Latest news with #Polis'
Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
How Colorado's governor is reimagining education
The legacy Gov. Jared Polis wants to leave behind is a roadmap for educating the next generation. Why it matters: The term-limited Democratic governor is issuing a call to action for the nation's governors to push a new vision that better connects education to workforce, civic and wellness outcomes. The big picture: The plan is outlined in a 48-page report released Thursday ahead of the conclusion of Polis' tenure as chair of the National Governors Association. Titled " Let's Get Ready!," it reimagines student readiness for life beyond school. The four pillars begin with competency in reading and math, but the knowledge base extends to workforce preparedness, lifelong well-being and civic engagement. To achieve this, states must develop new systems to measure outcomes and publish the data on a public dashboard, holding leaders and educators accountable. What he's saying: "We need better ways to measure the outcomes to make sure that kids are able to succeed in the world, and then … success spells economic success for our country," Polis told Axios Denver on the sidelines of the association's weekend meeting in Colorado Springs. The other side: One of the key components of the initiative is building a more effective partnership with the federal government on education. And it's unclear whether the Trump administration is willing to do so. In a discussion at the NGA conference between Polis and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, he thanked her for releasing $66 million in withheld federal dollars now headed to Colorado school districts. But she made "no guarantees" the same thing won't happen again and promised "pencil sharpening" that cuts costs in the future. What's next: Colorado is expected to join a handful of other states in a pilot program to rethink how student achievement is measured by developing new benchmarks beyond standardized testing. "We plan to lead the way … [in] making sure we can take our schools to the next level and the results for students to the next level," Polis said. The bottom line: The report builds on Polis' other education initiatives — including state-funded, part-time preschool and full-day kindergarten — and affirms his legacy as the education governor.
Axios
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Judge blocks Colorado governor from forcing some staff to aid ICE subpoena
A Denver judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction blocking Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from ordering certain state employees to comply with an ICE subpoena for personal information about undocumented children and their sponsors. The big picture: The ruling delivers a legal setback to Polis and a win for whistleblower Scott Moss, a top labor official in the governor's administration, who sued to block the disclosures. Yes, but: The preliminary injunction applies only to Moss and the staff he oversees. It doesn't stop Polis from ordering compliance from other state employees with access to the same records. What they're saying: Denver District Judge A. Bruce Jones called the ICE subpoena "overly broad," noted that it wasn't issued by a court, and suggested it may serve purposes beyond what's stated, including to help with deportation efforts. But the judge kept his ruling narrow: "I don't have the information about what other division chiefs think" about complying with the subpoena, he said Wednesday. "Therefore I'm not comfortable going beyond what I've done here." Between the lines: Wednesday's ruling reignites scrutiny over the Democratic governor's decision to override state legislation he signed into law — which limits state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in non-criminal matters. Catch up quick: ICE's administrative subpoena, issued in April, sought names, home addresses, wages and more for 35 Colorado-based sponsors of unaccompanied immigrant children. The purpose, it claimed, was ensuring minors released to sponsors were safe. Polis initially resisted complying but reversed course weeks later, ordering staff to turn over documents or risk "immediate discipline or termination," court records allege. State of play: Moss, along with the two labor unions and nonprofit that joined the lawsuit, argued Polis' order violated Colorado law prohibiting state employees from sharing noncitizens' personally identifiable information to federal immigration authorities. Polis' lawyers argued the subpoena related to a criminal investigation into possible child trafficking and whether the children were properly cared for, not to immigration enforcement. They also maintain there has been no threat to Moss' employment. Reality check: The subpoena reviewed by Axios Denver makes no mention of any open criminal investigation, but instead references "conducting investigative activities" to address general risks of trafficking or exploitation. Notably, a checkbox on the subpoena that would formally classify the request as involving child exploitation crimes was left blank. "Am I going to believe you or my own lying eyes?" the judge told Polis' attorney on Monday, per Colorado Newsline. "When I read [the subpoena], it doesn't say it's for the purpose of a criminal investigation. This is posited as a welfare check." By the numbers: At least 407 unaccompanied minors who entered the U.S. illegally and were detained by immigration authorities have been placed with sponsors in Colorado between October 2024 and May 2025, the Colorado Sun reports from federal data.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Legal pressure mounts against Gov. Polis over ICE data disclosure
