Ritter Names Madden Climate Change Policy Chief

Former Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, will be getting used to the executive chambers at the capitol soon.

The former majority leader was named by Gov. Bill Ritter as the state's climate change coordinator.

"Alice Madden has distinguished herself as one of Colorado's most accomplished and talented public servants," Ritter said. "Her thoughtfulness and problem-solving skills will be crucial as we strive to achieve the goals in Colorado's Climate Action Plan and strengthen Colorado's New Energy Economy. Expanding the use of wind, solar, geothermal and clean-burning natural gas will create jobs, clean the air and address climate change."

Madden served in the House of Representatives from 2001-2009. In 2004 she helped lead the campaign effort that resulted in Democrats regaining control of both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time since the early 1960s.

Madden's salary will not be paid by state revenues. Instead, her position is funded by grants from the private Hewlett, Denver and Energy Foundations.

Colorado Takes Historic Step as Carroll Assumes Speakership

The Centennial State took a pioneering step this morning as the General Assembly opened with African-American men at the helm of the Senate and House.

Rep. Terrance David Carroll, D-Denver, a former police officer, minister and lawyer, was formally installed as speaker of the House before a packed gallery and to the enthusiastic applause of members from both parties.

Over in the Senate chamber his counterpart, Sen. Peter Groff, a lawyer and educator, was again chosen by his colleagues to be president of the Senate.

The pomp in the House began with stirring and emotional renditions of the National Anthem and "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Mary Louise Lee and the presentation of the colors by two members of the Colorado Army National Guard.

Outgoing speaker Andrew Romanoff launched the 2009 session of the legislature, as has been his custom, by injecting some humor into the proceedings.

“Pursuant to the Constitution, and the power now waning in me, I do hereby now call the House of Representatives to order for the 67th General Assembly of the state of Colorado,” outgoing speaker Andrew Romanoff said. Romanoff then joked that House Chief Clerk Marilyn Eddins would be “appointed for life.”

The House erupted into a standing ovation when new majority leader Paul Weissman, before moving for election of a new speaker, congratulated Romanoff on his service.

So did the Republican leader. “A special thank you for how you conducted the business of the house these past four years, Rep. Mike May of Parker said. “Thank you for your friendship.”

May seconded the nomination of Carroll as speaker. No one opposed Carroll.

Upon taking the podium Carroll congratulated Romanoff for his service and presented him with the gavel and “Bruce base” used during his tenure at the podium.

“Members, thank you for your vote of confidence,” Carroll said in his first comments to the House. “II look forward to living up to the confidence you have placed in me by electing me as speaker of this body.”

“I am honored and humbled to lead this chamber as its 34th speaker,” Speaker Carroll said in his opening address. “The people of Colorado have granted all of us a unique opportunity at this critical time in history.”

Carroll’s historic day was observed by a panoply of former African-American legislators, including ex-Sen. Penfield Tate, Denver clerk and recorder Stephanie O’Malley, ex-Sen. Regis Groff, former Rep. Rosemary Marshall, former Rep. Wilma Webb and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.

Carroll paid homage to Romanoff and former majority leader Alice Madden for “working endlessly to move this state forward.”

“Both parties, and indeed the entire state, benefited from Andrew Romanoff’s and Alice Madden’s capacity to consider various, and at time competing, viewpoints,” he said. “Their thoughtful management of this chamber translated into transformative policies that have benefited all of Colorado.”

Republicans joined twice in a standing ovation for Romanoff and Madden.

Carroll, who is in his final term as a state representative, succeeds term-limited Andrew Romanoff in the speaker’s chair. Romanoff, who played a key role in helping Democrats win the majority in both houses of the General Assembly in 2004, was term-limited. He had recently been considered a contender for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Democrat Ken Salazar.

Groff commences his second session as Senate president. During his opening address to the Senate Groff said his status as the chamber's president, and Carroll's as House speaker, are not so much a reflection on them as on the state and those elected to the General Assembly.

"It is yet another stitch in the great fabric that is the history of this remarkable state," Groff said. "The historic uniqueness of what is happening in the Senate and House today is not a testament to Speaker Carroll or me, but a testimonial to Colorado and her people and members of this General Assembly."

Solar Energy Financing Bill Leaps First Hurdle

A bill that would make low- or no-interest loans available to homeowners and businesses who want to install solar energy collectors cleared a House committee today.

Under HB 1350, the state government, as well as local and county governments, would be given permission to lend money for investment in solar panels and other renewable energy technology.

According to a report in today's Denver Post, the cost of a solar system can average about $25,000. Some electric utilities offer rebates and there are tax incentives to assist with the purchase price. However, according to the Post report, such assistance defrays only about one-half of the purchase price of the system.

"Right now, even with the rebates and knowing it will save you money in the long run, many homeowners don't even consider putting solar on their house," said Rep. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, the bill sponsor. "They know they're going to have to come up with some up-front payment."

The bill would also make the loans available for improvements to a structure aimed at lowering energy use.

The measure is similar to a separate bill moving in the Senate. SB 184, sponsored by Democrat Chris Romer of Denver, would create a fund for loans to homeowners interested in doing smaller-scale energy efficiency improvements to their homes.

The committee vote to send HB 1350 to the House floor was unanimous.

