Colorado: Colorado Democrats

With the country facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, nearly 50 first- or second-term Democrats in Congress have appointed "economic-recovery coordinators" to ensure accountability of the federal stimulus money as it arrives.

On Monday, three Colorado Democrats announced appointments: Reps. Ed Perlmutter of Golden and Betsy Markey of Fort Collins and Sen. Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs.

Their moves follow a Feb. 23 memo from the Office of Assistant to the Speaker of the House, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., which outlined steps to assure that the recovery plan is handled responsibly.

Among each coordinator's duties are answering questions and troubleshooting for those wanting a piece of the funds.

President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday a $787 billion economic stimulus package, a historic, multifaceted rescue plan aimed at creating millions of jobs, sparking consumer spending and stopping the country from sliding into what he has called an economic "catastrophe."

Characterizing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as the "most sweeping economic recovery package in our history," Obama said the bill's mix of tax cuts, infrastructure projects, energy and education investments, and aid to the unemployed and poor would create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, including roughly 60,000 in Colorado.

"We have begun the essential work of keeping the American dream alive in our time," Obama said just

Obama in Denver

before signing the bill at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in front of about 250 people.

(Photo/AleBonvini, Flickr)

The National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) is finally putting its money where its mouth has been. A round of radio ads targeting 30 Democrats in conservative or swing districts began airing Friday — among the targets were freshman Rep. Betsy Markey and third-term Rep. John Salazar of Colorado — who plan to vote in favor of the $790 billion economic stimulus package.

(Photo/AleBonvini, Flickr)

The 60-second radio ads blast Markey and Salazar “for supporting a trillion-dollar spending bill chock full of wasteful Washington spending instead of working across the aisle to create real jobs for struggling middle-class families,” according to an NRCC release.

According to Roll Call Sen. Michael Bennet may be inching ever closer to a serious primary challenge:
In the weeks since Bennet took office, Colorado Democrats continue to keep an eye on [Andrew] Romanoff - who left office in January because of term limits - to see whether he will challenge Ritter's hand-picked successor.

Romanoff could not be reached for comment Monday, but multiple Colorado sources said there has been increasing chatter in political circles that Bennet will not make it through the 2010 primary without a serious challenge.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a primary against Bennet," said Steve Welchert, who heads up a Denver-based Democratic consulting firm.