blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2013/06/20/officials-...97349
https://chumly.com/n/1d58de8
Friday, June 21, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Colorado Voters Souring on Dems
www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jun/16/poll-colo...crats
Colorado Democrats achieved one-party dominance in November, but now voters appear to be having a case of buyers’ remorse.
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows Colorado voters registering greater disapproval for Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Democrat-controlled legislature, following a legislative session described as the most liberal in state history.
The poll also comes after Mr. Hickenlooper’s much-criticized decision to grant an indefinite reprieve of execution to death row inmate Nathan Dunlap, who killed four people at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in 1993.
"There is a full-scale revolt going on right now in Colorado, and [Hickenlooper] is bearing the brunt of it,” said Floyd Ciruli, a pollster at Denver-based Ciruli Associates.
Saving Dunlap came at a high cost to the governor’s popularity. A whopping 67 percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of his decision to grant the reprieve, versus 27 percent who approve. At the same time, 69 percent of those polled said they support the state’s death penalty law, while 24 percent want to see it replaced by life without parole.
"By nearly 3-1, Colorado voters support the death penalty in their state and say where their elected officials stand on it could affect their vote,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute."This could help set up a high-voltage re-election campaign where the fate of a convicted murderer could help decide the fate of an incumbent governor.”
The same survey shows Mr. Hickenlooper running neck-and-neck with two potential Republican challengers: Secretary of State Scott Gessler and former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, who barely trail the governor in a hypothetical 2014 race.
Mr. Tancredo, who lost to Mr. Hickenlooper in 2010, trails 42 percent to 41 percent, while Mr. Gessler is behind by a 42-40 margin. A third Republican, state Sen. Greg Brophy, who represents a district in rural Colorado, trails 43 percent to 37 percent.
The poll shows 47 percent of voters approve of Mr. Hickenlooper’s job performance, versus 43 percent who disapprove. Those figures
represent a drop from past polls.
"He’s always been in the 50s in terms of approval ratings. As mayor [of Denver], he was in the 60s,” Mr. Ciruli said.
Last week, Mr. Hickenlooper defended his decision to postpone the Dunlap execution in an interview on KOA-AM in Denver, saying he knew he would face a backlash but that he was convinced that the 38-year-old inmate suffers from bipolar disorder.
"Trust me, I’ve heard how many people are angry,” Mr. Hickenlooper told a caller in an interview with talk-show host Mike Rosen."You are not alone in how upset you are. Some of my oldest friends were furious. But now they’re having that discussion.”
The Democratic legislature also came in with low marks, with 49 percent of voters polled saying they disapprove of its job performance and 36 percent saying they approve. Even in two Democratic strongholds, Boulder and Denver counties, 41 percent of those surveyed approve of the legislature’s work and 45 percent disapprove, according to the poll.
Two Democratic legislators, Senate President John Morse and state Sen. Angela Giron, have been targeted for recalls since the session adjourned May 8. Recall committees turned in signatures earlier this month in an effort to force both lawmakers on a recall ballot.
If enough signatures pass muster, the recall of Mr. Morse or Ms. Giron would be the first for a state legislator in Colorado.
Two of three gun bills approved by the state legislature have been targeted by a federal lawsuit filed by 55 of the state’s 62 sheriffs, among others. On top of that, elected officials from as many as 10 rural counties are discussing whether to form a new state, North Colorado.
That movement was launched after Mr. Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 252 over the strong objections of rural lawmakers. The bill is expected to increase electricity costs by doubling the renewable-energy mandate on rural communities.
"Democrats are hugely on the defensive — they’re having to defend two recalls, a lawsuit on the gun bills, and then you have a group of eight counties talking about forming their own state,” Mr. Ciruli said."The governor’s problem is bigger than just the death penalty. He’s also dealing with a revolt out there.”
https://chumly.com/n/1d406af
Colorado Democrats achieved one-party dominance in November, but now voters appear to be having a case of buyers’ remorse.
A Quinnipiac University poll released last week shows Colorado voters registering greater disapproval for Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and the Democrat-controlled legislature, following a legislative session described as the most liberal in state history.
The poll also comes after Mr. Hickenlooper’s much-criticized decision to grant an indefinite reprieve of execution to death row inmate Nathan Dunlap, who killed four people at a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant in 1993.
