Tag: Alec Garnett
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Labor-led coalition doubles down on poll that sparked outrage in Democratic legislative primary
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A coalition of labor unions said this week that a poll it fielded in a Democratic legislative primary in Denver wasn’t meant to inflame racial bias after another group of union leaders cried foul, accusing the poll’s sponsors of using the survey to launch “overtly…
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Garnett’s gambit: House speaker fights for legacy-defining fentanyl bill in final year as legislator
When House Speaker Alec Garnett sat down with Colorado Politics in January to reflect on his last year in office, he said he always prefers taking on “one tough one than a bunch of consensus-driven ideas.” “I always tell Emily that I’m going to focus on one big thing,” said Garnett, one of the youngest to…
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Colorado House approves bill that tightens penalties for low-level possession, distribution of fentanyl
The Colorado House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to a bill Friday evening to address the state’s growing fentanyl crisis following another hours-long debate that focused on whether possessing the substance in any amount or form should be a felony. For now, the balance of Colorado’s House members said no. After five hours of debate,…
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House debate on fentanyl bill is expected on Friday
The legislature’s sweeping attempt to confront Colorado’s worsening fentanyl crisis is slated for an early morning hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Friday. The full House could then tackle the measure for a floor debate later in the day. The bill increases criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of fentanyl, as well as sets…
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EDITORIAL: Colorado fentanyl bill treats lives as expendable
It’s the leading killer of people 18-45. It kills instantly. Fentanyl should be a major crime deterred by felony charges. By making it a minor crime with a careless new law in 2019, Colorado became the red-carpet state for fentanyl dealers. The law reduced to a misdemeanor the possession of 4 grams or less. That’s…
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House judiciary panel tackles sweeping legislative response to fentanyl crisis
Editor’s note: The House Judiciary Committee this afternoon heard testimony on a sweeping legislation aimed at confronting Colorado’s fentanyl crisis. This story has been updated multiple times. Here’s the latest. Herod can’t attend fentanyl hearing as Joint Budget Committee meets at the same time Rep. Leslie Herod, who was temporarily appointed to the House…
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House Democrats say nuance on simple possession of fentanyl is lost in deadly overdose rhetoric
With a hearing on how to deal with the state’s fentanyl crisis just a few hours away, Democrats attempted Tuesday to counter some of the rhetoric around the issue of simple possession. Democrats also appear to be open to the discussion of lowering the fentanyl felony from 4 grams to 1 gram, but that comes…
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Advocates for stricter penalties for fentanyl press their case
A coalition of business leaders and law enforcement officials made the case Monday for making simple possession of fentanyl a felony, one day ahead of a House panel hearing a sweeping bill that seeks to confront Colorado’s opioid crisis. JJ Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, thanked Speaker of the…
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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock presses for harsher penalties for fentanyl possession
In a departure from the Democratic position at the state Capitol, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock pressed for harsher penalties for fentanyl possession, mirroring the position of the city’s police chief and other law enforcement officials. Officially introduced Friday, the legislation targets drug dealers by proposing increased criminal penalties. It also includes a variety of public…