Seed Newsvine
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.
Showing posts with label Josh Penry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Josh Penry. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Post Reports Heath Will Lead Charge Against TABOR
The Denver Post is reporting that freshman Democratic Sen. Rollie Heath of Boulder is leading an effort by several legislators to revamp the state's Taxpayers Bill of Rights.
According to the article,
Republican senators attacked the idea of re-visiting TABOR, pointing out that the voters' defeat of Amendment 59 in November indicates that the electorate is not interested in permanently loosening the revenue limits imposed by TABOR.
"At this point you have to ask, what part of 'no' don't some people understand?" Sen. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, said. "We are in the middle of a deepening recession right now anyway, and I cannot imagine this is the top issue for most Coloradans."
Amendment 59 would have retained TABOR's requirement that tax increases be approved by voters and made permanent the relief from revenue caps authorized by 2005's Referendum C.
Senate minority leader Josh Penry, R-Fruita, pointed out that Republicans don't believe the state's budget crisis is tied to TABOR in any case.
"TABOR has zero impact on the budget cuts we will be forced to make this year," Penry told the Post. "Those are due entirely to the economy."
But at least some Democrats think tough economic times might be the most appropriate occasion to ask voters to re-think TABOR.
"There are those of us who say, 'Why don't we, while there isn't a TABOR refund, look at floating an issue back to the voters,'" House majority leader Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, told the Post.
A spokesperson for Gov. Bill Ritter has confirmed that Ritter's aides have discussed TABOR changes with legislators. The governor himself suggested it during his State of the State address earlier this month.
TABOR was added to the state constitution in 1992.
According to the article,
Last week several lawmakers — including Heath, House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, and Sen. Al White, R-Hayden — held a meeting about what to do with TABOR. Heath described the meeting as a "free-flowing conversation" in which the participants agreed on the need to do something.
"But that something is nowhere near decided," he said.
"We were just kicking it around philosophically to see what kind of coalition might be out there," White said.
Republican senators attacked the idea of re-visiting TABOR, pointing out that the voters' defeat of Amendment 59 in November indicates that the electorate is not interested in permanently loosening the revenue limits imposed by TABOR.
"At this point you have to ask, what part of 'no' don't some people understand?" Sen. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, said. "We are in the middle of a deepening recession right now anyway, and I cannot imagine this is the top issue for most Coloradans."
Amendment 59 would have retained TABOR's requirement that tax increases be approved by voters and made permanent the relief from revenue caps authorized by 2005's Referendum C.
Senate minority leader Josh Penry, R-Fruita, pointed out that Republicans don't believe the state's budget crisis is tied to TABOR in any case.
"TABOR has zero impact on the budget cuts we will be forced to make this year," Penry told the Post. "Those are due entirely to the economy."
But at least some Democrats think tough economic times might be the most appropriate occasion to ask voters to re-think TABOR.
"There are those of us who say, 'Why don't we, while there isn't a TABOR refund, look at floating an issue back to the voters,'" House majority leader Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, told the Post.
A spokesperson for Gov. Bill Ritter has confirmed that Ritter's aides have discussed TABOR changes with legislators. The governor himself suggested it during his State of the State address earlier this month.
TABOR was added to the state constitution in 1992.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Buescher Easily Confirmed as Secretary of State
The Colorado Senate showed no doubts about Gov. Bill Ritter's choice of former Rep. Bernie Buescher as secretary of state this morning.
The vote to confirm the Grand Junction Democrat was unanimous, with praise coming from both sides of the aisle.
"He is the right choice, and a smart choice on the part of Gov. Ritter," Senate minority leader Josh Penry, R-Fruita, said.
Buescher lost his bid to be re-elected to the House of Representatives in November. He had been expected to succeed former Rep. Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, as speaker.
He will be sworn in at 3 pm today.
The vote to confirm the Grand Junction Democrat was unanimous, with praise coming from both sides of the aisle.
"He is the right choice, and a smart choice on the part of Gov. Ritter," Senate minority leader Josh Penry, R-Fruita, said.
