Tracking what's destroying Colorado
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
A curated collection of bills, news, and resources about Colorado politics and policy
Colorado Abuse news, legislation, and policy updates.
25 articles tagged with "Abuse"
An X video post by Angela Rose tours Fort Morgan, Colorado, focusing on the Cargill meat factory where a significant portion of workers are Somali, with most Somalis in the town employed there. She details a 2015 incident where Somali employees demanded to leave the production line in groups of 11 for prayer breaks on the clock, but the company negotiated for 2-3 at a time; unsatisfied, 200 staged a 3-day walkout, leading to firings and a discrimination lawsuit where 138 were awarded $11,500 each (totaling around $1.5 million). Rose contrasts welcoming American small businesses with what she describes as shady, unclear Somali-owned stores, and criticizes Colorado's policies like taxpayer-funded abortions and gender-affirming care as hypocritical favoritism toward certain groups. In a follow-up post, Rose updates that the Somali population estimate of 2% is outdated—from 200 people in 2005 to around 1,200 in the late 2010s, now comprising over 8-9% of Fort Morgan's population—and expresses concern for preserving the historic downtown's beauty.
An X post highlights Colorado State Representative Lorena Garcia's path to power: appointed rather than elected, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and her nonprofit seeing a massive revenue spike post-appointment. The poster criticizes this as a "bait and switch" tactic contributing to the state's decline, noting that one-third of Colorado's reps are appointed via vacancy committees.
In this "Mountain Minute" segment from Rocky Mountain Voice, the host highlights several Colorado headlines pointing to government overreach and fiscal burdens. Key issues include taxpayers missing out on TABOR refunds due to Gov. Jared Polis' budget keeping spending just below the cap; Denver's sanctuary city legal defense costs hitting a $2 million taxpayer-funded limit; the state rejecting Tina Peters' appeal based on Trump's federal pardon not applying to state charges; new strict methane rules for landfills raising rural costs; debates over forced electrification increasing energy expenses and grid risks; a federal freeze on childcare funds over fraud; ballooning costs for the Arkansas Valley water project; potential return of school meal taxes to the ballot; a new bill toughening penalties for child trafficking; and national shifts in vaccine policies emphasizing fewer routine shots and natural immunity.
The X post by @logiclives criticizes Denver Public Schools for issuing nearly $1 billion in Certificates of Participation (COPs), with $850 million in principal outstanding, to fund projects without voter approval. This tactic, also used by the state government, circumvents Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) by treating the obligations as leases rather than debt, leaving Denver taxpayers on the hook for about $2,000 per person. The post warns that Democrats are exploiting this loophole to enable unchecked spending and urges resistance to any efforts to weaken TABOR.
In 2026, Colorado's bloated state welfare programs face deserved federal crackdowns after shocking revelations of fraud and inefficiency. From HUD paying housing benefits to 221 deceased individuals and thousands of ineligible recipients, to a $40 million Medicaid scam targeting seniors with unnecessary tests, SNAP funding battles amid administrative failures, and hospitals drowning in uncompensated care partly from surges in uninsured migrants — these scandals highlight years of lax oversight draining taxpayer dollars and rewarding abuse.
In this X post by @logiclives (LogicandLiberty), a Colorado political commentator and podcast host, Denver's homelessness crisis is exposed as a prime example of government waste. Sharing a screenshot from a June 2025 Common Sense Institute report, the post highlights how Denver Metro hit record homelessness levels in 2025, with chronic cases growing despite shrinking unsheltered shares, while the city faces a $250 million budget shortfall prompting cuts after allocating $203 million in 2023-2024. It slams the Department of Housing Stability for failing a 2024 audit on spending tracking and accountability, questioning broader program mismanagement since homelessness rose from 2019. Dated January 3, 2026, the post has 216 likes, 73 reposts, and 21 replies, with commenters decrying NGO grift, historical flops like the 2005 "Denver’s Road Home" initiative that burned $63 million without results, and calls for audits to uncover taxpayer fraud. Replies tie it to Democrat gullibility and suggest the spending perpetuates problems for funding's sake, under hashtags like #copolitics.
