fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Politics & Elections

  • Judge orders clerk to turn over copies of voting hard drives

    By COLLEEN SLEVIN
    Associated Press

    DENVER (AP) _ A judge has ordered a county clerk who copied his voting system’s hard drives to turn over his copies to Colorado’s secretary of state by the end of the day Wednesday.

    Secretary of State Jena Griswold sued to force Elbert County Clerk Dallas Schroeder to turn over the external hard drives containing the copies and Judge Gary M. Kramer ruled late Friday that Schroeder must follow her lawful orders. Kramer also ordered Schroeder to answer Griswold’s questions about who has had access to the copies in filings.

    It’s one of a handful of cases across the United States in which authorities are investigating whether local officials directed or aided in suspected security breaches at their own election offices. Some of them have expressed doubt about the results of the 2020 presidential election.

    Schroeder’s lawyer, John Case, declined to comment on the order Monday.

    Schroeder has said he copied the hard drives because he wanted to preserve the results of the 2020 election. He first made a copy of the hard drives of the election server, the image cast central computers and the adjudication computer before the state updated voting software. He then made a copy of that set of copies.

    During a hearing Friday before the judge issued his order, Case urged Kramer not to allow both copies to be in the same place at the same time in case some disaster like a fire might destroy them. He also asked that Griswold return them to Schroeder after looking at them. Kramer’s order did not address those concerns.

    While Schroeder has said that he gave one copy to Case and the other to an unnamed lawyer, Case told Kramer that one copy was now in Schroeder’s office and the other was under his control but not in his possession, without elaborating.

    Senior Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Hunt argued that unless the copies were under Griswold’s control they could end up being used to hack the state’s voting system.

  • Bennet Welcomes President Biden’s Support to Direct Funds from Seized Russian Assets to Ukraine

    Senators Bennet and Portman Introduced A Bipartisan Bill in March to Hold Russian Oligarchs Accountable for Enabling the War by Directing Funds from Their Seized Assets into New Ukraine Relief Fund
    Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed President Joe Biden’s support for Congressional efforts to direct funds from seized Russian assets to Ukraine — an idea Bennet and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) proposed this March in the bipartisan RELIEF for Ukraine Act. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed support for this effort earlier in the week.
    “We must hold Russian oligarchs accountable for enabling Putin’s egregious, lawless war,” said Bennet. “My bipartisan bill with Senator Portman would direct funds from seized Russian assets to support Ukrainian refugees, reconstruction, and recovery. I look forward to working with President Biden, Attorney General Garland, and my Senate colleagues to get this done for the Ukrainian people, who have inspired the world with their resilience and resolute defense of democracy.”
    The RELIEF for Ukraine Act requires the Department of Justice to allocate funds from the disposal of seized Russian into a new Ukraine Relief Fund, which will be administered by the Department of State in consultation with the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Fund would be used to support the safety, health, and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees, along with the general reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine in areas not controlled by the Russian Federation.
    The bill text is available HERE. A one-page summary of the bill is available HERE.

  • Biden-Harris Administration Launches Nationwide Network of Partners to Tap Resources for Rural America

