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State Issues
Colorado Wasteful Spending (FY 2024-25)
Department of Corrections: $ 7,995,411 Increase 28.3 FTE
● Transgender Unit and Healthcare
- $2,677,911 to create two transgender living units totaling 148 beds.
- $5,317,500 for “gender-confirming surgical care.
●Clinical Staff Incentives
- $6,312,464 General Fund to provide incentive payments for certain DOC clinical staff up to $25,000.
- The bill includes an increase of $6,312,464 General Fund to provide incentive payments for certain DOC clinical staff up to $25,000.
●HB 24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students (immigrants): $24,000,000
- The bill provides $24,000,000 to be distributed to school districts and charter schools for new arrival students. It increases state expenditures and school district funding in the current FY 2023-24 only.
● Office of New Americans Expansion (immigrants): $119,029 General Fund and 1.5 FTE
- $119,029 General Fund and 1.5 FTE for an administrator to manage ONA grants, coordinate with other entities, and identify opportunities for new migrant career pathway enhancement and a full-time program assistant to support the ONA Director.
-This office has had difficulty expending grants.
●SB 24-182 Immigrant Identification Document Issuance: $ 122,855
- The bill changes certain requirements for the issuance of driver licenses or state identification cards to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. The bill increases state expenditures for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 only.
●HB 24-1280 Welcome, Reception, Integration, Grant Program:
$ 2,436,862
- The bill creates the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to provide assistance to migrants. It transfers funds in FY 2024-25 only.
●Immigrant Legal Defense Fund: $ 350,000
- Long Bill budget amendment
- A doubling of the fund for FY 2024-25 making a total budget of $700,000. This funding is used for public defense for people facing immigration legal issues. Sponsored by Rep. Mabrey and Sen. Gonzalez.
●Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice: $ 2,840,715
- Funding for the Office
- Mission: Build partnerships to mobilize community power and transform systems to advance health equity and environmental justice.
- What this office does to advance their mission:
1. Build relationships with communities and across sectors to address root causes of health disparities.
2. Use equity in decision-making and partner with all sectors of government to embed health and equity considerations into their decision-making process.
3. Use data to support the narrative of the social determinants of health and tell the story of what creates health.
4. De-center communications from the English language or any one dominant language, and prioritize language justice when engaging with communities.
5. Develop, implement, and provide guidance on health equity training, practice, and policies within CDPHE and across the state of Colorado.
6. Focus on upstream determinants of health, guided by the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative.
●HB 24-1197 Department of Public Safety Supplemental: $ 9,800,000
- Funding for Community-based organizations providing service for migrants.
- Funds to provide grants to community-based organizations providing services to people migrating to Colorado.
●Department of Education: $ 56,100,000
- Expanding Healthy Meals for All Program.
- Adds $56.1 million total funds for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, including $40.6 million from the Healthy School Meals for All Program General Fund Exempt Account and $15.5 million from the General Fund. This includes an increase of $56.0 million for meal reimbursements and $100,000 for consulting resources.
●HB 21-1318 Department of Public Health & Environment: $ 198,192
- Outdoor Equity Program
- This bill injected identity politics into access to the outdoors.
●Department of Public Health & Environment: $2,840,715 total funds and 8.3 FTE
- Creating the Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice by combining two offices.
- The bill includes an increase of $2,840,715 total funds and 8.3 FTE, including a reduction of $11,349 General Fund, to join the Environmental Justice Program with the Office of Health Equity to form the Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice (OHEEJ) for the purpose of centralizing environmental justice staff. OHEEJ is responsible for ongoing environmental justice work, including administration of environmental health mitigation grants through the Community Impact Cash Fund.
●Department of Revenue: $714,515 total funds and 8.3 FTE
- GENTAX & DRIVES SUPPORT FUNDING: The bill includes an increase of $714,515 total funds and 8.3 FTE, comprised of $442,906 General Fund and $271,609 cash funds from the Colorado DRIVES Vehicle Services. Account, in FY 2024-25. Funds will address the backlog of upgrades and system enhancements to the DRIVES and GenTax systems stemming from legislative, user experience, and system operational demands.
Colorado Republican Leaders Demand
Resignation of State Party Chair Brita Horn
Central Committee Votes No Confidence
In an online gathering on Saturday, about half of the Colorado Republican Party's state central committee members voted decisively to pass a resolution showing no confidence in Chair Brita Horn. They also called for her to step down immediately. The meeting organizer, State Party Secretary Russ Andrews, said the vote highlighted a rare moment of unity within the party.
Resolutions on Spending and Litigation
Participants approved additional measures that restrict Horn's ability to spend party funds. They directed her to halt all legal efforts connected to extended court battles that began almost two years ago during attempts to remove her predecessor.
Dispute Over Meeting Validity
Horn, however, dismissed the entire session as lacking proper authorization under party rules. In an email to committee members, she stated that her own planned meeting on March 2 would be the only valid one to address these issues. Party Executive Director Alec Hanna echoed this view, labeling Saturday's event as illegal and without any effect on party operations.
Andrews had called the Zoom meeting in response to a petition from critics, even after initially turning it down. The agenda mirrored what Horn later scheduled for her March gathering. Both sides encouraged attendance at the upcoming session, though opinions varied. One member suggested boycotting to avoid giving legitimacy to Horn's actions.
Background on Horn's Leadership
Horn took over as chair at the end of March 2025. Her election came after a difficult period marked by efforts, in which she participated, to oust former Chair Dave Williams. Since then, she has drawn criticism for weak fundraising performance.
Financial and Legal Challenges
The party has also incurred more than $100,000 in legal expenses while pursuing claims against Republicans involved in prior lawsuits. Just last week, a judge in El Paso County rejected the state party's legal moves and criticized all parties for prolonging the case, which had already been dismissed months earlier.
During Saturday's nearly three-hour session, members adjusted one resolution at the request of Williams. This change ensured continued payment for Executive Director Hanna and allowed expenses for the upcoming state assembly set for April 11 in Pueblo.
Resignations from Key Officers
Several key figures have expressed frustration with Horn's leadership. Former Vice Chair Darrel Phelan resigned after only three months, citing feelings of being sidelined. More recently, Vice Chair Richard Holtorf announced he would leave his post at the end of February. He described working with Horn as impossible.
Holtorf attended the Saturday meeting and backed the no-confidence measure. He amended it to stress the need for Horn's immediate departure. This sends a clear message from the committee that it may be time for a change, Holtorf remarked. He compared the situation to abandoning a sinking ship and called for fresh leadership to end internal conflicts and legal disputes.
Recall Efforts
Andrews also prompted attendees to sign a fresh petition for another meeting. This one would explore the possibility of formally recalling Horn from her position.
Removing a party officer requires approval from 60 percent of the full central committee, roughly 300 votes out of about 500 members. Although Saturday's resolutions gained support from around 90 percent of voters present, that translated to only about 200 votes. This falls well short of the threshold needed to remove her.
The upcoming March 2 meeting called by Horn will give all members another chance to weigh in on these matters.
Just one man’s humble opinion.
Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”
Michael is a father of 5, grandfather of 3, USAF Veteran, recording artist, entrepreneur, Editor of USA Liberty Report, passionate about Freedom, Liberty, the founders’ genius of the Constitution and current Candidate for Montrose City Council.
