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A bill that would make clear that state employees are not allowed to strike won Gov. Bill Ritter's approval Thursday.
HB 1189 provides that a state employee or a labor organization commits a misdemeanor by inciting, encouraging, aiding or participating in a "strike, stoppage of work, slowdown or interruption of operations."
Ritter issued an executive order allowing state employees to form collective bargaining organizations for limited purposes last year.
His order purported to prohibit strikes by state employees.
However, Republicans, spurred on by an opinion by Attorney General John Suthers, had argued that Ritter's executive order opened the door to public employee strikes because Colorado had no law prohibiting them.
The measure was sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, and Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne.
HB 1189 goes into effect immediately because the bill has an "emergency clause."
Showing posts with label Jim Riesberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Riesberg. Show all posts
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
School Nutrition Bill Gets Preliminary House OK
The House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would limit the kinds of beverages that can be sold to students at public schools and at charter schools.
SB 129 does not specifically ban the sale of soft drinks and other heavily sugar-laden beverages on school campuses. Instead, it would require school districts and the charter school institute to write policies that forbid the sale of beverages that do not meet minimum nutritional standards.
The bill would apply to sales in cafeterias, from vending machines and school stores, and at fundraising events held on campuses.
The House sponsor is Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley. It was carried in the Senate by Democrat Dan Gibbs of Silverthorne.
The measure faces one more vote in the House. If it passes on third reading, it will go to Gov. Bill Ritter.
SB 129 does not specifically ban the sale of soft drinks and other heavily sugar-laden beverages on school campuses. Instead, it would require school districts and the charter school institute to write policies that forbid the sale of beverages that do not meet minimum nutritional standards.
The bill would apply to sales in cafeterias, from vending machines and school stores, and at fundraising events held on campuses.
The House sponsor is Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley. It was carried in the Senate by Democrat Dan Gibbs of Silverthorne.
The measure faces one more vote in the House. If it passes on third reading, it will go to Gov. Bill Ritter.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dem Strike Ban Bill Gets Past Senate Committee
A Democratic bill that would forbid state workers from going on strike was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday.
HB 1189 was sent to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote of the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
The bill does not make the act of going on strike a felony, as Republicans would prefer. Instead, it makes it a misdemeanor.
Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, was the sole member of the committee to vote against the bill.
Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, are the sponsors of the bill.
HB 1189 was sent to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote of the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.
The bill does not make the act of going on strike a felony, as Republicans would prefer. Instead, it makes it a misdemeanor.
Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, was the sole member of the committee to vote against the bill.
Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, are the sponsors of the bill.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Truth in Music Bill Gets Committee Nod
A bill that would ban public performances that impersonate musicians or their bands unless a member of the original group is included passed a House committee Monday.
HB 1196, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, got a boost from Sha-Na-Na singer Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, 60. Bauman, who was the lead singer of the famous group that paid tribute to the rock legends of the 50s and early 60s between 1969-1983, told the committee that impostor bands are stealing the identity and livelihood of music legends.
"This is a sophisticated form of identity theft that dupes consumers," Bauman told committee members.
The bill was endorsed unanimously and now heads to the House floor.
Bauman published an editorial column in the Los Angeles Times outlining his views as to why bands that pretend to be others should be outlawed. He has testified before the legislatures of several states on this issue and at least 18 states have passed some version of the "truth in music" proposal.
HB 1196, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, got a boost from Sha-Na-Na singer Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, 60. Bauman, who was the lead singer of the famous group that paid tribute to the rock legends of the 50s and early 60s between 1969-1983, told the committee that impostor bands are stealing the identity and livelihood of music legends.
"This is a sophisticated form of identity theft that dupes consumers," Bauman told committee members.
The bill was endorsed unanimously and now heads to the House floor.
Bauman published an editorial column in the Los Angeles Times outlining his views as to why bands that pretend to be others should be outlawed. He has testified before the legislatures of several states on this issue and at least 18 states have passed some version of the "truth in music" proposal.
"Truth in Music Advertising" Bill to Get House Hearing Mon.
A bill that would outlaw deceptive impersonation of bands and musicians in public performances is to be heard in a House committee Monday.
