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February 22, 2017 12:13 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Wednesday (February 22)

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  • by: Colorado Pols

If George Washington were still alive today, perhaps he would celebrate his birthday in a fashion that befits “National Margarita Day.” Now, let’s see if we can’t Get More Smarter. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example). If you are more of a visual learner, check out The Get More Smarter Show.

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► Colorado’s ongoing budget problems and the need for TABOR reform has not gone unnoticed by Republican lawmakers. Unfortunately, GOP leaders at the State Capitol — including Senate President Kevin Grantham — are not at all interested in doing anything about the problem.

 

► Is anybody home at the State Department? As CNN reports, foreign policy experts are concerned about the radio silence from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson:

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made his debut on the international stage over two days in Europe last week — and said less than 50 words in response to press questions, according to pool accounts. On Wednesday, he departs for Mexico — a trip Americans first learned of from the Mexican press…

…That silence may reflect ongoing upheaval in the Trump White House, administration power struggles, Tillerson’s personal inclinations or the growing pains of a former ExxonMobil CEO adjusting to running a governmental organization. Regardless of the reason, diplomats, analysts and current and former State Department officials say there are risks if the dead air continues.

A voiceless State Department, they say, allows other countries to set the narrative about US policy and events, unsettling allies and potentially shortchanging US businesses, citizens and interests overseas.

 

► A 9News “Truth Test” uncovers something you probably won’t be surprised to learn: Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) does not have anything resembling a plan for the repeal and/or replacement of Obamacare, despite what you may have heard from some paid media ads running in the Denver area. More paid media could be in the works as well, as the Washington Post reports:

The American Action Network, founded by veteran GOP fundraisers to support the speaker’s agenda, will spend $2.2 million on TV and digital buys over the next two weeks to promote GOP efforts related to overhauling the law across two dozen media markets. That’s in addition to $5.2 million already spent on Obamacare-related advertising since the start of the year…

…Politically, lawmakers are trying to soothe fears among voters that they are going to scrap the law without a clear roadmap for what comes next. While some of the opposition efforts at town hall meetings are being organized by progressive outside groups, there is also organic anxiousness. Our reporters who have fanned out across the country report back that many people they’re interviewing have never before attended these sorts of meetings.

Meanwhile, a new poll shows that SUPPORT for Obamacare continues to rise in the United States.

 

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Colorado lawmakers continue to work toward a plan for funding much-needed transportation infrastructure improvements. As John Frank writes for the Denver Post:

The problem remains how to pay for an estimated $9 billion in transportation needs in the next decade, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers appear hesitant to publicize a plan that is expected to increase taxes and redirect dollars from other current programs.

Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham and Democratic House Speaker Crisanta Duran repeatedly vowed at the forum to find “common ground” without offering specifics 40 days into the 120-day session.

The conversation left an audience of business leaders and local officials optimistic but underwhelmed.

“Optimistic but underwhelmed.” That phrase could sum up a lot of things right now.

 

► The White House is placing Kellyanne Conway in TV timeout after several disastrous television appearances in recent weeks.

 

► Thousands of pages of documents have been uncovered highlighting strong ties between new EPA head Scott Pruitt and the oil and gas industry.

 

► What has President Trump being doing in his first month in office? The Washington Post answers that question very specifically, including an estimate that Trump has devoted 13 hours to Twitter alone.

 

► The annual Conservative Political Action Conference (or CPAC) kicks off on Thursday under a cloud of alt-right maneuvering. From Politico:

It turned out that — according to American Conservative Union board member Ned Ryun — Marlow’s name was a placeholder for Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart editor and professional provocateur who lost both his job and his CPAC speaking slot this week after a video of him appearing to endorse pedophilia was posted online.

“We disinvited him over pedophilia,” Ryun said. “The debate I wanted to have, and which [ACU Chairman Matt] Schlapp didn’t want to have, is why are we inviting somebody who calls himself a fellow traveler of the alt-right?”

“We disinvited him over pedophilia.” That’s a real quote, ladies and gentlemen.

 

► Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett is among the opponents of a new proposed law that require U.S. peace officers to be American citizens as a matter of employment. From the Boulder Daily Camera:

Senate Bill 120, which is sponsored by State Sen. Bob Gardner, was passed by the Republican-led state Senate but has gotten criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

Garnett said he is among those who oppose the bill.

“I think it is really silly,” Garnett said. “It was misguided and obviously put forward more for political reasons than because it would be helpful to law enforcement.”

 

Fox 31 in Denver reports on a story we’re seeing regularly: There aren’t a lot of town hall meetings in Colorado hosted by members of our Congressional delegation. As the Greeley Tribune reports, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Greeley) plans to hold a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday. 

 

Literally dozens of people turned out on President’s Day in Northern Colorado to demonstrate support for President Trump. 

 

Legislative roundup!

 

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-Jefferson County) will host a medal ceremony for a 99-year-old Lakewood Veteran on Friday. From a press release:

On Friday, February 24, 2017, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) will host a medal ceremony for Lakewood resident, Buford Johnson. Private First Class Johnson is a 99-year old Veteran who served in the U.S. Army from June 1943 to September 1945. The military medals that will be presented to PFC Johnson include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge, 1st Award; Marksman Badges – Expert Sharpshooter with the Marksman Clasp; and an Honorable Service Lapel, WWII Pin.

 

► Scientists say they have discovered at least seven “earth-sized planets” that are just about 40 million light years-worth of hops, skips, and jumps from Earth. From CNN:

The seven exoplanets were all found in tight formation around an ultracool dwarf star called TRAPPIST-1. Estimates of their mass also indicate that they are rocky planets, rather than being gaseous like Jupiter. Three planets are in the habitable zone of the star, known as TRAPPIST-1e, f and g, and may even have oceans on the surface.

Ultracool.

 

ICYMI

► Can we get a “Hell, NO!” from the congregation? Nobody in Denver wants quarterback Jay Cutler to return to the Broncos.

Don’t forget to check out The Get More Smarter Show. You can also Get More Smarter by liking Colorado Pols on Facebook!

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