    larksdale, Miss., April 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice today announced a new whole-of-government effort led by USDA to transform the way federal agencies partner with rural places to create economic opportunity in rural America. The USDA-led Rural Partners Network (RPN) is an all-of-government program that will help rural communities access government resources and funding to create jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic stability.
    Today’s announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour, during which Biden Administration officials are traveling to dozens of rural communities to talk about the impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, as well as President Biden’s broader commitment to ensure federal resources reach all communities in rural America. Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Rice are in Mississippi with Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-2) to meet with community leaders and stakeholders who will benefit from RPN in Clarksdale and Greenwood, Mississippi.
    “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA and its federal partners are committed to unlocking the full potential of rural America by investing in its people and the unique visions they have for the places they call home,” Vilsack said. “Rural America is incredibly diverse – economically, racially, culturally and geographically. What makes sense for one community may not for another. The Rural Partners Network will help communities get funding for investments that create long-lasting benefits for their communities, especially those that have been overlooked in the past. By providing one-on-one support to these communities, we can lay the foundation for people to build healthy, successful futures on their own terms.”
    Vilsack added, “We are also grateful for our Congressional partners like Congressman Bennie Thompson, Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Kelly who work tirelessly to ensure that all communities have access to federal funding, and that we are coordinating these resources across the federal government.”
    “President Biden has delivered unprecedented resources for rural communities through the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Rice said. “However, just making resources available is not enough—the federal government must work better for rural communities so that they can fully take advantage of these opportunities. The Rural Partners Network will empower rural communities to get their fair share of federal funds, an important goal for not only economic development but equity as well.”
    Background: Rural Partners Network
    The Rural Partners Network is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between federal agencies and local leaders and residents. This Network is focused on improving social and economic well-being bolstered by existing local partnerships and assets. The Network will launch in selected communities in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico as well as certain Tribes within Arizona. Community networks within these states will receive individualized support with the expertise to navigate federal programs, build relationships and identify additional resources to promote community-driven solutions.
    USDA has selected the following community networks for the Rural Partners Network:
    • In Georgia: Emanuel County and City of Twin City Community Network; Ben Hill County and City of Fitzgerald Community Network; and Southwest Georgia Regional Commission Community Network including the counties of Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Seminole, Miller, Mitchell, Terrell, Thomas and Worth.
    • In Kentucky: Kentucky Highlands Community Network including the counties of Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley; and Fulton County and cities of Fulton, Hickman and Cayce Community Network.
    • In Mississippi: Washington County Economic Alliance Community Network including the counties of Bolivar, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington; Greater Grenada, Lake District Partnership Community Network including the counties of Grenada and Yalobusha; and North Delta Planning and Development District Community Network including the counties of Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica.
    • In New Mexico: Southwest New Mexico Council of Government Community Network including the counties of Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna; Northern New Mexico Pathways Economic Development District Community Network including the counties of Mora, San Miguel, Colfax and Taos; and Mesilla Valley Community Network including the county of Doña Ana.
    • In Arizona: San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation and Cocopah Indian Tribe.
    Each community network will be supported by a Rural Partners Network team to help address that community’s specific needs and concerns, building on local assets. Network staff will also be responsible for sharing lessons learned from selected communities with federal agencies in D.C. to ensure rural communities have a voice in policymaking. Policy development will occur through regular convenings of the Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by USDA and the Domestic Policy Council. There are 16 federal agencies and regional commissions participating in the Council. Members of Congress across the political spectrum have called for this whole-of-government approach, including U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Joni Ernst, Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Grassley, and Mark Kelly, and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig, Dan Newhouse, Cindy Axne, Adrian Smith, Tom O’Halleran, and Randy Feenstra. To deliver on the promise to make federal resources more readily available to underserved communities across rural America, the Biden-Harris Administration will expand the Rural Partners Network to additional places later in fiscal year 2022. Those states, Tribes and territories include Nevada, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Native Alaskan communities.
    Information about the Rural Partners Network is available online at Rural.gov.
    Background: Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour
    Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA and its federal partners in the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force are working with rural communities to deliver on the promise of support for rural America.
    The Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour is a multi-faceted outreach effort involving cabinet and sub-cabinet officials across federal agencies as they travel to and learn from key rural communities. These visits will highlight new federal funding and investments already underway through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a once-in-a-generation investment that will support rural communities and their infrastructure needs.
    USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
    If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
  • Colorado Joint Budget Committee Completes Work

    Colorado Joint Budget Committee Completes Work

    We have 27 days left in the Legislative Session. The urgency to get things across the finish line is setting in! 

    The Joint Budget Committee has finalized their budget and it will be presented to the House and Senate today. As far as ag related budget items, there has been $75,000 allotted for the Colorado Ag Leadership Program, $75,000 for the Beef Sticks for Backpacks program, $1,000,000 towards wolf reintroduction rancher support, and $200,000 towards the Department of Agriculture to continue their Rural Mental Health initiative. RMFU has worked most directly on this last item as our AgWell program has been directly involved in this collaborative. 

