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The west side of the Capitol was a protest site Friday, with opponents of SB 11 - the proposed civil unions legislation - rallying against the measure.
Speakers included former House speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, and former House majority leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument.
Stephens complimented the bill's lead sponsor, Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, but nevertheless urged its rejection, while McNulty argued that repeating the choice made last year to prevent it from becoming law would reflect "courage."
Former Sen. Ed Jones, R-Colorado Springs, used his opportunity at the microphone to engage in some rather distasteful criticism of House speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver. Jones said Ferrandino had a "wife" named "Eric," neither of which is an accurate statement.
He also misleadingly argued that people who are gay can choose not to be and insisted that this rendered null arguments for improved civil rights protection.
“I never saw a water fountain that said 'gays only,'” Jones said.
While the tools used to ostracize gay men and women in the Jim Crow south, and elsewhere in the nation, may have been different from the methods of enforcing segregation of the races, the available scientific research shows that, in fact, homosexuality is possibly an immutable characteristic of an individual.
According to a website maintained by Catholic News Agency, a high-ranking representative of the Roman Catholic Church's Denver archdiocese complained that the bill would infringe on Catholics' religious freedom by interfering in the practices of Catholic adoption agencies.
"We have been involved in the state of Colorado for over 80 years in helping to take care of the children of our community and make sure they are placed in adoption and foster care in good, healthy, wholesome settings, for the good of our society,” writer Kevin J. Jones quoted Monsignor Thomas Fryar, the Denver archdiocese's second-highest ranking official, as saying to the crowd.
The version of the proposed legislation considered in 2012, and killed by the Republican-ruled House of Representatives in office at the time, would have exempted Catholic adoption agencies from its reach. The state's Catholic dioceses nevertheless opposed the bill.
The Catholic hierarchy, as well as leaders of a variety of other socially conservative faith traditions, oppose recognition of civil unions because they view the step as providing a social sanction to same-sex relationships and as a threat to traditional marriage.
Colorado voters forbade any changes to the traditional view of marriage as involving only men and women when they approved Amendment 43 to the state constitution in 2006. A statute cannot override or contradict a constitutional provision.
Denver Post reporter Lynn Bartels wrote Friday that Jones was among several speakers who urged Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto the measure if it reaches his desk.
That result is not likely. Hickenlooper has said he will sign the bill.
Friday's rally was organized by the Denver Catholic archiocese.
Showing posts with label Frank McNulty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank McNulty. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Civil unions bill to get first hearing next week
A bill to authorize civil unions for gay couples will receive its first hearing next week.
SB 11 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 pm.
Observers expect that the hearing will be the first in a series of steps leading to enactment of the legislation this year.
In 2012 the speaker of then-Republican House of Representatives stirred controversy by failing to allow a vote on a similar bill on the last day of the session after it had been cleared by the Senate. That bill, which had been approved by three House committees, appeared to have enough support to pass the chamber and head to Gov. John Hickenlooper for a promised signature.
Hickenlooper subsequently called a special session. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, who was speaker at the time, then referred the measure to the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee, where it died on a party-line vote.
The issue helped Democrats pick up five seats in the chamber in the November election.
SB 11 is sponsored by Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, and Reps. Mark Ferrandino, the current speaker of the House, and Sue Schafer, D-Arvada.
SB 11 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 1:30 pm.
Observers expect that the hearing will be the first in a series of steps leading to enactment of the legislation this year.
In 2012 the speaker of then-Republican House of Representatives stirred controversy by failing to allow a vote on a similar bill on the last day of the session after it had been cleared by the Senate. That bill, which had been approved by three House committees, appeared to have enough support to pass the chamber and head to Gov. John Hickenlooper for a promised signature.
Hickenlooper subsequently called a special session. Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, who was speaker at the time, then referred the measure to the House State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee, where it died on a party-line vote.
The issue helped Democrats pick up five seats in the chamber in the November election.
SB 11 is sponsored by Sens. Pat Steadman and Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, and Reps. Mark Ferrandino, the current speaker of the House, and Sue Schafer, D-Arvada.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
McNulty now first GOP House speaker since 2005
A Republican is now the speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives for the first time in six years.
Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, was unanimously elected speaker this morning. He was nominated by both majority leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument, and minority leader Sal Pace, D-Puelbo. No other legislator sought the post.
McNulty received the gavel from outgoing speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, and then gave his Democratic predecessor a hug.
After ascending the podium, McNulty thanked Carroll for his work over the last two years.
"Speaker Carroll, this chamber, the people Colorado, are better for your time as speaker," he said.
McNulty then led the chamber in its first bit of business for the new session, the adoption of a resolution setting forth the rules of the House.
McNulty is a third-term representative from Highlands Ranch.
Carroll leaves the House after serving the maximum four terms allowed by state law. He was the first African-American speaker of the House in state history and, for a time, served alongside the first African-American Senate president, Peter Groff of Denver.
Groff, also a Democrat, left the legislature in 2009 to take a post in the Obama administration.
Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, was unanimously elected speaker this morning. He was nominated by both majority leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument, and minority leader Sal Pace, D-Puelbo. No other legislator sought the post.
McNulty received the gavel from outgoing speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, and then gave his Democratic predecessor a hug.
After ascending the podium, McNulty thanked Carroll for his work over the last two years.
"Speaker Carroll, this chamber, the people Colorado, are better for your time as speaker," he said.
McNulty then led the chamber in its first bit of business for the new session, the adoption of a resolution setting forth the rules of the House.
McNulty is a third-term representative from Highlands Ranch.
Carroll leaves the House after serving the maximum four terms allowed by state law. He was the first African-American speaker of the House in state history and, for a time, served alongside the first African-American Senate president, Peter Groff of Denver.
Groff, also a Democrat, left the legislature in 2009 to take a post in the Obama administration.
68th General Assembly opens today
Colorado's state legislature will convene for its sixty-eighth biannual session today.
The gathering of 65 representatives and 35 senators comes one day after the inauguration of a new governor, new state treasurer, and new secretary of state.
Republicans took control of the House of Representatives by one seat in the November election. Democrats, as they have since Jan. 2005, continue to hold the majority in the Senate.
Both the House and the Senate will convene today at 10 am. After certifying the election results and confirming the eligibility of all members, chief justice Michael Bender will swear in all the legislators.
Outgoing House speaker Terrence Carroll, D-Denver, will preside over that part of the opening day. He will relinquish the gavel when his successor is formally elected by House members.
The gathering of 65 representatives and 35 senators comes one day after the inauguration of a new governor, new state treasurer, and new secretary of state.
Republicans took control of the House of Representatives by one seat in the November election. Democrats, as they have since Jan. 2005, continue to hold the majority in the Senate.
Both the House and the Senate will convene today at 10 am. After certifying the election results and confirming the eligibility of all members, chief justice Michael Bender will swear in all the legislators.
Outgoing House speaker Terrence Carroll, D-Denver, will preside over that part of the opening day. He will relinquish the gavel when his successor is formally elected by House members.
Bills may be introduced, but committee hearings on proposed legislation will not commence until tomorrow.
Traditionally, the first day of the legislative session focuses on ceremonial and organizational resolutions.
Democrat Brandon Shaffer, a former Navy officer and a lawyer, is president of the Senate. Shaffer, 39, represents Erie, Lafayette, Longmont, and Louisville in the chamber. He is halfway through his second and final term in the Senate, having been first elected in 2004.
The majority leader is John Morse of Colorado Springs. A Democrat in a district that leans toward the GOP, the former Fountain police chief was re-elected to his second term in a close race last autumn.
Morse also worked as an emergency medical technician and as a certified public accountant earlier in his career. He has lived in the Colorado Springs area for more than 30 years and holds both M.B.A. and Ph.D degrees.
The Republican leader in the Senate is Dana "Mike" Kopp of Littleton. Kopp, 32, is an Army veteran. A Ranger, he is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, the first American-led war against Iraq's former Baathist regime.
Kopp is starting his second and last term in the Senate.
Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch, a former aide to retired U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard and a lawyer who used to work for the state Department of Natural Resources, will become the new House speaker.
