In early January, the United States House of Representatives passed a large rules package to govern in-house procedures for the 115th Congress. That might not seem like juicy news, but one particular item in the package could set up for big changes in the American West, including Colorado. In passing the rules package, the House changed how they value federally owned public lands. Under the new rules, the House will not consider sales of these lands—from National parks and forests to swaths of B... Read more

Since its passage almost seven years ago, Republicans have campaigned on the promise of repealing the Affordable Care Act. But now in power in Washington and the Colorado Senate, GOP lawmakers are realizing the challenge of fulfilling that pledge, as Democrats and like-minded activists have begun a counterattack to protect President Barack Obama’s signature law. The anti-repeal campaign has included several rallies in Colorado, with much of the pressure aimed at U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, an Aurora... Read more

When Julie Piller arrives Saturday at the Women’s March on Washington, the Lafayette resident plans to bring a small gift for her fellow demonstrators: about 30 pink hats knitted in the last several weeks by her crew, the Skein Gang. Attached to each one will be a note requesting that the stranger who receives the pink hat send a message back to the Colorado circle of friends. The hope, Piller said, is to link the activists in Washington with like-minded folks in Lafayette. “That is really every... Read more

DENVER – As handfuls of Democratic Congressional representatives say they plan to boycott Donald Trump’s inauguration, Colorado’s all say they will be attending. Many Democratic members of Congress started saying over the weekend that they wouldn’t attend the inaugural ceremony, which is a tradition but not a requirement, after a spat between Georgia Rep. John Lewis and the president-elect. Rep. Lewis said in an interview late last week he wouldn’t attend the inauguration after he questioned Tru... Read more

DENVER -- Hundreds of people showed up at a rally Sunday in an effort to stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Diana DeGette hosted the rally, along with colleagues in the federal and state legislatures and Colorado experts in health care. Organizers said there were more than 280 inside the meeting and more than 200 others listening on a speaker set up outside. People like Corletta Hithon, a home health provider, said she would lose Medicaid coverage for several pre-existing condition... Read more

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette and other Democratic state and federal lawmakers rallied Obamacare supporters Sunday, urging them to fight against repeal of the law and promising to protect it from Republicans bent on scrapping it. Repealing the law could strip health care from previously uninsured people who benefited from the 2014 launch of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, DeGette said. Republicans in Congress are preparing to repeal the law but so far have presented no plan to replace it.... Read more

A joint session of Congress certified the electoral vote Friday afternoon, officially ending the 2016 presidential race and electing Donald Trump the next president of the United States. Trump garnered 306 electoral votes in the election but two faithless electors defected, giving him a total of 304, more than enough to pass the mark of 270 needed to win the presidency. Two Trump electors from Texas cast their ballots instead for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Sen. Ron Paul. Hillary Clinton wa... Read more

Washington (AP) -- The end of the 2016 presidential election is at hand. A joint session of Congress is set to count the Electoral College votes on Friday, a traditional ending to a most unconventional presidential election. Barring something bizarre happening, Republican Donald Trump will be declared the winner and will be sworn in at his inauguration on Jan. 20. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the vote count in his role as president of the Senate. All 538 electors met in their respe... Read more

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado won’t be pursuing a last-minute challenge to Donald Trump’s victory after support for the idea failed to materialize in the Senate, House aides said. Perlmutter and other House Democrats this week raised the possibility of filing an objection to Trump’s win when Congress meets Friday to certify the results of the Nov. 8 election. But to do so, they needed the support of at least one U.S. senator — which his office said didn’t happen. While the las... Read more

Several House Democrats are weighing a formal challenge to Donald Trump’s election on Friday, when Congress meets in joint session to certify Trump’s Electoral College victory. Reps. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Bobby Scott of Virginia, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan and Jamie Raskin of Maryland are among a group of Democrats eyeing challenges. Members have the right to lodge those protests when Congress officially counts the electoral votes on Friday. But for the protests to have any effect on the... Read more