Bradford thanks Buescher for losing election
Pink lemonade-swilling GOP state Rep. Laura Bradford's answers to the typically bland Colorado Statesman freshman survey offer up a couple of unexpected doozies between listings of her favorite book, pets' names and who was responsible for campaign-season attack ads.
Pew lauds mining reform bill, reports taxpayers losing billions
On the same day a West Virginia lawmaker is expected to introduce the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009, the Pew Campaign for Responsible Mining today released a report finding industry subsidies could cost American taxpayers up to $1.6 billion dollars in the coming decade.
Udall pushes Defense Secy Gates on counterinsurgency
Newly arrived Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) asks a question close to my heart: How can Defense Secretary Bob Gates institutionalize the counterinsurgency lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan?
Bankruptcy reform axed from stimulus package
Congressional Democrats hoping to use the economic stimulus package to force lenders to refinance troubled mortgages have met an unlikely opponent: President Barack Obama.
Many Democrats, including Obama, have long-supported the strategy of empowering bankruptcy judges to alter the terms of primary mortgages to prevent foreclosures. But White House officials have said they don’t want the bankruptcy provision in the stimulus bill for fear of alienating Republicans, most of whom oppose the change.
Live Blog: Aurora puts off considering same-sex benefits for employees
The City of Aurora, Colorado's third-largest, decides Monday night whether to offer insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of city employees.
The question could be contentious, as a budget deficit estimated from $6 million to $12 million has the city of 300,000 tightening belts at every turn. Some opponents say the roughly $50,000 annual cost to add the benefits is a luxury the city can't afford. Others say the city can't compete for employees without joining the 20 other municipalities across the state offering domestic partnership benefits. The 11-member City Council has discussed the measure at committee meetings and study sessions but remains divided, ushering it to Monday's formal meeting on a 6-5 vote. Tonight, we'll be live-blogging the debate and posting the result as it happens. Please join the discussion in the comments section below.
Aurora City Council takes up same-sex benefits question for city employees
The Aurora City Council plans to consider Monday night whether to offer insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of city employees. A slim majority of city council members voted the measure ahead two weeks ago, with some arguing it is essential to attract the best employees. But vocal opponents questioned the proposal's cost and asked whether the move would run afoul of Colorado's constitutional definition of marriage.
UPDATED: Disgraced Rove aide named top lobbyist for Focus on the Family
Being a serial plagiarist may no longer be the professional equivalent of a hair shirt. Look at Vice President Joe Biden. Good thing for ex-Bush administration political operative Tim Goeglein too.
He's been named the top Washington, D.C., lobbyist for Focus on the Family, according to a little-noticed "comings and goings" political column in the Fort Wayne, Ind., Journal Gazette.
UPDATE: Focus on the Family Action responds to our post below the fold.
Feingold wants to put an end to Senate vacancy appointments by governors
Even as we learn embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich considered appointing Oprah Winfrey to fill Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat -- Oprah was glad she wasn't on her treadmill when she heard the news -- and New York Gov. David Paterson raised the ire of the Kennedy clan by finally naming an obscure, upstate congresswoman to take Hillary Clinton's place, Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold plans to introduce a constitutional amendment that would require U.S. Senate vacancies be filled by special elections instead of gubernatorial appointments. Feingold, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, released the following statement Sunday:
Suthers drops Senate bid, says he’s staying put as attorney general
Putting the kibosh on speculation he would seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced Monday he plans to seek re-election to the state's top law enforcement office and won't be seeking higher office next year. "I will not run for the U.S. Senate," Suthers says in a lengthy statement filled with "soul-searching."
FBI: Vail eco-terrorism suspect spotted near Vancouver
The FBI on Friday said one of four suspects still at large in the 1998 eco-terror arson attack on Vail Mountain may have been spotted near Vancouver, British Columbia.