March 18, 2015 11:39 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Wednesday (March 18)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Okay, Leprechauns, that’s enough. Go away now. It’s time to Get More Smarter with Colorado Pols. If you think we missed something important, please include the link in the comments below (here’s a good example).

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► The Long Bill is coming! The Long Bill is coming!

No, it’s not! But it will be! From the Denver Post:

The much-awaited introduction of the state budget bill may be delayed up to a week to give the Joint Budget Committee more time to answer pressing spending questions and adjust for the next fiscal forecast.

Senate President Bill Cadman and House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst — along with the chambers’ respective Republican and Democratic leaders — agreed to waive the March 23 legal deadline for the spending bill, known in legislative parlance as the long bill.

The new deadline is March 30, though it may get introduced sooner if budget writers finish their work faster. The remaining budget schedule — with final negotiations expected to end April 10 — are likely also delayed by a week.

► Governor John Hickenlooper supports SB-215, a school reform bill aimed at reducing student testing. As Fox 31’s Eli Stokols reports, Hick also made his position clear on prior reforms:

Hickenlooper sought to show broad consensus around reducing the number of assessments for students and teachers while maintaining high academic standards across the state.

He also drew a line in the sand on a related issue, implying that he would likely veto any measure that includes changes to the reforms passed under 2009’s Senate Bill 191 requiring that a teacher’s effectiveness by determined in large part by their students’ demonstrated achievement.

With the Republican senate president and Democratic Speaker of the House behind him, Hickenlooper called the education reforms adopted as a result of S.B. 191 “essential reforms.”

 Get even more smarter after the jump…

SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Cost estimates for the new VA Hospital building in Aurora continue to rise. The newest figure is $1.73 billion. With a ‘b’.

► Here’s a guy whose endorsement you really, really don’t want.

► The construction defects bill is defective.

► Are you an “accidental news junkie?” If you’re reading this, you can probably strike “accidental” from that sentence.

► Echo. Echo. Echo. Echo.

► Senator Cory Gardner delivered his “maiden speech” on the Senate floor yesterday, which is apparently a thing.

► The so-called “Parent’s Bill of Rights” is no more. Now, can someone please sit down with the Neville Nutters and explain the proper use of an apostrophe?

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► If you picked March 18th, you win the pool! Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock stopped spending money long enough to announce his resignation from Congress. Apparently, none of his colleagues give a shit.

► Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) are going after Colorado Springs Mayoral candidate John Suthers.

► Fox 31’s Eli Stokols has some thoughts on how Colorado politics should be covered as he prepares to depart for Politico.

► A bill to repeal 2013’s gun magazine-limit legislation passed out of the Senate with the support of three Democrats (and Cheri Jahn). The bill will meet its demise in the State House next.

► Colorado snowpack levels are at about 90% of the long-term average. Most of Colorado’s water comes from snowmelt; tracking snowpack levels in March and April provide a good estimate of potential droughts or flooding.

ICYMI

► Arrghhh!!! Go away, Pinon Canyon. We’re tired of talking about you.

► Colorado’s unemployment rate is holding steady at its lowest level in 7 years. Your mother called; she said to go get a job.

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