"There is a full-scale revolt going on right now in Colorado, and [Hickenlooper] is bearing the brunt of it,” said Floyd Ciruli, a pollster at Denver-based Ciruli Associates.
Saving Dunlap came at a high cost to the governor’s popularity. A whopping 67 percent of those surveyed said they disapprove of his decision to grant the reprieve, versus 27 percent who approve. At the same time, 69 percent of those polled said they support the state’s death penalty law, while 24 percent want to see it replaced by life without parole.
"By nearly 3-1, Colorado voters support the death penalty in their state and say where their elected officials stand on it could affect their vote,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute."This could help set up a high-voltage re-election campaign where the fate of a convicted murderer could help decide the fate of an incumbent governor.”
The same survey shows Mr. Hickenlooper running neck-and-neck with two potential Republican challengers: Secretary of State Scott Gessler and former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, who barely trail the governor in a hypothetical 2014 race.
Mr. Tancredo, who lost to Mr. Hickenlooper in 2010, trails 42 percent to 41 percent, while Mr. Gessler is behind by a 42-40 margin. A third Republican, state Sen. Greg Brophy, who represents a district in rural Colorado, trails 43 percent to 37 percent.
The poll shows 47 percent of voters approve of Mr. Hickenlooper’s job performance, versus 43 percent who disapprove. Those figures
represent a drop from past polls.
"He’s always been in the 50s in terms of approval ratings. As mayor [of Denver], he was in the 60s,” Mr. Ciruli said.
Last week, Mr. Hickenlooper defended his decision to postpone the Dunlap execution in an interview on KOA-AM in Denver, saying he knew he would face a backlash but that he was convinced that the 38-year-old inmate suffers from bipolar disorder.
"Trust me, I’ve heard how many people are angry,” Mr. Hickenlooper told a caller in an interview with talk-show host Mike Rosen."You are not alone in how upset you are. Some of my oldest friends were furious. But now they’re having that discussion.”
The Democratic legislature also came in with low marks, with 49 percent of voters polled saying they disapprove of its job performance and 36 percent saying they approve. Even in two Democratic strongholds, Boulder and Denver counties, 41 percent of those surveyed approve of the legislature’s work and 45 percent disapprove, according to the poll.
Two Democratic legislators, Senate President John Morse and state Sen. Angela Giron, have been targeted for recalls since the session adjourned May 8. Recall committees turned in signatures earlier this month in an effort to force both lawmakers on a recall ballot.
If enough signatures pass muster, the recall of Mr. Morse or Ms. Giron would be the first for a state legislator in Colorado.
Two of three gun bills approved by the state legislature have been targeted by a federal lawsuit filed by 55 of the state’s 62 sheriffs, among others. On top of that, elected officials from as many as 10 rural counties are discussing whether to form a new state, North Colorado.
That movement was launched after Mr. Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 252 over the strong objections of rural lawmakers. The bill is expected to increase electricity costs by doubling the renewable-energy mandate on rural communities.
"Democrats are hugely on the defensive — they’re having to defend two recalls, a lawsuit on the gun bills, and then you have a group of eight counties talking about forming their own state,” Mr. Ciruli said."The governor’s problem is bigger than just the death penalty. He’s also dealing with a revolt out there.”
https://chumly.com/n/1d406af
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Sen. Cadman Blasts Hickenlooper for Upping Rural Electric Costs
www.realvail.com/article/1839/Hickenlooper-signs-b...areas
Colorado’s largest rural electric associations (REA) and the utility that supplies virtually all of the co-ops with power will have to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020 after Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday signed bitterly contested Senate Bill 252.
Predictably, Republicans were quick to bash the Democratic governor for caving to environmentalists and some"extremist” lawmakers in his party, who were equally quick to sing Hickenlooper’s praises.
Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said in prepared statement:"Senate President John Morse initiated the urban attack on rural Colorado when he sponsored SB 13-252. With his signature, Gov. Hickenlooper joins Morse in perhaps the largest unfunded government mandate in Colorado history.”
But state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, a Steamboat Democrat who represents Eagle and Routt counties, said:""SB 252 will help the private sector develop new green jobs and maintain the more than 19,000 clean energy jobs in Colorado. SB 252 will increase local renewable installation and new, retrofit construction jobs and help a number of existing businesses in Routt and Eagle counties. Both may spur investments in local, rural biomass plants that use the beetle kill timber in our forests.”
