Briefly | Polis congratulates House, Senate leadership selections
Gov. Jared Polis congratulates new State House and Senate leadership
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday congratulated all of the newly-elected and reelected caucus leaders in the State House and Senate. Elections were held Thursday for the Senate Republicans, while The House GOP and Senate Democrats held their elections virtually on Friday morning. The House Democrats will hold elections on Monday.
“Congratulations to the members of the 75th General Assembly who were elected to lead the Colorado State House and Senate for the next term including Senate President Senator James Coleman, Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Dafna Michaelson Janet, Majority Leader Senator Robert Rodriguez, Assistant Majority Leader Senator Lisa Cutter, Majority Whip Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate JBC members Senator Jeff Bridges and Senator-Elect Judy Amabile, Minority Leader Senator Paul Lundeen, Assistant Minority Leader Senator Cleave Simpson, Senate Republican Caucus Chair Senator Byron Pelton, Minority Whip Senator Janice Rich, Senate JBC member Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, House Minority Leader Representative Rose Pugliese, House Assistant Minority Leader Representative Ty Winter, House Republican Caucus Chair Anthony Hartsook, Minority Whip Representative Ryan Armagost, and House JBC member Representative Rick Taggart,” Polis said.
“In Colorado, we remain laser-focused on delivering real results on the issues that Coloradans care about most. From saving people money to removing barriers that prevent more housing that Coloradans can afford from being built, investing in our student’s success, creating a world-class transportation system to connect our communities, and protecting our personal freedom, we will continue to address challenges head-on to improve the Colorado way of life. I look forward to working with the new legislative leaders to build on our work to protect freedoms, save Coloradans money, and make life in our beautiful state even better.”
City of Pueblo, CDOT receive federal grant to replace Union Avenue Bridge
Polis, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) are celebrating a federal investment of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to replace Pueblo’s nearly 100-year-old Union Avenue Bridge.
“This new-and-improved bridge delivers for Pueblo’s future, improves safety, and makes it easier for people and products to get where they need to go,” said Polis. “We’re proud to have worked with local partners and leaders to get this funding to make Pueblo more connected for everyone who lives, works, and travels in the area”.
The state has committed $1.75 million to the project in matching funds for the bridge, which will include new pedestrian and bicycle facilities and be designed to support future intercity passenger rail.
“We know that match funding for federal grant applications can be a significant obstacle for smaller jurisdictions,” said DOLA Executive Director Maria De Cambra. “This investment in vital transportation infrastructure in Pueblo is a perfect example of how DOLA can work with our federal partners to support our local communities.”
The funding was made possible by the Biden Administration’s Investment and Jobs Act’s Bridge Investment Program.
Golden police officer killed this week should receive state death benefit, ballot measure backer says
The wife of a Golden police officer killed in the line of duty on Nov. 6 should receive the $1 million death benefit created through the passage of a ballot measure just one day before his death, says one of the organizers behind the measure.
Proposition 130, passed on Tuesday, creates a special state fund for law enforcement agencies to use toward officer recruitment and retention. It also requires the state to provide a one-time $1 million death benefit to the family of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders killed in the line of duty. While the measure was approved by voters, it does not go into effect until the Governor signs a proclamation certifying the vote, which is expected to happen soon.
Michael Fields, President of Advance Colorado Action, the organization behind Proposition 130, says Annalise Dunn, the wife of Officer Evan Dunn, who was struck by an impaired driver on Wednesday while responding to a crash, should be eligible for the death benefit and shouldn’t have to go through any sort of legal red tape.
“It’s a tragedy that just a day after voters backed the creation of a $1 million death benefit that a Colorado police officer was killed in the line of duty,” Fields said. “Coloradans clearly wanted to honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice, and this expression of our state’s gratitude shouldn’t be denied by the processing of election paperwork. Let’s support Annalise during her time of grief by living out the intent of Proposition 130 and providing her the death benefit she deserves,” Fields said. “No amount of money can bring her husband back, but Colorado can and should step up and not let bureaucracy stand in the way.”
