaustive. Scott McInnis' failure to live up to his charitable intentions is wrong and I'm glad PNA is calling him on it. But for sheer jaw-dropping weirdness, you can't beat this golden oldie on the right-of-right WorldNetDaily, which I stumbled across while searching for conservative reaction to Tancredo's candidacy. In it, the author opines that Tancredo is the best choice for President, if Mel Gibson doesn't run.

Conservatives reject Tom Tancredo candidacy

When Bill Winter and Rolling Stone question Tom Tancredo's ties to racist groups, it's easily dismissed as liberal finger-pointing. But when conservative outlets like RedState and The American Spectator do it...

Right launches string of attacks on Bill Ritter

I guess the whole bipartisan fad is over. The Bill Ritter bashers are out in full force. And they're not going to let the facts stop them from tearing in to Colorado's new chief executive.

Let's start with state-level malcontent David Schultheis, whose bigoted tirades are the stuff of legend. Schultheis has decided that Ritter, who came into office with a strong record on illegal immigration, is somehow at fault for, well, everything. From The Rocky Mountain News:

In an opinion piece he sent to the media, the Colorado Springs Republican blasted Ritter for making only a brief five-word comment about illegal immigration in his 42-minute State of the State speech last week before the Colorado General Assembly. "Gov. Ritter failed to mention the growing interconnection between most of Colorado's problems and the growing invasion of illegal residents in Colorado, primarily from the country to our south," he said.

Somehow Shultheis failed to mention the GOP's inaction on illegal immigration, the Democratic legislature's comprehensive immigration reform package of 2006, or the fact that it costs the taxpayers more money to deny services to illegal immigrants than we save.

Next up, Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi, whose column yesterday practically accused Ritter of bankrupting Colorado just six days into his term.

Finally, there's Archbishop Charles Chaput. Today's Denver Post reports that the Archbishop called Ritter's "pledge to lift eligibility restrictions on state-funded pregnancy prevention and family-planning programs 'seriously flawed public policy.'" Don't get confused. Ritter has always been opposed to public funding of abortions. But his policy centers on reducing unintended pregnancies. And helping healthcare practitioners who aid people with family planning is consistent with his promises to the voters of this state.

In the last couple of days, I've also rebutted unfounded attacks on Ritter's inaugural and appointments.

Politics ain't beanbag. I don't really expect Harsanyi & Co. to give Ritter a honeymooon. But Schultheis and the rest of the GOP hardliners on Capitol Hill owe it to the voters to give our duly-elected Governor a chance.

Obama and Tancredo in

The Chicago Tribune reports that Barack Obama is about to hop in the Presidential hunt. (You can read my worries about his candidacy here.)

Meanwhile The Denver Post reports CD6 embarrassment Tom Tancredo "will form an exploratory committee this week for a possible presidential campaign but does not plan to give up his House seat." (You can read my worries about his candidacy on practically every page of this blog. Starting here.)

Morgan Carroll liveblogging on 527 reform from 7:30 to 8

Hereabouts.

Who's gonna lose to Mark Udall?

Take my poll at SquareState.

Ritter pledges to pay special attention to Western Slope

Western Slopers are still demanding appeasement for Bill Ritter's Front Range-centric cabinet appointments. (See Colorado Confidential and The Grand Junction Sentinel.) Nevermind that Ritter got to make "so few" appointments, according to Republican Rick Enstrom. And nevermind that a majority of applications came from in and around the metro area. And nevermind that the new cabinet has won bipartisan accolades.

Ritter has pledged to pay special attention to the concerns of the Western Slope. From the Sentinel:

Ritter, who said he was surprised at the lack of Western Slope candidates who made it through the candidate selection process, said he plans to work with his Cabinet to ensure the western half of the state does not fall off the map. "In the meantime, I will pay attention personally to the issues (the Western Slope) cares the most about..."

Since I crunched these numbers, I'm going to share them. Colorado is home to 4,301,261. A slight majority - 2,224,804 - live in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver and Jefferson Counties. Include Colorado's biggest Front Range counties - El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo and Weld - and you add another 1,090,831. Meaning 77% of the state lives in a handful of Front Range counties. Meanwhile, all of Colorado's western-most counties - Delta, Delores, Garfield, Jackson, La Plata, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Rio Blanco, San Juan and San Miguel - combined have 368,086 residents, or 9% of our state's population.

Whine and Vote No continues in Washington DC

Colorado Confidential has a Whine and Vote No update. Let's just say that Colorado's Republican congresspeople aren't crossing the GOP line much.