PUC Overhaul and Reauthorization Heads to Senate

The House cleared a bill that reauthorizes the Public Utilities Commission and makes some important changes in its mission Thursday, but not without a long debate the day before.

HB 1227 has gained attention because it includes provisions aimed at increasing the likelihood that additional taxicab companies will enter the market in the state's cities. However, the bill also broadens the function of the state's Office of Consumer Counsel. It requires the OCC to consider social and environmental factors, as well as the economic interests of consumers and business interests, when formulating and presenting a position on proposed rate increases or decreases to the PUC.

That provision drew controversy, with Republicans arguing that it would inevitably lead to higher utility bills. But Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, pointed out that a failure by the PUC to consider the social and environmental impacts inherent in public utilities' choice of fuels for power generation could actually result in increased costs to consumers.

The bill also authorizes the PUC to impose administrative fines against public utilities, an authority the agency currently has with respect to motor carriers, and subjects investor-owned water and sewer companies to PUC regulation.

The measure is sponsored by majority leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo.

It cleared the House on a near-party line 41-24 vote, with only Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, voting with the Democrats in support of the measure.

McElhany Criticizes PUC Reauthorization as "Trojan Horse" for "Extreme Green Agenda"

The Senate minority leader attacked Tuesday a bill to reauthorize the state's Public Utilities Commission, labeling it a "trojan horse" for the Democratic majority's "extreme green agenda."

HB 1227 would authorize the PUC to consider "social, economic and environmental" factors in determining rates that can be charged by utilities subject to its regulatory authority. Those factors would be in addition to the mandates to consider the impact on consumer prices and access to utility services imposed by current law.

The bill, sponsored by House majority leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, would also allow the PUC to impose fines on public utilities and give the agency control over litigation filed by the Attorney General on its behalf.

The controversy surrounding the alleged change to the agency's mission arises from sections 6 and 7 of the bill. Those provisions authorize the Department of Public Health and Environment to notify the PUC of its concerns about matters before the rate-setting body and require the Office of Consumer Counsel, which advocates for ratepayers before the PUC, to consider "social, economic and environmental" impacts of utility rate proposals when developing arguments to be presented. Another section requires the PUC to consider information provided by DPHE, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Local Government and the Governor's Energy Office in rate cases.

The omnibus bill includes several other contentious issues, including the regulation of taxis and a provision allowing ex parte communication between the Office of Consumer Counsel and the PUC on rulemaking matters.

Madden Kills HB 1080

Majority Leader Alice Madden has announced that she's not going to submit her bill to close the exception in state civil rights law allowing religious organizations to hire managers adhering to their faith for a committee hearing.

HB 1080 had provoked a controversy strong enough to prompt the Roman Catholic archbishops of Denver and Colorado Springs to say that they would close the Catholic Charities operations in those cities rather than comply with the bill's ban on religious preference in hiring.

In a statement issued this afternoon by the House Majority Caucus press office, Madden said Gov. Bill Ritter will get involved in trying to find a compromise acceptable to all interested parties.

The statement said:

"After discussions with the Governor's office and proponants of HB 1080, we have mutually agreed to table HB 08-1080 for this legislative session with the understanding that over the interim, the Governor's office will convene a meeting of all interested parties. Hopefully, a bill can be forged for 2009 that protects employees from discrimination based on religion without harming social services programs provided by religious organizations that utilize tax payer's dollars."

Campaign Finance Bill Gets House Vote Monday

A bill that would provide a statutory mechanism for the filing of complaints that campaign finance laws have been violated will be considered on second reading in the House Monday, Feb. 11.

HB 1041 sets up a procedure by which a person or persons who believe a violation of the campaign finance laws can file a complaint with the Secretary of State's office.

Colorado's campaign finance system is largely constitutional in nature. The relevant provisions of the state constitution are in Article 27, which was enacted by the voters in 2002. Under section 9 of that article citizens are authorized to file complaints, the merits of which are determined by an administrative law judge.

The bill also clean up the state's campaign finance statutes to make clear that enforcement of the constitutional campaign finance requirements is subject to the criteria and standards included in Article 27.

The bill is sponsored in the House by Reps. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, and Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder. Senate sponsors are Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, and Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder.

Ritter, Legislators Want Paper Ballot-Only Elections in '08

Gov. Bill Ritter, flanked by legislative leaders, announced at a press conference this afternoon that he thinks the state should conduct traditional polling place, paper ballot elections this year.

The governor's stance places him at odds with the preferences of county clerks, who have said they would like elections this year to be conducted via mail ballots.

Paper ballots "ensure a verifiable paper trail and minimize the possibility of technology failures that have caused Election Day problems in the past," said Ritter.

Ritter also sent a letter to county clerks laying out his opinion on how elections should be administered in the aftermath of the Dec. 17 decision by Secretary of State Mike Coffman to decertify electronic voting machines.

"While we understand that some clerks may have preferred a different outcome, we will continue to work with you to ensure a successful election process," Ritter wrote.

Coffman mildly criticized Ritter's decision following the press conference.

"The clerks are the ones who administer elections, and it is only fair that we defer to their judgment," said Coffman, who nevertheless agreed that the governor and legislature have the right to make the rules.

House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, and Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, will sponsor legislation aimed at writing Ritter's preference for traditional polling place, paper-ballot elections into law.