With Republicans relegated to super-minority status in the Colorado House (and nearly so in the Senate), they will have little leverage during the special session of the state Legislature set to begin tomorrow. But in radio interviews this week, caucus leadership nevertheless presented a united front via a pair of bills. Minority Leader Mike Lynch (R-Wellington), Assistant Minority Leader Rose Pugliese (R-Colorado Springs), and Senator Barb Kirkmeyer (R-Weld County), who sits on the powerful Joint Budget Committee, are all promoting the same proposal while saying they believe a compromise can be reached with Democrats. However, other GOP legislators and the state party share neither their optimism nor their policy goals.

Supporters and opponents of gender-affirming health care for transgender youth held consecutive rallies at the state Capitol over last weekend. Both included state legislators, advocacy groups and some counter-protestors, but that was where the similarities ended. After “Gays Against Groomers” (GAG), a national group founded just last year by a pro-Trump conservative media specialist, announced it was holding a rally at the Capitol on Saturday morning, pro-LGBTQ group One Colorado invited supporters, legislators and allies for a celebration of Colorado’s gender-affirming care laws on Friday afternoon.