Critics of the bill claimed it will lead to runaway electric bills for rural consumers, even though prices for wind, solar and other forms of renewable power have been steadily decreasing. Coal and natural gas remain the lowest cost forms of power.
SB 252 contains a provision calling for a 2-percent retail cap, but opponents – including Tri State Generation and Transmission, which supplies power to most of the state’s co-ops – argued the provision was flawed and prices for rural consumers will skyrocket. A massive advertising campaign has been under way to get Hickenlooper to veto the bill, which doubles the amount of renewable power the state’s co-ops must supply (from the current 10-percent level).
Publicly owned Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, is on track to generate 30 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2020. And Holy Cross Energy, the co-op that supplies electricity to Vail and Aspen and gets most of its power from Xcel, is already on track to meet the 20 percent threshold.
Hickenlooper on Wednesday also signed an executive order calling for the formation of an advisory committee to the director of the Colorado Energy Office on the effectiveness of SB 252.
"The reasons for signing the legislation outweigh the reasons for vetoing the bill, but this bill is imperfect,” the order reads."Some of the concerns raised during the legislative process were not given due consideration. Top among these concerns are the feasibility of the implementation timetable and consumer protections. The advisory committee will work to fully address these concerns, culminating in proposals for the 2014 legislative session.”
Regardless, state renewable energy advocacy groups hailed the governor’s decision.
"A year ago, the market outlook for renewable energy in Colorado was bleak,” said Sarah Propst, executive director of the Interwest Energy Alliance."Implementation of SB 252, combined with Xcel’s recent announcement that it will buy 550 [megawatts] of wind based on low price alone, means a complete turnaround for the Colorado market. Now we expect roughly 1,000 [megawatts] of market opportunity for clean energy over the next decade.”
Colorado’s largest rural electric associations (REA) and the utility that supplies virtually all of the co-ops with power will have to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020 after Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday signed bitterly contested Senate Bill 252.
Predictably, Republicans were quick to bash the Democratic governor for caving to environmentalists and some"extremist” lawmakers in his party, who were equally quick to sing Hickenlooper’s praises.
Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said in prepared statement:"Senate President John Morse initiated the urban attack on rural Colorado when he sponsored SB 13-252. With his signature, Gov. Hickenlooper joins Morse in perhaps the largest unfunded government mandate in Colorado history.”
But state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, a Steamboat Democrat who represents Eagle and Routt counties, said:""SB 252 will help the private sector develop new green jobs and maintain the more than 19,000 clean energy jobs in Colorado. SB 252 will increase local renewable installation and new, retrofit construction jobs and help a number of existing businesses in Routt and Eagle counties. Both may spur investments in local, rural biomass plants that use the beetle kill timber in our forests.”
Critics of the bill claimed it will lead to runaway electric bills for rural consumers, even though prices for wind, solar and other forms of renewable power have been steadily decreasing. Coal and natural gas remain the lowest cost forms of power.
SB 252 contains a provision calling for a 2-percent retail cap, but opponents – including Tri State Generation and Transmission, which supplies power to most of the state’s co-ops – argued the provision was flawed and prices for rural consumers will skyrocket. A massive advertising campaign has been under way to get Hickenlooper to veto the bill, which doubles the amount of renewable power the state’s co-ops must supply (from the current 10-percent level).
Publicly owned Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility, is on track to generate 30 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2020. And Holy Cross Energy, the co-op that supplies electricity to Vail and Aspen and gets most of its power from Xcel, is already on track to meet the 20 percent threshold.
Hickenlooper on Wednesday also signed an executive order calling for the formation of an advisory committee to the director of the Colorado Energy Office on the effectiveness of SB 252.
"The reasons for signing the legislation outweigh the reasons for vetoing the bill, but this bill is imperfect,” the order reads."Some of the concerns raised during the legislative process were not given due consideration. Top among these concerns are the feasibility of the implementation timetable and consumer protections. The advisory committee will work to fully address these concerns, culminating in proposals for the 2014 legislative session.”
Regardless, state renewable energy advocacy groups hailed the governor’s decision.
"A year ago, the market outlook for renewable energy in Colorado was bleak,” said Sarah Propst, executive director of the Interwest Energy Alliance."Implementation of SB 252, combined with Xcel’s recent announcement that it will buy 550 [megawatts] of wind based on low price alone, means a complete turnaround for the Colorado market. Now we expect roughly 1,000 [megawatts] of market opportunity for clean energy over the next decade.”
