Cheers to Gov. Jared Polis for setting a personal best — a dozen vetoes — after the 2026 legislative session. It was heartening to see him swat down some of the reckless and ridiculous legislation conjured up by his fellow Democrats in charge at the legislature.

Significantly, he nixed yet another attempt by the organized-labor wing of his party to unravel the Labor Peace Act. For 83 years, it has lived up to its name in balancing the interests of labor unions seeking to organize workplaces, and workers who want a say over whether they have to fork over hefty union dues. Polis knew this year’s legislation — like last year’s, which he also vetoed — was a job killer that would have scared off employers to friendlier states.

Among other bills the governor vetoed was a signature measure of his party’s open-borders advocates, letting anyone sue in state court if they believe their civil rights were violated by federal immigration officers. In other words, it was another swipe at immigration law enforcement.

Polis also vetoed a bill that purported to stop the use of any “price or wage setting algorithm” in setting discriminatory pricing or wages — even though there’s no evidence such intentional, discriminatory behavior using algorithms exists in the first place. 

Unlike most lawmakers, Polis has business experience. The early-internet entrepreneur made himself a wealthy man by reading consumers and their buying habits. He pointed out in his veto letter that banning algorithmic pricing could backfire, wiping out consumer-friendly discounts, loyalty rewards and targeted savings.

An honorable mention goes to Polis’ veto of a terminally silly bill to restrict “single-use food serviceware,” like the plastic sporks beloved by fast-foodies. Apparently, recently enacted laws restricting the retail use of disposable food bags and containers didn’t go far enough for the bill’s sponsors. The governor rightly recognized this bill went too far, piling yet another regulation onto the state’s already hard-pressed food service economy.

All in all, you might say Polis was off to a good start in his tenure as Colorado’s chief exec — except, of course, the 2026 session was his last.

That’s not to say his total for his time in office — 55 vetoes — is especially shabby. It’s far more impressive than the record of his notoriously laid-back predecessor, former governor and now U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper. Hick only was able to muster 17 vetoes in eight years.

But Polis is no Gov. Bill Owens. Owens, Colorado’s most recent Republican to serve in the office, racked up 149 vetoes — 47 of them in 2005 alone. Now, there was a governor who could knock ‘em dead. 

Sure, a lot of Owens’ vetoes were of bills from the opposing party. But Polis, if mostly by default, has become Colorado’s last line of defense against an increasingly radical fringe in his party. That’s to his credit.

If only he could have vetoed more bad-for-business bills, such as this year’s legislation outlawing dog and cat sales from pet stores — preempting consumers and small businesses alike.

Or, more bills that went against his own wisdom on an issue — most notably, the bill he signed near the end of the session imposing new regulations on development and use of artificial intelligence. Although it superseded a more onerous measure, Polis repeatedly said he preferred a cohesive national standard enacted by Congress. Why didn’t he stick to his guns?

Polis is on the right trajectory, just a bit late in the game. Too bad he didn’t set out to break Owens’ record — and spare us even more of the damage his party is doing to our state.