In this X post by @mrosazza (Denver Fail), a conservative critic, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is slammed as "Rocky Mountain Mamdani" for his deep ties to Venezuela amid Colorado's "forced invasion" by migrants. The post quotes how Johnston led a 2023 coalition of mayors from cities like Denver, Chicago, Houston, LA, and New York to push for federal reforms, including faster work permits, expanded TPS for Venezuelans, and more funding for integration. It accuses these cities of being voter fraud epicenters and labels Johnston a "billionaire puppet" harming Coloradans. Accompanied by an image of Johnston linked to the Mayors Migration Council, the post from January 3, 2026, has 677 likes, 305 reposts, and sparks replies blaming Democrat corruption, calling for ICE action against gangs like Tren de Aragua, and alleging ties to NGOs and hidden money.
In this X post by @GovtsTheProblem, a small-government advocate, Colorado Democrats are lambasted for turning Denver into one of America's least safe cities per WalletHub's latest Safest Cities in America rankings. Denver lands at a dismal 162nd out of 182 cities with a total score of 42.86, ranking worse than Albuquerque (154th), St. Louis (157th), and Chicago (161st) in overall safety, which factors in home/community safety, natural disasters, and financial security. The attached screenshot shows the tail end of the list, emphasizing Denver's poor 172nd place in home and community safety. Replies echo the sentiment, blaming leftist policies for rising crime, with one user noting Colorado's high violent crime rate (7th worst nationally per U.S. News), and others mocking Governor Polis while highlighting dangers like lenient laws on murderers. The post, dated January 3, 2026, has garnered over 330 likes and sparks discussion on #copolitics, portraying Democratic governance as a recipe for urban decay.
In a scathing X post, Sean Paige highlights the closure of the Colowyo coal mine in Moffat County, Colorado, effective January 1, 2026, resulting in 133 direct layoffs and potentially 437 total job losses, devastating local economies with a 43% drop in property taxes. He blasts state "green zealots" and the "climate cult" for pushing anti-coal policies that ignore soaring global coal demand (record 8.8 billion tons in 2024), especially in China and India, while Colorado phases out coal by 2030. Paige calls out silent Democratic leaders like Governor Polis, Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, and AG Weiser for prioritizing Boulder elites over rural workers, labeling the move as economic suicide that exports pollution and imports poverty. Accompanied by an image of miners holding signs reading "expendable," "invisible," and "forgotten," the post demands a rethink to save Colorado jobs.
A Colorado conservative account highlights a staggering 306% surge in Medicaid spending on pediatric behavioral therapies from 2018-2024, linking it to potential overbilling and fraud driven by private equity-backed providers. Drawing parallels to Minnesota's exploding autism and child services fraud scandals—where billions in taxpayer dollars have been stolen through fake claims and non-existent services—the post warns that Colorado risks the same fate without urgent oversight and reforms.
The Denver Post article, published on May 15, 2025, reports that House Republicans have proposed a bill cutting federal Medicaid spending by at least $880 billion over the next decade to help extend President Trump's tax cuts. For Colorado, this could mean billions in lost funding, potentially leading to a state budget shortfall and up to 108,000 residents losing coverage, mainly due to new work requirements and reduced federal matching funds. Critics, including Democrats like Rep. Diana DeGette and Gov. Jared Polis, argue the cuts prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy over health care access, risking higher costs and uncompensated care for providers. Republicans, such as Rep. Gabe Evans, counter that the plan targets fraud and waste while ensuring Medicaid's sustainability for vulnerable populations, with spending still projected to rise annually. The bill has advanced through committee but faces uncertain passage in Congress, and Colorado officials are preparing potential responses, including a special legislative session.
