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Home Archives for Colorado Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Democrat Leader Ken Gordon Let Off Hook for Anti-Vietnam Vet Slur

When it comes to making over-the-top comments in the Colorado state legislature, Face The State reports that Doug Bruce is in good company these days:On the Senate floor Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, outraged fellow lawmakers by using a debate over a joint resolution in support of Armenian Genocide Day of Remembrance to launch a political attack. Gordon specifically suggested that American soldiers calling Vietnamese citizens "gooks" during the Vietnam War was akin to the dehumanizing tactics (MP3) used by those guilty of the genocide of American Indians or jews [sic] in World War II. But there are four key differences between the Doug Bruce and Ken Gordon incidents from what I see: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, World Events Tagged With: Doug Bruce, Face the State, John Ingold, Ken Gordon, Mike Kopp, Rocky Mountain News, Shawn Mitchell, Steve Ward, Vietnam

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Meeting Erick Erickson and a Little Colorado Blogging Reciprocation

Not so long ago, when I attended Samsphere in Chicago, I made quite a few new good blogging acquaintances. Most of them I only became aware of their blog through the Sam Adams Alliance's introduction of the list of participants. But one of a few who I already knew by reputation was Erick Erickson, the managing editor at RedState - one of the most well-trafficked and successful conservative websites around. I was glad for the opportunity to meet Erick and to discover that he wasn't a self-absorbed self-promoter, but rather a very down-to-earth guy with a passion for building the conservative, limited government cause. He talked to the crew about applying the spirit of servant leadership to blogging, and it's something he clearly believes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Erick Erickson, Joshua Sharf, Red State, Rima Barakat Sinclair, Samsphere

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Pueblo Chieftain: “We agree” with Clean Government Payroll Initiative

A ballot initiative proposed for the November 2008 Colorado ballot (and supported by the Independence Institute, where I work) has earned its third major newspaper endorsement, still more than six months out from the election. From the Pueblo Chieftain today:THE INDEPENDENCE Institute, a Golden-based think tank, is circulating petitions for a ballot initiative that would stop governmental agencies from collecting union dues from their employees. In 2001, then-Gov. Bill Owens signed an executive order that stopped the payroll deduction for unionized state employees. Soon after Bill Ritter’s election, the new governor issued a new executive order to resume the automatic deductions. Jon Caldera, president of Independence, says the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: ballot initiative, Colorado, Colorado Springs Gazette, ethical standards for public payroll, Independence Institute, Jon Caldara, Pueblo Chieftain, Rocky Mountain News

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What are Colorado Dems Hiding?

Based on stories like this one at Colorado Senate News today, it's all but apparent that Colorado Democrats have no real interest in open, transparent government:A Republican staffer was ejected from a Senate Democrat caucus meeting today at an eatery near the Capitol, raising concerns by Republican leaders that the ruling party might be debating public policy in private--a violation of state law. By law, when two or more members of the General Assembly meet to discuss legislative business--regardless of the location--other members of the public cannot be refused entry. There are no exceptions for members of an opposing political party or the news media. The meeting had been announced on the Senate floor today by Democrat Sen. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Colorado Senate News, Democrat Party, law-breaking, open government, State board of education

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Thanks, Sam!

The official business of Samsphere Denver is over. Thanks to the Sam Adams Alliance for putting on a great event, the repercussions of which may be felt in Colorado for a long time to come. The Left won't be sleeping so well tonight. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Sam Adams Alliance, Samsphere Denver

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Sharing Samsphere Link Love

Promoted with more updates: El Presidente has posted some key video excerpts, and (under imaginary threat of compulsion) here is a post written by one of Jon Caldara's minions. Follow-ups on Samsphere Denver: - Brad Jones' Buzz at Face The State - Bob Agard - Randy Ketner, Night Twister If you were at Samsphere Denver and posted on the topic, but I overlooked you, please drop an email or a comment with a link to your post, and I'll put it up. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Bob Agard, Face the State, Jon Caldara, Night Twister, Samsphere Denver, Slapstick Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Poster Child for Reform in Colorado Government Contracting Ethics

In today's Denver Post:Colorado State Fair champion Sen. Abel Tapia has spent eight years in the Capitol corralling money for the fiscally faltering enterprise while his engineering firm received nearly half a million dollars in fair contracts, records show. As the Pueblo Democrat rose to power atop an influential budgeting committee, so too rose the fortunes of his district's fair and the price tags on the contracts he received. Nothing known to be illegal happened in this case, and I'm not writing this to throw stones at Sen. Tapia. Rather than rehashing the details here, you can peruse the Post article. It just points to a problematic loophole in Colorado government ethics that needs to be resolved - because as the article points … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: ballot initiative, Denver Post, no-bid contracts, Sen. Abel Tapia

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

State Democrats’ Budget Extravagance Out of Touch with Man on the Street

The clever crew at Colorado Senate News took questions about the Democrats' state budget to the man on the street and got some predictably disgruntled responses:Just under $700,000 to give more prison inmates their GEDs? How about another $20,000 for the state's wine promotions board so it can promote--what else--wine? Or, $676,000 for salary hikes to the state agency that runs Medicaid health coverage for the poor? And then there's $150,000 in legal fees to defend the governor against a lawsuit charging him with pushing through last year's property-tax hike in violation of the state constitution. Those and other line items in the Democrat-authored 2008-09 budget, now pending before the Senate, were put to the public today when … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: bloated state budget, Colorado Senate News, Democrat Party, property tax hike

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

After Political Prosecution, Cory Voorhis Still Able to Say “God Bless America”

In his latest Human Events column, Colorado's own Ross Kaminsky highlights the amazing character of Cory Voorhis, the politically-targeted federal immigration agent who last week was exonerated in a case that stems back to the 2006 election:Cory Voorhis looked me in the eye and said “God Bless America”. It was a remarkable statement from a man whose life has been turned upside down by a justice system which was hijacked by politicians and turned loose on this unsung American hero. When I said to Voorhis that it was remarkable he still felt that way, he pointed to his American flag lapel pin and said, still choked up from the news five minutes earlier, “This is what I stand for.” Five minutes earlier, at about 1:45 PM on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Cory Voorhis, God bless America, Gov. Bill Ritter, Human Events, politically-motivated, Ross Kaminsky

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Ritter Throws Weight Behind Big Labor, Says: “Holster Your Weapons”

Yesterday we learned that Big Labor has pulled out some more big guns to blast a hole in Colorado's economy, in the form of five new anti-business ballot initiatives. Supporters of right-to-work - who are well on their way to getting their measure on the ballot - and union bosses - who appear to be calling their bluff - may be loading up for a real duel, High Noon-style. It didn't take long for Governor Bill Ritter to come riding into town, telling everyone to "holster your weapons":Hoping to avoid an ugly confrontation between business and labor this fall, Gov. Bill Ritter wants the two sides to withdraw their competing ballot measures, his spokesman said Tuesday. "The governor believes the best thing for all of Colorado would be if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Big Labor, Democratic National Convention, Gov. Bill Ritter, John Straayer, right-to-work initiative

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Inside

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

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Completing the Blogroll

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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