September 18, 2015 02:05 PM UTC

Get More Smarter on Friday (Sept. 18)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Happy Fiestas Patrias de Chile! 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…

► During Wednesday night’s debate, GOP presidential contender Carly Fiorina dared Democrats to name Hillary Clinton’s “greatest accomplishment.” Friends of “Hillz” are firing back with gusto:

By Harry Reid, Senate Democratic leader.
American foreign policy was stronger when Hillary Clinton left the State Department than when she arrived. She took the reins from a Bush administration that had left America’s reputation deeply damaged and planted the seeds for the foreign policy successes we see today. From the agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, to the landmark normalization of relations with Cuba, nearly every foreign policy victory of President Obama’s second term has Secretary Clinton’s fingerprints on it.

Her accomplishments extend to health care, as well. As First Lady, she helped create and guide through Congress Children’s Health Insurance Program, a key program that brought health care coverage to millions of children. As a Senator, she worked across the aisle to provide full military health benefits to reservists and National Guard members…

Howard Dean is the former governor of Vermont and the former chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Hillary Clinton was the principal author of the sanction on Iran that brought them to the table. We cannot afford any Know Nothings like Carly in the White House.

► Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Martin O’Malley of Maryland was in Colorado yesterday, talking about removing marijuana from the “Schedule I” list of drugs with no redeeming medical use.

► Last night at a rally for GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, questioners in the crowd repeatedly questioned President Barack Obama’s citizenship while Trump (himself a longtime birther) sat back and smiled. This is prompting another round of outrage by more civilized Republicans, in response to which Trump is sitting back and smiling. After all, he’s seen the polls.

► Republicans in Congress voted to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood today, including Rep. Mike Coffman who just last year was using Planned Parenthood’s logo in campaign ads. Despite the hope of GOP House leadership, today’s vote may not be enough to placate the far right into backing away from threats to shut down the government.

Hope it was worth it, Rep. Coffman. Answer: most likely not.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► The Environmental Protection Agency is getting ready for a long-term commitment to monitor water quality in the Animas River after triggering a huge spill of pollution over a month ago. EPA is also working on plans for a water treatment facility to clean up this and future pollution releases from derelict private mines in the area.

► Gov. John Hickenlooper rolled out the new Colorado Climate Plan on Wednesday. Hickenlooper was very frank about the reality of climate change and its impact on the state, which should reassure his critics on the left and irritate his energy industry friends greatly. No fracking fluid was consumed during the announcement.

► Colorado is trying really, really hard to keep the federal government from listing the greater sage-grouse as an endangered species. Will a new “habitat exchange” make the grouse and Big Oil happy?

► Like bicycling? Colorado is investing big bucks to become the Mecca of bicycling.

► Health insurance affordability is a problem we’re still trying to solve even after Obamacare, but Medicaid is helping a lot of Coloradans stay healthy and that’s good.

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Colorado added jobs in August, and Denver’s economy is once again beating the nation.

► “Building a Better Colorado” is hosting another round of meetings across the state to hear and share ideas for reforming Colorado government in a variety of ways, from fiscal policy to elections. What their effort will ultimately result in…is “TBD.”

ICYMI

► The Broncos steal one in epic John Elway fashion from their division rivals in Kansas City last night, robbing the Chiefs of a chance to finally notch a win against Denver for the first time in years.

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