    Other legislative updates for the week

    HB22-1301, Colorado Environment Agricultural Facility as Agricultural Property, passed out of its first committee 11-2 on Wednesday. This bill will allow for hydroponic greenhouses, used for food production, to receive agricultural tax status. RMFU policy supports agricultural taxes to be based on production as opposed to being tied to agricultural taxes being based on land. We have taken an amend position and hope to see this bill expanded to greenhouses that have additional production methods, such as soil-based systems, in addition to solely hydroponics.   

    HB22-1355, Producer Responsibility Program for Recyling, this bill, as introduced, would charge producers of packaging a fee to support regional recycling programs. It has been a challenging bill because our policy heartily supports incentivized recycling programs but is quiet when it comes to mandated fees for recycling. We have negotiated an amendment that would exempt agricultural producers from being subject to these fees and have now taken a neutral position on the bill.  

    SB22-029, Investment Water Speculation, one of the most perplexing bills of the session, this seeks to rein in out-of-state speculative interests that are increasing water prices in the state. Everyone agrees that these outside forces are making it harder for accessing agricultural water and for families to pass these assets down to the next generation. However, it’s very difficult to create language in statute that can curb these trends without injuring private property rights and changing our Historic Doctrine of Prior Appropriation. This bill was originally scheduled to be in committee today but has now been delayed. We expect it to be amended quite a bit if it is to move forward in the Legislature this year. 

    To see all the bills we are following follow this link to our Bill Tracker: 

    https://statebillinfo.com/SBI/index.cfm?fuseaction=Public.Dossier&id=30288&pk=925&style=pinstripe 

  • Bennet, Hickenlooper, Lamborn and Crow Statement on GAO Report on U.S. Space Command Basing Decision

    Bennet, Hickenlooper, Lamborn and Crow Statement on GAO Report on U.S. Space Command Basing Decision

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D) and Colorado U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn (R) and Jason Crow (D) released the following statement after being briefed on the draft Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama: 
    “We have said before that the U.S. Space Command basing decision was the result of a flawed and untested process that lacked transparency and neglected key national security and cost considerations. After reviewing the draft GAO report, we are even more concerned about the questionable decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.
     
    “Putin’s war on Ukraine and China’s space expansion underscore the need for U.S. Space Command to reach full operational capability as soon as possible. We cannot afford any operational disruptions or delays to the mission currently being conducted at Peterson Space Force Base, which is why U.S. Space Command must remain in Colorado.
     
    “We will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to urge the Biden Administration to keep U.S. Space Command at Peterson. Colorado Springs is the best and only home for U.S. Space Command. We look forward to the report’s public release in the near future.”
     