This report from the Common Sense Institute warns that Colorado's state legislature is drowning in a sea of excessive laws and ballot measures, passing a record 527 bills in 2024 alone—a 33% spike over pre-2019 norms and the third-highest growth nationally since 2012. Bills are not just more numerous but 51% more complex, doubling in word count from earlier years, often spawning from mandates like HB19-1261's aggressive emissions targets. Meanwhile, citizen-initiated ballot questions have quadrupled to 16 in the latest cycle, fueling a vicious cycle of policy overload. Amid tepid population growth (net domestic migration down to 7,000 in 2023 from 57,000 in 2015) and soaring living costs, this frenzy correlates with drops in key metrics: education, health, housing, infrastructure, public safety, and state budgeting. The result? Heavier taxes, fees, and red tape strangling businesses and free enterprise, eroding Colorado's once-golden appeal. The fix? Slow down, deliberate more, and prioritize data over hasty activism.
In a shocking repeat offense, Austin Benson, 36, faces dismissal of 23 felony charges—including four counts of attempted murder—for randomly shooting and severely injuring three people in Aurora, Colorado, on June 27, 2024. One victim was left paralyzed, another suffered shattered bones, and the third endured multiple gunshot wounds. This comes after Benson was arrested in 2018 for a nearly identical crime: firing an AK-47 at strangers while driving. That case dragged on for five years before charges were dropped due to mental incompetence, with the same rifle returned to his wife—only for Benson to use it in the 2024 attack. Now, deemed unrestorable to competency, he's headed for indefinite commitment in a locked mental health facility, but critics slam the system for failing to act sooner, allowing preventable violence.
The Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to hear a pivotal case challenging the state's requirement that ballot measure committees disclose the names of their registered agents in all election-related communications, such as ads and social media posts. The dispute originated in 2020 when the "No on EE" committee, opposing a nicotine and vaping tax measure, was fined $30,000 by the Secretary of State's office for omitting the agent's name from its materials—despite promptly correcting the oversight after a complaint. A divided Colorado Court of Appeals ruled in August 2024 that the mandate violates the First Amendment, deeming it an unnecessary burden with little informational value, as agents are merely legal paperwork recipients, not key decision-makers. Secretary of State Jena Griswold appealed, arguing it ensures voter awareness of who influences elections, while the Institute for Free Speech, representing No on EE, contends it imposes excessive compliance costs, especially on digital platforms. The outcome could reshape disclosure rules, balancing free speech protections against transparency demands in political advocacy.
On December 3, 2025, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) issued a subpoena compelling former Special Counsel Jack Smith to sit for a closed-door interview on December 17, 2025, and turn over records related to his high-profile prosecutions of President Donald Trump. Smith, appointed in 2022 by AG Merrick Garland, led probes into Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, filing indictments in both cases before dropping them after Trump's 2024 victory—citing DOJ policy against charging a sitting president. The subpoena targets Smith's team's aggressive tactics, including subpoenas for phone toll records (call numbers, times, durations) from select GOP lawmakers around January 6, 2021, without content review. Smith had offered public testimony six weeks earlier, but Republicans insisted on privacy to probe sensitive details. His attorney, Peter Koski, decried the snub: "We are disappointed... the American people will be denied the opportunity to hear directly from Jack." Smith's team fired back in October, insisting their work was "consistent with... following the facts and the law, without fear or favor," and that toll record grabs were "entirely proper."
Colorado joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging a federal campaign aimed at denying SNAP benefits to certain noncitizens, arguing the policy risks wrongful benefit terminations, financial penalties for the state, and undermines public trust, highlighting tensions over government spending and program administration.
