Coyote Gulch

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Immigration
New West: "Two bills that could radically alter the landscape of immigration in this country are currently under consideration, one in the U.S. Congress and one in the Colorado legislature. One has a decent chance of passing, one stands a "less than zero" chance according to its own sponsor. But both reflect the growing intolerance for undocumented aliens that is sweeping America."

Andrew Sullivan: "Now the real question: why are there not more conservatives skeptical of a newly intrusive government power? Has it occurred to them that these powers may one day be deployed by a president they don't trust?"

Political Wire: "Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) 'is weighing the possibility of running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008,' the Argus Leader reports. Said Daschle: 'I have received a lot of encouragement.'"

Josh Marshall: "November Santorum: 'The K Street project is purely to make sure we have qualified applicants for positions that are in town. From my perspective, it's a good government thing.'"

"January Santorum: 'Well, I don't know what you mean by Senate liaison to the, quote, 'K Street Project.' I'm not aware of any Senate liaison job that I do for the K Street Project.'"

TalkLeft: "Arianna writes that yesterday's speeches by Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, both of which criticized the Bush Administration, are like coming attractions to the 2008 Democratic presidiential nomination. Arianna notes that while Hillary has been a terrific Senator, it's hard to go from sitting Senator to President (she lists John Kerry as a prime example) and says right now, she thinks Gore has the edge"

Category: 2008 Presidential Election

6:02:03 PM

Ritter for governor?
Colorado Lib: "Democrat candidate for governor Bill Ritter announced that Barbara O'Brien would be his running mate today. I dropped by the press conference and snapped the photo shown here. There was only one question asked by the media. 'Why announce your running mate so early?' Ritter responded by citing the qualifications that, in his mind, will make O'Brien a great lieutenant governor."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

5:49:13 PM

Rotational Crop Management Bill
Colorado Luis: "I've come to realize lack of water doesn't slow down population growth in Colorado. It only makes development more expensive because someone has to buy water rights away from farmers and change the use to residential use. There is an interesting bill being carried by state Rep. Mary Hodge (D-Brighton) that is going to make it easier for farmers to sell water to cities on a temporary basis and without also having to sell out the farm. There is a little bit of something for everyone here: growing cities get water, farmers can make money selling water without getting out of the business, and the rest of us don't have to put up with calls for new dams up in the mountains.

Here's an article from New West about the Rotational Crop Management Bill. From the article, "Colorado farmers have a new way of boosting their business while preserving their lifestyle, which to some sounds like a dream come true. A new bill in front of the state Legislature called the Rotational Crop Management Bill gives farmers leverage to do more with their water than just grow crops."

Category: Colorado Water

7:19:20 AM

SB37

Here's an article from the Fort Morgan Times about SB37 introduced this week in the Colorado legislature. The bill would provide guidance to water courts in regard to flows for whitewater parks. From the article, "Lawmakers are making another attempt in this year's Colorado Legislature to get a firmer grip on a relatively new law allowing water rights for recreational use before there is nothing left for future growth or diversions.

"Senate Bill 37, introduced last week by two Western Slope Democrats, is the latest round in Colorado's water wars. It does not set a specific limit on recreational water rights, but attempts to give water courts more guidance for deciding how much water is needed for increasingly popular whitewater parks."

Category: Colorado Water

7:12:08 AM

Fountain Creek cleanup

Here's an article from the Pueblo Chieftain detailing Colorado Springs' problems keeping their sewage out of Fountain Creek. They write, "Colorado Springs Utilities has until next month to come up with a supplemental environmental plan to determine how part of its fine for raw sewage spills will be spent on fixing problems along Fountain Creek. Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment expects to take action in the near future on a 44,400-gallon sewage spill earlier this month, Steve Gunderson, director of the water quality control commission, said Tuesday. Colorado Springs originally was ordered to pay a fine of $110,470 in mid-November and the money was to have gone directly into the state treasury, Gunderson said. However, during a 30-day comment period, the Pueblo City Council and the Pueblo City-County Health Department asked the state to apply some of the money from the fine toward programs to improve Fountain Creek below Colorado Springs, Gunderson said." Good idea.

Category: Colorado Water

7:05:57 AM

Ritter or Beauprez for governor?
Bill Ritter is expected, "to announce today that he has picked Barbara O'Brien of the Colorado Children's Campaign to be his running mate," according to the Denver Post [January 18, 2006, "Ritter to name running mate"]. From the article, "The early choice of a woman appears to be an attempt to balance the ticket for Ritter, the former Denver district attorney who is opposed by some traditional elements of his party because of his stance against abortion rights."

Meanwhile Bob Beauprez officially launched his campaign for governor yesterday, according to the Denver Post [January 18, 2006, "Beauprez off and running"]. Beauprez, "gave a preview of the issues he will focus on during his campaign: illegal immigration, quality health care, the ability of families to choose where their children go to school, water rights, renewable energy and government fiscal responsibility. While he said combating illegal immigration primarily rests with the federal government, he also said Colorado and other states have the power to help solve the problem. Beauprez did not address specific plans, however...He vowed to construct a statewide water plan that would focus on conservation and additional water storage so that urban areas don't continue "drying up our farms and the rural communities.'"

Here's an article about Bill Ritter from the Rocky Mountain News [January 18, 2006, "Abortion issue a twist in Ritter campaign"]. They write, "If Hickenlooper stays out of the race and Ritter is the Democratic nominee, it's not clear how his position might affect the general election. Both Republican candidates, Congressman Bob Beauprez and former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman, are also anti-abortion. The election is widely seen as a tossup, with either party able to capture the governor's office."

Marc Holtzman is in hot water over his comments about Mayor Hickenlooper and Denver, according to the Denver Post [January 18, 2006, "Ex-councilor quits Holtzman's camp"]. Yesterday Ed Thomas (former Denver City Councilman and candidate for Auditor) quit the campaign.

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

6:26:59 AM

Gay marriage amendment?
Pastor Ted Haggard from Colorado Springs is pushing a state constitutional amendment that will define marriage as between a man and a woman but not allow domestic partnerships, according to the Denver Post [January 18, 2006, "Gay-marriage foes unite"]. From the article, "The group, calling itself Coloradans for Marriage, intends to back an amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman and go no further, said the Rev. Ted Haggard of Colorado Springs, president of the National Association of Evangelicals...

"Though specific ballot language is still being drawn up, the common ground over the scope is a significant step toward making Colorado the latest gay-marriage battleground. Gay-marriage bans have passed in all 18 states that have voted on them in recent years, and 11 others are expected to make state ballots this year..."

"Haggard argued that the institution of marriage deserves constitutional protection and that civil unions are a matter for the state legislature."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

6:15:27 AM

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