The Republican, 37, will lead a GOP majority of one seat. Today marks the start of his third of four possible two-year terms as a representative.
The House majority leader is Amy Stephens of Monument. Republican Stephens, 53, is a former employee of Focus on the Family and a former member of the governor's Commission on the Welfare of Children. She won her seat in 2006 and is starting her third term today.
Minority leader Sal Pace represents Pueblo. Pace, 34, got his start in politics working for former U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa. He was first elected in 2008.
Pace has a masters degree in American political theory and teaches government as an adjunct faculty member at Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Both chambers rely on a number of committees to consider legislation before it comes to a vote on the floor. The state constitution requires that all bills be given a committee hearing.
The General Assembly meets for 120 days each year.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
FASTER Heads Out of House Committee
A bill that would pay for repairs and improvements to the state's highways and dilapidated bridges by raising motor vehicle registration fees cleared a House committee Tuesday evening.
The FASTER proposal, which would raise more than $200 million per year, was approved on a party-line vote by the House Transportation and Energy Committee.
The bill cleared the committee despite continued strong Republican opposition to it.
"This bill needs a complete overhaul,” House minority leader Mike May, R-Parker, said. “We are well beyond the time for a simple tune-up. We just cannot support this massive fee increase during an economic downturn.”
But Democrats argue the FASTER proposal is essential to the state's economy and the safety of motorists.
“The bill may not be all things to all people but it does save jobs, create jobs, and repair bridges," Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, said. “It’s important that we do something, and after 17 years of delay, we literally cannot wait any longer. The cost of doing nothing is quantifiably higher than the cost of doing something.”
Rice said the bill could be expected to result in the protection of at least 5,000 new jobs in the next year and that it is the result of lengthy negotiations with local governments, business interests, and members of both major political parties.
GOP legislators have argued that some of the money needed for the state's transportation system should be taken from the general fund and that a portion of the state's tax on oil and gas extraction activities should also be made available for that purpose.
GOP legislators say they have been stymied in efforts to achieve a compromise by Gov. Bill Ritter's unwillingness to bend.
"If there is still a chance for a bi-partisan road and bridge funding measure, the governor will have to recognize the burden he is proposing for working families," Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said. "He will have to back away from his hard-line partisan negotiating tactics.”
The bill now heads to the House Appropriations Committee.
The FASTER proposal, which would raise more than $200 million per year, was approved on a party-line vote by the House Transportation and Energy Committee.
The bill cleared the committee despite continued strong Republican opposition to it.
"This bill needs a complete overhaul,” House minority leader Mike May, R-Parker, said. “We are well beyond the time for a simple tune-up. We just cannot support this massive fee increase during an economic downturn.”
But Democrats argue the FASTER proposal is essential to the state's economy and the safety of motorists.
“The bill may not be all things to all people but it does save jobs, create jobs, and repair bridges," Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, said. “It’s important that we do something, and after 17 years of delay, we literally cannot wait any longer. The cost of doing nothing is quantifiably higher than the cost of doing something.”
Rice said the bill could be expected to result in the protection of at least 5,000 new jobs in the next year and that it is the result of lengthy negotiations with local governments, business interests, and members of both major political parties.
GOP legislators have argued that some of the money needed for the state's transportation system should be taken from the general fund and that a portion of the state's tax on oil and gas extraction activities should also be made available for that purpose.
GOP legislators say they have been stymied in efforts to achieve a compromise by Gov. Bill Ritter's unwillingness to bend.
"If there is still a chance for a bi-partisan road and bridge funding measure, the governor will have to recognize the burden he is proposing for working families," Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said. "He will have to back away from his hard-line partisan negotiating tactics.”
The bill now heads to the House Appropriations Committee.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cell Phone Bill OK'd by House Committee
A bill that would bar drivers from using a cellular phone without a hands-free device was approved by a House committee Tuesday.
HB 1094 would also make text messaging while operating a motor vehicle unlawful and prohibit minors who are operating a vehicle from using a cell phone while doing so.
The House Transportation and Energy Committee heard emotional testimony on the measure before approving it on a bipartisan 9-2 vote.