Allard out!

My question mark has been upgraded to a exclamation point.

Allard's out?

That's the rumor.

Edwards to deliver anti-war speech in Clinton's backyard

Today John Edwards will come out against funding the escalation in a speech at a historic Harlem church.

The award for Saturday's most misleading post, part two

Apparently attempting to outdo itself, the conservative blog The Outlander lied twice in one day:

Bill "Slick Willie" Ritter undertook what he promoted as a whistle-stop tour of the state today. How much did that cost the Colorado tayxpayer? The objective news media did not ask, and they probably will not do so. But had this been a Republican they would have demanded the original receipts for all expenses incurred.

In 10 seconds of Googling, I found stories in the Rocky and 9news.com reporting that the total cost of inauguration activities - including the whistle-stop train tour - will be $750,000, financed primarily by ticketholders and corporate sponsors, not taxpayers.

The award for Saturday's most misleading post

The conservative blog The Outlander wins this one far and away with this unsourced piece of foolishness:

Molly Hughes, blinded by her sycophantic love and adoration for Bill "Slick Willie" Ritter, let it slip that the security for the forthcoming DNC in Denver will cost at least 35 million dollars. This is in addition to the upfront payola to the Democratic Party of at least fifty million dollars.

Which means, even before anything is done the taxpayer is expected to pay almost one hundred million dollars for this nonsense. Yet the Democrats complain endlessly about how much the war in Iraq costs. Furthermore, there is no way the City and County of Denver can break even on this waste of money and resources.

I would've liked to respond to this on The Outlander, but comments there are closed to people without blogstream IDs. I hate linking to posts this flawed, because I don't want to give them any blogxygen. But I have no choice. Because I really want to point out just how silly the right's arguments have gotten:

1. Colorado is spending $85 million - not "almost one hundred million" - to get an event that will inject $150 million to $200 million into the Colorado economy. This is what's known as an investment. The tourism industry is ecstatic. In the unlikely event the convention loses the city money, it will still promote the city to conventioneers across America.

2. The taxpayers did not pony up all the money spent to win the convention. See The Rocky Mountain News:

In late September, the Denver host committee submitted a detailed final bid document. Denver's ability to raise the $80 million needed to put on the convention was the big question mark. Just a few weeks later, though, Qwest announced it would commit more than $5 million to support the convention... Fundraising quickly picked up, with Xcel Energy, Molson Coors and other companies making commitments.

3. The $85 million it cost us to land the convention is nothing like the $9 billion a month we're spending in Iraq. It's not even remotely close. At all. Even a little.

I expect spinning and partisanship in the blogosphere. Heck, I participate in it. But Colorado's rightwing blogs - with a few notable exceptions - cross the line into deceit with disturbing regularity.

Tancredo's bid hinges on Allard's?

The Tancredo campaign announcement I wrote about last night has been downgraded from imminent to contingent. As in, Tancredo is running for President if he can't run for Senate. From the Post:

In addition to evaluating Iowa, Tancredo is also waiting to see whether Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., decides to run for re-election in 2008, [Tancredo spokesperson Carlos Espinosa said. Tancredo has said he's interested in that statewide office.

The problem is that no one seems to know what Allard's thinking. Different story, same paper:

Sen. Wayne Allard has made up his mind about whether he will seek a third term in 2008, but he's keeping his decision secret a bit longer. Only Allard and his wife know his plans, press secretary Steve Wymer said Friday, confirming a report posted Thursday on Congressional Quarterly's website, CQPolitics.com. Allard has not said when he will announce his choice.

Tancredo and Allard are both extremely beatable opponents for probable Democratic nominee Mark Udall. But they have different weaknesses. Allard is so boring he's known in DC as Senator Dullard. Tancredo has the opposite problem; he's so not-boring he'll probably shoot himself in the foot at some point.

Tancredo can count on one thing. The fawning support of the mainstream media, which in Colorado includes the major dailies. Today's Colorado Media Matters reports that the Post is already giving Tancredo the benefit of their bias:

In a January 12 online article about U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo's (R-CO) interest in a possible presidential run, The Denver Post uncritically reported Tancredo spokesman Carlos Espinosa's claim that U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "is not a very popular guy in Iowa." In fact, according to a December poll commissioned by Des Moines, Iowa, CBS television affiliate KCCI, Iowa voters rank McCain the most popular potential Republican presidential candidate among 11 contenders.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

Tancredo running for President?

