U.S. House of Representatives

Andrew Romanoff talks PAC money, house sale and running against Mike Coffman

To some Coloradans, the name Andrew Romanoff is synonymous with disappointment. After losing to incumbent Senator Micheal Bennet in a primary that attracted an almost unheard-of amount of attention, the ex-speaker of the Colorado House took a lower-profile job with the International Development Ente ... More >>

Civil unions bill on way to governor's desk, One Colorado plans celebration event

It's been a long time coming. After a bill to legalize civil unions in Colorado fell short in both 2011 and last year, the measure finally passed the Colorado House today. Next, the legislation heads to the desk of Governor John Hickenlooper, who's promised to sign it. This breakthrough delights B ... More >>

Colorado lawmakers inclined to legalize hiking the Manitou incline

While the clock ticks away on last-minute negotiations to avoid plunging the nation's economy over the dreaded fiscal cliff, the U.S. Senate did take steps late last night to provide a path up the side of a mountain -- and in the process transform thousands of Colorado scofflaws into legal hikers. A ... More >>

Reader: DEA's equating of marijuana and heroin responsible for smack's new popularity

Yesterday, we featured a video in which Drug Enforcement Administrator Michele Leonhart refused to say marijuana was less harmful than heroin while under questioning from Representative Jared Polis at a U.S. House subcommittee. The clip, and Leonhart's bizarre responses, frustrated a number of comme ... More >>

Jared Polis, zombie killer, dispatches undead oil shale subsidies

Compared to the billions-a-day standard flow rate of tax dollars pouring into and out of Washington, $25 million amounts to scarcely more than chump change. But the passage of an amendment by Congressman Jared Polis yesterday, cutting that amount in oil shale subsidies, is a remarkable break with wh ... More >>

Video: John Hickenlooper says civil unions aren't marriage on CNN

Colorado's special session, which begins today, is earning nationwide attention for Governor John Hickenlooper due in large part to the civil unions legislation whose death largely inspired it. But in conversation with the net's Candy Crowley (see it below), Hickenlooper avoided espousing same-sex m ... More >>

Gratuitous randomness: House with a boom box

House in da house.​There's probably no better case for the ubiquity of TV's Dr. Gregory House than the fact that, if you Google the word "house," the series absolutely dominates the first page of results -- over the U.S. House of Representatives and the common noun, no less. And when you're so ... More >>

Top five ways to make your "Anthony Weiner" look bigger in photos

Congressman Weiner's infamous boomstick.​Between Scottie Ewing's Michael "Handcock" affair and Congressman Anthony's "Weinergate," our elected officials have kept the headlines hot and their constituencies (and probably their wives) as cold as a case of Otter Pops over the last couple of weeks ... More >>

Reader: Tea Party types are wrong to think Social Security is a redistribution of wealth

​Our post about this past weekend's Tax Day Tea Party in Loveland turned into a lively forum for debate about whether this grassroots movement is a good thing or a bad thing. Here's a post from someone representing the latter point of view.

Civil Union Act should pass in CO House if not blocked by extremists, says Sen. Pat Steadman

Pat Steadman.​Update below: Today, in all likelihood, SB 172, intended to legalize civil unions in Colorado, will be okayed by the state senate, following debate yesterday that warmed the heart of its sponsor, Senator Pat Steadman. Next, however, the bill must be approved by the Republican-con ... More >>

Medical marijuana advocate's call not to disturb legislative process for bill stirs controversy

Greg Goldfogel.​ The Cannabis Therapy Institute sent out an "action alert" to its members regarding today's planned second reading of HB 1260, a bill to set THC driving limits. But after a similar alert last week regarding HB 1250, which originally sought to ban all MMJ edibles, infused-produc ... More >>

Return to Sender

What would comprehensive immigration reform look like if the Feds got off their duffs?

Mark Udall called Armenian genocide defector by advocacy group in candidate report card

Mark Udall.​In April, Senator Mark Udall marked the anniversary of the 1915 Armenian genocide with a strongly worded statement. But these words didn't satisfy Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates, an organization trying to get all members of the Colorado congressional delegation to support a national ... More >>

Jared Polis questions attorney general Eric Holder about Jeff Sweetin, medical marijuana

When Congressman Jared Polis got his chance to quiz Attorney General Eric Holder during his first appearance on the U.S. House judiciary committee yesterday, he hit on two topics of particular interest to his Boulder area constituency -- medical marijuana and immigration. He began by noting his Feb ... More >>

4/20 brings rallies -- and reporters -- to International Cannabis Day

​Even before today's celebration of International Cannabis Day commences in Civic Center Park at 9 a.m., this city's booming medical marijuana business has already inspired a number of out-of-town journalists to come to Denver to cover the event. And there will be plenty to report on today, b ... More >>

Dick Wadhams on health care: "America will be in great political turmoil after the passage of this bill -- and I think that's good"

"No, I'm not being facetious."​The U.S. House's passage of a massive health-care bill President Barack Obama is planning to sign into law today is already having plenty of political impact locally, with the Gun Owners of America targeting Dem Betsy Markey, who voted for the measure (after voti ... More >>

Jersey Shore nicknames for Colorado's political contenders, bro: Guido for Governor!

