State legislators are in overdrive as they’re now one-third of the way through the 75th Colorado General Assembly, with close to 500 items already introduced. The pace is fast and furious, and I am so grateful Colorado Sun legislative reporter Jesse Paul took a time-out from his reporting under the Golden Dome to add his insight on this week’s Colorado Inside Out along with the other “Insiders” Westword Editor Patty Calhoun, Latino Community Foundation of Colorado President & CEO Carlos Martinez and Chris Rourke, principal at Rourke Media.

CO Legislative Session is 1/3 of the way finished. Divisive bill(s) passed out of the Senate this week:

• Senate Bill 5 would change the existing 80-year-old law on labor organizing by nixing a required step labor groups must take before negotiating with a company to impose dues on non-union members. Governor Polis has expressed reservations, and the business community opposes it. Jesse Paul noted that negotiations have stalled, with the business community claiming its offers were rejected. “The union community and the business community have been talking, but apparently, those talks haven’t been very fruitful because there are no amendments that have been offered yet… something’s going to have to change in the House, when the bill heads over there, because otherwise it’s just going to be vetoed right away by the Governor.” Patty Calhoun added, “The Peace Labor Act is the only one of its kind in the country. It’s worked pretty well. The Independence Institute is already considering a ballot measure to counter the bill, if it passes.” Chris Rourke sided with the business community: “Colorado is already struggling with affordability. It’s just one added thing to make it unfriendly to new business.”
• Senate Bill 3 calls for a ban on the manufacturing and sales of semi-automatic weapons, shotguns and pistols that allow for detachable ammunition magazines. Eight amendments were added to the original bill before the 19-15 vote in favor of its passage out of the State Senate. Jesse Paul shared, “I think this gun bill is going to be signed by the Governor. I think that the changes that were made in the Senate were specifically made to appease him.” Carlos Martinez was in support of the gun safety education component of SB3: “It’s kind of like a compromise that’s come out… can we go ahead and provide gun safety education, which is what the NRA also says is ok… so that we keep guns out of the hands of people who are dangerous or who don’t know how to handle a gun.” Chris Rourke does not approve of the legislative attempts to make gun ownership more restrictive: “I feel like a broken record saying the gun laws that are on the books have not stopped gun violence or mass shootings. Jesse had an amazing article where he pointed out the fact that the magazine ban that we have currently in Colorado did nothing to stop the Club Q shooter. So, I see this as a simple chipping away of our Second Amendment right.”
• Also, at the Legislature this week: Now-former State Senator Sonja Jaquez Lewis resigned at 6am Tuesday as an ethic investigation was underway into her alleged mistreatment of staffers. Some had complained the Boulder Senator had them do lawn work at her home and tend bar at campaign events. Before the resignation, allegations of fabricated support letters also surfaced. Jesse Paul: “It’s been playing out for about a year at the Capitol. It’s kind of had a pall over the Senate. People have been hoping for some kind of resolution. I just don’t think you could have written this one… but there’s all these important bills that we’re talking about right now and the folks in Boulder County have been unrepresented because of her decision to resign.” A vacancy committee will now decide who will replace Jaquez Lewis.

President’s Day Protests against the New Administration Across Colorado:

• Patty Calhoun criticized the federal government’s “ready, aim, and fire” approach to layoffs without sufficient consideration of consequences. Jesse Paul says while people may be upset about the federal cuts and layoffs, the protests are also about people demanding Democratic leaders to stand up, even if there’s not much they can do. “Colorado is controlled by Democrats. Congress is controlled by Republicans. And I don’t think Donald Trump, a second term president, cares much about what’s happening at the Capitol in Colorado. So, I’m not sure that’s the most effective way to get through to the folks who are in charge.” But Carlos Martinez defended the protestors: “People have the right to go ahead and come together and be heard. Let’s not forget, the Boston Tea Party was not an afternoon tea. It was a protest that led to our independence of this country.” Chris Rourke defended the work of the Trump Administration: “I’m not necessarily happy about layoffs of public lands workers. I utilize the public lands. I love our public lands. However, I noticed with these protests, there’s a lot of focus on Elon Musk and DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Look, if DOGE can save some money… for every penny they save, it’s a penny less a taxpayer has to pay. We have got spending that is out of control. America has been like a teenager on a spending spree with a credit card that has a high interest rate.”

Denver to Pay $2M for DC Attorney to Represent Mayor Johnston at Congressional Hearing:

• Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is set to testify March 5th at a Congressional hearing regarding the city’s immigration policies. This week, the city council approved a $2 million contract for legal representation with Dana Remus, a former White House attorney in the Biden Administration. All of the Insiders agreed the cost is high but Carlos Martinez said it may be justified: “We elected our elected officials to put policies and laws together and that’s on a local level…now, it a national issue. And if we need DC representation because of this now, then I think we need to go ahead and have that DC representation.” Chris Rourke said Johnston might not be in this situation if it had not been for his past public criticisms of the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans. Patty Calhoun urged Johnston to remind Congress that their inaction on immigration law is at the root of the problem. Jesse Paul brought up how this hearing may be a potentially dangerous situation for Johnston: “The upside for Mike Johnston, personally and politically…is really low. I think the potential for extreme peril is very high… and in terms of his political future, this could be a watershed moment in whatever he wants to do next.”

Restaurant Woes Continue in Denver, and Statewide

• In Denver, Colorado restauranteurs are demanding action from the Johnston administration. Restauranteurs have raised concerns for years about rising costs, lack of people headed downtown to eat and the perception of safety. In the last three years, the number of restaurants in Denver has dropped by 22%. Patty Calhoun: “The city needs to start listening and working faster.” She suggested the city get an ombudsman to help attend to the needs of restaurants.” Carlos Martinez said the city had to be more thoughtful and that it currently lacks a vision and therefore, “has lost its soul.”
• At the legislature, House Bill 1208 calls for rolling back increases to the minimum wage for tipped workers which has more than tripled the costs for restaurants. Jesse Paul acknowledged the passionate momentum on both sides of this issue: “The legislature made the decision to let local municipalities increase their minimum wages by whatever amount they wanted to, and if this bill passes, there’s a pretty good chance that if you are a server, you would see a decrease in your earnings. And it’s very hard to tell people all of a sudden that you’re going to start taking away the money that they’re earning and try and reduce their wages. And so, I think the legislature is going to be really hard pressed to pass this one.”

Sports Fan Choosing Name for NEW Women’s Pro Soccer Team

• Again, my 20-year-old sports fanatic of a daughter gave me an idea for this week’s show. She alerted me to the naming contest underway for Denver’s upcoming professional women’s soccer team. So, I just had to ask the Insiders what they thought of the choices:
  • Denver FC
  • Denver Peak FC
  • Colorado Summit FC
  • Denver Gold FC
  • Denver Elevate FC
  • Colorado 14ers FC