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Home Archives for Colorado Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Hypocritical Attacks from Opponents of Amendment 49 and Amendment 54

No doubt the political season is upon us, and the hypocrisy of large special interest groups is on display. Nowhere is this more true in our state than with the political group Protect Colorado's Future. Their spokesman said in an interview last week with Channel 7:"When you have these out-of-state, or narrow corporate interests trying to divide Coloradans, it's bad for all Colorado," said Jess Knox, wearing a pin that says, "No on 47, 49 and 54." So Protect Colorado's Future wants to make a big deal out of "out-of-state" campaign funds? Well, as Face The State points out today:It’s no secret that out-of-state money is flooding Colorado from both sides. In the unions’ case, the out-of state money is coming from the pockets of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: 9News, Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, ballot fight, CBS4Denver, Channel 7, clean government, Colorado, deceptive advertising, Ethical Standards, Ethical Standards initiative, Face the State, hypocrisy, Independence Institute, Jess Knox, lobbyists, narrow interests, no-bid contracts, out-of-state, political season, power, privilege, Protect Colorado's Future, right-to-work, special interest groups, spokesman, Truth Test, union workers, worker freedom

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter’s Judicial Hubris Continues As Anti-Taxpayer Case Proceeds

Three months ago I asked the question: "What does Bill Ritter know about the Supreme Court to gamble taxpayer dollars?" Yesterday, the same sort of hubris was on display, following the oral arguments that were held before the state's highest court to hear Gov. Ritter's appeal in defense of his unconstitutional property tax hike. The Denver Post reports:Ritter's office has downplayed the need for any contingency plans in the event the high court throws out the mill-levy freeze. Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Ritter, gave a low-key response. "This is a complex case, and it is now in the hands of the court," Dreyer said. "We appreciate that the court heard oral arguments so quickly, and we look forward to the court's decision so we can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Colorado Supreme Court, contingency plans, Denver Post, dreaming, Evan Dreyer, hubris, mill levy "freeze", partisanship, property tax hike, state constitution, statehouse, taxpayer dollars, Taxpayer's Bill of Rights

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

“My Mom is Voting for Trig’s Mom”: Scene from this AM’s Sarah Palin Rally

Over at People's Press Collective last night, El Presidente posted the picture and story of an Alaskan couple temporarily displaced to Colorado:The attached photo is from a young couple from Anchorage, Alaska; here in Denver to have their special needs baby. The mother, Megan, said a few weeks ago she spoke with Gov. Palin about special needs babies for about ten minutes. They are so excited about her that they’re now volunteers for this rally! Megan will deliver their special needs son and then he will be cared for at Denver’s Children’s Hospital. Megan had a little blue baby outfit that said, “My mom is voting for Trig’s mom!” and both Megan and her husband were proudly wearing their Palin t-shirts, which they had ordered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Arvada, camera, Colorado, Denver Children's Hospital, El Presidente, Energy, enthusiasm, expectant mother, Internet, Jeffco Fairgrounds, Libby Szabo, lipstick, local candidate, My mom is voting for Trig's mom, Peoples Press Collective, photographer, political environment, rally, refreshing, Republican politics, Sarah Palin, Slapstick Politics, soccer mom, special needs baby, state senator, T-shirts, The Daily Blogster, Westminster

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

In Swing State Colorado, Obama’s “don’t have the votes in Congress” Resonates

Remember a couple weeks ago, Barack Obama's infamous response to "rumors" that he plans "to take away your guns." The junior Illinois Senator said: "I believe in the Second Amendment... you have nothing to fear from an Obama administration... And by the way, here’s another thing you’ve got to understand. Even if I wanted to take it away, I couldn’t get it done. I don’t have the votes in Congress." As ABC News blogger Jake Tapper points out:That "I don't have the votes in Congress" line has ricocheted around the country… Let's take an extreme hypothetical to make a point. Can you imagine a candidate saying something egregious as: "Why, of course, I'm against legalizing the international child kidnapping trade. And by the way, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, Second Amendment Tagged With: ABC News, absurd case, anti-gun record, Barack Obama, blogger, child kidnapping, Colorado, Congress, gun rights, GunBanObama.com, I don't have the votes in Congress, Illinois Senator, international, Jake Tapper, John McCain, major challenge, National Rifle Association, rumors, Sarah Palin, Second Amendment, sex traffickers, shanghai, swing state, voting bloc

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

With Apologies to Fido, Lassie, and All of Loyal, Trustworthy, Canine-Kind

Okay, this one made me laugh. When I read the liberal wag's op-ed, I nearly fell out of my chair. Now, there's no need to glorify his work with a link or even a free Google mention - especially since, given the site, the link figures to evaporate very soon. Nevertheless, the following paragraph was written under the sub-heading "Bigoted remark":Another senior staff member of the Independence Institute, education policy analyst Ben DeGrow, offered the "analysis" on a Feb. 20 Internet broadcast of RIGHTTALK.COM, that because of [Governor Bill] Ritter’s executive order enabling state employee groups to form partnerships, a variety of unions had "been attracted to the state like opening up a can of dog food and getting your dog to come … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: analogy, Ben DeGrow, bigotry, Bill Ritter, canine-kind, corruption, dog food, education policy analyst, Executive Order, fatcat, Fido, inartful, Independence Institute, labor unions, Lassie, liberal wag, loyal, op-ed, outburst, Partnerships, pension dollars, political causes, restoration, RightTalk, secret ballots, state employee groups, trustworthy, union leaders, workers paychecks

