Colorado’s 2023 Legislative Session, Constitutional Liberties, and Grid Security Threats

On January 9, 2023, the opening day of Colorado’s 74th General Assembly, Kim examines the threats to liberty from multiple angles. State Representative Rose Pugliese previews the legislative battles ahead over the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, constitutional attorney John Whitehead sounds the alarm on eroding civil liberties, and grid security expert Michael Mabee reveals the shocking vulnerabilities in America’s electric infrastructure.

Constitutional Erosion and the Surveillance State

Start listening at 33:35 – Hour 1

John Whitehead, founder of the Rutherford Institute and author of over 30 books including “The Battlefield in America, The War of the American People,” delivers a sobering assessment of constitutional liberties in America. With over 40 years of litigation experience against government overreach, Whitehead warns that the Constitution has effectively been terminated because Americans have allowed it to happen through apathy and distraction.

“This is not the country that the founding fathers gave us, and we’ve allowed that to happen.”

— John Whitehead, Founder, Rutherford Institute

He cites the explosion of SWAT team raids from 3,000 annually in the 1980s to approximately 120,000 today, the failure of public schools to teach the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, and the rise of artificial intelligence surveillance. Whitehead encourages citizens to engage with local government and nullify unconstitutional federal overreach at the local level.

America’s Vulnerable Electric Grid

Start listening at 1:12:04 – Hour 2

Michael Mabee, grid security expert and author of “The Civil Defense Book,” examines the alarming vulnerabilities in America’s electric infrastructure. He discusses the December 2022 attacks on substations in North Carolina that left 40,000 people without power, noting there have been 919 physical attacks against the electric grid in the last decade alone. The government has known about these vulnerabilities since at least 1981, yet has failed to act.

“We’ve known about it for years, and the government has failed to fix the problem for decades.”

— Michael Mabee, Grid Security Expert

Mabee reveals that the electric utility industry has spent $1.2 billion lobbying against grid security regulations at the federal level alone. Even more concerning, the U.S. continues to import transformers, inverters, and smart meters from China despite knowing that China has been hacking the grid since 2003. He urges listeners to contact their representatives and demand action to protect critical infrastructure.

The 2023 Colorado Legislative Session and TABOR

Start listening at 17:41 – Hour 1

In this segment, Rose Pugliese, Colorado State Representative for House District 14 in El Paso County, joins Kim on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session. She identifies the Taxpayer Bill of Rights as her top priority, warning that the Democrat supermajority will continue efforts to erode TABOR protections and redirect taxpayer refunds. Representative Pugliese also highlights the irony of Governor Polis prioritizing public safety while supporting policies that have made Colorado less safe.

“The Taxpayer Bill of Rights is one of the reasons I chose to live in Colorado. I thought any state that allowed their people to vote on tax increases had to be the most free state.”

— Rose Pugliese, Colorado State Representative

She addresses the affordable housing crisis, pointing out that Democrat regulations, including mandates to eliminate fossil fuels from new construction, add $40,000 to $80,000 to the cost of new homes. Representative Pugliese calls on grassroots conservatives to engage with the legislative process, attend town halls, and hold legislators accountable.