    BACKGROUND:
    In 2019, Bennet and former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) led the Colorado delegation in writing toActing Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and to Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovanand Commander of U.S. Space Command General Jay Raymond to emphasize what Colorado offers to be the permanent home of U.S. Space Command. Bennet and Gardner also published an op-ed in the Colorado Springs Gazette advocating for the basing decision. Following the White House’s official announcement of the creation of U.S. Space Command in August 2019, the entire Colorado Congressional Delegationreiterated their call to re-establish the headquarters in Colorado. In the original basing decision process, of the six possible locations that the Air Force named, four were in Colorado: Peterson Air Force Base (AFB), Schriever AFB, Buckley AFB, and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. In the fall of 2019, the Air Force named Peterson AFB the temporary home to U.S. Space Command.
    In December 2019, Bennet met with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and spoke with the Commander of U.S. Space Command General John W. Raymond to discuss the importance of a focus on national security space and to reiterate his support for basing Space Command in Colorado.
    In May 2020, the Air Force announced a new basing decision process that evaluated self-nominating communities, like Aurora and Colorado Springs, on their ties to the military space mission, existing infrastructure capacity, community support, and cost to the Air Force. The Air Force also announced Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs would remain the provisional location of the command until 2026. Later in May, Bennet and Gardner wrote a letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis calling for him to support military spouse licensure reciprocity in the state, which Polis then signed into law in July 2020. Spouse licensure reciprocity was a component of the Air Force’s evaluation of each nominating state’s support for military families. 
    Following passage of Colorado House Bill 20-1326, the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation, Polis, and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Barrett to highlightthe new Colorado law and further demonstrate that Colorado is the best state to serve as the permanent home of the U.S. Space Command.
    In June 2020, Bennet welcomed Polis’ endorsement of the self-nomination of both the Aurora and Colorado Springs communities to compete to be the permanent home for U.S. Space Command. At the end of August 2020, the Aurora and Colorado Springs communities submitted their questionnaire responses to the Department of the Air Force completing the next step in the basing process.
    In August 2020, Bennet visited Peterson AFB and Schriever AFB for an update on the U.S. Space Command mission and stand up. He also met with General Dickinson, who assumed command in August, and learned about advancements at the National Space Defense Center. In November 2020, the Air Forceannounced Colorado Springs as a finalist for the U.S. Space Command headquarters.
    In December 2020, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined more than 600 state, federal, local, county and municipal officials, businesspeople, philanthropists, civic leaders, military officials, entrepreneurs and Coloradans from across the state in a letter urging Trump to keep the Command in the Centennial State.
    In January 2021, following the relocation announcement, Bennet and Hickenlooper released a statementdenouncing the decision and expressing concern that the Trump White House influenced the decision for political reasons. 
    In January 2021, Bennet and Hickenlooper also led a letter from the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation that urged President Joe Biden to suspend the Trump Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama until the administration conducts a thorough review.
    In May 2021, Bennet and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, urged Biden to fully consider how the move may affect Intelligence Community dependencies and missions as well as the country’s ability to maintain superiority in space.
    In June 2021, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Jason Crow and Doug Lamborn, and a bipartisan majority of the Colorado Congressional Delegation invited Vice President Kamala Harris to visit Colorado and its thriving space industry. 
    In August 2021, Bennet expressed concerns over comments former President Trump made on a radio show suggesting his direct involvement in the relocation decision. 
    In August 2021, Bennet spoke at the Space Symposium’s Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, highlighting Colorado’s leadership in national security space and space innovation and pushing for a thorough review of the decision to relocate U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama.
    In September 2021, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Crow, Lamborn and a group of bipartisan members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall urging him to suspend the Trump Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama until the administration conducts a thorough review.
    In January, 2022, Bennet and Crow hosted Chairman Adam Schiff in Colorado for a briefing with Space Command, National Space Defense Center, and National Reconnaissance Office  leadership.
    Bennet and Warner met with leadership from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community IC at Schriever Space Force Base and Buckley Space Force Base. The senators’ meetings highlighted the defense and intelligence elements in Colorado key to U.S. space missions, including U.S. Space Command, and underscored the central role Colorado maintains in both space and national security innovation. 
    Last month, Bennet and Hickenlooper announced support from thirteen leading aerospace companies and accelerators to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado due in large part to the state’s commanding aerospace industry, which supports U.S. defense and space missions.
    Recently, Bennet and Hickenlooper led a letter from the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation calling on President Joe Biden to ensure the U.S. Space Command basing decision takes into account national security and cost implications, and considers the findings of two pending reviews.
  • Secretary Haaland Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Wildfire Response Investments in Colorado

    Secretary Haaland Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Wildfire Response Investments in Colorado

    Helps launch Biden-Harris administration’s tour to highlight infrastructure investments that will build resilience in rural communities 

    LYONS, Colo. — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited Colorado today, where she and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with federal wildland fire leadership to discuss local, state and federal wildland fire preparedness and response that will be bolstered by historic investments through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

    The visit also helped launch the Biden-Harris administration’s Building A Better America rural infrastructure tour, which will highlight how infrastructure investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will make a transformative and lasting impact in communities across rural America. 