The blogosphere - from SquareState to RedState - is buzzing about this unsubstantiated tidbit from The Des Moines Register:

Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo is on his way to Iowa to announce his candidacy for president. Tancredo, a U.S. House member, plans to be in Iowa Friday through Monday, with public book signings in Council Bluffs Saturday and West Des Moines Saturday.

Now at the risk of being unpopular, this blogger places the blame for all of this squarely on you, the voters.

Three ways to get into the 2008 Democratic convention

You can be a delegate. Or you can volunteer. Or you can be one of these folks.

DeGette-Castle bill met with rightwing deception

Yesterday, the House passed CD1 representative Diana DeGette's Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. And the far right responded with lies. KOA's Gunny Bob even told listeners stem cells from amniotic fluid are the "[s]ame type of stem cells that you get out of an embryo." Wrong.

I've called George Bush the "Wishing Makes It So" President. And some days it appears much of the GOP has joined him. On Iraq. On global warming. On healthcare. They see the same facts as everybody else. They just don't care. To them, dogma trumps truth.

House passes DeGette-Castle Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

The vote was 253 to 174.

Bill Ritter delivers first State of the State

Unbelievably, I've received more excited emails about Bill Ritter's first State of the State speech than about the Democratic Convention. Seeing as Ritter was sworn in just two days ago, he used today's speech to outline his hopes and goals for the coming years. And he spoke about renewable energy, education and healthcare. Read the complete text.

Diana DeGette speaks out on war escalation, terrorism

A press release from the congresswoman leaves no doubt where she stands on the President's plan:

"...President Bush is sending us in the wrong direction on Iraq. Instead of announcing a specific plan on how we are going to get out of the Iraq quagmire, he is escalating troop levels and deepening our commitment. A majority of the American people and military experts alike do not agree with this military escalation. Unfortunately, as we have seen time and time again, President Bush refuses to listen to anyone who disagrees with his position. I will not support any escalation of troops in Iraq. My colleagues in Congress and I intend to ask hard questions and exercise increased oversight of the President's Iraq policy.

DeGette favors protecting America by actually protecting America. She supports implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. A press release from Tuesday states, in part:

[DeGette] has conducted strategy sessions with first responders in Colorado and participated in field hearings on port security through her position on the Energy and Commerce Committee. "The Republican Administration chose to largely ignore the 9/11 Commission recommendations and because of their inaction our nation is still not as safe as it should and must be," said Rep. DeGette. "Democrats are moving to fix that failure."

One election season ends. And the next one begins.

Pam Bennett - a veteran and longtime Democratic volunteer - announced she's running for one of the two open at-large seats on the Aurora City Council. A press release I got today states:

After serving in the U.S. Air Force and working for 20 years as a technician and engineer in the aerospace, electronics and oil and gas industries, Bennett has focused on serving her community. Currently an Aurora Commissioner where she serves on the City's Veterans Affairs and Cultural Affairs Commissions, Bennett has served as a precinct person in Arapahoe and Jefferson County, as a Legislative Volunteer for State Representative Morgan Carroll and is active with a variety of non-profits in the community.

The local Aurora paper has a story online.

Dem convention comes to Denver

Haley and Hotline say it's a done deal.

UPDATE: State party first vice-chair Dan Slater has some good information on the decision at DemNotes.

Opening day in multimedia

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff gave a speech that was well received by members of both parties. (A welcome change from Joe Stengel's needlessly partisan opening to the 2006 session.) I heard Romanoff handed out copies of the controversial education report I wrote about on SquareState.

My mom attended, sent me some camera phone photos and kept me updated with text messages such as, "Romanoff... not l or r but forward."

Ah, texting. "4score & 7 yrs ago..."

Colorado Confidential has a report. As do the major dailies. And Wash Park Prophet. If you want to listen in yourself, a podcast of Senate president Joan Fitz-Gerald's opening day speech is on clickcaster.

Steve Ludwig, Jessica Simpson and the Iraq War

As I write, newly-elected CU regent Steve Ludwig is narrowly leading Jessica Simpson in a SquareState poll to determine the person most likely to get the U.S. out of Iraq. The office of CU regent comes with lofty expectations, Steve...

DeGette gains support of freshmen legislators, scientists

A press release from Colorado CD1 representative Diana DeGette states that today "Democratic Members of the 110th Congress' Freshmen class will join the lead sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R.3), Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) to discuss their support for the bill. Many of these new Members campaigned on expanding stem cell research and have signed on as original cosponsors to the bill."

