State & Federal Update – November 22, 2024

It’s Friday, November 22, 2024. The 2025 General Assembly will convene in 47 days. 

These updates are curated from multiple news sources and designed to be a “choose-your-own-adventure.” Please read any coverage of interest and skip anything you deem to be irrelevant. Hyperlinks are provided to add additional context. With the 24/7 news-cycle I hope to keep us all in the loop on items we may want to know about or better understand. Please feel free to share if you think someone outside FGMC needs to be aware of this information.

Disclaimer – The news and articles contained within this update do not represent any political positions or policy opinions of Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP. This update is designed for informational purposes only.

COVID still has me feeling a bit down in the dumps, but it’s not enough to keep me from putting together an update for you to enjoy with your coffee this weekend. Even on the rough days, there’s always something to share—and I’m glad I can bring you a little something, even if it’s from my couch instead of the office…

Today’s Big Three Things-To-Know:

1. For the first time in Colorado’s history, women will hold the majority in the state legislature when it reconvenes in January. A new analysis reveals that women will make up 52% of the state’s 100 lawmakers in 2025, marking a significant milestone in gender representation. While Colorado has achieved gender parity in the past, this is the first time women will dominate both chambers of the General Assembly, according to projections from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In the state House, women will represent 58.5% of the lawmakers. Currently, women make up 49% of the legislature, ranking Colorado third in the nation for female representation, behind Nevada and Arizona.
2. Judgement day for DPS. Community advocates are vowing to continue their fight after the Denver Public Schools board approved the closure or restructuring of 10 schools for the next school year. On Thursday night, the board voted to close a list of schools, citing factors such as low enrollment, declining birth rates, and rising costs. The closures are set to impact over a thousand students in the district. However, groups like Movimiento Poder, which advocate for marginalized communities, argue that those most affected by the decision—students, families, and local communities—were not given a meaningful voice in the process. In a release yesterday the board said they did what they had to do for the district’s best interest.
3. Who is Pam Bondi, Trump’s second AG pick? President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be the next U.S. Attorney General, following former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration on Thursday. Bondi, a longtime ally of Trump, is considered a more viable candidate than Gaetz for the role. If confirmed, she would provide the incoming administration with a staunch supporter at the helm of the Department of Justice—an important position, especially if Trump pursues his threats to investigate his political opponents. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans,” Trump said in his announcement. “Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ on its intended purpose of fighting crime and Making America Safe Again.” A Tampa native and fourth-generation Floridian, Bondi spent over 18 years as a prosecutor before becoming Florida’s first female attorney general in 2011. She served on Trump’s opioid and drug abuse commission, where she worked to combat “pill mills” during her tenure as attorney general. Most recently, Bondi has worked with Ballard Partners, a Republican lobbying firm, where she leads its corporate regulatory compliance practice.

***Bonus Story – Florida sets special election to fill Matt Gaetz vacancy on April Fools’ Day. Florida will hold a special election on April 1, 2025, to fill the House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz, sparking a rush among Florida Republicans to represent the solidly red district. There’s probably a great joke to be made here, but my COVID fog is making it hard to find the punchline. 

And now, a few more new items…

From Denver…Audit may reveal failures in Denver mayor’s homeless shelter program.

This reporting comes from Axios, “Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration is struggling to keep homeless shelters safe and failing to track their spending, a city audit published Thursday found.

Tackling Denver’s homelessness crisis is a top priority for Johnston. But the audit suggests his multimillion-dollar plan could be putting vulnerable people at risk and using more taxpayer money than previously known.

The mayor’s initiative to quickly house 1,000 unhoused people by the end of 2023 led to the rushed setup of eight new shelters, leaving an understaffed department overwhelmed and unable to effectively oversee security, according to the audit. The auditor’s office surveyed department staff and found 15 of 20 respondents, or 75%, said citywide emergencies and mayoral initiatives impacted their ability to do their jobs.”

You can read more from Axios here.

From Aurora…Councilwoman and city leaders clash as questions over “Operation Aurora” deportation plan persist.

This from The Denver Post, “Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky says the Trump transition team has spoken to her about Operation Aurora, but the details of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport an unknown number of undocumented immigrants remain scarce.

