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The House gave final passage Wednesday to a bill aimed at promoting the state's biotechnology sector.
HB 1001 would open the door to state funding of early stage biotech research. The bill proposes to provide "bioscience discovery evaluation" grants by means of lottery proceeds.
The maximum grant amount would be $250,000, depending on the applicant's particular circumstances.
The bill was approved on a 52-13 vote, with 12 Republicans and Democrat Paul Weissman of Louisville voting "no."
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Bill Ending LLC Campaign Finance Loophole Passes House
A bill that would close a loophole in the state's campaign finance law, which allows limited liability companies to be used as a means of avoiding contribution limits, was given final passage by the House Wednesday.
HB 1233 was approved on a 39-26 vote. Interestingly, Democrats Morgan Carroll of Aurora, Terrance Carroll of Denver and Liane "Buffie" McFadyen of Pueblo West joined all but two of the chamber's Republicans in opposing the bill.
Reps. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, and Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, were the only GOP members of the House voting to approve the bill.
HB 1233 was approved on a 39-26 vote. Interestingly, Democrats Morgan Carroll of Aurora, Terrance Carroll of Denver and Liane "Buffie" McFadyen of Pueblo West joined all but two of the chamber's Republicans in opposing the bill.
Reps. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, and Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, were the only GOP members of the House voting to approve the bill.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Levy's Energy Efficiency Bill Squeaks Through House
A bill by Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, that would require municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives to set aside a percentage of their revenues to encourage and promote energy conservation barely won final passage in the House Wednesday.
HB 1107 was approved on a 33-32 vote.
The "no" votes came from every Republican representative plus Democrats Kathleen Curry of Gunnison, Rafael Lorenzo Gallegos of Antonito, Mary Hodge of Brighton, Cheri Jahn of Golden, Wes McKinley of Walsh, John Soper of Thornton and Debbie Stafford of Aurora.
HB 1107 was approved on a 33-32 vote.
The "no" votes came from every Republican representative plus Democrats Kathleen Curry of Gunnison, Rafael Lorenzo Gallegos of Antonito, Mary Hodge of Brighton, Cheri Jahn of Golden, Wes McKinley of Walsh, John Soper of Thornton and Debbie Stafford of Aurora.
Breastfeeding Rights Bill On Way to Senate
The House gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would require employers to set aside time and space for their employees who are mothers of infants to breastfeed.
The bill would also require employers to accommodate an employees' desire to pump breastmilk.
HB 1276 passed on a 59-6 vote. Those voting "no" included Reps. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, and Glenn Vaad, R-Mead.
The sponsor of the bill is Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood.
The bill would also require employers to accommodate an employees' desire to pump breastmilk.
HB 1276 passed on a 59-6 vote. Those voting "no" included Reps. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, and Glenn Vaad, R-Mead.
The sponsor of the bill is Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood.
New Voter Registration Numbers Show GOP Lead Faltering
The Republican party, which has long been the dominant bloc of voters in Colorado, continues to see its lead in percentage of voters registered as a member decline.
According to a report in the Rocky Mountain News, the latest statewide voter registration numbers show that unaffiliated voters are rapidly gaining on the GOP. Registered Republicans now make up 34.8 percent of the state's electorate, while independents comprise 34.4 percent and the Democratic Party has 30.4 percent of registered voters.
The margin of GOP voters over independent voters declined by 2,000 people in one month. In addition, during the month prior to publication of the latest registration data Democrats gained 5,000 new voters, 4,000 people registered as unaffiliated voters, and the Republicans gained 2,000 new voters.
According to a report in the Rocky Mountain News, the latest statewide voter registration numbers show that unaffiliated voters are rapidly gaining on the GOP. Registered Republicans now make up 34.8 percent of the state's electorate, while independents comprise 34.4 percent and the Democratic Party has 30.4 percent of registered voters.
The margin of GOP voters over independent voters declined by 2,000 people in one month. In addition, during the month prior to publication of the latest registration data Democrats gained 5,000 new voters, 4,000 people registered as unaffiliated voters, and the Republicans gained 2,000 new voters.
NY Times Covers Leadville Mine Tunnel Situation
The accumulation of toxic wastewater in a mine tunnel near Leadville, attention to which has been drawn by Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, is getting covered in Thursday's New York Times.
The article largely reinforces perceptions that a potentially dangerous situation exists in Leadville.
No mention is made of recent claims that Wiens and Lake County commissioners have exaggerated their descriptions of the dangers from the accumulated water in the mine tunnel.
The article largely reinforces perceptions that a potentially dangerous situation exists in Leadville.
No mention is made of recent claims that Wiens and Lake County commissioners have exaggerated their descriptions of the dangers from the accumulated water in the mine tunnel.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Amendment 41 Back in Effect
The Colorado Supreme Court dissolved an injunction blocking enforcement of Amendment 41's ban on gifts to legislators and government employees today, holding that a lower court did not have jurisdiction to enter it.
According to a report in the Denver Post, the justices ruled that a challenge to the law, which was enacted via referendum in 2006, is not ripe.
The basis of that ruling, according to the Post article, is that the ethics commission created by the law has not yet been fully staffed and has not yet begun to implement the far-reaching ethics measure.
Amendment 41 prohibits all gifts to elected officials from lobbyists, prohibits any other gift to an elected official worth $50 or more, and forbids elected officials from becoming a lobbyist for two years after their public service ends.
The opinion of the Court, which was unanimous, is here.
According to a report in the Denver Post, the justices ruled that a challenge to the law, which was enacted via referendum in 2006, is not ripe.
The basis of that ruling, according to the Post article, is that the ethics commission created by the law has not yet been fully staffed and has not yet begun to implement the far-reaching ethics measure.
Amendment 41 prohibits all gifts to elected officials from lobbyists, prohibits any other gift to an elected official worth $50 or more, and forbids elected officials from becoming a lobbyist for two years after their public service ends.
The opinion of the Court, which was unanimous, is here.
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