President George W. Bush used the only veto of his administration to dismiss DeGette's first attempt at the legislation.

Recently, some have tried to portray the work of Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University as a way to render embryonic stem cell research unnecessary. From CNN:

Stem cell researchers reacted with enthusiasm and reservations to a report that scientists have found stem cells in amniotic fluid, a discovery that would allow them to sidestep the controversy over destroying embryos for research. Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported Sunday that the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells.

But yesterday Atala blasted that assertion in a letter, which was provided to me by DeGette's office. Atala wrote:

"I understand that some may be interpreting my research as a substitute for the need to pursue other forms of regenerative medicine therapies, such as those involving embryonic stem cells. I disagree with that assertion... It is essential that National Institute of Health-funded researchers are able to fully pursue embryonic stem cell research as a complement to research into other forms of stem cells.

The right has a long history of twisting science to meet its own ends. (Remember The Competitive Enterprise Institute?) It appears that neither DeGette or the newly elected Congress is going to let partisan politics stand in the way of research that may save millions of lives.

What are you doing for the next 100 hours?

The 100 Hours Agenda I mentioned here is online here.

"It's about Colorado leading the way, leading the nation."

Me and about 3,000 of my closest friends watched Bill Ritter take the oath of office shortly before noon. His speech opened with praise for everyone from Bill Owens and Robert F. Kennedy to Ritter's extensive family. And he repeated the themes that carried him to victory in November - renewable energy, education and healthcare reform.

I stood in a receiving line for nearly an hour to congratulate Ritter, along with Barbara O'Brien, John Suthers and Cary Kennedy. It's a little strange getting a 20 second audience with the Governor. I said, "Congratulations, good luck and nice weather we're having," or something similarly inane. Ritter smiled back like I was making sense.

It was even odder shaking hands with Suthers. The attorney general has a disturbing affinity for the Trailhead Group, but has recently attempted to create bipartisan legislation.

There's more coverage of the day here, here, here and here. This diary was cross-posted at SquareState.

Coloradolib is not financed by Pat Waak

The Colorado GOP has brought in a new chairman with a history of paying political operatives to pose as independent bloggers. I thought I'd take the opportunity to point out that I'm not on the payroll of any VLWC.

Lamborn "borrows" state senate computer

Doug Lamborn owes the Colorado taxpayers one computer, two parking garage clickers, and the keys to his Senate office. I posted a diary about it at SquareState.

Dick Wadhams. Boo.

From the reports, you'd think Jason Voorhees was going to take over the Colorado GOP. Wadhams is obviously a smart political operative. But he couldn't save George Allen from his racist self. And he can't save a state party that considers Bill Owens moderate. When the GOP gets in line with the voters, it'll win back some seats. Until then, Democrat - all the way down the ticket.

Another round of appointments from Bill Ritter

Roxanne Huber will lead the Department of Revenue, Susan Kirkpatrick will head the Department of Local Affairs, and Stewart Bliss will be the interim head of the Economic Development Office.

DeGette vs. Bush, round two

A press release from Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office states:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 10 a.m., Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Mike Castle (R-DE), along with Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) will hold a press conference on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R.3 and S.5), legislation to expand the current federal funding policy for stem cell research. Both bills are identical to the bill that both houses of Congress passed last year, with strong, bipartisan majorities. Regrettably, President Bush chose to exercise the first - and, so far, the only - veto of his administration to reject the bill.

The governor's mansion is a lousy place to make friends

John F. Kennedy once said that the White House is a lousy place to make friends. And the same goes for the Colorado Governor's mansion. So it should come as no surprise that Governor-elect Bill Ritter's appointments have included early supporters and experienced legislators.

Still, some on the Western Slope are complaining that, despite the presence of Prowers County Commissioner John Stulp and Manitou Springs Mayor Marcy Morrison, Denver is over-represented in the Ritter administration. The Rocky quotes Republican Senator-elect Josh Penry:

"The final verdict is still out, but at this point it looks more like the Cabinet of the governor of Denver than the governor of Colorado."

Did Penry read my post "Bill Ritter not just the governor of Denver"?

Colorado Confidential reports that some wanted Ritter to re-appoint Bill Owens' Department of Natural Resources director Russell George instead of nominating Harris Sherman. But Ritter can hardly be faulted for wanting fresh ideas for a department with a lackluster record. Colorado Confidential's story quotes Duke Cox, chairman of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance:

"There needs to be some changes made in DNR - especially concerning the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission - and one couldn't expect Russell George to fire some people that he had worked with these past years."

