Legislature
Colorado legislative leadership committee sets date for harassment policy review
DENVER – The first meeting to address the Colorado Legislature’s workplace harassment policies is scheduled for next month, top legislative leaders announced Tuesday.
The Executive Committee of the Legislative Council will have its first meeting to talk about the state of the harassment policies, and any possible changes that might need to be made, on Dec. 15. Continue reading
Colorado sends letters to CHP+ recipients warning that federal match runs out at end of January
DENVER – Colorado is advising people who use the state’s Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program to start looking for private insurers in the event that federal funding for the program runs out early next year.
The state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing started sending letters to the approximately 70,000 people covered by CHP+ notifying them that if Congress doesn’t act to restore federal CHIP funding, which helps fund CHP+ in Colorado, that the state’s matched funding will run out at the end of January. Continue reading
Colorado Republican lawmakers accused of sexual advances deny allegations
DENVER – Two more Colorado lawmakers were accused of sexual harassment in a report published Thursday night by KUNC.
The allegations against state Sens. Randy Baumgardner and Jack Tate, both Republicans, come amid accusations of sexual harassment or advances made against two other state lawmakers in the past week, though no formal complaints against Baumgardner or Tate had been filed as of Friday. Continue reading
Second Colorado lawmaker faces formal sexual harassment complaint
DENVER – Another Colorado lawmaker has been accused of unwanted sexual advances and had a formal complaint filed against him—the second in a week.
The latest allegation comes against Rep. Paul Rosenthal, D-Denver, and was first reported by The Denver Post.
Thomas Cavaness filed a formal complaint against Rosenthal on Tuesday with House Speaker Crisanta Duran, according to the document, which was obtained by Denver7 Wednesday. Continue reading
Justice Department warns Denver its immigration policy might violate federal grant rules
DENVER – The Justice Department warned Denver Police Chief Robert White in a letter Wednesday that Denver might be violating federal rules with some of its so-called “sanctuary city” policies and threatened that the police department could stand to lose federal grant money.
At issue are Byrne justice assistance grants (JAG) issued in accordance with a section of federal law called Section 1373, which deals with communication and information exchanges between local, state and federal law enforcement and other officials. Continue reading
Erie town trustees tell angry residents they were unaware of venting near school, launch probe
ERIE, Colo. – At a meeting filled with angry parents, Erie town trustees said Tuesday night they were also unaware that an oil and gas site had been venting fumes into a nearby elementary school until they saw it on the news.
“I was just as alarmed as all the citizens of Erie to hear about this over the weekend—two months after the fact,” said Erie Mayor Tina Harris at Tuesday’s meeting, which comes on the heels of two reports by Denver7 that exposed the venting near Aspen Ridge Preparatory School. Continue reading
GOP lawmaker calls for probe over Lebsock’s chairmanship, slams top Colorado Democrat
DENVER – Amid calls for her resignation and harsh words from a Republican lawmaker, Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran said Tuesday she wouldn’t have appointed Rep. Steve Lebsock to the chairmanship of a House panel had she known there were more sexual harassment allegations against him, but stood by the way she handled the situation.
Duran, a Denver Democrat, appointed Lebsock, D-Thornton, to be the chair of the House Local Government Committee in 2016 after Rep. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and other House Democrats told her about Lebsock’s alleged advancements. Continue reading
Rep. Winter to file formal complaint against Rep. Lebsock as leaders plan harassment policy changes
DENVER – Colorado state Rep. Faith Winter says she plans to file a formal complaint against Rep. Steve Lebsock Monday afternoon, as leadership from both parties say they have new plans to prevent sexual harassment at the state Capitol.
Winter, D-Westminster, told Denver7 Monday the formal filing comes on the heels of Lebsock’s weekend statement asking that she and two other women who have accused him of sexual advancements and harassment file the formal complaints. Continue reading
Democratic colleagues call for Rep. Steve Lebsock’s resignation after sexual harassment allegations
DENVER – A female Colorado state lawmaker is going public with allegations that fellow lawmaker Rep. Steve Lebsock made sexual advances toward her last year, and she says there are several others who have made similar claims.
Rep. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, told Denver7 Investigates Friday the incident in question happened toward the end of last year’s legislative session, in May 2016. Lebsock, D-Thornton, is now running for state treasurer in 2018. Continue reading
Colorado legislative opioid committee has 6 bills aimed at treatment, prevention ready for session
DENVER – The 2018 legislative session is still more than two months out, but a package of six bills aimed at opioid addiction treatment and prevention is already queued up for consideration.
The bipartisan Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee voted Tuesday to move ahead with the bills, which the lawmakers say will help curb the rising use of opioids and heroin.
The bills, according to Democratic leaders of the committee, would do several things to address the issue. Continue reading