January 06, 2016 12:48 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Wednesday (Jan. 6)

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

We’re one week out from the opening day of the Colorado legislature. We’re downright giddy with anticipation. That’s right, giddy. 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…

► State Sen. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) is bringing the national gun safety issue back to Colorado, where we have dealt with more than our share of mass shootings in recent years. Meanwhile, Congressman Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) — and Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) — has been spouting off nonsense about the legality of President Obama’s Executive Order to close some background check loopholes for gun sales.

In short, Carroll has wisely re-focused a national story back on her home city of Aurora, in effect “out-Auroraing” Coffman as they both campaign for the CD-6 seat in 2016.

► This feels like it is worth repeating after so many Republican officials went out of their way in an attempt to make President Obama’s Executive Order on guns sound more extreme than it really was; every single President, including George Washington, has issued “executive orders.” There’s no serious question about whether or not this is legal.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► North Korea claims to have tested a hydrogen bomb, but the United States says there is little evidence to suggest that this actually happened.

► Colorado Springs Republican Peggy Littleton continues to threaten to run for U.S. Senate in 2016. If she does run, Littleton has the support (apparently) of onetime HD-23 candidate Nate Marshall. If you were drawing up a list of endorsements to seek out, let’s just say that most people would put Marshall’s name near the very bottom of the last page.

► Colorado Springs Rep. Gordon “Dr. Chaps” Klingenschmitt, who is running in a very competitive Republican Primary for state senate in 2016, continues to find ways to flank himself on the right. Dr. Chaps is apparently joining up with #YallQaeda and believes that a judge who ruled against two militiamen who broke federal laws should be hanged. Ugh.

► Thorton Rep. Joe Salazar thinks that oil and gas companies should be paying for damage from earthquakes that may be caused by fracking.

► The Colorado Springs Independent takes a look at the questionable resume of Colorado’s new Education Commissioner, Richard Crandall:

Interestingly, Crandall was previously the Director of the Wyoming Department of Education before he was booted out of office by the Wyoming Supreme Court. Crandall was appointed in summer of 2013, following state legislation that took oversight of the education department from an elected superintendent (Cindy Hill) and gave it to an appointed director (Crandall).

But when she found herself stripped of her powers, Hill sued and won. Hill got her job back and Crandall was sent packing in summer 2014.

Crandall, a moderate Republican, also served as an Arizona state legislator from 2007-2013, where he was the education chairman in both the state Senate and House.

We don’t know enough about Crandall’s past to really question his bonafides for this gig, but how in the hell was he the sole finalist for a job that pays $255k a year?

► Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Denver attorney Frances Koncilja to the Colorado Public Utility Commission.

► Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is mad at Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for “stealing his idea” to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Yeah, that was your idea, Hairlord. Trump is going on the offensive against Cruz by questioning the Texas Senator’s dual-citizenship in Canada.

► Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew was in Denver on Tuesday to talk about Treasury stuff.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Florida Atlantic University has finally fired James Tracy, the professor who called the Sandy Hook school shootings a “hoax” and openly feuded with family members of the victims.

► Emma Salazar has died at the age of 94. Emma was the matriarch of the Colorado political family that produced Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and former Congressman John Salazar.

ICYMI

► Several Colorado lawmakers, past and present, were on hand in Washington D.C. on Tuesday for an event surrounding President Obama’s Executive Order expanding background checks for some gun purchases. Kudos to those Colorado officials who have worked hard over the years to advance the cause of gun safety.

Get More Smarter by liking Colorado Pols on Facebook!