U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman on Tuesday became the first Republican to urge regulators to delay a vote on net neutrality, which would repeal open internet rules adopted two years ago. In a letter to Ajit V. Pai, the Federal Communications Commission chairman who proposed the rollback, Coffman said that altering the rules “may well have significant unanticipated negative consequences.” He asked Pai to let Congress hold hearings on the issue and pass open internet laws. “As you stated in your dissent to... Read more

Three Western Democrats have joined fifteen Republicans in co-sponsoring a House bill that would move the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management out of Washington, D.C. to one of twelve Western states. The bill calls for shifting the Department of the Interior agency to one of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) signed onto Rep. Scott Tipton’s (R-Colo.) bill in J... Read more

The House of Representatives has voted to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons between states, accomplishing a decades-long firearms lobby goal. The Republican-controlled chamber passed the bill by 231-198, in their first major gun legislation since a 2012 Connecticut school massacre. Republicans said the bill would allow gun owners to travel without having to worry about conflicting state laws. The measure will need a handful of Democrats' support to pass the Senate. To make the Conceale... Read more

Editor's Note: This story was updated 12/7 to correct the year when medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Hawaii (it was 2017), and 12/6 to clarify comments made by Brian Smith, who said that many marijuana businesses were reluctant to open bank accounts because they were hesitant to enter a highly regulated system. State and local officials in places that recently legalized marijuana are bracing for the arrival of a sector that largely runs on cash. They’re anxiously envisioning burglars tar... Read more

DENVER – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 231-198 Wednesday to pass a bill that would allow people with concealed carry permits to carry their weapons into other states where concealed weapons are allowed—though Republican Rep. Ken Buck voted against the measure. Buck, who cosponsored the bill in January that changed before Wednesday's vote, was one of 14 Republicans who voted against the measure, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. He was targeted in NRA emails earlier this week... Read more

Those with concealed carry licenses would be able to carry concealed firearms in other states under a bill passed by the U.S. House. The “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” backed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups, passed 231-198 in the House and now moves to the Senate, where Democrats are expected to block the measure. “Instead of taking up real legislation on assault weapons or bump stocks, House GOP’s bill will let the states with the weakest gun laws control other... Read more

Both sides agree it’s a question of rights but differ sharply whose rights should prevail under the law in a case argued Tuesday before the U.S. Supreme Court — whether it’s the baker and his religious beliefs or the same-sex couple and their right to be treated like any other customers. As the divisive case had its day in court — pitting Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips against the married couple, Charlie Craig and David Mullins — Colorado politicians hewed mainly along partisan lines a... Read more

Colorado’s top Democrats were swift to blast President Donald Trump’s decision Monday to scale back two national monuments in neighboring Utah, calling it a move that puts public lands at risk. “Preserving and expanding our national monuments is keeping in the best traditions of our country,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement. “In Colorado, we value our lands because they are part of our fabric and they strengthen local economies. We hope our leaders can find a way to let monuments rema... Read more

WASHINGTON — Colorado’s environmentalists and Democratic politicians blasted President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he would drastically reduce the size of two wilderness national monuments in Utah. Some asked whether federal land in Colorado would be next. “In Colorado, we value our lands because they are part of our fabric and they strengthen local economies,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement. “We hope our leaders can find a way to let monuments remain and return their foc... Read more

With the current federal appropriations bill set to expire Dec. 8, there’s a new bipartisan call for continuing protection of medical marijuana states. Two congressmen behind a namesake provision for medical cannabis, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-California, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, on Wednesday sent a letter co-signed by 64 of their peers to House and Senate leadership. The letter, addressed to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ry... Read more