Opinion: GOP launches attack on EPA leaders

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

EPA administrator Lisa Jackson.

House science committee claims top officials are circumventing federal record-keeping regulations

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Instead of spending its time doing something productive about global warming or ocean acidification, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee is of on yet another witch hunt, this time claiming that EPA officials have been conducting official business through secretive means such as aliases and private email accounts.

Remember, this is the same science committee that includes members who deny evolution and buy into the myth of creationism. The committee’s normal business is to oversee federal science activities, but under the leadership of reactionary conservative Republicans, this committee, like many others, has lost its way — No wonder Congress hasn’t been able to make any progress on issues that really matter to the American people. (more…)

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Colorado: Local officials eye new marijuana reality

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Amendment 64 raising a lot of questions for local governments

Will Summit County get legal pot shops?

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Federal reaction to the legalization of marijuana for personal use may be driven as much by political considerations as by legal factors, said attorney Sean McAllister, a long-time advocate on the cannabis front.

Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 by a large marging. The measure legalizes adult possession and cultivation of marijuana and directs the state to establish a system to regulate the commercial sale of marijuana for personal use. The ballot measure got 50,000 more votes than President Barack Obama in his reelection bid, and McAllister reckons that the adminstration may not be keen on alienating progressive voters by cracking down on the state. (more…)

Filed under: business, Colorado, economy, politics, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Election 2012: Obama wins

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

President Barack Obama.

Colorado stays blue; votes to approve marijuana

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — In a race that wasn’t nearly as close as Republican pundits wanted it to be, Barack Obama won a second term to the White House by hanging on to Ohio, a white, working-class state that was crucial to Mitt Romney’s hopes for pulling off a GOP upset.

Obama was also leading by a razor-thin margin in Florida when major networks called the presidential election for the Democrat from Illinois.

The Democrats won by maintaining their margin of victory in traditional strongholds in the Northeast, the Midwest and along the West Coast, with a wide swath in the middle of the country remaining red, showing the deep ideological gulf between coastal urban areas and the country’s heartland.

In Colorado, voters approved Amendment 64, which legalizes possession and use of marijuana. Gov. Hickenlooper said the state will respect the will of the voters.

“The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will. This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don’t break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly,” he said in a press release.

Mitt Romney conceded the election at about 11 p.m.

“This is a time of great challenges for America, I hope the president will be successful in leading our nation,” Romney said, thanking his family and his running mate, Paul Ryan.

“At a time like this we can’t risk bickering and political posturing,” he continued, calling on both parties to work together to tackle critical issues.

 

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Opinion: Global warming comes out of the closet

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

The remnants of Sandy swirl over the Northeast in the NASA satellite image.

Hurricane Sandy spurs awareness of  links between climate change and extreme weather

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Along with devastating New Jersey’s shoreline and flooding big chunks of New York City, Hurricane Sandy also pushed the public dialogue about climate change out of the musty closet and right smack into the middle of polite dinner table conversation and, even more importantly, into the political arena, just days before the presidential election.

After a couple of days surveying the damage, both the mayor of New York City and the governor of New York directly addressed the issue in a social and political context. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent, factored climate change into a political endorsement of Barack Obama as the candidate better equipped to tackle the issue.

“In In just 14 months, two hurricanes have forced us to evacuate neighborhoods — something our city government had never done before. If this is a trend, it is simply not sustainable,” Bloomberg wrote in an editorial for the Bloomberg View. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, commentary, Environment, global warming, op-ed | Tagged: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Summit County Dems rally to mark start of early voting

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Summit County Democrats look to boost turnout, early voting.

Big Summit turnout needed to win state races

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — With absentee ballots going out Monday, Summit County Democrats are starting their final run-up to the election Sunday afternoon rally at party headquarters in Silverthorne (Summit Place shopping center, next to the Smiling Moose Deli).

State Rep. Millie Hamner and Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio are both confirmed for the event, and several other local candidates may also speak at the rally.

“We’re hoping to use this as a kick-off for our get out the vote efforts,” said Matt Inzeo, communications director for the Colorado Democratic Party.

