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, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) reacted to the Trump administration’s decision to reduce the size of two national monuments, Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante – the largest reduction in protected federal land in the nation’s history. “This year we’ve seen a concerted effort by the Trump administration to roll back federal protections of public lands and even to devolve certain federal lands to state or local control. This type of attack on our public l... 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

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter is throwing his annual open house for constituents next weekend at his Lakewood district office. The Arvada Democrat and his staff will be on hand to discuss the congressional office’s available services and resources, his office said in an announcement. Refreshments will be served. The open house is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 2, at Perlmutter’s office inside the Golden Hill Office Center, 12600 W. Colfax Ave., in Lakewood. Constituents are urged to R... Read more

When Kale Lacroux and his business partner announced in June that they were applying for a medical marijuana retail license for property they have owned in downtown Basalt for a decade, it seemed innocuous enough. After all, medical marijuana has been legal in Colorado since 2010, when voters approved Amendment 20 by a 56 percent to 46 percent margin. In 2012, state voters passed Amendment 64, which legalized recreational cannabis, by almost the same margin. At this time, pot — in either recreat... Read more

Republican congressional leadership is blocking consideration of a measure to allow marijuana businesses to deposit their profits in banks. Many financial institutions are currently afraid to serve cannabis businesses that are legal in a growing number of states because of ongoing federal prohibition and the associated risk of running afoul of money laundering and drug laws. As a result, many marijuana growing, processing and retail operations carry out business on a cash-only basis, making them... Read more

Nov. 16--WASHINGTON -- Among the Republicans in Colorado's congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Ken Buck is the one most likely to oppose a far-reaching tax plan that's scheduled for a vote Thursday in the U.S. House. The two-term lawmaker from Windsor was one of just 20 Republicans to oppose a related budget bill that passed the House last month, and Buck said he might vote against the tax measure for a similar reason -- its impact on the national debt and deficit. "The problem I have with this ... Read more