April 02, 2015 11:11 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Thursday (April 2)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Only 364 more days until you can use that April Fool’s Day prank you just thought up last night. 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…

► They don’t call it “the Long Bill” because they are being ironic. The State Senate gave initial approval to a $25 billion state budget after more than 6 hours of bickering. Republicans insist on continuing to debate the issue of immunizations for children.

► California is drier than a sandpaper sandwich, and Gov. Jerry Brown is calling for mandatory water restrictions for the first time in state history. Ten bucks says water conservation is going to be the issue of the summer.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Indiana legislators announced this morning that they have come up with a “revised” religious freedom law that explicitly prohibits discrimination against LGBT folks. But does it really mean anything? As Politico reports:

According to the conference committee report, the RFRA legislation explicitly prohibits businesses from refusing “to offer or provide services, facilities, use of public accommodations, goods, employment, or housing” to anyone based on their race, color, religion, ethnicity, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or military service. The report also makes clear that the law would not set up a defense for civil action or criminal prosecution for refusal of services and does not negate any rights that are currently under the state constitution.

[House Speaker Brian] Bosma said it is unrealistic at this time to expect lawmakers to implement LGBT protections in the state’s civil-rights law.

“That’s a huge policy change here,” he told reporters, but adding, “that discussion has begun, whether Hoosiers want to have it or not.”

The new section still exempts churches or other non-profit religious organizations that are exempt from federal income taxes, as well as religious leaders working in that capacity.

► Dr. Chaps will not resign from the legislature. Rep. Gordon “Dr. Chaps” Klingenschmitt did appreciate our April Fool’s Day post, however.

► If all else fails, and it usually does, just blame Democrats! Senator Laura Waters Woods
took to Twitter to complain that Democrats killed one of her budget amendments. Of course, that’s not mathematically possible in a State Senate where Republicans hold a one-seat advantage; eight Republicans also voted NO on the amendment.

Democrats killed the Long Bill amendment that would defund PARCC. Constituents take notice!! #coleg #copolitics

— Senator Woods (@SenLauraWoods) April 1, 2015

► The Western Conservative Summit, hosted annually by Colorado Christian University, might need a bigger room this year; every major GOP Presidential candidate (and Ben Carson!) is scheduled to attend July’s event. 

► Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program will wrap up today.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Colorado lawmakers declined to extend bear hunting season in Colorado. State Rep. J. Paul Brown (R-Montrose) will need to keep his bear-punching arm in good shape.

► Lakewood Democrat Chris Kennedy has filed to run for the HD-23 seat that will be vacated by term-limited Rep. Max Tyler in 2016.

► “I apologize again for our streets,” says outgoing Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach.

ICYMI

► Jack Healy of the New York Times looks at Colorado’s quandary over marijuana taxes and TABOR refund requirements.

► Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham were in Denver yesterday to talk about terrorism and “violent extremism.” The conference on “nonviolent extremism” was across the hall.

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