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Lamborn Questions Obama's Judgment in Promoting Susan Rice
Press Release from Cong. Lamborn questioning the promotion of Susan Rice
Lamborn Questions Obama's Judgment in Promoting Susan Rice
Rice Misled American Public on Benghazi Attack
Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) released the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to promote former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, to become the nation's top national security adviser. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation.
"While I respect the President’s authority to select his personal advisers, I question his judgment to replace resigning national security adviser, Tom Donilon, with Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ambassador Rice deliberately misled the public during a series of appearances on Sunday talk shows after the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya and continues to withhold critical information from Congress and the American people.” – Doug Lamborn
# # #
https://chumly.com/n/1ce689a
Lamborn Questions Obama's Judgment in Promoting Susan Rice
Rice Misled American Public on Benghazi Attack
Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) released the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to promote former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, to become the nation's top national security adviser. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation.
"While I respect the President’s authority to select his personal advisers, I question his judgment to replace resigning national security adviser, Tom Donilon, with Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ambassador Rice deliberately misled the public during a series of appearances on Sunday talk shows after the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya and continues to withhold critical information from Congress and the American people.” – Doug Lamborn
# # #
https://chumly.com/n/1ce689a
Hickenlooper Signs Measure to Raise Utility Rates on Rural Colorado
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2013 Contact: Jesse Mallory
Phone: (303) 866-3931
COLORADO
STATE SENATE
STATE CAPITOL
DENVER
80203
Hickenlooper Signs Measure to Raise Utility Rates on Rural Colorado
Denver- Today Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 252, a measure that increases utility rates on working families across the state by mandating that customer-owned rural cooperatives and utilities increase their renewable energy standard when they can least afford it.
Senate Republicans expressed outrage at what they view as another assault on rural Colorado. Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said,"Senate President John Morse initiated the urban attack on rural Colorado when he sponsored SB 13-252. With his signature, Governor Hickenlooper joins Morse in perhaps the largest unfunded government mandate in Colorado history.”
He went on to say,"In addition to disregarding the bipartisan opposition to this legislation, the Governor is ignoring the common interests of Coloradans in favor of special interests of extremists. Colorado families, businesses owners, farmers and ranchers will now be on the hook for billions of dollars in increased utility rates. Additionally, all government entities -- municipalities, school districts, fire departments -- will now face unnecessary rate increases.”
Senator Greg Brophy, R-Wray, added,"Here is another example of the Democrats’ callous attitude toward the families in rural Colorado who are struggling to make ends meet. Utility bills will now increase on the very people who can least afford it.”
Senator Steve King, R-Grand Junction, said,"Senate Bill 252 will directly impact people on fixed incomes in rural areas who are just barely hanging on in this economy. I am very disappointed that Governor Hickenlooper would sign yet another measure that only gained bipartisan opposition and puts seniors at risk.”
Opponents of Senate Bill 252 include Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, National Federation of Independent Business, Colorado Concern, Colorado Mining Association, IBEW Local #111, IBEW Local #667, IBEW Local #969, IBEW Local #12, IBEW Local #68, IBEW Local #113, Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, Colorado Corn Growers Association, Colorado Telecommunications Association, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen Association, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, Action 22, Club 20, Progressive 15, Metro North Chamber of Commerce, Pueblo Home Builders Association, Colorado Hospital Association, Economic Development Council of Colorado, Craig Moffat Economic Development Partnership and the Douglas County Business Alliance.
Senator Brophy concluded by asking,"If Senate Bill 252 is such a reasonable piece of legislation, I am curious why the Governor decided to sign it in Denver and not when he was traveling in rural parts of the state?”
###
http://chumly.com/n/1ce6790
June 5, 2013 Contact: Jesse Mallory
Phone: (303) 866-3931
COLORADO
STATE SENATE
STATE CAPITOL
DENVER
80203
Hickenlooper Signs Measure to Raise Utility Rates on Rural Colorado
Denver- Today Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 252, a measure that increases utility rates on working families across the state by mandating that customer-owned rural cooperatives and utilities increase their renewable energy standard when they can least afford it.
Senate Republicans expressed outrage at what they view as another assault on rural Colorado. Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, said,"Senate President John Morse initiated the urban attack on rural Colorado when he sponsored SB 13-252. With his signature, Governor Hickenlooper joins Morse in perhaps the largest unfunded government mandate in Colorado history.”