It looks like what we're seeing is less an honest dispute and more a preview of the GOP's strategy for the coming years. Let's call it, "Whine and Vote No."

Owens, Rowland get jobs they shouldn't have

Yesterday, I mentioned Bill Owens' support for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's 2008 bid for the Presidency. The Denver Post reports Owens has gone a step further and joined Romney's team as a senior advisor.

It seems like an odd fit. Romney has tried to position himself as a conservative alternative to John McCain. Owens has been ostracized by the GOP base for his support of Referendum C in 2005. Plus, in 2006 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter often used Romney's healthcare plan as evidence that states could guarantee healthcare to all citizens. Owens' hand-picked successor, Bob Beauprez, didn't jump on the Romney bandwagon until much later.

I saw on SquareState that "Grand Junction NBC affiliate KKCO has hired GOP Lt. Gov. Candidate Janet Rowland to cover the state legislature"

This hire makes even less sense. Rowland said some things in 2006 that would convince any rational observer that live TV might not be a good idea for her. And her longtime involvement in partisan politics creates a major conflict of interest for KKCO.

Bill Ritter nominates Jim Martin to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

A press release states, "Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today nominated Jim Martin, one of Colorado's pre-eminent environmental leaders, to serve as executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment."

Martin comes to the Colorado government from Western Resource Advocates.

Brownback to filibuster DeGette, Owens backs Romney, Allard loves Reagan

According to Colorado Confidential:

Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is planning to lead a "mini-filibuster" of Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette's reintroduction of a bill to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

It's likely that Brownback, who has Presidential aspirations, is staging the maneuver to re-establish his bona fides with the GOP's far right wing.

As long as I'm discussing the GOP's 2008 contenders, I may as well admit that I was listening to the Hugh Hewitt Show last night when Governor Bill Owens came perilously close to endorsing Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's run for the Presidency. He then backtracked a bit, saying something very close to, "I'm not against McCain, but I'm for Romney."

Colorado's Senator Wayne Allard plans to introduce a super-important bill to honor a past Republican President, Ronald Reagan. Allard's bill would give Reagan's likeness a place of honor inside the Capitol, next to former President George Washington. The Rocky reports, "Similar legislation didn't move when Allard first introduced it last year, back when Congress was under Republican control."

I think it's safe to say there isn't a bill I could care less about.

Ritter nominates three more to cabinet

Yesterday, Bill Ritter nominated former Denver Fire Chief Rich Gonzales to lead Personnel and Administration, natural resources expert Harris Sherman to head the Department of Natural Resources, and healthcare professional Joan Henneberry to oversee Health Care Policy and Financing.

Henneberry's online bio caught my eye. She "spent three years as director of the Health Policy Studies Division, Center for Best Practices at the National Governors Association." If I had a buck for every time I heard Ritter say he'd look at best practices from states around the country for solutions to Colorado's energy, safety and healthcare woes, I'd have at least a few dollars more than I have now.

Ritter's release goes on to state:

"Joan will play a key role in fulfilling a major component of the Colorado Promise: providing all Coloradans with access to some basic form of health-care coverage by 2010," Ritter said, noting that 788,000 Coloradans currently lack health insurance.

Ken Salazar presides over the Senate

Democratic Colorado Senator Ken Salazar presided over the opening of the 110th Congress at the Senate today. Democratic goals for the first 100 hours include impeachi... Just kidding. According to The Washington Post:

Democrats have given themselves a mere 100 hours to break the bonds between lobbyist and lawmaker, boost homeland security, raise the minimum wage, fund stem cell research, lower prescription drug prices, slash student loan interest rates and free the country from its dependence on international oil.

Second Ritter inaugural dinner added

A press release reads, in part:

Due to overwhelming popular demand, the Ritter-O'Brien Inaugural Celebration has added a second reception and dinner venue to the Jan. 12 festivities. About 700 tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via the inaugural website, www.coloradopromise.org. The additional dinner will be held at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel, directly across the street from the Colorado Convention Center, where the initial 2,000-seat dinner is being served. Tickets to that venue sold out in less than 24 hours."

The Ritter-O'Brien Inaugural Committee also announced the official menu for the dinner. Diners will savor Aspen Salad, Beef Wellington and the taste of victory.