Legal pressure is mounting against Democratic Gov. Jared Polis after revelations that he ordered state officials to comply with an ICE subpoena and hand over personal data of undocumented children in Colorado to federal immigration agents. The latest: Colorado WINS — the union representing more than 27,000 state workers— civil rights group Towards Justice and labor organization Colorado AFL-CIOannounced Monday they're joining as plaintiffs on a whistleblower lawsuit filed last week by Scott Moss, a senior labor official in Polis' administration. The groups accuse the governor of "colluding" with ICE agents and violating multiple state laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement in non-criminal matters. The intrigue: Polis has agreed not to act on the subpoena until after the judge rules on a request for a temporary restraining order and injunction, according to his attorney's court filing last week. The big picture: The backlash highlights growing fractures in Polis' support among labor leaders, civil rights advocates and Latino Democrats — many of whom viewed him as an ally. Just weeks ago, Polis signed a bill prohibiting state and local officials from collecting or sharing information about immigration status unless it directly involves a criminal investigation. What they're saying:"The actions that Gov. Polis has taken are undermining public trust in our state government," Colorado WINS president Diane Byrne said at a news briefing on the steps of Denver City Hall on Monday. "This action by the governor represents a betrayal to the immigrant community of our state," the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus said in a statement Monday, adding that Polis has turned "his back on some of the most vulnerable residents." Catch up quick: On April 24, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security subpoenaed the state labor department for detailed records — including wage data, leave filings and home addresses — for 35 people sponsoring unaccompanied migrant children. According to the records, Polis initially resisted but later reversed, ordering staff to comply or face termination. The other side: The governor's office defends its action, saying it was a criminal matter. "We are committed to partnering on criminal investigations ... including to protect against human trafficking and child exploitation," Polis' spokesperson Eric Maruyama told us. Reality check: The subpoena reviewed by Axios Denver makes no mention of any open criminal investigation, nor is it court-ordered. Instead, the administrative request references broad "investigative activities" to ensure children released to sponsors were safe — citing general risks of trafficking or exploitation. Crucially, a checkbox on the subpoena that would formally classify the request as involving child exploitation was left blank. The bottom line: Polis' office appears to be casting a civil immigration enforcement request as a criminal matter — sidestepping state law to justify a politically risky decision of turning over immigrant data to ICE.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Polis sued over ICE data handoff involving migrant child sponsors
In the same week that activists sounded the alarm over a recent uptick in ICE arrests at Denver's federal immigration court, a senior state official sued Gov. Jared Polis, accusing the Democrat of aiding the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The big picture: The whistleblower lawsuit — filed Wednesday by Scott Moss, one of the governor's top labor officials — alleges that Polis ordered state employees to hand over personal information on residents sponsoring unaccompanied migrant children, despite laws the governor signed explicitly prohibiting such cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. According to the lawsuit, Polis' contested directive ordered staff to comply with a Department of Homeland Security subpoena or risk termination. Why it matters: The governor now stands further at odds not only with the legislature and local leaders who have long resisted federal immigration enforcement, but with his own record. Just weeks ago, Polis increased protections for immigrants. Now he is accused of undercutting them. Catch up quick: On April 24, Homeland Security Investigations subpoenaed the state of Colorado for wage data, leave filings, home addresses and more on 35 sponsors of unaccompanied minors. Polis' office initially resisted. Weeks later, however, the governor allegedly reversed course and ordered compliance, despite a 2025 law barring such disclosures without a court order. What they're saying:"Colorado is not a sanctuary state," Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama told Axios Denver in a statement. "Helping our federal law enforcement partners locate and, if necessary, rescue children being abused and trafficked is not only in line with the law but also a moral imperative." Polis' office told The Lever, which first reported the lawsuit, the subpoena falls under a narrow legal exception for criminal investigations, and the law allows cooperation in such cases. Flashback: In January, Polis told reporters that Colorado's role was to assist with federal criminal investigations, not act as an "extension of the (U.S.) government" on immigration enforcement. The other side: In a statement to Axios Denver, Moss' attorney Laura Wolf countered claims made by the governor's office. "ICE never claimed nor showed evidence of crimes against children," Wolf said. "ICE admits it wants the state's help finding children" it already apprehended "to make sure they're 'cared for' and not 'exploited,'" but that "does not turn civil immigration proceedings into criminal investigations," she said. Zoom out: The alleged cooperation comes as ICE has ramped up arrests in Denver's immigration courthouse. There were at least eight in the past week, including a toddler and a 6-year-old, Jennifer Piper of the American Friends Service Committee told reporters Thursday. Piper and several immigrant advocates said ICE agents have been waiting in hallways, often in plain clothes, to apprehend people attending court. "What we are seeing here I have not seen in the 20 years that I have been a part of the immigrant rights movement," Piper said. What's next: Moss is seeking an emergency injunction to block the data release, while advocates are urging the state to strengthen its immigrant safeguards.