Buescher lost his bid to be re-elected to the House of Representatives in November. He had been expected to succeed former Rep. Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, as speaker.
He will be sworn in at 3 pm today.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sen. Penry's Comments
Here are the remarks delivered by Senate minority leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, during this morning's opening ceremonies:
"Thank you Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader and fellow members for this opportunity. It is an honor to stand before you.
"Mr. President, recognizing that Democrats control all of the levers of government here in Colorado – the Executive Branch, the House, the Senate – I’d like to begin this session by moving that the 67th General Assembly adjourn, Sine Die.
"Mr. President. I was joking. I withdraw that motion.
"I speak for each of my colleagues in the Republican Caucus when I say: we’re present, we’re voting, we’ve got a full agenda, and a full commitment to moving this great state of ours forward.
"Mr. President, the Senate Republicans are ready to get to work.
"Before I go any further, I want to join the President in welcoming our new Senators. Serving behind these desks, in this room, with all the opportunities and responsibilities that entails, is a tremendous honor. And so congratulations to you all.
"In particular, I want to take a moment to introduce the newest Republicans in this body – Senators Keith King, Mark Scheffel and Al White. All will add smarts and savvy to the General Assembly.
"And to the families of all of our members – especially the spouses and children of Colorado’s Senators – your service deserves recognition too. I’m reminded of the time I was walking in a 4th of July Parade when I spotted an elderly gentleman who was wearing a faded hat that read: WWII veteran. When I saw him, I scooted over, reached out my hand and said, “Thank you for your service to America, Sir.” Before the man could respond, his wife jumped in and said, “What about me? I paid the bills and raised the kids while he was running around Europe!”
"And so it is for many of you, the spouses and children of the men and women in this body. Your service takes a different form, but it is no less important or real. In that vein, I would like to acknowledge my wife, Jamie Penry. Mr. President, this will not surprise you: I don’t hold the gavel in my household, either. Jamie does. And we are so blessed to have two great children. My six year-old-son Chase, and
my two-year-old daughter Emme.
"I would like to also introduce my parents – Dan and Linda Penry. They taught me to dream and to work. And last, I want to acknowledge you, Mr. President. Your able and gracious and humble approach not only serves your own caucus but also distinguishes this entire body.
"A lot has been said about the historic significance of President Groff’s rise to the Presidency of the Colorado Senate. President Groff has shattered barriers. The same, of course, is true of Terrance Carroll, the new speaker of Colorado’s House, as it is to an even greater extent for the man from Illinois who will soon raise his right hand and take the Oath of Office for the Presidency of the United States.
"Now let me state the obvious: as a proud Republican, it’s no secret that my very strong preference would have been for 2009 to witness the christening of a President named McCain, a statehouse speaker called May, and a new Senate president from a place like, say, Grand Junction.
"But even in this Hall where party differences tend to dominate more than they ought, even here, we are Americans before we are partisans.
"And as Americans, it is important that we acknowledge with national pride what the electoral rise of men named Obama, Groff, and Carroll says about the progress of equality in our Republic.
"Even as we recognize the historic political events unfolding before our eyes, we also feel the grip of a very different and more troubling reality. And that reality is this: Colorado, like America, has fallen on very difficult economic times. These tough times paint the backdrop for much of what we do in the next 120 days. And these tough times will beckon the best-thinking – and tough choices – by us all.
"Unfortunately, we face these challenges at a time when confidence in government has scarcely been lower. The public has grown contemptuous of a political process that seems endlessly pre-occupied with the next election cycle – it’s called the permanent campaign, and the public is permanently sick of it.
"Members of the Colorado Senate, I know that we can take a time-out from the fast world of the permanent campaign and do the hard work of governing, of making tough choices, of leading. Let’s worry about 2010 sometime a little closer to 2010, and spend the next 120 days focused on the very real challenges of today.
"And there’s plenty that needs our focus.
"Our first and highest focus should be summed up in a single word. Jobs. Ronald Reagan once said a recession is when someone you know loses their job. A depression is when you lose yours.
"We may not but in a depression, but that’s small solace to a Mom or Dad who lost their job.
