PUEBLO – As I write this, the entire nation is breathing a sigh of relief.

That’s because Republicans and Democrats have hammered out a compromise funding a budget extension that will keep the government running for another week – until April 15.

LONGMONT – The movement to clean up the spreading oil slick of money in political campaigns is not taking a wait-and-see approach with the tide. An already tested solution awaits Colorado’s collective signature: citizen-funded campaigns. Clean Campaigns Colorado, a non-partisan group of concerned citizens, has been researching since 2007 and synthesizing a ballot measure which, if placed on the November ballot and approved by Coloradans, would provide public funding to state candidates who voluntarily agree to use those funds and leave the need to chase the money behind.