He went on to say,"In addition to disregarding the bipartisan opposition to this legislation, the Governor is ignoring the common interests of Coloradans in favor of special interests of extremists. Colorado families, businesses owners, farmers and ranchers will now be on the hook for billions of dollars in increased utility rates. Additionally, all government entities -- municipalities, school districts, fire departments -- will now face unnecessary rate increases.”
Senator Greg Brophy, R-Wray, added,"Here is another example of the Democrats’ callous attitude toward the families in rural Colorado who are struggling to make ends meet. Utility bills will now increase on the very people who can least afford it.”
Senator Steve King, R-Grand Junction, said,"Senate Bill 252 will directly impact people on fixed incomes in rural areas who are just barely hanging on in this economy. I am very disappointed that Governor Hickenlooper would sign yet another measure that only gained bipartisan opposition and puts seniors at risk.”
Opponents of Senate Bill 252 include Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, National Federation of Independent Business, Colorado Concern, Colorado Mining Association, IBEW Local #111, IBEW Local #667, IBEW Local #969, IBEW Local #12, IBEW Local #68, IBEW Local #113, Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, Colorado Corn Growers Association, Colorado Telecommunications Association, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Cattlemen Association, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, Action 22, Club 20, Progressive 15, Metro North Chamber of Commerce, Pueblo Home Builders Association, Colorado Hospital Association, Economic Development Council of Colorado, Craig Moffat Economic Development Partnership and the Douglas County Business Alliance.
Senator Brophy concluded by asking,"If Senate Bill 252 is such a reasonable piece of legislation, I am curious why the Governor decided to sign it in Denver and not when he was traveling in rural parts of the state?”
###
http://chumly.com/n/1ce6790
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
GOP seeks candidates to challenge Morse on potential recall ballot
Jeff Hays speaks out about the recall effort in El Paso County in the Gazette:
GOP seeks candidates to challenge Morse on potential recall ballot
Published: June 4, 2013, 1:27 pm, by Megan Schrader
Jeff Hays, chairman of the El Paso County GOP, said Tuesday the Republican Party is actively engaged in finding candidates to challenge Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, should his name appear on a recall ballot.
"I think it’s too early to talk specific names,” Hays said."There are some people who have said they are interested.”
Hays said the precinct leaders from Senate District 11 will meet to discuss the issue.
More than 16,000 signatures were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office on Monday, and if almost 7,200 of those are registered voters from Senate District 11, Morse will face a recall election. Morse has said he’s skeptical that the petition gatherers did their due diligence to make sure signers were from his district.
That election will likely be sometime after September if the signatures are valid, but when depends on how long the issue is drawn out in court.
Voters in Senate District 11 – southwestern Colorado Springs – will be asked if Morse should be removed from office and if so, who should replace him. Candidates can get their name on the ballot by collecting 1,000 signatures.
"I think you need to have somebody that’s an attractive alternative to the type of legislator that Sen. Morse has been,” Hays said."Someone who is willing to listen to constituents, willing to fight for the people in his district.”
blogs.gazette.com/coloradopolitics/gop-seeks-candi...allot
https://chumly.com/n/1ce0edf
GOP seeks candidates to challenge Morse on potential recall ballot
Published: June 4, 2013, 1:27 pm, by Megan Schrader
Jeff Hays, chairman of the El Paso County GOP, said Tuesday the Republican Party is actively engaged in finding candidates to challenge Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, should his name appear on a recall ballot.
"I think it’s too early to talk specific names,” Hays said."There are some people who have said they are interested.”
Hays said the precinct leaders from Senate District 11 will meet to discuss the issue.
More than 16,000 signatures were submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office on Monday, and if almost 7,200 of those are registered voters from Senate District 11, Morse will face a recall election. Morse has said he’s skeptical that the petition gatherers did their due diligence to make sure signers were from his district.
That election will likely be sometime after September if the signatures are valid, but when depends on how long the issue is drawn out in court.
Voters in Senate District 11 – southwestern Colorado Springs – will be asked if Morse should be removed from office and if so, who should replace him. Candidates can get their name on the ballot by collecting 1,000 signatures.
"I think you need to have somebody that’s an attractive alternative to the type of legislator that Sen. Morse has been,” Hays said."Someone who is willing to listen to constituents, willing to fight for the people in his district.”
blogs.gazette.com/coloradopolitics/gop-seeks-candi...allot
https://chumly.com/n/1ce0edf
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