Briefly | Polis congratulates House, Senate leadership selections
Gov. Jared Polis congratulates new State House and Senate leadership
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday congratulated all of the newly-elected and reelected caucus leaders in the State House and Senate. Elections were held Thursday for the Senate Republicans, while The House GOP and Senate Democrats held their elections virtually on Friday morning. The House Democrats will hold elections on Monday.
“Congratulations to the members of the 75th General Assembly who were elected to lead the Colorado State House and Senate for the next term including Senate President Senator James Coleman, Senate President Pro Tempore Senator Dafna Michaelson Janet, Majority Leader Senator Robert Rodriguez, Assistant Majority Leader Senator Lisa Cutter, Majority Whip Senator Nick Hinrichsen, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate JBC members Senator Jeff Bridges and Senator-Elect Judy Amabile, Minority Leader Senator Paul Lundeen, Assistant Minority Leader Senator Cleave Simpson, Senate Republican Caucus Chair Senator Byron Pelton, Minority Whip Senator Janice Rich, Senate JBC member Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, House Minority Leader Representative Rose Pugliese, House Assistant Minority Leader Representative Ty Winter, House Republican Caucus Chair Anthony Hartsook, Minority Whip Representative Ryan Armagost, and House JBC member Representative Rick Taggart,” Polis said.
“In Colorado, we remain laser-focused on delivering real results on the issues that Coloradans care about most. From saving people money to removing barriers that prevent more housing that Coloradans can afford from being built, investing in our student’s success, creating a world-class transportation system to connect our communities, and protecting our personal freedom, we will continue to address challenges head-on to improve the Colorado way of life. I look forward to working with the new legislative leaders to build on our work to protect freedoms, save Coloradans money, and make life in our beautiful state even better.”
City of Pueblo, CDOT receive federal grant to replace Union Avenue Bridge
Polis, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) are celebrating a federal investment of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to replace Pueblo’s nearly 100-year-old Union Avenue Bridge.
“This new-and-improved bridge delivers for Pueblo’s future, improves safety, and makes it easier for people and products to get where they need to go,” said Polis. “We’re proud to have worked with local partners and leaders to get this funding to make Pueblo more connected for everyone who lives, works, and travels in the area”.
The state has committed $1.75 million to the project in matching funds for the bridge, which will include new pedestrian and bicycle facilities and be designed to support future intercity passenger rail.
“We know that match funding for federal grant applications can be a significant obstacle for smaller jurisdictions,” said DOLA Executive Director Maria De Cambra. “This investment in vital transportation infrastructure in Pueblo is a perfect example of how DOLA can work with our federal partners to support our local communities.”
The funding was made possible by the Biden Administration’s Investment and Jobs Act’s Bridge Investment Program.
Golden police officer killed this week should receive state death benefit, ballot measure backer says
The wife of a Golden police officer killed in the line of duty on Nov. 6 should receive the $1 million death benefit created through the passage of a ballot measure just one day before his death, says one of the organizers behind the measure.
Proposition 130, passed on Tuesday, creates a special state fund for law enforcement agencies to use toward officer recruitment and retention. It also requires the state to provide a one-time $1 million death benefit to the family of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders killed in the line of duty. While the measure was approved by voters, it does not go into effect until the Governor signs a proclamation certifying the vote, which is expected to happen soon.
Michael Fields, President of Advance Colorado Action, the organization behind Proposition 130, says Annalise Dunn, the wife of Officer Evan Dunn, who was struck by an impaired driver on Wednesday while responding to a crash, should be eligible for the death benefit and shouldn’t have to go through any sort of legal red tape.
“It’s a tragedy that just a day after voters backed the creation of a $1 million death benefit that a Colorado police officer was killed in the line of duty,” Fields said. “Coloradans clearly wanted to honor those who make the ultimate sacrifice, and this expression of our state’s gratitude shouldn’t be denied by the processing of election paperwork. Let’s support Annalise during her time of grief by living out the intent of Proposition 130 and providing her the death benefit she deserves,” Fields said. “No amount of money can bring her husband back, but Colorado can and should step up and not let bureaucracy stand in the way.”