    Secretaries Haaland and Vilsack joined Governor Jared Polis, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Representatives Joe Neguse and Ed Perlmutter for a visit to Jeffco Airtanker Base in Broomfield. The Secretaries received a joint operational briefing outlining the state of federal firefighting resources and what is being done to address an already active fire year.  

    During the briefing, Secretary Haaland highlighted the importance of how the Interior Department’s Five-Year Treatment, Monitoring and Maintenance Plan will work together with the Agriculture Department’s 10-year strategy to use all available tools to create resilient landscapes, protect fire-adapted communities, and support safe, effective wildfire response. She also detailed how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5.1 billion — including $1.5 billion for Interior — over the next five years to help bolster the federal response to the increasingly complex fire environment, which is driven by climate change, extreme heat, and prolonged drought conditions. 

    Secretaries Haaland and Vilsack outlined their vision and goals for managing wildland fire in a joint memo to wildland fire leadership. In addition to fire suppression investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the memo highlights other strategic priorities to reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems, engage in post-fire recovery, and make communities more resilient to fire – especially those in rural, Tribal, and historically underserved communities. 

    Secretary Haaland, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, and Representative Neguse then visited Heil Valley Ranch in Boulder County, which was severely impacted by the Cal-Wood fire in 2020. The fire consumed 5,000 acres in five hours and in total covered over 10,000 acres. The leaders heard about ongoing recovery operations to the land and highlighted the importance of public/private partnerships to complete fuels treatment and post-fire rehabilitation work in an area managed for multiple uses. 

    Secretary Haaland discussed how the Interior Department is investing $15 million in infrastructure funding in Colorado over the next two years to implement the Department’s Five-Year Plan to reduce fire risk, including projects in the Forest Service’s priority landscapes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain front. This fuels treatment work supports local communities by reducing wildfire risk and employing Tribal members, youth and veterans. Nearly half of the work each year will support efforts in areas with low rural capacity.  

    In addition to mitigation and response investments, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in the federal firefighting workforce by creating a new occupational series for wildland firefighters as well as programs to support their mental health and well-being. Even before this law was passed, the Biden-Harris administration took action to hire and retain the fire workforce needed to take on the growing wildfire threat. Those actions include closing the pay gap between federal and state, local and private firefighters to ensure no federal firefighters makes less than $15 an hour.  

    In December 2021, the Interior Department, USDA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) jointly announced the formation of a Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, made up of representatives from federal, state, Tribal, local and non-governmental interest groups, to recommend strategies and plans to combat the wildland fire crisis. That group will begin work once members have been selected and their recommendations submitted to Congress.

  • Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse Join Secretary Haaland and Forest Service Chief Moore to Announce Wildfire Funding for Colorado

    Haaland and Moore Announced Over $33 Million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Colorado to Prevent, Mitigate Wildfires
    Bennet Brought Together USDA, USFS, and Colorado Leaders For Roundtable Discussion, Urges Sustained Federal Investment in Forests and Watersheds 
     
    Denver – Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse joined U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Randy Moore in Boulder County as they announced over $33 million in funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help Colorado prevent and mitigate wildfires. 
     
    https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/14tkxWvfZo_pPM4LotLzUauPzI6Ztq2f84zEVTZegkYn9hFoxNWfIGrgvmbf_zgyu6OhXzGakkl1ZYyRWdx9y1AhYNA1tefc6qRmnPI9AU-mt4wUXIIdG-_KqmIoGNk6Y_B6PSHyhttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/khANwLAiIMaDYBBH0p-fv4BH9zOYFsP8Poe7FVDcMK36LhXmcbCJe2SI9Lt_xGnKoKFp9nR4yaPwYptXS-W7eemUBBISihGFwD0gBeSiaIKUWMpl619shZ1Z9Y5q9NqM4eKAkzJR
    (Meeting with Chief Moore, Secretary Haaland, Senator John Hickenlooper, Governor Jared Polis, Congressman Joe Neguse, and Congressman Ed Perlmutter)
     
    Bennet also held a roundtable discussion with Colorado leaders and Chief Moore, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Meryl Harrell, and USDA Senior Advisor for Climate Sean Babington to discuss the collaborative mitigation and recovery efforts taking place in Colorado and how the federal government can be a more effective partner to local communities to support healthy forests and watersheds. As the threat of catastrophic wildfires grows, Bennet continues to urge the Biden Administration to build on its investments to support Colorado communities on the front lines of wildfire risk. 
     “I’m deeply grateful for Secretary Haaland and Chief Moore’s visit to Colorado as we work to address the growing threat of wildfires across the West and build resilience in our communities,” said Bennet. “While the funding announced today from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is an important next step, there’s more we need to do to support our communities and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. As climate change fuels more extreme and frequent disasters, I’m urging the Biden Administration to make a sustained, long-term investment in our forests and watersheds to ensure Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West have adequate resources to prevent these megafires that are destroying our landscapes.”
    “Climate change has made wildfires a year-round threat and we must prepare for it ,” said Hickenlooper.“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill funding announced today is a first step toward building more resilient communities as we confront this new reality.”
    “We’re thrilled to see federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law flowing to our communities to support wildfire suppression and mitigation,” said Neguse. “For communities in the 2nd district, from the Front Range to the Continental Divide we have been deeply impacted by unprecedented wildfires in particular over the last 18 months as countless destructive and historic wildfires have ripped through our communities. Comprehensive firefighting resources and investments in forest restoration and wildfire resilience are critical and something we continue to advocate for to protect our communities. I was grateful to host Secretary Deb Haaland and Forest Chief Randy Moore in Colorado today, and for their continued partnership as we work to conquer the consequential threat of western wildfires.”
    During the roundtable discussion, Bennet discussed his bipartisan, bicameral Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act (ORPA) to make a historic investment in America’s forests and watersheds while creating millions of jobs in Colorado and across the West. This legislation will provide direct support to local, collaborative efforts to restore habitat, expand outdoor access, and mitigate wildfire. In August 2021, Bennet held an “Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act” Tour with stops in Denver, Clear Creek, Grand, and Routt counties to highlight the importance of forest and watershed health to economies throughout Colorado. 
      
    “Thanks to the investments made in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, USDA is taking the next step in reducing wildfire risk, especially in western states where communities, infrastructure and resources are at the most risk,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The people of Colorado need no reminding of the dire threat wildfire presents to states across the West. In 2020, Coloradans saw three of their largest fires on record. With the investments we’re announcing today, USDA will do its part to make your communities safer and our forests more resilient to our changing climate.”
     
    “These efforts to reduce wildfire risk to communities located in these landscapes are just the beginning,”said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “The first-year investments are a part of a 10-year strategy to reduce the exposure of communities and infrastructure to the risk of catastrophic wildfire. With each successive year we will plan and implement more, continuing to reduce the risks associated with extreme wildfire for communities in these vulnerable areas.”
     
    “Climate change continues to drive the devastating intersection of extreme heat, drought and wildland fire danger across the United States, creating wildfires that move with a speed and intensity previously unseen,” said Secretary Haaland. “Funding provided by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will support the Interior Department’s ongoing efforts to invest in the science and research that is needed to better understand the impacts of climate changes on wildland fire in order to better safeguard people, communities and resources. With so little room for error, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to wildland fire preparedness, mitigation and resilience.”
  • Colo. Gas Prices Reflect War’s Dark Uncertainties

    Colo. Gas Prices Reflect War’s Dark Uncertainties

    Pump prices continue to rise amid international tensions

    DENVER (Feb. 28, 2022) – Russia’s violent invasion of Ukraine has roiled the oil market, with crude spiking to over $100 per barrel before settling back into the mid-$90s. The increase in the global price of oil has led to higher pump prices in the United States, with the national average for a gallon of gas rising to $3.61, eight cents more than week ago. 