"I want to honor my daughter and know that I did everything I could do to prevent another person from being hurt or killed," Shelley Forney said. "I want you to think about the numerous lives that will be saved by passing this law today."
Forney, of Fort Collins, is the mother of 9-year old Erica Forney, who was killed in Fort Collins last autumn after a driver talking on a cell phone hit her while she was riding her bicycle in a bike lane.
Other witnesses supporting the bill included representatives of the state's law enforcement community and insurance industry.
Sponsoring Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, urged committee members to keep in mind that there are studies demonstrating that talking on a cell phone while driving, even through a hands-free device, distracts drivers.
"Your individual decision whether to talk and drive doesn't just affect you," Levy said. "It affects every other person on the road with you."
No one testified against the bill, which includes an exceptions for commercial truck drivers, police officers and firefighters and some state Department of Transportation employees.
But Republican Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch said he thought the measure was an overreaction and that use of a cell phone while driving should not be treated any differently than "tuning the iPod or having a Big Mac."
Aside from McNulty, the only other member of the committee to vote "no" on HB 1094 was Rep. Glenn Vaad, R-Mead. Republicans Randy Baumgardner, Steve King and Marsha Looper voted with the majority.
The bill now moves to the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 1094 would also make text messaging while operating a motor vehicle unlawful and prohibit minors who are operating a vehicle from using a cell phone while doing so.
The House Transportation and Energy Committee heard emotional testimony on the measure before approving it on a bipartisan 9-2 vote.
"I want to honor my daughter and know that I did everything I could do to prevent another person from being hurt or killed," Shelley Forney said. "I want you to think about the numerous lives that will be saved by passing this law today."
Forney, of Fort Collins, is the mother of 9-year old Erica Forney, who was killed in Fort Collins last autumn after a driver talking on a cell phone hit her while she was riding her bicycle in a bike lane.
Other witnesses supporting the bill included representatives of the state's law enforcement community and insurance industry.
Sponsoring Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, urged committee members to keep in mind that there are studies demonstrating that talking on a cell phone while driving, even through a hands-free device, distracts drivers.
"Your individual decision whether to talk and drive doesn't just affect you," Levy said. "It affects every other person on the road with you."
No one testified against the bill, which includes an exceptions for commercial truck drivers, police officers and firefighters and some state Department of Transportation employees.
But Republican Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch said he thought the measure was an overreaction and that use of a cell phone while driving should not be treated any differently than "tuning the iPod or having a Big Mac."
Aside from McNulty, the only other member of the committee to vote "no" on HB 1094 was Rep. Glenn Vaad, R-Mead. Republicans Randy Baumgardner, Steve King and Marsha Looper voted with the majority.
The bill now moves to the House Appropriations Committee.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Bill Authorizing In-State Tuition for Military Vets Clears House Committee
A House committee approved Tuesday a bill that would allow honorably discharged military veterans and their families to pay in-state tuition at Colorado universities and colleges.
HB 1039, sponsored by Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, would require the veteran or family member who is a student to live in Colorado but would excuse them from the ordinary requirement that such residence have been ongoing for at least one year before enrolling in an institution of higher learning.
“Extending this opportunity will benefit our veterans and their families by helping them begin their new lives in Colorado and will no doubt ease their transition to the private sector,” McNulty said. “I’m convinced that Colorado will benefit greatly by inviting our veterans here and they will make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The bill, which was unanimously endorsed by the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, now moves to the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 1039, sponsored by Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, would require the veteran or family member who is a student to live in Colorado but would excuse them from the ordinary requirement that such residence have been ongoing for at least one year before enrolling in an institution of higher learning.
“Extending this opportunity will benefit our veterans and their families by helping them begin their new lives in Colorado and will no doubt ease their transition to the private sector,” McNulty said. “I’m convinced that Colorado will benefit greatly by inviting our veterans here and they will make our state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The bill, which was unanimously endorsed by the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, now moves to the House Appropriations Committee.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
May Says He'll Delay Retirement
Rep. Mike May surprised his colleagues at the Capitol today by saying he'll stick around awhile after all.