"These difficult circumstances should frame our mindset for the debates ahead. For every bill, every amendment, every rule and every regulation that comes before this body, the question should be asked: is it is good for our economy, will it promote job growth, will it make Colorado an attractive place for job creators? This question can be called the jobs test, and if any bill or amendment or rule fails it, we should have the good sense to fix it or defeat it.
"This General Assembly surely won’t agree on everything, but when it comes to the economy we should agree on this much: first, this legislature should do no harm. That means that this General Assembly should put the breaks on efforts to extend the influence of organized labor in our government and our economy. The protracted fights between labor and business in this state have been a catastrophic waste of resources and valuable political capital. Let’s focus our energy and efforts this year on creating jobs, not reliving the old fights of a bygone era.
"Resolving ourselves to do no harm also means that we should take a bipartisan approach to reviewing the Administration’s new natural gas regulations. Some of these new rules are warranted, but a handful of onerous and overreaching provisions are not. They will conspire with broader economic forces to kill jobs and reduce energy production at a time when Colorado – and America – need a lot more of both.
"Two years ago, thanks to a bipartisan agreement brokered by then-Senate president Joan Fitzgerald, this Governor was given a historic, bipartisan mandate to modernize rules that regulate energy exploration in Colorado. Colleagues, the terms of that bargain have not been met. In the next 120 days, this legislature should restore our compromise of two years ago.
"The final area where this legislature might feel a tug to enact policies that make things worse is in the area of taxes and fees.
"Now there isn’t one person in this room unaware of the difficult budget choices before us. We all get it. And yet we cannot ignore that many businesses and many families have a balance sheet or a check book that look at least just as bad. And in these perilous economic times we should be careful not to balance government’s budget in ways that knock the budgets of families and business out of balance.
"Many of you have probably read about the budget fight in New York, where their Governor – David Paterson – proposed 137 new taxes and fees to bring that budget in balance. Almost nothing was spared the governor’s revenue bulls eye. He even proposed new fees on soda pop – a so-called fat tax – and a new tax on iPod downloads. Cash-strapped families and businesses, understandably, have greeted Governor Paterson’s plan with red-hot outrage.
"Now again, I’m not here to say we are going to vote against every fee that comes along no matter what. There are many government services where a user-pays fee-based system is appropriate and fair. But as the first Senate Republican leader to own an iPod, and as a dad who needs an occasional Mountain Dew because his daughter kept him up all night, count me as a 'no' vote on both the iPod fee and a fat tax.
"And you can also count Republicans as a 'no' against the budget if it relies on new taxes and big fees to spare government from making the tough choices it needs to balances its budget.
"Now let’s go back to that jobs test for one minute. I just talked about measures we should fix or avoid, but I want to close by focusing on some meaningful job-creating measures this General Assembly can and must take.
"There’s another side to that jobs test, and that’s this:
"If a bill or an amendment or a rule improves the economic health of this great state – if it promotes jobs – let’s move forward together.
"As a first order of business, let’s come together and find a way to fund our critical road and bridge needs.
"Under the arcane rules of our budget, our roads and bridges receive the last dollar of general fund when times are good, and they are the first funding victim when times turn bad.
"Let’s not use a bad economy as an excuse for continuing to treat our roads and bridges as a second-class budget priority.
"In that vein, our first objective should be fixing the most unsafe bridges. There’s more than 120 of them, and they need to be repaired yesterday.
"So let’s not wait. Yesterday, Rep. Mike May and I outlined a plan that would get those unsafe bridges repaired in 2009 using the same innovative financing tool that this General Assembly used to build new prisons and finance the construction of new schools and college buildings across the state.
"By leveraging a small portion of the billions in equity Colorado has in its state buildings, and dedicating a fraction of the state’s general fund and severance tax collections, the state of Colorado can quickly and conservatively put more than a half a billion dollars and thousands of Coloradans to work fixing unsafe bridges.
"Our bridge plan has three primary benefits.