30-05-2025
- Business
Colorado's governor vetoes landmark ban on rent-setting algorithms
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has vetoed a bill that would have made Colorado the first state to ban landlords from using rent-setting algorithms, which many advocates have blamed for driving up housing costs across the country. RealPage is the target of a federal lawsuit filed last year that accuses the real estate software company of facilitating an illegal scheme to help landlords coordinate to hike rental prices. Eight other states, including Colorado, have joined the Department of Justice's lawsuit, though RealPage has vehemently denied any claims of collusion and has fought to have the lawsuit dismissed. Critics say RealPage software combines confidential information from each real estate management company in ways that enable landlords to align prices and avoid competition that would otherwise push down rents. RealPage's clients include huge landlords who collectively oversee millions of units across the U.S. The Colorado bill, which recently passed the Democratic-led Legislature along party lines, would have prevented the use of such algorithms. In a veto letter Thursday, Polis said he understands the intent of the bill but that any collusion among landlords would already violate existing law. 'Reducing market friction through legitimate means that do not entail collusion is good for both renters and landlords,' Polis wrote. 'We should not inadvertently take a tool off the table that could identify vacancies and provide consumers with meaningful data to help efficiently manage residential real estate to ensure people can access housing.' In a statement, RealPage applauded Polis' veto, calling it an example of 'courageous leadership.' 'This is the right outcome for all of us who desire a healthy housing ecosystem that benefits Colorado renters and housing providers alike,' said Jennifer Bowcock, a spokesperson for the Texas-based firm. But Polis' decision outraged local housing advocates and the American Economic Liberties Project, a consumer rights advocacy group that has helped lead the fight against RealPage and other companies that use rent-setting algorithms. 'This veto sends the devastating message that corporate landlords can keep using secret price-fixing algorithms to take extra rent from people who have the least,' said Sam Gilman, co-founder and president of the Community Economic Defense Project, a Colorado-based nonprofit. RealPage software provides daily recommendations to help landlords and their employees price their available apartments. The landlords do not have to follow the suggestions, but critics argue that because the software has access to a vast trove of confidential data, it helps RealPage's clients charge the highest possible rent. Although Colorado was the first state to pass a bill targeting rental algorithms, at least six cities have passed similar ordinances over the past year. They include Philadelphia; Minneapolis; San Francisco; Berkeley, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Providence, Rhode Island. RealPage has decried those measures and sued over Berkeley's ordinance, saying it violates the company's free speech rights and is the result of an 'intentional campaign of misinformation and often-repeated false claims' about its products. RealPage argues that the real driver of high rents is a lack of housing supply. It also says that its pricing recommendations often encourage landlords to drop rents since landlords are incentivized to maximize revenue and maintain high occupancy. A clause recently added to Republicans' signature ' big, beautiful ' tax bill would ban states and localities from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade. On Tuesday, five Democratic senators sent a letter to RealPage asking if the company was involved in getting that clause inserted.