Summit County has long been a left-leaning stronghold, but state redistricting has made the county more important for candidates like Emily Tracy, facing conservative Republican Randy Baumgardner in a district that includes rural ranching communities.

In 2008, Obama won 67 percent of the vote in Summit County, even though more than a third of registered voters identify themselves as Independents. A big turnout could help those Democratic candidates farther down the ticket, said local activist Sandy Briggs.

“There’s no question Summit will go for Obama. It’s just a question if he can match that 67 percent he got last time,” Briggs said, adding that there’s a lot at stake for Summit County residents.

A Romney administration would favor more commercial development on the county’s cherished public lands, and could reverse the progress made on increasing production of renewable energy — another issue that’s important to high country residents.

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Politics trumps rush hour: I-25 in Denver to be closed for about 5 hours because of Obama-Romney debate

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

I-25 will be closed for about five hours during the Oct. 3 presidential debate at the University of Denver.

CDOT maps alternate routes for north-south traffic

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Interstate 25, the main north-south highway through Denver, will be closed for about five hours next Wednesday (Oct. 3) because of the presidential debate between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama at the University of Denver.

Federal authorities requested the closure for security reasons, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The highway will be closed in both directions between Santa Fe Drive (US 85) interchange to the Hampden Avenue (US 285.

Although all closures, dates and times are subject to change, it is anticipated that the six-mile portion of I-25 will be closed from approximately 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (more…)

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New campaign seeks to limit super PAC spending

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Olympic super Pac advertising targeted in new grassroots movement

What would Ben Franklin say about today’s super PAC spending?

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The Olympic ideal doesn’t say anything about politics or advertising, but that hasn’t prevented any number of ideological zealots and profit-hungry corporations from perverting the movement for their own ends.

For decades, NBC has been at the front of the line when it comes to trying to milk just a few more dollars from the games. Over the years, the network has been slammed for turning sports competitions into soap operas, for showing delayed broadcasts and trying to pass them off as live — all in the name of selling more advertising.

This year, the network is preparing to sell out to political super PACS during the London Games, breaking an unwritten rule that has minimized the number of political advocacy ads during major world sporting events. Already, the ultra-conservative Restore Our Future super PAC has bought $7.2 million in ads to air specifically during the London Olympics. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, world news | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Colorado firestorm sparks political skirmish

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

State’s congressional delegation says it’s unified on wildfire issues

A military C-130 cargo plane modified to perform aerial firefighting missions. Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — The announcement that President Obama will visit Colorado Friday to view the destructive wildfires triggered a minor partisan skirmish, as some conservative Republicans suggested that the visit is politically motivated, and questioned the administration’s ability to respond to wildfires. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, Environment, forest fires, politics, wildfires | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Op-ed: Public lands battle goes down to the wire

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Lawmakers in Washington are making decisions about your public lands based on ideology — not the best available scientific information.

Public lands ‘burrito’ bill rolls up all sorts of things into one stinky package

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — With Congress trying to wrap up for summer vacation, lawmakers are up to all sorts of shenanigans, including rolling numerous bills into packages. The fancy Latin word for this is an omnibus bill, but I prefer to call it burrito legislation.

One of these packages could have significant impacts on public lands in Summit County, Colorado and the rest of the West. At the end of last week, I received two separate press notices on these public lands bills and it took me a few minutes of reading before I realized that both press releases were discussing the same bills. (more…)

Filed under: BLM, Environment, federal government, forests, national parks, public lands | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Scant attention paid to children’s issues in campaign

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Children's issues are not high on the radar screen during the early stages of the presidential campaign.

Child poverty, education gaps and health care challenges are barely on the radar screen for Republican candidates

By Summit Voice

With 11 months until Election Day 2012, presidential candidates are spending far less time addressing issues facing America’s children than other key issues, according to a new report released this week.

According to the report, children’s issues commanded scarcely two percent of the attention in the first 10 presidential candidate debates to date and less than that in total discussion and debate time.

The report also criticized media for failing to ask questions about children’s issues.

“Kids in Colorado and throughout America are struggling with increasing poverty rates, academic achievement gaps and for access to basic health and child care supports. Citizens deserve to better understand the plans of candidates – from both parties – for addressing these issues.” said Chris Watney, president and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Health, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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