Worried about constituent pushback? Just pass bills at night!
From The Colorado Freedom Force
Nothing screams "transparency" quite like passing controversial legislation in the wee hours of the night.
That's exactly what your legislators did this week at the Capitol.
Every piece of legislation which requires a fiscal note has at least four public hearings before it can reach the Governor's desk.
There's two in the House Chamber, and two in the Senate Chamber, and they provide the opportunity for the public to address the legislators through comment and testimony.
Particularly controversial bills tend to draw hundreds of citizens to participate in the process.
Now... It would be reasonable to think these hearings should be held at a time which is convenient for most people to participate.
Since when is anything taking place at the Capitol "reasonable" or "convenient"?
On Tuesday, there were a total of 14 bills (each consequential in nature) schedule to be heard with public comment between 1:30 and 2:00 pm.
Instead, all those citizens physically present at the Capitol, and those in a queue for virtual participation were left entirely in the dark as no effort was made to communicate the delays.
Hearings actually began at 8:19 pm, 8:47 pm and 9:17 pm. The last concluded with a vote at 1:56 am.
All 14 bills passed their respective committees in the dark of the night.
Here's a quick look at what legislators forced on us this time:
14 bills?!?
• HB21-1014: Disability Symbol Identification Document
• HB21-1162: Management of Plastic Products
• HB21-1250: Measures to Address Law Enforcement Accountability
• HB21-1255: Protection Order Issued Against Domestic Abuser
• HB21-1269: PUC Study of Community Choice Energy
• HB21-1280: Pre-trial Detention Reform
• HB21-1281: Community Behavior Health Disaster Program
• HB21-1294: K-12 Education Accountability Systems Performance Audit
• HB21-1298: Expand Firearm Background Check Requirements
• HB21-1299: Office of Gun Violence
• HB21-1303: Global Warming Potential for Public Projects Materials
• HB21-1304: Early Childhood System
• SB21-272: Measures to Modernize the Public Utilities Commission
• SB21-280: Bias Motivated Crimes
For the sake of simplicity, you can click this link to view a brief summary of each bill on our newly re-built website.
https://coloradofreedomforce.com/14bills/Citizen Engagement
A great big "thank you" goes out to all our subscribers who are testifying against so many of these anti-freedom bills.
Engaged citizens are the key to holding government officials accountable, especially when they pull stunts like passing legislation in the middle of the night.
Please continue to send us your stories!
And please continue to fight against this radical assault of our liberties!
For Freedom,
The Colorado Freedom Force