Seed Newsvine
A charter school principal will replace Peter Groff in the state senate.
A district 33 Democratic party vacancy committee selected Mike Johnston, the principal at Thornton's Mapleton Expeditionary School for the Arts, to complete Groff's term, which ends in January 2013.
Johnston, 34, was chosen on the first ballot. Among the hopefuls he defeated was former Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver.
Groff, who was originally appointed to the Senate in 2003 and then re-elected in 2004 and 2008, accepted an appointment as a senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education. His resignation from the Senate took effect last Wednesday after the General Assembly adjourned its 2009 session.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Cold Case Funding Bill Again Includes Death Penalty Ban
A conference committee restored this morning to a bill funding investigations of "cold cases" a provision repealing Colorado's death penalty.
The senate had removed the death penalty repeal during debate on HB 1274 earlier in the week, adopting a bipartisan amendment offered by Sens. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, and Josh Penry, R-Fruita, that would directly appropriate funds for such investigations from a new $2.50 fine applicable to all criminal convictions and traffic infraction verdicts.
The conference committee, which included members of the House of Representatives who had supported the death penalty repeal, returned to the proposal to fund cold case investigations by using money that would otherwise go toward capital punishment.
Both chambers of the General Assembly will consider the conference committee report today before adjourning the session.
Gov. Bill Ritter, a former prosecutor, has not publicly said whether he would sign a bill repealing the state's death penalty.
The senate had removed the death penalty repeal during debate on HB 1274 earlier in the week, adopting a bipartisan amendment offered by Sens. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, and Josh Penry, R-Fruita, that would directly appropriate funds for such investigations from a new $2.50 fine applicable to all criminal convictions and traffic infraction verdicts.
The conference committee, which included members of the House of Representatives who had supported the death penalty repeal, returned to the proposal to fund cold case investigations by using money that would otherwise go toward capital punishment.
Both chambers of the General Assembly will consider the conference committee report today before adjourning the session.
Gov. Bill Ritter, a former prosecutor, has not publicly said whether he would sign a bill repealing the state's death penalty.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Former Sen. Grossman Named to Ethics Panel
A former Democratic state legislator has been appointed to one of the five seats on the state's Independent Ethics Commission.
Dan Grossman, who served as a state representative between 1997-2003 and as a state senator from 2003-2007, was nominated by Senate president Peter Groff, D-Denver, to replace Republican Sally Hooper.
Grossman's nomination will have to be confirmed by the state senate. The vote on the nomination is expected to occur Wednesday.
Gov. Bill Ritter will name a replacement for Democratic commission member Nancy Friedman. Ritter is required by law to appoint a Republican to that seat.
The Independent Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcing Amendment 41, the far-reaching anti-corruption initiative approved by voters in 2006.
Dan Grossman, who served as a state representative between 1997-2003 and as a state senator from 2003-2007, was nominated by Senate president Peter Groff, D-Denver, to replace Republican Sally Hooper.
Grossman's nomination will have to be confirmed by the state senate. The vote on the nomination is expected to occur Wednesday.
Gov. Bill Ritter will name a replacement for Democratic commission member Nancy Friedman. Ritter is required by law to appoint a Republican to that seat.
The Independent Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcing Amendment 41, the far-reaching anti-corruption initiative approved by voters in 2006.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Senate Committee Backs Death Penalty Repeal
A Senate committee approved Wednesday a bill that would repeal Colorado's death penalty.
HB 1274 gained the backing of all three Democrats on the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Both Republican members voted "no."
The measure, which would re-route money currently appropriated to carry out capital sentences to cold case investigations, has already passed through the House of Representatives.
Colorado voters have twice voted for a state death penalty law, most recently in 1974.
The state has executed one person in the last 40 years.
Proponents of the bill argue that the death penalty does not deter crime and that the state's 1,400 unsolved murder cases cannot be brought to closure without additional funds.
Senate sponsor Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said at the hearing on the bill Wednesday that she thinks it would save the state about $1 million per year. Most of that money would be appropriated to the Cold Case Investigation unit at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
The final vote on HB 1274 in the House was very close, with a 33-32 tally moving it over to the Senate.
HB 1274 gained the backing of all three Democrats on the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Both Republican members voted "no."
The measure, which would re-route money currently appropriated to carry out capital sentences to cold case investigations, has already passed through the House of Representatives.
Colorado voters have twice voted for a state death penalty law, most recently in 1974.
The state has executed one person in the last 40 years.
Proponents of the bill argue that the death penalty does not deter crime and that the state's 1,400 unsolved murder cases cannot be brought to closure without additional funds.
Senate sponsor Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said at the hearing on the bill Wednesday that she thinks it would save the state about $1 million per year. Most of that money would be appropriated to the Cold Case Investigation unit at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
The final vote on HB 1274 in the House was very close, with a 33-32 tally moving it over to the Senate.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Senate Approves Bill Discouraging School District "Re-Brucing"
The Senate approved Tuesday a bill that would discourage voters that have previously exempted their local school districts from Taxpayer Bill of Rights revenue limits from reimposing those limits.
SB 291 would prevent "re-Bruced" districts from replacing revenue lost by the TABOR caps with state funding.
Several school districts around the state are considering subjecting themselves yet again to revenue limits, despite prior decisions by voters in their boundaries to waive them.
