The big story this week is CAP4K, Governor Ritter's cornerstone education reform package, which quietly passed and awaits the Governor's signature. The legislature adjourned one day early, having failed to reform TABOR and having failed to implement some minor policy changes the governor asked for. Now, the insurance bill was pretty major, but is this session a win or a loss for Colorado Democrats?
So long to some big names in Colorado politics:
The session also ended on a sad note for some lawmakers because they won't be returning next year. Among them include several leaders from both chambers on both sides of the aisle.
In addition to Romanoff, they include House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder; Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver; House Speaker Pro Tem Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge; and Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs.
With the primaries effectively over, every Colorado Democrat is asking the same thing: What is Mark Udall waiting for? Is there a Udall-Ritter-Salazar axis angling for something in return? Are they just trying to prevent any Denver unpleasantness? There are at least 5 superdelegate votes hanging out there from Colorado (Udall, Ritter, 2 Salazars and Waak). What's more, Obama NEEDS Colorado.
The Reverend John Hagee is a staunch backer of John McCain. He's also a nutjob that claims that the Catholic Church is the "whore of Babylon." What effect will this have on Colorado Latino/as, already sore from Douglas Bruce's "illiterate peasants" jibe? Is this an opening for Colorado Democrats? Are they bold enough to use this opening?
Much more over at Squarestate.net