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Home Archives for Colorado Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

State Employee Suffers Under Union Executive Order: Where’s Hick?

Coming off this weekend's big Republican State Assembly, we have heard both leading Republican candidates for governor -- Dan Maes and Scott McInnis -- declare the repeal of Bill Ritter's union executive order. I think we all get the point of how the policy is a raw deal for Colorado taxpayers. But what about state employees themselves? Enter Dave Ohmart, with his latest report:In a recent incident in Pueblo, Colorado WINS prevented Sgt. Jeff Hotchkiss, of the Department of Corrections, from participating in a vote that would have affected his work schedule. A few union members, very few, voted to make the correction officers’ work schedule 12 hours per day. The sergeant, and pretty much all other officers, were not allowed to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Labor, liberty, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

2010 Colorado Republican State Assembly Interviews: Special from PPC

Saturday at the Colorado Republican State Assembly I was privileged to conduct two dozen brief interviews of candidates, officials, dignitaries, advocacy groups and even a few activist delegates. Michael Sandoval filmed and edited the interviews, breaking them up into six chunks and posting them last night on the People's Press Collective. Warning in advance: The sound issues were challenging with the loud background noise of the Assembly, so some interviews are easier to hear than others. But I invite you to check them out. If you have limited time, likely the most interesting interview is with newcomer gubernatorial candidate Joe Gschwendtner in video number 5. Others interviewed include: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, liberty, My Life, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

What About Democrat AG Candidate Stan Garnett’s Union PAC Donation?

Lynn Bartels breathlessly reports that Boulder Democratic Attorney General candidate Stan Garnett has sworn off money from political action committees for his campaign. But a search through Garnett's 2007 district attorney campaign finance reports finds a 2007 contribution from the United Food and Commercial Workers. MSM reporters may want to probe a little deeper and ask some questions to discern whether the Democrats' AG candidate has had a moment of conversion or enlightenment (and if so why), or whether he is just another politician putting cynical hypocrisy on display. Can Garnett say with a straight face that labor union dollars don't count as special interest union PAC money? Inquiring minds want to know. It's not exactly a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

Of Recent Lang Sias Endorsements, John McCain, and Poor Voting Histories

Brace yourselves for my "usual thousand words".... Today Lynn Bartels reports that former Congressman Tom Tancredo has thrown his support behind Lang Sias in Colorado's 7th CD Republican primary. Quoting from the press release:In his remarks, Tancredo said of Sias, “Lang will be a great conservative voice in Washington. We talked at length about every issue under the sun - particularly the economy and national security – and he proved himself to be very well-versed and knowledgeable. When you listen to him relate his military background, his experience working with small Colorado businesses and his awareness of international issues, you really get the sense this guy is running for the right reasons.” “Not to mention," continued … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dean Boehler’s Emerging Campaign Shows 2010 Election Uncertainty

Update: For comparison, a video of Ellen Roberts' SD 6 assembly speech also has been posted. It's been a few months since I provided an update of Colorado state senate races. I rated Senate District 6 -- in southwest Colorado, on the other side of the state -- as the number one Republican target, noting with current Rep. Ellen Roberts remaining on pace fundraising with Democrat incumbent Bruce Whitehead that, "This seat remains the closest to an automatic party switch in the fall." But the people of Senate District 6 will have something to say about the matter first. Last Saturday the late-entry campaign of San Miguel County's conservative Dean Boehler took some state political observers by storm by capturing 66 percent of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Denver Post Highlights Poor Voting Record of 7th CD Candidate Lang Sias

A candidate who hasn't voted in the last 10 years wants you to vote for him for Congress? Today's Denver Post article by Lynn Bartels casts more light on Colorado Republican 7th CD candidate Lang Sias:A former Democrat who lives in the 2nd Congressional District and hasn't voted since 2000 is running for Congress in the nearby 7th District — as a Republican. Supporters say Lang Sias' unorthodox political resume, coupled with a stellar military record, makes him the perfect person to run in a season when voters are fed up with establishment insiders. I guess if not participating in the democratic process to suddenly seeking higher office is seen as "unorthodox" -- it's hard to disagree. And the explanation from Sias' campaign manager … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Hickenlooper Loses Edge on Charitable Giving, Exposes Political “Glass Jaw”?

Driving home from the office yesterday evening, listening to the tail end of the Caplis & Silverman Show on 630 KHOW, I could hardly believe my ears as Denver mayor and Democrat gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper assumed an uncharacteristically defensive tone when the hosts pressed him on his refusal to disclose any names of the charitable organizations his personal wealth has supported through the years. As the show's closing music played, Hickenlooper lashed out at the show as biased and indicated he wasn't too interested in coming back on the show again. Complete Colorado has posted the audio. Rossputin provides a great recap and thorough breakdown of the Mayor's "strained" argument that raises more questions about the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Journalism, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Why Can’t Colorado Pick One Deadline to Submit Initiative Petition Signatures?

As many of you know, my Independence Institute boss has taken charge in leading a statewide ballot campaign to exempt Colorado from the kind of mandates imposed on us by Obama Care. What fewer people may realize is the immense challenge it can be to obtain 76,047 valid signatures (which typically requires collecting a much higher number of signatures to make sure you have enough valid ones) to reach the ballot in the first place. The current legal strictures enacted by our state legislature -- including not allowing paid circulators to collect signatures -- make it extra difficult for citizens to petition their government. It's even messier when you consider, as effectively documented by Ballotpedia, that the law contradicts itself in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Health Care, liberty, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Taxpayers for Liberty Update: Can You Hear the Tumbleweeds a-Blowin’?

I promised that I would continue to follow up on the story of the secretive Taxpayers for Liberty (TFL) and its reportedly underhanded tactics in Colorado's U.S. Senate race. For review: Taxpayers for Liberty: Who Is This Group Playing in the U.S. Senate Race? Time to Denounce Taxpayers for Liberty: Sleazy Tactics & Shadowy Group Taxpayers for Liberty Update: Larimer County's Sue Rehg Tells Her Story After my initial investigation, the group sent out a press release to declare it was now active in other states, for the first time providing contact information other than a Denver P.O. Box to reach their executive director Andrew O'Neill -- who we at least confirmed was not a registered voter here in Colorado. I decided to give … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Taxpayers for Liberty: Who Is This Group Playing in U.S. Senate Race?

Update: Scanned copy of the March 5 Taxpayers for Liberty letter posted below. Yesterday I received a strange mailing from a group called Taxpayers for Liberty. (Many of my fellow conservative, politically-active Colorado friends likely received the same.) It's a self-described 501c4 organization with a Denver P.O. Box and an executive director named Andrew O'Neill -- I'm almost positive it's not this Andrew O'Neill. I will take time later today to scan and post the four-page letter, along with the attached questionnaire and reply form, so you can see the mailing for yourself. It looks a lot like your standard political fundraising letter, with short paragraphs and heavy on underlined text and bullet points. Suffice it to say, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

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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
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