2/7/2026 By Ben 7 Comments

Exclusive Video: DNC Scrubs Free Speech from Pepsi Center Sidewalk

Bringing the Democratic National Convention to town means not only cleaning up the homeless off the streets but also cleaning up any vestiges of apparently offensive speech. One of the capable Peoples Press Collective video journalists caught it on video in front of the Pepsi Center today: "Obama, stop abortion!" ... "Stand for life" - All getting washed away. I doubt there will be any debate inside the Pepsi Center about the Democratic Party's abortion platform. Free speech can be a matter of convenience sometimes. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: abortion, Democratic National Convention, Free Speech, homeless, party platform, Peoples Press Collective, Pepsi Center, pro-life, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Candidate Evie Hudak: “I Support the Entire Democratic Party Platform”

Perhaps the most closely contested state legislative race of 2008 is the battle for Senate District 19 in Arvada and Westminster. But how close would it be if people really knew what Democratic candidate Evie Hudak stood for? Yes, the same Evie Hudak who has a bizarrely condescending view of homeschoolers and parental responsibility in education. A revealing document goes even further, telling us just how much Evie Hudak is attuned to a rigid, Left-leaning ideology - far more than to the interests of everyday people in Senate District 19. On an online questionnaire for the Progressive Democrats of America, Hudak wrote:I support the entire Democratic Party platform. I have supported the issues in previous elections as an active Democrat … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, property rights Tagged With: anti-business, Arvada, balanced coverage, ballot initiatives, Colorado, common-sense candidate, Democratic candidate, Democratic Party platform, Department of Interior, domestic energy exploration, drilling, Education, equal time requirements, Evie Hudak, Fairness Doctrine, free political speech, free religious expression, health insurance, homeschoolers, Left-leaning, legislation, Libby Szabo, lockstep liberal, natural gas leases, no-fault automobile insurance, north Jeffco, online questionnaire, parental responsibility, Partnerships, planks, Progressive Democrats of America, public property, regulations, religious symbols, reporter, rigid ideology, Roan Plateau, Senate District 19, state legislature, Ten Commandments, traditional marriage, Westminster

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Mass Deception in Attacks Against Amendment 49, Amendment 54

This morning Mike Rosen, Colorado's leading radio talk show host, called out the group "Protect Colorado's Future" for deceptive ads run against Amendment 47, Amendment 49, and Amendment 54 on Colorado's ballot this fall. Here's the transcript:CALLER: A fairly deceptive ad running on TV. I've seen it a number of times recently. It's a fireman from Littleton, and the background is sort of set against a real sympathetic figure fighting fires, been doing this for 14 years and, you know, I'm in the same league with nurses, and teachers, and policemen, and all that, and vote against these "deceptive" amendments 47, 49, and 54. He never, they never come right out and say what these amendments are obviously, but - ROSEN: It's a clever tactic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, audio clip, bundling money, clean government, Colorado ballot, deceptive ad, deceptive attacks, Ethical Standards Now, firefighters union, fireman, hollow case, hypocrisy, Littleton, lobbying groups, mass deception, Mike Rosen, nurses, police union, policemen, Protect Colorado's Future, public payroll systems, radio talk show, reforms, right-to-work, special interests, sympathetic figure, teachers, ugly playbook, Unions, workers' rights

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

More Lies Attacking Colorado’s Amendment 47, Amendment 54

Face The State has a great story on a forum hosted by Lefty non-profit groups to "educate" about various initiatives on Colorado's fall ballot. As reported, a spokesman for the well-heeled group Protect Colorado's Future lied directly to the audience about two initiatives his group opposes. First, he deceived attendees about the effects of Amendment 47, the Right-to-Work initiative:“In places where they’ve been successful in passing these laws in other states, there is data that has shown workers make about $5,000 less per year and infant mortality is actually 21 percent higher,” said [spokesman Daniel] Klawitter on Amendment 47, the right-to-work measure. But Kelley Harp, spokesman for the Amendment 47 campaign, questioned … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: "educational" forum, Amendment 47, Amendment 54, ballot initatives, campaign contributions, Daniel Klawitter, deception, earnings, economic development, economic growth, employment, Face the State, government contractors, infant mortality, Kelley Harp, Lefty non-profit groups, lies, no-bid contracts, political campaigns, Protect Colorado's Future, right-to-work

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Peter Blake Chronicles Amendment 49 for the Rocky Mountain News

Peter Blake yesterday wrote a great Rocky Mountain News column about one of the major initiatives on Colorado's statewide November ballot - Amendment 49:As [Jon] Caldara, head of the Independence Institute, likes to put it, government would no longer be able to act as "the bagman for political special interests."... No doubt passage of No. 49 would make it more difficult for unions to collect dues. But Caldara said that in the age of automatic bank transfers, union members can easily arrange to have dues deducted if they want. "Taxpayers don't have to be on the hook for doing the accounting, the bookkeeping and collection work for special interests and their lobbyists." Caldara maintains it's a conflict of interest for, say, school … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Amendment 49, bookkeeping, campaign contributions, clean government, Colorado, conflict of interest, Ethical Standards initiative, Independence Institute, initiative, Jon Caldara, payroll deductions, Peter Blake, Rocky Mountain News, special interests, statewide ballot, union dues

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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

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