    In Colorado, the statewide average is $3.37, up three cents from a week ago, eight cents on the month, and 73 cents over this time last year. That’s the highest average recorded for this time of year since 2014, with prices expected to rise as seasonal demand grows with significant spikes possible in 2022 amid international uncertainty. 

    “Russia’s invasion and the responding escalating series of financial sanctions by the U.S. and its allies have sent jitters across the global oil market,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “Just like the stock market, the oil market responds poorly to volatility. It’s an explosive situation, and a grim reminder that events on the far side of the globe can have a ripple effect for American consumers.”
      
    National Trendlines
    According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 600,000 barrels to 246.5 million barrels last week. Meanwhile, gasoline demand rose slightly from 8.57 million barrels per day to 8.66 million barrels per day. The increase in gas demand and a reduction in total supply contribute to rising pump prices, although increasing crude oil prices play the lead role in pushing gas prices higher. 

    Oil Market Dynamics
    At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $1.22 cents to settle at $91.59. Although crude prices saw some fluctuations on Friday, they surged after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine earlier in the week. As the conflict continues, the oil markets will likely respond by increasing the price of crude oil to reflect more risk of disruption to tight global oil supplies this week. Additionally, EIA reported that total domestic crude stocks increased by 4.5 million barrels to 416 million barrels. The current stock level is approximately 10 percent lower than mid-February 2021, contributing to pressure on domestic crude prices.

    Quick Stats

    The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases: Michigan (+18 cents), South Carolina (+16 cents), Kansas (+15 cents), Missouri (+15 cents), Indiana (+14 cents), Illinois (+14 cents), Tennessee (+14 cents), Georgia (+13 cents), North Carolina (+12 cents) and Arizona (+10 cents).

    The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($4.82), Hawaii ($4.54), Oregon ($4.02), Nevada ($4.02), Washington ($4.00), Alaska ($3.88), Illinois ($3.85), Arizona ($3.81), New York ($3.80) and Washington, D.C. ($3.77).

    Colorado Gas By the Numbers (Low to High)

    Greeley
    • Current Average: $3.27
    • Yesterday Average: $3.27
    • Week Ago Average: $3.25
    • Month Ago Average: $3.17
    • Year Ago Average: $2.59
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.09 (7/17/08)

    Boulder-Longmont
    • Current Average: $3.29
    • Yesterday Average: $3.28
    • Week Ago Average: $3.27
    • Month Ago Average: $3.24
    • Year Ago Average: $2.59
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.05 (7/18/08)

    Denver
    • Current Average: $3.30
    • Yesterday Average: $3.30
    • Week Ago Average: $3.28
    • Month Ago Average: $3.21
    • Year Ago Average: $2.61
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.00 (7/17/08)

    Grand Junction
    • Current Average: $3.31
    • Yesterday Average: $3.32
    • Week Ago Average: $3.29
    • Month Ago Average: $3.20
    • Year Ago Average: $2.64
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.23 (7/15/08)

    Fort Collins-Loveland
    • Current Average: $3.33
    • Yesterday Average: $3.34
    • Week Ago Average: $3.32
    • Month Ago Average: $3.29
    • Year Ago Average: $2.58
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.04 (7/6/08)

    Colorado Springs
    • Current Average: $3.38
    • Yesterday Average: $3.38
    • Week Ago Average: $3.33
    • Month Ago Average: $3.31
    • Year Ago Average: $2.63
    • Highest Recorded Average: $3.98 (7/17/08)

    Pueblo
    • Current Average: $3.49
    • Yesterday Average: $3.49
    • Week Ago Average: $3.48
    • Month Ago Average: $3.49
    • Year Ago Average: $2.64
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.04 (7/18/08)

    Glenwood Springs
    • Current Average: $3.58
    • Yesterday Average: $3.58
    • Week Ago Average: $3.57
    • Month Ago Average: $3.53
    • Year Ago Average: $2.86
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.49 (7/19/08)

