November 29, 2016 10:52 AM UTC

Get More Smarter on Tuesday (November 29)

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• by: Colorado Pols

Today is just Tuesday. Not “black” or “cyber” — just Tuesday. 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). If you are more of a visual learner, check out The Get More Smarter Show.

TOP OF MIND TODAY…

► President-elect Donald Trump continues stocking up on middle-aged white dudes for his cabinet. On Tuesday, Trump announced that Georgia Rep. Tom Price — a fierce critic of Obamacare — has been selected to serve as the new head of the Department of Health and Human Services. As the Washington Post reports:

As HHS secretary, Price would be the nation’s top health official and the incoming administration’s point person for dismantling the sprawling 2010 health-care law, which Trump promised during his campaign to start dismantling on his first day in the Oval Office. The 62-year-old lawmaker, who represents a wealthy suburban Atlanta district, has played a leading role in Republican opposition to the law and has helped draft several comprehensive bills to replace it. The GOP-led House has voted five dozen times to eliminate all or part of the ACA but has never had a chance to accomplish its goal as long as President Obama has been in the White House.

Elsewhere, Trump selected former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to serve as his Transportation Secretary. Chao served in the cabinet under the administration of George W. Bush and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, which probably turned out to be a decent reference to call upon.

► President-elect Troll Trump continues his habit of late-night (or early morning) Twitter rants:

Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016

This is one of those Trump Tweets that you have every reason to be concerned about; flag-burning may not make you the most popular kid in the neighborhood, but it has repeatedly been ruled by the courts to be a consitutionally-protected form of free speech (via the First Amendment).

Speaking of First Amendment issues, Trump is also mad at CNN — again — for its habit of doing journalism.

Get even more smarter after the jump…

IN CASE YOU ARE STANDING NEAR A WATER COOLER…

► Colorado Democratic Party Chair Rick Palacio announced in an email to supporters that he will not seek re-election next year:

In my six years as Chair, we reelected President Obama, Governor Hickenlooper, and Senator Bennet, and regained, then expanded our State House majority. With that majority came Colorado’s first openly gay Speaker of the House, and shortly thereafter Colorado’s first openly lesbian Senate Leader. In January, when the next legislative session begins, Colorado will make history when two Latinas lead the House and the Senate. And in the upcoming 71st General Assembly, more African Americans will hold seats than ever before. These are not just electoral wins; they’re victories that will ensure that our state’s economy continues to thrive and that Coloradans from all walks of life are able to live in a fair and just state…

…As the New Year approaches, so comes the time for us to build upon our successes and continue to be an example for Democrats nationwide. And with a new year also comes new beginnings, so I’m reaching out to you to let you know that when our party reorganizes this spring, I will begin a new adventure and I won’t be seeking reelection as your party chair. [Pols emphasis]

 

► Colorado Republican Secretary of State Wayne Williams is speaking out — again — in response to claims from Donald Trump that the 2016 election was rife with examples of illegal voting.

► Could Governor John Hickenlooper soon become President Hickenlooper? Our man Hick is being floated again as a potential candidate for President in 2020, which makes a lot more sense than rumors about a national bid prior to the 2016 election.

► Evacuations have been lifted as firefighters battle the remnants of a grass fire in Green Mountain.

► Another day, another sad example of racist vandalism.

► You can add Northglenn to the list of Colorado communities that won’t enforce efforts to strengthen federal immigration laws. From the Denver Post:

Northglenn on Monday joined Aurora and Denver in declaring that its police force will not enforce federal immigration laws against those who haven’t “committed criminal acts.”

The policy statement came during a City Council meeting Monday night and was passed as a resolution unanimously.

The resolution states that “it is of utmost importance for all people in Northglenn to feel safe in reporting emergencies and to feel comfortable working with law enforcement without fear of immigration consequences.” Thus the northern suburb’s police force is directed to “continue its current practice of non-enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

► Four of Colorado’s nine electoral college voters may refuse to submit votes to make Donald Trump the next President, as the Colorado Independent reports.

► Doctors around the state are trying to figure out how to deal with Colorado’s new  medical-aid-in-dying law.

► Trump-whisperer Kellyanne Conway is increasingly becoming isolated in the ever-evolving Trump administration. 

OTHER LINKS YOU SHOULD CLICK

► Some employer groups are cheering the freeze on a proposed rule that would require overtime pay for certain workers. This should tell you plenty.

ICYMI

► Uncertainty marks the one-year anniversary of the shooting attack at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

Don’t forget to check out The Get More Smarter Show. You can also Get More Smarter by liking Colorado Pols on Facebook!