HB 1196 aims to prevent bands and musicians from impersonating other performers without telling their audience who they really are. It is aimed at situations where a performance artist or group plays another group's or artist's music and pretends to be the original creator or performer of the music.
The bill, if enacted, would result in Colorado joining 18 other states with similar laws. It would impose a $5,000 to $15,000 civil penalty on impostors that use deceptive tactics.
According to a report posted at Colorado Confidential, Riesberg got the idea from a constituent who went to what he thought was a performance of a famous band at the Greeley Civic Center. It turned out the band that played was pretending to be the famous band.
HB 1196 aims to prevent bands and musicians from impersonating other performers without telling their audience who they really are. It is aimed at situations where a performance artist or group plays another group's or artist's music and pretends to be the original creator or performer of the music.
The bill, if enacted, would result in Colorado joining 18 other states with similar laws. It would impose a $5,000 to $15,000 civil penalty on impostors that use deceptive tactics.
According to a report posted at Colorado Confidential, Riesberg got the idea from a constituent who went to what he thought was a performance of a famous band at the Greeley Civic Center. It turned out the band that played was pretending to be the famous band.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Dem Strike Bill on Way to Senate
The House gave final approval Wednesday to the Democratic bill aimed at preventing strikes by state employees.
HB 1189, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, passed over the "no" votes of 10 Democrats and two Republicans.
The bill had received preliminary approval in the House Tuesday.
HB 1189, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, passed over the "no" votes of 10 Democrats and two Republicans.
The bill had received preliminary approval in the House Tuesday.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Democrats' Anti-Strike Bill Gets Preliminary OK in House
HB 1189, the Democratic majority's bill to ban strikes by state workers, passed the House on second reading this morning.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, makes striking by a state worker a misdemeanor. It does not explicitly give state courts the power to enjoin state worker strikes.
That omission is one of the reasons Republicans oppose it. During the debate this morning, Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, said the bill "does not have any teeth."
Gardner introduced several amendments to the bill, including one that would allow state courts to block strikes by state workers and another that would increase existing penalties against striking state workers. Both failed.
"We have laws on the books already to adequately handle the situation," Riesberg said.
The bill faces a third reading vote in the House before moving on to the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Fort Collins, makes striking by a state worker a misdemeanor. It does not explicitly give state courts the power to enjoin state worker strikes.
That omission is one of the reasons Republicans oppose it. During the debate this morning, Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, said the bill "does not have any teeth."
Gardner introduced several amendments to the bill, including one that would allow state courts to block strikes by state workers and another that would increase existing penalties against striking state workers. Both failed.
"We have laws on the books already to adequately handle the situation," Riesberg said.
The bill faces a third reading vote in the House before moving on to the Senate.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Democratic Anti-Strike Bill Escapes Committee
A bill by Rep. Jim Riesberg to prohibit state workers from going on strike was passed by a House committee Thursday afternoon.
HB 1189, unlike the more expansive ban proposed by the GOP, does not apply to workers for any government entity other than the state. It makes violation a misdemeanor, instead of permitting felony criminal sanctions as would Rep. Bob Gardner's more hard-line measure.
The bill passed 6-5, with all Republicans and Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, opposed.
Carroll said she would not support the bill because she did not think that state workers' right to strike should be taken away.
Rep. John Soper, D-Thornton, indicated that he was not enthusiastic about the bill but nevertheless voted "yes."
Gov. Bill Ritter has argued that his executive order granting state employees the right to collectively bargain on a limited range of issues precludes strikes. But he has also said that he will sign a strike ban bill.
HB 1189, unlike the more expansive ban proposed by the GOP, does not apply to workers for any government entity other than the state. It makes violation a misdemeanor, instead of permitting felony criminal sanctions as would Rep. Bob Gardner's more hard-line measure.
The bill passed 6-5, with all Republicans and Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, opposed.
Carroll said she would not support the bill because she did not think that state workers' right to strike should be taken away.
Rep. John Soper, D-Thornton, indicated that he was not enthusiastic about the bill but nevertheless voted "yes."
Gov. Bill Ritter has argued that his executive order granting state employees the right to collectively bargain on a limited range of issues precludes strikes. But he has also said that he will sign a strike ban bill.
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