In Colorado, federal cuts under the Republican-led "Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1), signed into law earlier in 2025, have slashed health care tax credits, forcing the state's OmniSalud program—launched a few years ago to provide free insurance to low-income undocumented immigrants—to halve its enrollment via a random lottery for 2026. Out of 12,000 eligible applicants (mostly long-term residents from Mexico working in low-wage jobs like construction and farming), only about 6,000 will keep zero-premium coverage, leaving over 5,000 to pay full price starting January. The program, funded by state resources and a Medicaid waiver, has helped detect serious conditions like cancer for some, but demand exploded after prior expansions (10,000 in 2023, 11,000 in 2024). Nonprofits like Vuela for Health report emotional tolls, with winners like a 63-year-old cancer survivor expressing relief and losers, including a 52-year-old single mother, facing financial ruin amid economic uncertainty. Federal officials, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and House Speaker Mike Johnson, hail the changes as prioritizing American taxpayers over incentives for illegal immigration.
Drawing a chilling parallel to Minnesota's explosive welfare fraud epidemic—where Somali immigrants siphoned billions from programs like Housing Stabilization Services and child nutrition, funneling millions back to Al-Shabaab terrorists via hawala networks—Colorado faces its own invasion of fiscal abuse. Under Governor Jared Polis's sanctuary-state policies, Denver has become ground zero for undocumented immigrants exploiting state-funded healthcare like OmniSalud and Cover All Coloradans, with costs exploding over 600% to $32 million in FY2026 alone after absorbing 42,000 border crossers. Federal probes by CMS and House Republicans uncovered 45,000 suspect Medicaid enrollments in Colorado, amid accusations of identity theft, overbilling, and "emergency" care loopholes that bleed taxpayers for non-emergencies. Like Minnesota's "schemes stacked upon schemes," critics warn Colorado's lax oversight invites fraud rings preying on programs meant for citizens, diverting resources from vulnerable Americans while sanctuary laws shield data from ICE—potentially costing the state millions in federal matching funds.
Colorado was once the ultimate escape from California’s high taxes and housing nightmare. Now, after 30 years of mass migration and one-party rule, the Centennial State has become California 2.0 (only colder and more expensive). See the brutal proof in one infographic that natives don’t want to admit and newcomers refuse to believe.
In the sweltering heat of August 2025, Colorado's lawmakers convened for an extraordinary special session from August 21 to 26, scrambling to patch a gaping $783 million state budget shortfall triggered by a $1.2 billion plunge in income tax revenue. Blame the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" for capping state-and-local tax deductions and gutting corporate incentives, but let's be real: years of unchecked Democratic spending on bloated programs left the Centennial State woefully unprepared. Over six frantic days, the Democrat-controlled legislature rammed through 11 bills, scraping together about $253 million in new corporate taxes and gimmicks like selling discounted tax credits, while greenlighting $103 million in painful cuts to Medicaid, affordable housing, and higher education. They also kicked the can down the road on Colorado's pioneering—but disastrously overreaching—AI regulations, delaying enforcement until June 30, 2026, after tech firms and small businesses begged for mercy from the regulatory nightmare. Tweaks to ballot measures aimed to shield school meals and cap skyrocketing health insurance premiums, but the session ended without fully closing the deficit—leaving Governor Polis to wield the ax on even more essential services. It's a classic tale of fiscal irresponsibility: short-term bandages on a hemorrhaging budget, with taxpayers footing the bill for Sacramento-style progressivism in the Rockies.
In this Complete Colorado op-ed, author Eli Bremer blasts the passage of Propositions LL and MM in Colorado's November 2025 election, claiming voters were fed a pack of lies to pass them. Sold as a lifeline for the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program—framed as the only way to keep free lunches flowing for needy kids—the props were rendered obsolete by federal changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Despite no real budget shortfall (expenses stayed within $128.4 million for FY 2024-25), the legislature kept the measures alive, quietly amending Prop MM to siphon over 50% of its new tax revenue from wealthy Coloradans toward SNAP benefits instead of school meals. Prop LL de-TABORed HSMA funding, unlocking a $95 million annual windfall for progressive pet projects. Bremer argues this was a transparent scam to erode TABOR protections and hike taxes under false pretenses, with ballot language burying the SNAP diversion in fine print.
