5 ways Colorado lawmakers are fighting Trump

Colorado lawmakers are erecting a blue wall against the Trump administration, writing protections into state law and banking money to file legal challenges.

Why it matters: The effort to impede President Trump's agenda makes Colorado one of the White House's most assertive adversaries.

The big picture: Trump's shadow has lingered over the legislative session from the start.

• Democratic lawmakers began planning their defense against the Trump administration late last year with the formation of four internal working groups, the Denver Post reported.

State of play: The legislation advancing at the state Capitol is designed to protect vulnerable populations and codify existing federal laws that Trump or the Republican-led Congress may eliminate.

• To shield people living in the country illegally from deportation, Democrats authored legislation to prohibit all state and local government agencies, as well as the judiciary, from disclosing personal information, such as immigration status.
• To protect access to abortion, a pending bill would require emergency reproductive care in case the existing federal protection is repealed.
• To secure the state's voting systems, lawmakers drafted the Colorado Voting Rights Act, which would add current federal protections against discrimination into state law.
• To promote childhood vaccines, the state is issuing guidance and decoupling from federal rulemakers now that vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the health and human services agency.

The intrigue: In the most overt move against the Trump administration, Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) introduced legislation this month to set aside $4 million for legal challenges, a significant sum in a tight budget year when other prized programs are being cut.

• McCluskie said the money is necessary to fight back against federal funding cuts, such as the $69 million in public safety grants the Trump administration is still withholding and the $250 million in health care dollars it revoked.

What they're saying: State Rep. Shannon Bird (D-Westminster), a co-sponsor of the so-called "Colorado Defense Fund," said the bill "fights back against federal overreach and puts Coloradans first."

What we're watching: Gov. Jared Polis warned state lawmakers at the beginning of the session not to put a bull's-eye on the state for Trump to target.

• That advice went unheeded. Now, the question is whether Trump will take notice of Colorado's moves.