Among the arguments made in support of that idea is a claim that voters' choices to "de-Bruce" were not meant to freeze mill levies at current levels, as a 2007 bill enacted by the General Assembly and upheld against a TABOR challenge by the state supreme court earlier this year requires.
But Democrats, including Gov. Bill Ritter and Senate Education Chairman Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, argue that "re-Brucing" would allow districts to shift responsibility for financing local schools to the state.
SB 291 gained final clearance on a party-line vote, but not without some drama in the final stages of the process.
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, staged a one-man, three-hour filibuster against the measure when it came before the chamber on second-reading.
He read state statutes, quoted from supreme court decisions, and otherwise talked in an effort to delay consideration of the bill.
On Tuesday Mitchell made only a short, seven-sentence statement, accentuated by a humorous reference to his filibuster, before SB 291 went to a final vote in the Senate.
SB 291 would prevent "re-Bruced" districts from replacing revenue lost by the TABOR caps with state funding.
Several school districts around the state are considering subjecting themselves yet again to revenue limits, despite prior decisions by voters in their boundaries to waive them.
Among the arguments made in support of that idea is a claim that voters' choices to "de-Bruce" were not meant to freeze mill levies at current levels, as a 2007 bill enacted by the General Assembly and upheld against a TABOR challenge by the state supreme court earlier this year requires.
But Democrats, including Gov. Bill Ritter and Senate Education Chairman Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, argue that "re-Brucing" would allow districts to shift responsibility for financing local schools to the state.
SB 291 gained final clearance on a party-line vote, but not without some drama in the final stages of the process.
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, staged a one-man, three-hour filibuster against the measure when it came before the chamber on second-reading.
He read state statutes, quoted from supreme court decisions, and otherwise talked in an effort to delay consideration of the bill.
On Tuesday Mitchell made only a short, seven-sentence statement, accentuated by a humorous reference to his filibuster, before SB 291 went to a final vote in the Senate.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Senate Passes DNA Bill
A bill that would allow law enforcement agencies to collect a DNA sample from every person arrested in Colorado cleared the Senate today.
SB 241, sponsored by Sen. John P. Morse, D-Colorado Springs, was approved on a 28-7 vote.
Critics have argued that the bill is unconstitutional because it applies to people arrested, but not necessarily charged with or convicted of a crime.
Defenders say that people arrested but not charged can request deletion of the sample from the database the proposal would create.
Opponents included both Democrats and Republicans.
SB 241, sponsored by Sen. John P. Morse, D-Colorado Springs, was approved on a 28-7 vote.
Critics have argued that the bill is unconstitutional because it applies to people arrested, but not necessarily charged with or convicted of a crime.
Defenders say that people arrested but not charged can request deletion of the sample from the database the proposal would create.
Opponents included both Democrats and Republicans.
Rep. Green To Resign
Another legislator has announced her decision to leave the General Assembly in mid-term.
Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, said this morning on the floor that she would leave the House of Representatives to spend more time with her family.
"It is time to leave you and let someone who has the health and the stamina to fill this seat, such an important seat for my district," Green told her colleagues this morning. "There are so many good leaders in my district who could bring so much to this body. It is time to have them called forth."
Green was first elected to the House in 2006. She has been an advocate for public education and renewable energy use.
During her comments this morning she paid tribute to colleagues from both parties.
"Among this gathering of public servants, I have come to know great people, people like our former Speaker Andrew Romanoff and former Majority Leader Alice Madden, people like former Senate President Joan Fitzgerald, people like our present Speaker Terrance Carroll, who rose up from neighborhoods of poverty to his present position, and like our Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, a man of deep dedication and resolve, who stands firm for his beliefs," Green said. "Nor can I forget the Minority Leader, Mike May. Representative May, your loyalty and dedication to your party has won you my admiration and respect."
A Democratic Party District 23 vacancy committee will appoint Green's replacement, to serve through the end of her current term, after her resignation takes effect June 1.
Green is the fourth Democratic legislator to resign this year and she will be the third member of the House to leave since January.
Her decision follows resignations by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, and Peter Groff, D-Denver, and Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, and the elevation to the Senate of former Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud.
Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Golden, said this morning on the floor that she would leave the House of Representatives to spend more time with her family.
"It is time to leave you and let someone who has the health and the stamina to fill this seat, such an important seat for my district," Green told her colleagues this morning. "There are so many good leaders in my district who could bring so much to this body. It is time to have them called forth."
Green was first elected to the House in 2006. She has been an advocate for public education and renewable energy use.
During her comments this morning she paid tribute to colleagues from both parties.
"Among this gathering of public servants, I have come to know great people, people like our former Speaker Andrew Romanoff and former Majority Leader Alice Madden, people like former Senate President Joan Fitzgerald, people like our present Speaker Terrance Carroll, who rose up from neighborhoods of poverty to his present position, and like our Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, a man of deep dedication and resolve, who stands firm for his beliefs," Green said. "Nor can I forget the Minority Leader, Mike May. Representative May, your loyalty and dedication to your party has won you my admiration and respect."
A Democratic Party District 23 vacancy committee will appoint Green's replacement, to serve through the end of her current term, after her resignation takes effect June 1.
Green is the fourth Democratic legislator to resign this year and she will be the third member of the House to leave since January.
Her decision follows resignations by Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, and Peter Groff, D-Denver, and Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, and the elevation to the Senate of former Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud.
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