Extorting CO sheriffs
Fox News reports that some Colorado sheriffs are being subjected to a form of extortion by State Senators because the law enforcement officers object to the legislature’s restrictive gun control;
[El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa] cited an email he received from another sheriff that read, “…I have been advised by a reliable source at the Capitol that the Dems are seriously not pleased with the [sheriffs’] positions on the gun bills… support of SB197 [one of the gun bills] would put us in a more favorable light for salary bill support from the Dems…”
Democrats hold majorities in both legislative houses. Republican Rep. Lori Saine told FoxNews.com that Maketa’s charge must be taken seriously.
[…]
But Senate Democrats deny that gun politics has anything to do with holding up sheriffs’ pay increases,which are set by state law and have been unchanged since 2006.
“The position on pay raises has nothing to do with the sheriff’s stance on gun safety legislation, and everything to do with the economy,” Doug Schepman, spokesman for the Senate Democrats, told FoxNews.com.
Given the unpopular nature of Colorado’s new laws, I have to think that the sheriff is probably correct. Contrary to what we’re told, these state legislatures are ruling against their constituents’ desires. The Democrats think they’re working for the people when in actuality, they’re working for themselves and to feel better – not anything to do with public safety. And the Democrats don’t like being unpopular, so they’ll force compliance to their personal feelings.
Category: Gun Grabbing Fascists
Of course he’s correct. That’s what politicians do, trade in carrot and stick.
Dems extorting people? Nah, couldn’t be…. And, it isn’t “gun safety legislation”.
Do Colorado legislators have special plates? If so, I bet the traffic laws will start being enforced very strenuously.
I remember when “blue flu” was popular… the local police contract came up for renewal one year and the cops were warned NOT to call in sick. They didn’t. They started enforcing ALL the laws – issued 3000 traffic tickets in one day, for things like parking too close or too far from the curb, 32 in a 30, etc. They got their new contract. Wonderif the PR Colorado could get new legislators?
Rural vs. Urban
The greatest danger we face is comfortable complacency. The sheriffs better realize that there’s a price to be paid for their stance.
Joe where are you? You were complaining about Magput “blackmailing” Colorado before. Where is your moral outrage now? Crickets..Crickets.
Twist, are you even sure he’s awake yet?
“The position on pay raises has nothing to do with the sheriff’s stance on gun safety legislation, and everything to do with the economy,” Doug Schepman, spokesman for the Senate Democrats, told FoxNews.com.
Okay. They know that they really can’t now dole out raises to anyone else. Thus, by not doing so, the gov’t employees will vent their spleens on the sheriffs, not the legislators. That’s actually quite smart–in a diabolical way. (I was surprised that the sheriff is paid by the state. I wonder if that’s common out West.)
NR Pax: pretty sure he’s awake. It’s after 9:30 where he lives.
Perhaps he’s being quiet on this one for “strategic” reasons.
Simply more proof that Democrats are pro-rape and anti-women and anti-non whites.
While hold up the pay raise of men and women who uphold the legal laws unless one wants those same men and women to uphold anything and everything that comes down the pike?
May as well start handing out yellow stars with every gun, box of ammo, or cleaning kit purchased.
Next we’ll see the families and personal property of the sheriffs violated.
“Given the unpopular nature of Colorado’s new laws,…” NOT!
@ Twist, man you never learn do you? …when Republicans/Business Leaders act this way it’s “blackmail”, when Democrats/Parasites act this way it’s to advance the common good. The citizens are not smart enough to know what’s best for them, only liberals know what’s best for everyone else that’s why the need to insert their personal world view into every aspect of your daily life. If you were smarter, and more compliant to losing your personal freedoms, you’d fit right in. All of you square pegs will eventually be rounded off to fit the holes they pick for you.
One day they will take you to a re-education center where you’ll be able to learn all about this topic and re-enter society as an acceptable member…
@12.
“Given the unpopular nature of Colorado’s new laws,…” NOT!
Not what? Not new laws? Not given? Not Colorado? Speak English, Joe.
@9 – They’re not paid by the state, they are paid by the counties, but the state sets the pay rates.
This actually came out a while ago, during the testimony about the gun control bills. If it were only a couple of sheriffs speaking out about this, the Dems may have gotten away with it, but ALL 62 sheriffs in Colorado are against every one of these bills. 30 of them testified against them in person. Hickenlooper refused to meet with them but was happy to drag Mark Kelly and some woman from Sandy Hook in to testify and take calls from Biden and Bloomberg.
Payback is a bitch. Two recalls are already out for signatures with more in the works. Hudak, my state senator, only won by 346 votes so there’s a good chance she’s going down. McLachlan and Fields are targeted too. And 2014 isn’t so far in the future that people will forget. They’ve all given their opponents plenty of ammo.
Hickenlooper was speaking at Mesa the other day and was greeted by a protest of several hundred people. He’s had a pretty easy ride so far politically, coming across as a moderate, gee shucks kind of guy who makes quirky commercials. Now that his true colors are showing, he’s a bit taken aback by the criticism thrown his way. His second term isn’t such a given anymore. However, the Repubs need to field a decent candidate against him this time, one who doesn’t wear a tinfoil hat and make stuff up about his background.
I’m hoping that we can turn Colorado around. If not, it’s Wyoming or Bust.
More fallout from the new gun control laws – loss of revenue from hunting:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/27/hunters-threaten-to-boycott-colorado-after-passage-recent-gun-laws/
Common Sense: hunters going elsewhere after a state passes laws restricting guns? Gee, who’d a thunk it?
By the way: my in-laws in Wyoming tell me the elk hunting is pretty good there too. (smile)
Little bit of clarification on this news item (it’s already old news in Colorado): El Paso County Sheriff Maketa made this claim, that he said was backed by Chris Olsen, the executive director of the County Sheriffs of Colorado. Chris then issued a statement refuting Maketa and Maketa’s entire argument fell apart prompting him to go very quiet.
The reason that the county pay hike legislation wasn’t introduced was that it would have been a late bill introduction, which requires more onerous legislative requirements, which, in this case, would have been to have bipartisan support for the bill. Not one GOP legislature was willing to do so as they want to make a political fight over a proposal for state employee pay raises and can’t appear to be hypocritical. The sheriffs are being used by the GOP to score political points in the fiscal prudence category.
Just politics as usual.
@#7, Twist, I think it’s because he’s still waiting in line at his local public library for his turn on their free internet!
@318. Wow, thanks for explaining. Glad the dems didn’t use 20 dead kids and 6 school employees, a U.S. Representative’s husband(AR-15 buyer) or anyone like that “to score political points”.
JOey, just go back to bed and hit the bong again.
Damn fingers, that was @#18, in post #20.