June 04, 2015 11:43 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Thursday (June 4)

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• by: Colorado Pols

After a seven-day layoff, the NBA Finals finally kick off tonight. 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…

► Let’s investigate! Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner want the Government Accountability Office to open an investigation into what went wrong with the still-under-construction Aurora VA Hospital (even though the GAO has already done this). Maybe they should ask Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) to investigate something; after all, Coffman is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee.

► State Senator Ellen Roberts (R-Durango) is considering a run for U.S. Senate (or Congress), but the more she talks, the more problems she creates for herself.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► The Colorado Independent considers whether Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont will lose its charter for refusing to allow a valedictorian to talk about being gay in his commencement speech.

► Congress takes a vote on marijuana, as the Denver Business Journal reports:

The U.S. House of Representatives [on Wednesday] approved an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill denying the use of federal funds to interfere with medical cannabis patients or providers in states where medical marijuana is legal.

The measure passed by a margin of 242 to 186 that included more than 65 Republicans, according to a release.

An amendment proposed by Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, would have extended the same protections to non-medical retail marijuana businesses and consumers in states where adult use has been legalized, but the measure failed 206 to 222

Colorado Springs Republican Doug Lamborn was the only member of Colorado’s House delegation to cast a “no” vote.

► If the legalization of marijuana is a key issue for you, then you’re going to want to pay particular attention to the 2016 Presidential election.

► Congressman Ken Buck (R-Greeley) thinks convicted felons should still be allowed to own a gun, for some reason.

► As expected, Gov. John Hickenlooper vetoed two bills that sought to restrict the use of red-light and speed cameras.

► The Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in a case arguing that Colorado is violating the law by not doing more to follow the guidelines of Amendment 23, the school-funding measure approved by voters in 2000.

► The Women’s Lobby of Colorado released its legislative scorecard on Wednesday.

► Politico takes a look at potential choices for Vice-President should Hillary Clinton end up as the Presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Texas Gov. Rick Perry has formally entered the clown car that is the Republican field for President in 2016.

► Is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush really running for President? Of course he is, which is why he should probably stop breaking the law.

►  Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has proposed a tax increase. The move was all but inevitable since Brownback has systematically bankrupt the state will ill-advised tax cuts.

ICYMI

► Comedian/magician Penn Jillette watched the campaign kickoff videos for a number of Presidential candidates…and came away surprised that he liked Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders the best of the bunch.

► Wisconsin Gov. and Republican Presidential candidate Scott Walker really doesn’t like bicycles. It sounds like Walker has been talking to Dan Maes.

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