Post, Sentinel pick up Salazar for VP rumors

Read 'em here and here. My original post is here.

The Coloradolib screenplay generator

Want to write a screenplay, but don't know where to start? Coloradolib makes it easy.

Step 1, pick a bogeyman:

1. Bob Beauprez, radio talk show host.

2. Exxon Mobil, master of the cover-up.

3. Mike Coffman, man of many secrets.

Step 2, pick a hero:

1. Andrew Romanoff, mild-mannered leader.

2. Three U.S. Senators who aren't afraid to keep digging.

3. A heroic but vaguely dweeby liberal blogger.

Step 3, pick a conflict:

1. The DNC is perilously trapped between the Convention Center and the Pepsi Center!

2. The JeffCo party is torn between Herb Rubenstein and Vince Todd!

3. A mystery virus begins to turn crucial parts of America a deep shade of red!

Somebody call Hollywood. I smell box office gold.

Bill Ritter taps Beye, Weir

More employment news. I got a press release in my inbox from the Bill Ritter folks that reads, in part:

"Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today named Broomfield Health and Human Services Director Karen Legault Beye and 1st Judicial District Judge Peter Weir to Cabinet posts. Beye will serve as executive director of the Department of Human Services and Weir as executive director of the Department of Public Safety. Both nominations require Senate confirmation.

I'm not going to post the full press release. But if you're interested, I saw ColoradoPols did.

Ideology hampers the Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform

Ave Cassandra's post on healthcare, ideology and Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform deserves your time.

Legislative session linkmania

The Ritter inauguration and the start of the national and Colorado 2007 legislative sessions are almost here. And with the Democrats in control, the right is already spreading misinformation about impending doom and annoying liberals. But the Democrats aren't likely to run afoul of any astute observers. They're mostly planning to "play fair" and stick to the popular agenda that won over voters in November.

Today's Rocky Mountain News has more on the goals of individual members Colorado's delegation, including Diana DeGette's resumed advocacy for stem cell research:

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, will be thrust back into a national spotlight as she tries to build a veto-proof majority for her legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. In 2006, she won majority passage but didn't have enough votes to reverse the president's first-ever veto.

Hat-tip to TalkLeft for the "annoying liberals" link. And, as always, much thanks to the Progress Now Action daily news digest.

The first fake blog of 2007?

Run Wayne Run? It's a joke, right? Like the hilarious Students for Beauprez hoax? ColoradoPols thinks Scott McInnis is already campaigning for Allard's soon-to-be open seat:

Former Rep. Scott McInnis has apparently decided that he will be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008 provided that Sen. Wayne Allard retires. McInnis is holding off on any announcement until official word comes from Allard, who is not expected to run for re-election.

The hat-tip for the link to the Allard site goes to ToTheRight, as much as I hate to admit it.

More Ritter administration news

The appointments and nominations are coming fast and furious in advance of the inaugural. Today Bill Ritter nominated Colorado Board of Education member Rico Munn executive director of the Department of Regulatory Affairs. The press release clarifies, "Munn's nomination requires state Senate confirmation. He plans to resign his seat on the Board of Education at the panel's next meeting."

Illegal immigration laws costly to enforce

I missed this story from December 30 of last year. Illegal immigration laws are costing taxpayers more than they're saving. The Rocky Mountain News reports:

The state will find it extremely difficult to recover the millions it spends to enforce illegal-immigration laws without congressional action...

And now the GOP is agreeing with Governor-elect Bill Ritter's long-time assertion that illegal immigration is predominantly a federal problem. The Rocky quotes Republican attorney general John Suthers:

"The best solution to the problem caused by illegal immigration is for the federal government to enforce existing immigration laws, pass stronger immigration laws and to reduce the number of illegal immigrants allowed to enter and stay in the United States," Suthers said in the report.

More people get gainful employment in the Ritter administration

From a New Years Day press release from the Ritter transition team:

Gov.-elect Bill Ritter today named one of Colorado's most respected law-enforcement leaders - Ari Zavaras - to serve as executive director of the Department of Corrections.

Ritter also named state Rep. Tom Plant as director of the Office of Energy Management and Conservation. Plant, who sponsored legislation that later became the state's landmark renewable energy measure, Amendment 37, will play a leading role in the creation of Gov.-elect Ritter's New Energy Economy.

Plant was also the House sponsor of a domestic partnership bill and was rumored to have been interested in Joan Fitz-Gerald's Senate seat.

Happy New Year

Here's to 2007.