Last week, Jurinsky took the opportunity of a monthly meeting of the council’s public safety policy committee, which she chairs, to remind city leaders that “Operation Aurora is coming.” “This is the real thing,” she said. “On a very serious note, there seems to be a disconnect between the incoming administration and the City of Aurora, so I hope that we are taking this seriously. This is coming.”

Trump announced the proposed mass deportation effort when he visited Colorado’s most diverse city while on the campaign trail in October. Before a crowd of thousands, Jurinsky promoted claims of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua running rampant in the city and commandeering an apartment complex whose managers had long faced allegations of neglect.”

You can read more from The Denver Post here.

Under the Gold Dome…Women dominate Colorado Legislature for first time.

Via Axios, women will be the majority of Colorado’s 100 lawmakers when the Legislature reconvenes in January, a new analysis shows. The General Assembly has achieved gender parity in the past, but this is the first time women will dominate the legislative body, according to projections from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers. Women will compose 52% of the Legislature in 2025. In the state House, 58.5% of lawmakers will be women. Right now, women are 49% of the two chambers, which ranks third in the nation behind Nevada and Arizona. A record number of women — at least 2,450, based on unofficial election results — will serve as state lawmakers nationwide in 2025, representing 33.2% of all positions.

You can read more from Axios here.

From the court…Appeals court says parents can sue for faulty genetic testing prior to birth.

According to Colorado Politics, Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that the parents of children born with an inherited muscle degeneration disorder can sue the medical professionals who incorrectly told them prior to conception that the mother was not a carrier of the gene.

A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals interpreted for the first time a 1989 law permitting medical negligence claims involving genetic disorders. The provision was enacted shortly after a Colorado Supreme Court decision found two parents could sue the physicians who mistakenly told them their son’s blindness was not hereditary — only for them to conceive a second son who was also blind.

You can read more from Colorado Politics here.

Around the state…Lawsuit alleges toxic gas killed a contract worker at Suncor Energy’s refinery in Commerce City.

As reported by CPR, a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Adams County earlier this month alleges Kurtis Williams — a contract worker from Texas — died after breathing toxic fumes at the Commerce City refinery owned by Suncor Energy last year.

The case comes as Suncor faces continued scrutiny for its poor workplace safety record. The allegations have also led local climate groups to call for regulators to close the refinery due to repeated air quality violations. On Tuesday, Cultivando, a local environmental justice group, held a press conference outside the state health department, demanding officials revoke the facility’s operating permit pending a full investigation into Williams’ death.

You can read more from CPR here.

On the budget…Colorado PERA budget calls for 20% jump in spending to modernize its benefit system, even as state pivots toward austerity.

According to The Colorado Sun, Colorado’s public pension board last week agreed to a 20% increase in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association’s budget in order to hire dozens of new staff and begin a yearslong update of the antiquated computer systems it uses to manage retiree benefits.

PERA’s staff insist the large budget increase, which calls for an eye-popping 70 new employees, is badly needed and long overdue. Most of the new workers will help begin modernizing the pension’s administration system, which manages the payroll, benefits and personal data of its 700,000 members.

But the spending surge comes at a difficult time for public sector finances in Colorado. Lawmakers are looking to make $1 billion in spending cuts to the state budget, ushering in a new era of government austerity after years of growth that could have wide-ranging consequences for the public and private sector entities that provide state-funded services.

You can read more from The Colorado Sun here.

On education…Board votes to shutter 7 schools, shrink 3 more.

According to Chalkbeat, ten Denver schools will close or partially close after the school board voted unanimously Thursday to approve a plan to address declining enrollment.

Seven schools will close at the end of the school year:

• Castro Elementary
• Columbian Elementary
• Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design
• International Academy of Denver at Harrington
• Palmer Elementary
• Schmitt Elementary
• West Middle School

Three schools will partially close:

• Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy will lose its elementary school grades.
• Dora Moore ECE-8 school will lose its middle school grades.
• Denver Center for International Studies will lose its high school grades.

After the vote, several people in the audience shouted, “Shame on you!” Thursday’s vote came two weeks after Superintendent Alex Marrero publicly announced the closure recommendation, a tight timeline that drew criticism from some parents, advocacy groups, and elected officials.

You can read more from Chalkbeat here and Fox31 here.

From the great outdoors…Colorado’s incoming U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd wants to bring the BLM back to Grand Junction — and he’s found an unexpected ally.

