State Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, will be the guest speaker at the monthly El Paso County Democrats Club meeting on June 20.

Merrifield will talk about the legislative session that ended last month. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at Bambino’s Italian Eatery, 2849 E. Platte Ave., and buffets are available for $10 per adult or $6.50 per kid.

‘Natural disasters’

Rep. Doug Lamborn scored a zero on Environment Colorado’s annual congressional score card, released today. Reps.Tom Tancredo and Marilyn Musgrave, and Sen. Wayne Allard, all Republicans like Lamborn, also scored zero.

However, Reps Mark Udall, Dianna DeGette and Ed Perlmutter, all Democrats, are “true environmental champions, voting for the environment 100% of the time in the 110th Congress,” the environmental group reported. Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat, scored 90 percent. Rep. John Salazar, a Democrat, scored 85 percent.

“While this report makes it clear that we have some environmental champions, we also have our share of natural disasters, representatives who refuse to listen to what Coloradans care about,” said Keith Hay, Energy Advocate at Environment Colorado. “These scorecards are an important tool to educate the public about the voting records of their elected officials and to honor public officials that have a record of putting the environment first.”

He said the group scored 13 votes on such things as ending subsidies for big oil in order to fund clean energy, protecting roadless areas in the national forest, creating a national renewable electric standard and protecting the Grand Canyon from toxic mining.

Loving a parade

Bentley Rayburn’s backers will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday in Salida for the annual FIBArk Parade. The parade is part of the 60th Blue Paddle FIBArk Whitewater Festival. Rayburn, a Republican running in the 5th Congressional District, and his fans will start at 8th St. and F St. Backers are encouraged to wear Rayburn T-shirts.

Denver’s Brandon Marshall caught a few soft passes Thursday for the first time since injuring his arm. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS