News Sheet

Polis Builds a Bridge While Colorado Burns

Written by Scott K. James

While Colorado’s budget bleeds, Jared Polis plays architect with his taxpayer-funded ‘beautiful’ bridge to nowhere. Priorities, right?

Governor Jared Polis and a gaggle of lawmakers just unveiled their newest shiny distraction: a $29 million skywalk between two buildings at the State Capitol. The Denver Post reports this isn’t satire—this is what they’re actually doing with our money. Apparently, fixing crime, housing, or mental health issues can wait—Polis needed his ‘One Big Beautiful Bridge’ first.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Colorado’s broke—but here comes King Polis with a $29 million golden catwalk.
  • It’s named the “One Big Beautiful Bridge,” because apparently irony died in committee.
  • Polis claims it’s about “efficiency and safety,” but mostly it’s about his ego.
  • Meanwhile, Coloradans are choking on taxes and potholes… but hey, let’s build a catwalk!
  • The state can’t fund roads, water projects, or police—but we get this Vegas-style overpass.

My Take

Only Jared Polis could look at Colorado’s soaring cost of living, mental health crisis, and housing implosion—and decide what we really need is an architectural Instagram filter slapped between government buildings. Are you kidding me? I’ve seen more responsible spending habits at bachelor parties in Vegas. And calling it ‘One Big Beautiful Bridge’? That’s rich. Can we at least name it after all the programs we defunded to make it happen?

This is what happens when you elect leaders who care more about optics than outcomes. People are hurting out here—wrangling real problems like inflation and fentanyl—and Polis thinks he’s building the Eiffel Tower of bureaucracy. Newsflash from Weld County: We don’t need monuments; we need leadership that doesn’t treat tax dollars like Monopoly money.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.