As of November 21, 2025, the Colorado Secretary of State's press release page highlights routine post-election updates for the 2025 Coordinated Election, including the successful completion of the statewide Risk-Limiting Audit on November 20 (confirming accurate ballot counting) and ongoing canvassing/recount processes. The most politically charged recent item is a November 18 release where far-left Democrat Jena Griswold leads a coalition of 10 blue-state secretaries in demanding answers from the Trump administration's DOJ and DHS about requests for voter roll data—accusing federal officials of "conflicting information" and raising alarms over potential efforts to verify citizenship and remove ineligible voters.
A Colorado Sun investigation reveals that One Main Street Colorado, a shadowy 501(c)(4) dark-money nonprofit that refuses to disclose its donors, played a pivotal role in launching the Colorado Opportunity Caucus—a group of moderate Democratic lawmakers—in January 2025. One Main Street's executive director, Andrew Short, admitted helping start the caucus because it "shares our values," while insisting it's "fully independent." The group poured at least $800,000 into super PACs during the 2024 cycle to back moderate Democrats in primaries, often against progressives. In a bombshell, emails show Short sought board approval in early September 2025 for $25,000 to cover a hotel room block for the caucus's October retreat at Vail's upscale Sonnenalp Hotel, where lawmakers mingled with lobbyists—directly contradicting his earlier claims of no involvement in the event or operations. The retreat, attended by at least 17 Democrats, was organized by the caucus (another donor-secretive nonprofit), with an attorney on hand to navigate ethics rules. Critics, including former ethics officials, slam it as a blatant loophole to skirt Amendment 41's gift ban and anti-corruption laws, warning such setups create the "appearance of impropriety." Caucus leaders defend compliance, but refuse full donor transparency, unlike other legislative caucuses.
Seventeen moderate Colorado Democratic lawmakers, part of the "Colorado Opportunity Caucus," are under investigation by the state's Independent Ethics Commission after attending a lavish closed-door retreat at the upscale Sonnenalp resort in Vail (rooms $316–$500/night). The event, which included mingling with lobbyists, was partially funded by a $25,000 contribution from the dark-money group One Main Street Colorado—a 501(c)(4) that doesn't fully disclose donors and has spent heavily backing these same Democrats in primaries. Complaints allege violations of Colorado's strict gift ban (capping gifts at ~$75/year) and potential illegal coordination with an independent expenditure committee. The commission deemed the complaints non-frivolous and is moving forward; fines could reach double the event's cost if violations are proven. Democrats call it a politically motivated attack by progressives and note a charitable donation was made in response.
In August 2025, Colorado state Rep. Brandi Bradley (R-Roxborough Park) filed a formal campaign finance complaint against fellow Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg (R-Loveland, House District 51) with the Colorado Secretary of State's office. The complaint alleges numerous violations of state campaign finance laws, claiming Weinberg improperly used donor funds for personal or non-campaign-related expenses. Key questionable expenditures highlighted include: - $1,955 donation to Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv football club (potentially violating state/federal laws on foreign contributions). - Over $1,000 in repeated charges at a Loveland barbershop (categorized variably as apparel, office expenses, or cleaning). - $2,533+ to the upscale University Club of Denver and $673 at the luxury Brown Palace Hotel (listed as "meeting expenses" or meals/lodging). - Purchases at Jos A. Bank clothiers, a New Jersey cigar shop ("gifts and donations"), and a "Trump It Up" board game vendor (listed as apparel). - Other items like Rotary/Sertoma club dues, Salvation Army donations, casino charges at Monarch Casino, and dozens of small, incompletely itemized expenses lacking required vendor details. The complaint originated from screenshots posted by a watchdog X account (@govtgrifters). Weinberg did not respond to media requests for comment. Separately (but mentioned in coverage), Bradley has filed ethics complaints against Weinberg related to prior allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior from women in Larimer County GOP circles ( 2021–2022 (which Weinberg denies as politically motivated), as well as unrelated Capitol office key access issues. No sexual harassment claims are part of the campaign finance complaint itself. The Secretary of State's office is reviewing; Weinberg could cure violations or face deeper investigation.