May, who announced last week that he'd retire before the start of the legislative session in January, said he'll delay his retirement due to unexplained interference in the process of choosing his successor as minority leader.
"Today I have made the difficult decision to temporarily delay my retirement from the House because of my sense of duty to the members of the Republican caucus," May, R-Parker, said in a statement. "With the possibility that outside influences may have attempted to interfere with the leadership election, and the reality of a delayed election, I do not feel that now would be an appropriate time to leave."
May did not elaborate.
"I will remain the representative of House District 44 and will continue to serve as minority leader until this situation has been resolved, as long as that may take," May said.
The House GOP caucus will have to meet sometime either before or after the start of the legislative session in January to work out the party's leadership in the chamber. May did not say how long he would stay or how long he expected that process to take.
Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, are jockeying to replace May as House Republican leader.
May was appointed minority leader in 2006 after his predecessor Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, resigned in the aftermath of a scandal relating to per diem payments.
May, who announced last week that he'd retire before the start of the legislative session in January, said he'll delay his retirement due to unexplained interference in the process of choosing his successor as minority leader.
"Today I have made the difficult decision to temporarily delay my retirement from the House because of my sense of duty to the members of the Republican caucus," May, R-Parker, said in a statement. "With the possibility that outside influences may have attempted to interfere with the leadership election, and the reality of a delayed election, I do not feel that now would be an appropriate time to leave."
May did not elaborate.
"I will remain the representative of House District 44 and will continue to serve as minority leader until this situation has been resolved, as long as that may take," May said.
The House GOP caucus will have to meet sometime either before or after the start of the legislative session in January to work out the party's leadership in the chamber. May did not say how long he would stay or how long he expected that process to take.
Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, are jockeying to replace May as House Republican leader.
May was appointed minority leader in 2006 after his predecessor Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, resigned in the aftermath of a scandal relating to per diem payments.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Bruce Again Says "No" To Honoring Public Servants
This morning the House approved SJR 12, which commemorates the 47th anniversary of the Peace Corps. After it was approved by voice vote, sponsor Rep. Jeanne Labuda, D-Denver, asked that the entire roll call of the House be listed as co-sponsors.
Among those refusing to agree to co-sponsor the resolution was Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs.
This is the second time in the past several weeks that Bruce has declined to support or co-sponsor a resolution honoring those who serve the nation. On Feb. 13 he declined to vote for or co-sponsor a resolution honoring active duty members and veterans of the armed forces.
The only other two members of the House to decline to be listed as co-sponsors of the resolution were Rep. Joel Judd, D-Denver, and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.
Among those refusing to agree to co-sponsor the resolution was Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs.
This is the second time in the past several weeks that Bruce has declined to support or co-sponsor a resolution honoring those who serve the nation. On Feb. 13 he declined to vote for or co-sponsor a resolution honoring active duty members and veterans of the armed forces.
The only other two members of the House to decline to be listed as co-sponsors of the resolution were Rep. Joel Judd, D-Denver, and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Republican Voter ID Bills Die Quickly
Two GOP bills aimed at forcing voters to present photo identification and prove U.S. citizenship before being allowed to cast a ballot died in a House committee Thursday.
HB 1039 and HB 1177 were killed on party-line votes in the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Republicans argued that the bills are needed to assure that only people entitled to vote do so. "The issue we're dealing with is the integrity of our voting system," Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood, said.
But Democrats, including committee chair Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, said they thought the bills would disenfranchise people. The bills were "thinly veiled means of discouraging some people from going to their polling places, and would severely damage an already fragile system," Weissman said.
HB 1039 was sponsored by Summers, while HB 1177 was sponsored by Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.
HB 1039 and HB 1177 were killed on party-line votes in the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
Republicans argued that the bills are needed to assure that only people entitled to vote do so. "The issue we're dealing with is the integrity of our voting system," Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood, said.
But Democrats, including committee chair Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, said they thought the bills would disenfranchise people. The bills were "thinly veiled means of discouraging some people from going to their polling places, and would severely damage an already fragile system," Weissman said.
HB 1039 was sponsored by Summers, while HB 1177 was sponsored by Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.
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