February 22, 2019 11:20 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (February 22)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Snow is coming to the Front Range later today. It’s time to “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…

► House Democrats will vote on Tuesday on a measure rejecting President Trump’s “emergency declaration” for big ‘ol wall building money. From the Washington Post:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement came an hour after a disapproval resolution was filed in the House, and she told reporters on a conference call she would waste no time putting it up for a vote once lawmakers return to Washington next week.

“The president’s act is lawless — it does violence to our Constitution and therefore our democracy,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) said, arguing Trump’s Feb. 15 declaration violated the constitutional balance of powers by undermining Congress’s authority to manage federal expenditures.

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.), who authored the one-page resolution, said he had gathered at least 226 co-sponsors for his measure — more than enough to guarantee House passage. But only one Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, has joined the bill so far.

The disapproval resolution will almost certainly pass in the House, which isn’t what makes this so interesting politically. The fascinating part comes next, because it forces the Republican-held Senate to then hold a floor vote on the same question.

As Chris Cillizza writes for CNN, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and friends like Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) had better prepare for a loonnnggg couple of weeks:

The question before McConnell and his Senate Republican colleagues is whether casting a symbolic vote aimed at sending a message that the legislative branch will not be bullied by the executive branch is worth crossing this President. (The Constitution lays out that the legislative branch is solely charged with appropriating federal funds.)

My guess is that the answer to that question is “no.” But McConnell will be on pins and needles between now and when he secures that 50th “no” vote. *If* he secures that 50th “no” vote.

► There has been much discussion lately about what the public will ultimately get to see as a result of the Mueller investigation. As CNN reports, a key filing due today in the case of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort might spill a whole lot of beans:

It is the last major requisite court filing in Mueller’s longest running case, a sprawling prosecution of the former Trump campaign manager that led investigators to gather exhaustive information about his hidden Cypriot bank accounts, Ukrainian political efforts in Europe and the US and into Manafort’s time on the 2016 presidential campaign.

Prosecutors are set to outline all facts they believe the judge should consider at his sentencing, now set for March 13. That will likely include Manafort’s criminal business schemes, his attempt to reach out to key contacts after his arrest and the lies he told to prosecutors and a grand jury after he agreed to cooperate with the Mueller investigation.

Often, in filings like these, prosecutors will pull together a complete retelling of the defendant’s crimes, convictions and cooperation. Details about Manafort’s cooperation have been especially guarded by prosecutors, since his interviews are a significant part of Mueller’s investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reports that state prosecutors in New York are prepared to file charges against Manfort in the event that President Trump grants him a pardon.

► National Popular Vote legislation is on its way to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis, as Colorado Public Radio reports:

Colorado’s Democrat-controlled legislature approved a bill Thursday to join a compact that wants to tie states’ Electoral College votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

With the final vote needed in the Colorado House, a 34-29 tally, SB 19-042 will head to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis. The Democrat has indicated he will sign it.

► Marshall Zelinger of 9News is in Iowa this weekend to see how Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Denver) and former Governor John Hickenlooper are faring in their early efforts at running for President in 2020. Nic Garcia of the Denver Post is also in Iowa to witness Bennet’s politicking:

“We don’t have to settle for disgraceful politics. We don’t have to settle for being as terrible as Donald Trump,” said Bennet during a house party. “We don’t have to settle for Freedom Caucus tactics — those guys are tyrants. We don’t have to accept that. In fact, we can’t and have this country be what this country really can be.”

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► The 2017 Republican giveaway to rich people tax plan is once again showing that the average American Joe got completely left out of the picture. CBS4 Denver reports on one local woman who just found out she OWES the IRS $8,000 after years of receiving refunds.

► As the Colorado Springs Independent reports, legislation to make it easier for legal marijuana businesses to use banking services is getting another shot in Congress. Jefferson County Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter is one of the lead sponsors of the “SAFE Banking Act.”

► The Denver Post reports on another interesting move by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser:

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has filed a legal brief in support of stronger vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, saying the state recently adopted its own rules because the Trump administration is pushing for weaker ones.

The friend-of-the-court brief Weiser filed Feb. 15 says the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to replace Obama-era rules has left states scrambling. In response, Colorado adopted a standard similar to California’s to boost gas mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the brief says.

The brief supports a lawsuit by California and 17 other states that challenges rolling back rules intended to significantly boost gas mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Weiser made headlines earlier this week in announcing a review of sexual assault allegations that have plagued the Catholic Church.

► Colorado Public Radio reports on an early victory for supporters of so-called “red flag legislation”:

A measure to make it easier for courts to temporarily remove firearms from people who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others has cleared its first hurdle at the Colorado capitol.

A large crowd gathered Thursday to testify on HB 19-1177 before the House JudiciaryCommittee. The people who spoke at the roughly 10 hour hearing were a mix of law enforcement, concerned gun owners and people with personal stories about murder, suicide and lost loved ones. The testimony was also a reminder of how politically charged the passage of stricter gun laws can be in a state where the issue has shaped entire elections.

It was a 7-4 party-line vote to advance the bill to the House Appropriations Committee.

Supporters of the so-called “red flag” measure, which failed in the previous legislative session, say it will save lives and give more tools to law enforcement.

► Colorado’s legislature is considering a measure to regulate plastic straws in restaurants as part of a growing movement to cut down on the amount of plastic waste in our oceans.

► The Western Slope group Club 20 used to be a political power in Colorado. Those days are over, and they aren’t coming back.

► The number of oil and gas spills in Colorado in 2018 was about the same as in 2017.

► The White House has a new explanation for why the Trump campaign couldn’t possibly have colluded with Russia in 2016. Of course, this explanation makes absolutely no sense.

► As Politico reports, White House aides are worried that President Trump could get hoodwinked in next week’s talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. We won’t pretend to act surprised.

Your Daily Dose Of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

► At least your Mayor is not “breaking crime.”

► The New York Times discusses the rise of vote shaming apps — which might not be as bad an idea as you think.

ICYMI

► A conservative radio host in Colorado says that Republicans lied about statistics they presented regarding an overdose-prevention program in their rush to defeat “safe injection site” legislation.

► No, Rep. Perry Buck, the definition of “consent” doesn’t change depending on which county you call home.

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