"First, it’s the only plan out there that gets significant new transportation investment into our struggling economy quickly – by late this spring. That means the bridges get fixed quicker, and our contractors get to work sooner.
"Second, our plan leverages existing assets and resources. Colorado has billions in capital assets that are literally just sitting there. Republicans say let’s put those assets to work in a way that helps meet the very real needs of this state.
"Third, this financing approach works. We know it. The legislature and the Governor have used it to fund other critical state projects many times before, and the courts have validated it.
"A final footnote on the transportation issue: we believe strongly in the approach I have just outlined, but we know that Governor Ritter, Senator Gibbs and Senator Romer, and Representative Rice and Representative McFadyen and many others have ideas of their own. And we welcome those and the opportunity to work together in good faith. But let’s not wait for January to become February to become the waning hours of the session before we forge a transportation agreement. Let’s do it now, in
the opening hours of these 120 days. Let’s show that government can make positive change and quickly.
"There will be a number of other proposals from Republicans that will improve the jobs situation in Colorado.
"We believe the best way to kick-start economic recovery is to cut taxes on business investment and job growth. President-elect Obama made the same argument earlier this week, and we agree. Senator Kopp will introduce a bill to eliminate an outdated surcharge on business. And Senator Scheffel is introducing legislation to exempt thousands of businesses from the job-killing business personal property tax. Rather than throwing money at new programs that may or may not work, let’s build on the bipartisan successes of last year and exempt a new round of businesses from the job-killing, business personal property tax.
"Energy is fertile ground for Colorado jobs too. Republicans in the House and Senate will introduce a package of bills that, together, implement an “all of the above energy” strategy in Colorado – more wind, more coal, more solar, more natural gas, and, yes, nuclear, too.
"And finally, Mr. President, we are eager to continue to press the cause of reform and standards and choice in our schools. Talk of a good economy is just idle bluster without strong schools to train our kids.
"Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader, Fellow Senators, between now and the moment that someone comes to this microphone to move – in earnest – that we adjourn Sine Die, there’s much to be done and the stakes are high for Colorado.
"The only thing to do now is to get started, so let’s.
"Thank you Mr. President and Members of this Senate."
"Thank you Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader and fellow members for this opportunity. It is an honor to stand before you.
"Mr. President, recognizing that Democrats control all of the levers of government here in Colorado – the Executive Branch, the House, the Senate – I’d like to begin this session by moving that the 67th General Assembly adjourn, Sine Die.
"Mr. President. I was joking. I withdraw that motion.
"I speak for each of my colleagues in the Republican Caucus when I say: we’re present, we’re voting, we’ve got a full agenda, and a full commitment to moving this great state of ours forward.
"Mr. President, the Senate Republicans are ready to get to work.
"Before I go any further, I want to join the President in welcoming our new Senators. Serving behind these desks, in this room, with all the opportunities and responsibilities that entails, is a tremendous honor. And so congratulations to you all.
"In particular, I want to take a moment to introduce the newest Republicans in this body – Senators Keith King, Mark Scheffel and Al White. All will add smarts and savvy to the General Assembly.
"And to the families of all of our members – especially the spouses and children of Colorado’s Senators – your service deserves recognition too. I’m reminded of the time I was walking in a 4th of July Parade when I spotted an elderly gentleman who was wearing a faded hat that read: WWII veteran. When I saw him, I scooted over, reached out my hand and said, “Thank you for your service to America, Sir.” Before the man could respond, his wife jumped in and said, “What about me? I paid the bills and raised the kids while he was running around Europe!”
"And so it is for many of you, the spouses and children of the men and women in this body. Your service takes a different form, but it is no less important or real. In that vein, I would like to acknowledge my wife, Jamie Penry. Mr. President, this will not surprise you: I don’t hold the gavel in my household, either. Jamie does. And we are so blessed to have two great children. My six year-old-son Chase, and
my two-year-old daughter Emme.
"I would like to also introduce my parents – Dan and Linda Penry. They taught me to dream and to work. And last, I want to acknowledge you, Mr. President. Your able and gracious and humble approach not only serves your own caucus but also distinguishes this entire body.
