Things got ugly Tuesday as a bill sponsor questioned a fellow legislator's parenting skills. Mind you, the moment was made a less shocking given that it was state Rep. Mike Merrifield getting feisty at the mic.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Mike Merrifield
Follow this topic by RSSInside the Democrats $4,300 Retreat
Face The State Humor
June 19, 2009Statehouse Democrats recently repaid $4,300 to the state for a "team building" retreat paid for with public money after it was revealed Republicans weren't invited. FTS humor columnist Andrew Ripemoff takes a look inside the exclusive event.
SENATE PRESIDENT BRANDON SHAFFER: Good morning everyone, and welcome to the retreat. Before we get started, are there any questions?
REP. JOEL JUDD: Yeah, are they going to bring out anymore glazed donuts? Someone took the last one.
FTS Humor: The Buck Stops Here...Sort of
Face The State Humor
June 13, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
As any experienced political campaign strategist will tell you, every time an anonymous person defends their candidate by posting in the comments section of a political blog, it immediately translates into an 5-7% jump in the polls.
FTS Humor: B.S.
Face The State Humor
April 17, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
Today we’ll recap the past week’s statehouse budget drama in a summary we’ll just call: "How to make up an $300 million budget shortfall by taxing bull semen."
Merrifield fails to play nice...again!
April 15, 2009House Dems in a hurry to bury education transparency bill
April 1, 2009
New information is coming to light about the School Finance Transparency Act, which was killed by Democrats in the House Education Committee March 19.
Also known as Senate Bill 57, the bill was postponed indefinitely after four hours of committee debate that lasted late into the evening. Speaker Terrance Carroll and House Minority Leader Mike May arrived to work the next morning ready to revive it. But they were too late.
FTS Humor: Follow The Governor On Tritter
Face The State Humor
March 26, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
This Twitter craze is sure sweeping the country. But to people like me who are really old, (over 30), it seems sort of cold and mechanical. My generation prefers to communicate with our friends the good old fashioned way, through more personal, intimate means, such as e-mail.
FTS Humor: Nutrition Nazis
Face The State Humor
February 5, 2009
Hi people. My name is Amber. I’m 17 years old, and I’m like, supposed to fill in for my Uncle Andrew this week as part of this really lame civics class project.
FTS Humor: A Raucous Caucus
Face The State Humor
January 30, 2009WEDNESDAY 9:47 AM
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE/SENATE CAUCUS
House Speaker Terrance Carroll leads a free-flowing discussion with fellow Democrats and gubernatorial staff on this sessions’ legislative priorities.
Lundberg's replacement in House better be a baritone
January 15, 2009
State Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, was sworn in today to serve out the term of Steve Johnson, who left the Senate to serve as a Larimer County Commissioner. Respected lawmaker that he is, Lundberg left quite a power vacuum in one of Colorado's most venerable institutions. We're talking about the "Capitol Choir."
Lawmakers take on cats, slow drivers in 2009
A Face the State Staff Report
January 15, 2009
If you're a slow driver, hate yielding to buses, or just don't have time to microchip your cats, watch out. State lawmakers are on to you.
FTS Humor: Extremist Home Makeover
Face The State Humor
January 15, 2009
By Andrew Ripemoff
In a bold and ambitious move, Governor Ritter, together with state House and Senate Democrats,open up Nannyville, the state’s first residential real estate development to be built and operated solely by Democrats.
Dems' enviro aspirations will cost you lots of green
FTS Opinion
January 14, 2009Gov. Bill Ritter loves his “New Energy Economy” so much that he felt compelled to mention it no less than 10 times during his State of the State address last week.
He also took the opportunity to plug green legislation that furthers his agenda for the "New Energy Economy," but on closer examination is actually harmful to mainstream Colorado.
FTS Humor: Drop the Pepsi and put your hands in the air
Face The State Humor
November 29, 2008By Andrew Ripemoff
As we anxiously await the $25 billion bailout plan for Internet columnists, we offer you tidbits from the week that was.
11/24: More of the same on education
I told you recently about Terrance Carroll, the next speaker of the Colorado House. He’s busy getting to work – but will he bring change, or just more of the same?
Play audio - 1:30 minutes
More >
Segment 5 - Terrance Carroll on Democrats' legislative agenda
At a recent speech before a business group in Denver, state House speaker-elect Terrance Carroll outlined his agenda for the coming legislative session. Carroll has promised positive change, but are his decisions thus far just more of the same?
Play audio - 3:59 minutes
More >
Merrifield re-appointment bad for kids
FTS Opinion
November 21, 2008
By Krista Kafer
Writing from a special place in Hell where I rent a small office, I’d like to congratulate state Rep. Mike Merrifield on his reappointment to chair the House Education Committee.
Merrifield stays Chairman of House Education Committee
A Face the State Staff Report
November 20, 2008Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, slated to takeover as Speaker of the House in January and a strong advocate of parental rights in education, has appointed well-known charter school adversary Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, to continue his tenure at the helm of the House Education Committee.
Groff, Carroll selections give hope to school choice supporters
A Face the State Staff Report
November 11, 2008
This year's newly minted state House and Senate Democrat leaders have given school choice supporters a reason to be cautiously optimistic, as the two men slated to lead their respective chambers have often split with their union-backed party to support school choice.
FTS Humor: Legislative wrap-up
Face The State Humor
May 15, 2008By Andrew Ripemoff
It’s been just over a week since the legislature has adjourned and yet, somehow, someway, the sun still rises every morning.
Legislative Superlatives 2008
FTS Opinion
May 7, 2008Gosh, did the year really go by that fast? We've had such an awesome time working together on the Face The State High School yearbook committee. Our advisors from the CSU and CU student newspapers really helped keep things in good taste. (Thanks, guys!) Congratulations to the winners in this year's list of superlatives. See you next session and have a great summer vacation, okay?
Merrifield’s "hell" is DPS’s Crown Jewel
April 14, 2008It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since Face The State first publicly revealed an anti-school choice email tirade by state Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, where he wrote to fellow Democrat Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, that “there must be a special place in hell for these Privatizers, Charerizers [sic] and Voucherizers! They deserve it!”
House Democrats' Communications Director Conceals Identity on Talk Show
A Face the State Staff Report
November 5, 2007A Colorado political operative paid by House Democrats is being accused of concealing her identity when calling into a popular Denver radio talk show last week.
Merrifield’s Ex-Wife A Charter School Teacher
A Face the State Staff Report
April 19, 2007In an ironic twist, Ginger Spencer, the ex-wife of the state legislator forced to resign this month for his anti-charter school comments, works as a kindergarten teacher at a popular Colorado Springs’ public charter school.
Charter school leader calls for legislator to step down from education post
A Face the State Staff Report
April 12, 2007Senator Sue Windels, D-Arvada, falsely advertised a recent charter school bill. Now charter school leaders are calling for her resignation.
Democrat Legislator Says Charter Schools Deserve "Special Place in Hell"
A Face the State Staff Report
March 29, 2007Rep. Mike Merrifield writes of school choice activists: "There must be a special place in Hell for these Privatizers, Charterizers, and Voucherizers! They deserve it!"