Via The Colorado Sun, Colorado U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Hurd, who will represent Colorado’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District when he’s sworn into office in January, is ready to help return the Bureau of Land Management headquarters back to Grand Junction.

And the Republican first-time politician might have found an unexpected ally in Gov. Jared Polis.

“Grand Junction offers proximity to public lands and better access to stakeholders and it ensures that taxpayer dollars are being used more efficiently,” Hurd said in an interview with The Sun this week. “I would expect that would improve accountability when it comes to land management decisions. I think decentralizing agencies like the BLM creates an opportunity to better engage local stakeholders and taxpayers. I expect we will be hearing more about this in 2025.”

You can read more from The Colorado Sun here.

From Washington…Matt Gaetz says he won’t return to Congress next year.

As highlighted by Roll Call, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general, said Friday that he will not return to Congress next year.

“I’m still gonna be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” the Republican congressman said on conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s show.

Gaetz abruptly resigned from the House last week, just hours after Trump said he would nominate him to lead the Department of Justice. Still, after his Thursday announcement that he was dropping his bid for that job, it was an open question whether he would seek to rejoin the House in January after he was reelected earlier this month to his Florida Panhandle seat with 66 percent of the vote.

Florida will conduct a special election on April 1, 2025, to fill the House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz, kicking off a sprint among Florida Republicans to represent the deep-red district.

You can read more from Roll Call here and Politico here.

More from Washington…Trump plans to fire Jack Smith’s team, use DOJ to probe 2020 election.

According to WaPo, President-elect Donald Trump plans to fire the entire team that worked with special counsel Jack Smith to pursue two federal prosecutions against the former president, including career attorneys typically protected from political retribution, according to two individuals close to Trump’s transition.

Trump is also planning to assemble investigative teams within the Justice Department to hunt for evidence in battleground states that fraud tainted the 2020 election, one of the people said.

The proposals offer new evidence that Trump’s intention to dramatically shake up the status quo in Washington is likely to focus heavily on the Justice Department, the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, and that at least some of his agenda is fueled not by ideology or policy goals but personal grievance.

You can read more from The Washington Post here.

The latest on the Trump Administration…Trump nominates Wall Street investor Scott Bessent as treasury secretary and others.

Via NPR, Scott Bessent, the little-known Wall Street investor who became one of President-elect Donald Trump’s top economic advisers, has been nominated to be the next treasury secretary in Trump’s new administration.

In a statement, Trump wrote: “Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda,” and that Bessent would “help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the World’s leading Economy, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism, Destination for Capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the U.S. Dollar as the Reserve Currency of the World.”

In addition, Trump picked Project 2025 author Russell Vought to lead budget office.

• President-elect Donald Trump tapped Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought to serve as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during his second administration.
• Vought served as Trump’s OMB deputy director during his first term in the Oval Office. “I am very pleased to nominate Russell Thurlow Vought, from the Great State of Virginia, as the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB),” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Friday.

At the same time, Trump named Chavez-DeRemer for Labor secretary.

• President-elect Trump has tapped Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), to serve as Labor secretary in his new administration.
• Chavez-DeRemer had the backing of the Teamsters before she was officially picked by Trump. She served for one term in the House and lost her reelection bid to Democrat Janelle Bynum in November. Trump’s pick for Labor is one of his last Cabinet picks. Trump’s victory over Vice President Harris was in part fueled by working-class Americans, who shifted back towards the Republican Party in 2024.
• Teamsters President Sean O’Brien addressed the Republican National Convention in July after big labor has historically backed Democrats. Teamsters then announced in September that it would skip its presidential endorsement last cycle and opted to not back Trump or Harris.

Lastly, let’s touch on  Pam Bondi, Trump’s second AG pick.

• President-elect Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration Thursday.
• Bondi is a longtime Trump ally whose confirmation chances appear stronger than Gaetz’s. She would give the incoming administration a staunch ally atop the Department of Justice, which could be instrumental if Trump follows through on his threat to investigate his political enemies. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans,” Trump said in his Thursday announcement. “Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and Making America Safe Again.”

You can read more from NPR here NBC News here, and WSJ here.

And from around the globe…NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia’s attack with new hypersonic missile.

According to AP News, NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.

The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro.

In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory.

You can read more from The Associated Press here.

That’s all for now! Have a wonderful weekend!