J-Muscle, indeed.​Is the media beating this whole Jersey Shore thing to death? Definitely. Are we here at Westword going to join in on beatin' up the beat? Damn right. Being the thoughtful and responsible journalists that we are, we decided to use the "Jersey Shore Nickname Generator" to crea ... More >>

Abortion rights a hill Diana DeGette's willing to die on in healthcare debate

Will Nancy Pelosi get so mad at Diana DeGette that she actually blinks?​Just because the House of Representatives passed a healthcare bill this weekend doesn't mean it'll stay passed. Denver congresswoman Diana DeGette is leading a group of reproductive-rights supporters who are mad as hell th ... More >>

Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario: Nobody beats a Dealin' Dick Wadhams candidate

Since Dick Wadhams was named the State Chairman of the Colorado Republicans, the party has lost control of the state Senate, the state House of Representatives, the Governorship, one U.S. Senate seat and one U.S. House of Representative seat. But Dick is not depressed. He is energized! Like General ... More >>

Jared Polis shares videos of over twenty local healthcare stories

No denying that Internet multi-millionaire turned Congressman Jared Polis is a believer in new technology. During the past day or so, his office has posted videos on YouTube in which he can be seen talking on the floor of the U.S. House about the personal healthcare stories of real Coloradans. A sh ... More >>

Jared Polis says there's no defense for the Defense of Marriage Act

Yesterday, Representative Jared Polis joined colleagues Jerrold Nadler and Tammy Baldwin, Dems from New York and Wisconsin, respectively, at a press conference boosting the Respect for Marriage Act. During his microphone time, viewable above, Plis referred derisively to the "thirteen-year-old, so-c ... More >>

Did the spontaneity-free climate-change rally in Greeley have a Mr. Burns touch?

As we pointed out yesterday, a climate-change rally in Greeley on Wednesday didn't exactly qualify as a grassroots uprising, given the participation of EnergyCitizens.org, an affiliate of the American Petroleum Institute, which opposes legislation to cap greenhouse gases recently passed by the U.S. ... More >>

Jared Polis' fondness for polar bears and afterbirth

Jared Polis and a polar pal.​Jared Polis: He's everywhere these days. When he's not sucking down a cold one with Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, beer-bong style, the Boulder Democrat is pointing the camera at himself as part of Freshman Year, a CNN series in which he and Utah Republican Cong ... More >>

Yesterday's climate-legislation rally not so spontaneous

Arguments continue about just how grassroots protests against healthcare reform like a recent shoutfest at an Ed Perlmutter event really are. But such displays of disaffection are positively organic in comparison with the rally about climate legislation that took place yesterday in Greeley. The Gre ... More >>

Nancy Pelosi in the hizzy

The lightning rod named Nancy Pelosi.​The U.S. House of Representatives is on recess -- but that doesn't necessarily mean its members are having fun. They'll likely spend much of their time off pimping healthcare reform -- and to that end, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- the woman with giant eye ... More >>

Denver Blogs: Crime doesn't pay. It does cost the state $625 million, however.

a Flickr photo Our daily ticket to blog-land. Got something for us? Send it here. The Pew Center released a report on corrections. Colorado's correctional population ranks 15th among states. (Square State) The NL West is the second best division in baseball. That sound you hear is ESPN trying to f ... More >>

Clear Channel Denver fights radio performance tax via SaveYourRadio.org

A banner from SaveYourRadio.org. Returning home early Saturday morning after seeing a late screening of Year One (which bl-o-o-o-ows), I had my radio tuned to The Fox, because my wife only listens to music made this millennium on a semi-annual basis -- and as Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever" was dr ... More >>

Update: No delay in analog-to-digital conversion -- or in problems for some Denver viewers

Update below: Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of delaying the scheduled February 17 switchover from analog to digital broadcasting. If the House of Representatives follows suit, President Obama will sign the bill into law, pushing back DTV-day until June 12. But such a move will do noth ... More >>

DeGette withdraws name from Senate consideration

Diana DeGette has told Governor Bill Ritter that she's not interested in replacing Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate. "After serious deliberation and consultation with my family, supporters and colleagues in Congress," she announced today, "I have concluded I can best serve the citizens of the First ... More >>

The Post and the Rocky ask the same good question

The press at Sarah Palin's Jefferson County Fairgrounds stop

Jared Polis Endorses Himself

Jared Polis Endorses Himself

Delegating Denver #53 of 56: Washington

Q&A with Senator Bob Menendez

Legislature Save Eagles, Attacks Beetles

Delegating Denver #45 of 56: South Carolina

This Day In Colorado Rockies History

Small Change

Here’s something to do in Denver when it’s dead.

Wed Alert

Marilyn Musgrave will be singing a different tune.

Beneath the Rough Exterior, a Rotten Interior

All the Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses

More Messages: Barking and Biting

The Flag-Bearer

Tom Tancredo is on a crusade to save America -- and he's looking for recruits.

Best Secret Message on a Congressman's Stationery

AMDG

Letters to the Editor

From the week of August 10

The New Turks

OFF THE RECORD

WHOSE DIVORCE RECORDS ARE SEALED? READ ALL ABOUT IT.

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