The Colorado Springs Gazette

GUEST COLUMN: Proposed 'waters' rule would drown counties in more red tape

Coloradans have a special appreciation for the beauty of nature all around us. Everyone benefits from the beauty and bounty of America's rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways. Of course, these natural resources should be protected from irresponsible polluters, and regulations are in place to ensure clean water in our communities. But,...
GUEST COLUMN: To help city's economy, end the war on business

Fourteen months ago, The Gazette printed my plan to end business fees. I later made major compromises. Liquor and medical marijuana fees and license filings, would remain, but other fees would no longer be collected. The annual "cost" of $400,000 was under 1/10th of 1 percent of City Hall revenue. Since annual revenue grows 30-60 times faster...
GUEST COLUMN: Planned Parenthood having a rocky summer

This past week, Live Action released undercover footage showing two Planned Parenthood facilities in Denver encouraging what they think are underage girls to practice BDSM - bondage and discipline, domination and submission, and sadism and masochism. The staffers, in tax-funded counseling sessions, teach the girls how to whip and choke each...
GUEST COLUMN: Sen. Mark Udall's conflicting views on freedom a tasteless joke

Fortune cookies and Mark Udall have more in common than Colorado's Democrat U.S. senator might like to admit. You probably know the juvenile prank of reading the message inside a fortune cookie - like "Now is the time to try something new" - and then adding " . in bed" to give it an off - color twist. Sadly, Udall's campaign rhetoric is...
GUEST COLUMN: Attorney General's job is to be an advocate for all Coloradans' rights

Recently in this paper, Cynthia Coffman, the chief deputy attorney general and my opponent in November's election for Colorado attorney general, attempted to defend her position of continuing the defense of Colorado's ban on same-sex marriage. Coffman implied that the reason her office is still defending Colorado's ban is that the Attorney...
GUEST COLUMN: Address the real issue at hand, stop being offended by Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg's quote in the Rolling Stone interview has made quite a splash in the Colorado Springs media. His tasteless comment about "No Roads" indicated he is not well-traveled, not well informed, or not very effective at using sarcasm. This comment should not shake our pride in this beautiful community in which we live. We are...
FAGIN: Can we solve the health insurance problem with more freedom?

The Supreme Court has issued its ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. I wrote about this case when it was argued (Gazette Opinion, March 27) and am pleased to report that the Supreme Court, in its Supreme Wisdom, agreed with me. Closely held for-profit companies can in fact claim religious exemptions from a law, if there are other ways for the law...
GUEST COLUMN: A call for bipartisan, unified action taking on state's energy problems

Occasionally, issues come up that transcend political affiliation, where what is right for the people of our great state trumps partisan sparring. I believe that these job-killing proposals being pushed by Rep. Jared Polis present us with one of those moments, and it is in the spirit of bipartisan concern for the economic health of Colorado...