    Durango
    • Current Average: $3.68
    • Yesterday Average: $3.69
    • Week Ago Average: $3.67
    • Month Ago Average: $3.58
    • Year Ago Average: $2.73
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.22 (7/18/08)

    Vail
    • Current Average: $3.73
    • Yesterday Average: $3.78
    • Week Ago Average: $3.75
    • Month Ago Average: $3.61
    • Year Ago Average: $3.03
    • Highest Recorded Average: $4.53 (7/16/08)

  • Statement from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Regarding the Investigation of a Potential Breach in Security Protocol in Douglas County

    Statement from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Regarding the Investigation of a Potential Breach in Security Protocol in Douglas County

    Denver, February 3, 2022 – Today, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released the following statement regarding the investigation of a potential breach of security protocols for voting system equipment in Douglas County and the Election Order issued to Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz requiring the disclosure of relevant information.

    “My office became aware of a potential unauthorized imaging of a Douglas County voting equipment server. The Douglas County Clerk has failed to respond to an email request requiring disclosure of information about this potential breach in election security protocol.” said Secretary Jena Griswold. “To ensure the security of Douglas County’s voting equipment, I am issuing an Election Order requiring the Douglas Clerk to disclose information regarding the imaging of the election equipment server. As Secretary of State, I will continue to protect Colorado’s election infrastructure to ensure that every eligible Coloradan – Republican, Democrat, and Independent, alike – has access to secure elections.

    ”On January 28, 2022, the Secretary of State’s Office became aware of the potential security protocol breach when it was alerted to a social media post attributed to Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Merlin Klotz which asserts Clerk Klotz stated that “a full image backup of our server before a trusted build was done this year” was taken. On January 28, 2022, the Department of State sent Clerk Klotz an email requesting information regarding the alleged incident, with an answer due to the Department of State by January 31, 2022. Clerk Klotz did not answer and has not answered.

    Today, the Secretary of State sent an Order to Clerk Klotz requiring the disclosure of information regarding the copying of the election server, requiring that video surveillance of voting equipment be activated, and that no one access the voting equipment unaccompanied.

    This potential breach in security protocol reportedly occurred prior to the 2021 trusted build of Douglas County’s 2021 voting equipment, which updates systems against vulnerabilities. Therefore, the Secretary of State’s Office does not believe at this time that the unauthorized imaging has created an imminent or direct security risk to Colorado’s elections.

  • Early In-Person Voting Begins Statewide Today

    DENVER, Colo– Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPCs) across Colorado are now open statewide for the November 2 Coordinated Election, enabling Coloradans to vote or drop off their ballots in-person.  To date, 313,372 ballots have been returned. 

    “Colorado historically has been engaged in the state’s elections, and we expect that will continue,” said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.  “With more available drop boxes statewide than ever before, along with nearly 150 voting centers, it’s accessible to make sure your voice is heard in our democracy.” 

    Drop boxes and VSPCs must be open today statewide, but some counties opened some drop boxes and VSPCs earlier.  This year, 405 drop boxes and 147 VSPCs are available statewide for Colorado voters. To find the nearest drop box or VSPC, voters can use a search tool located on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. Once again, voters across the state can also track their ballots from when they are sent to when they are processed by signing up for BallotTrax or BallotTrace for Denver voters at GoVoteColorado.gov. Last year, over 1.6 million voters used BallotTrax to follow their ballots.  Once ballots have been returned, voters will once again be able to use TXT2Cure, which allows them to fix signature discrepancies using their smart phone.    

    Voted ballots must be received by county election officials by 7 p.m. on November 2.  After today, voters are encouraged to return their ballot to a drop box or VSPC rather than by mail to ensure their ballot is received before the deadline.

    It’s not too late to register to vote. To be mailed a ballot, please register by today, October 25. After today, eligible Coloradans can register and vote in-person through 7 p.m. on Election Day.

    To register to vote, check your registration, or for election information, please visit www.GoVoteColorado.gov.