Senator Gardner Working to Protect Colorado's Public Lands

With less than 120 days until the election, the campaign is in full swing. The time is upon us to get our friends, family and neighbors to become active and start paying attention. Gardner for Senate released a new ad this morning focusing on Senator Gardner's work to protect Colorado's public lands.

U.S Supreme Court Rules in Favor of School Choice

from Pamela Benigno at the Independence Institute

Today, in a long-awaited ruling on state Blaine Amendments related to school choice programs, the U.S. Supreme Court, cited the Independence Institute in a landmark 5-4 favorable ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.

The Independence Institute filed the amicus brief to offer the Court evidence of how the drafters and ratifiers of both the Colorado and Montana constitutions used the term "sectarian" to discriminate against disfavored religious beliefs. Justice Alito’s concurring opinion cited the Independence Institute brief, and also cited the scholarship of Robert G. Natelson, Director of the Independence Institute's Constitutional Studies Center.

There are 37 states that have Blaine language (no-aid provisions) in their state constitutions, including Colorado. Montana's "no aid" provision was applied incorrectly against the Montana scholarship program and violated the U.S. Constitution's Free Exercise Clause. The majority opinion, by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote: "this Court has repeatedly upheld government programs that spend taxpayer funds on equal aid to religious observers and organizations, particularly when the link between government and religion is attenuated by private choices." 

In 2015, lawmakers in Montana passed a scholarship tax credit program that allowed for a state tax credit for private donations made to K-12 scholarship granting organizations. But regulators at the state’s department of revenue invoked the Montana constitution’s Blaine Amendment to bar scholarship recipients from using the scholarships at religious schools.

Three mothers, to send their children to religious private schools, legally challenged the Montana Department of Revenue rule. The Montana Supreme Court decided to end the program because it allowed parents to use their children's scholarships at religious schools.

The Independence Institute, since its founding in 1985, has actively supported Colorado private school choice efforts to empower parents to choose the best educational option for their children. Pamela Benigno, a long-time school choice advocate, and director of the Independence Institute's Education Policy Center said, "For more than three decades, the Independence Institute has held that Colorado's Blaine Clause should not preclude parents from choosing a religious school when participating in a school choice program. We are elated that the U.S. Supreme Court has finally settled the debate, in favor of parental choice."

The Independence Institute is a free market, non-partisan, non-profit public policy research organization based in Denver, Colorado.

For more information about the Independence Institiute, visit www.i2i.org

Senator Gardner New Ad Highlighting

Hickenlooper Not Wanting to be a Senator

Good thing is - with your continued support, we will make sure that never happens.

Senator Gardner Secures Funding for I-70 in Eagle County

From Senator Cory Garner's Office

In a huge victory for commuters, recreationists, and Colorado’s economy, Senator Gardner today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding I-70 in Eagle County, Colorado more than $60 million towards critical infrastructure priorities. Funding for this 10 mile stretch of I-70 is being disbursed through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and is a direct result of his advocacy for our mountain communities. 

Senator Gardner

“Interstate 70 is an important economic driver in our state, but I’ve heard from countless Coloradans who are frustrated with congestion, unsafe driving conditions, and frequent closures due to weather events,”said Senator Gardner. “That’s why I advocated for this funding to improve I-70 and am proud to have helped secure this grant of more than $60 million to improve the infrastructure that millions of Coloradans rely on. This funding will help facilitate improvements aimed at reducing the number of road closures and delays, making commutes more reliable and greatly improving the quality of life for the Western Slope.”