"A lot has been said about the historic significance of President Groff’s rise to the Presidency of the Colorado Senate. President Groff has shattered barriers. The same, of course, is true of Terrance Carroll, the new speaker of Colorado’s House, as it is to an even greater extent for the man from Illinois who will soon raise his right hand and take the Oath of Office for the Presidency of the United States.
"Now let me state the obvious: as a proud Republican, it’s no secret that my very strong preference would have been for 2009 to witness the christening of a President named McCain, a statehouse speaker called May, and a new Senate president from a place like, say, Grand Junction.
"But even in this Hall where party differences tend to dominate more than they ought, even here, we are Americans before we are partisans.
"And as Americans, it is important that we acknowledge with national pride what the electoral rise of men named Obama, Groff, and Carroll says about the progress of equality in our Republic.
"Even as we recognize the historic political events unfolding before our eyes, we also feel the grip of a very different and more troubling reality. And that reality is this: Colorado, like America, has fallen on very difficult economic times. These tough times paint the backdrop for much of what we do in the next 120 days. And these tough times will beckon the best-thinking – and tough choices – by us all.
"Unfortunately, we face these challenges at a time when confidence in government has scarcely been lower. The public has grown contemptuous of a political process that seems endlessly pre-occupied with the next election cycle – it’s called the permanent campaign, and the public is permanently sick of it.
"Members of the Colorado Senate, I know that we can take a time-out from the fast world of the permanent campaign and do the hard work of governing, of making tough choices, of leading. Let’s worry about 2010 sometime a little closer to 2010, and spend the next 120 days focused on the very real challenges of today.
"And there’s plenty that needs our focus.
"Our first and highest focus should be summed up in a single word. Jobs. Ronald Reagan once said a recession is when someone you know loses their job. A depression is when you lose yours.
"We may not but in a depression, but that’s small solace to a Mom or Dad who lost their job.
"These difficult circumstances should frame our mindset for the debates ahead. For every bill, every amendment, every rule and every regulation that comes before this body, the question should be asked: is it is good for our economy, will it promote job growth, will it make Colorado an attractive place for job creators? This question can be called the jobs test, and if any bill or amendment or rule fails it, we should have the good sense to fix it or defeat it.
"This General Assembly surely won’t agree on everything, but when it comes to the economy we should agree on this much: first, this legislature should do no harm. That means that this General Assembly should put the breaks on efforts to extend the influence of organized labor in our government and our economy. The protracted fights between labor and business in this state have been a catastrophic waste of resources and valuable political capital. Let’s focus our energy and efforts this year on creating jobs, not reliving the old fights of a bygone era.
"Resolving ourselves to do no harm also means that we should take a bipartisan approach to reviewing the Administration’s new natural gas regulations. Some of these new rules are warranted, but a handful of onerous and overreaching provisions are not. They will conspire with broader economic forces to kill jobs and reduce energy production at a time when Colorado – and America – need a lot more of both.
"Two years ago, thanks to a bipartisan agreement brokered by then-Senate president Joan Fitzgerald, this Governor was given a historic, bipartisan mandate to modernize rules that regulate energy exploration in Colorado. Colleagues, the terms of that bargain have not been met. In the next 120 days, this legislature should restore our compromise of two years ago.
"The final area where this legislature might feel a tug to enact policies that make things worse is in the area of taxes and fees.
"Now there isn’t one person in this room unaware of the difficult budget choices before us. We all get it. And yet we cannot ignore that many businesses and many families have a balance sheet or a check book that look at least just as bad. And in these perilous economic times we should be careful not to balance government’s budget in ways that knock the budgets of families and business out of balance.
"Many of you have probably read about the budget fight in New York, where their Governor – David Paterson – proposed 137 new taxes and fees to bring that budget in balance. Almost nothing was spared the governor’s revenue bulls eye. He even proposed new fees on soda pop – a so-called fat tax – and a new tax on iPod downloads. Cash-strapped families and businesses, understandably, have greeted Governor Paterson’s plan with red-hot outrage.
"Now again, I’m not here to say we are going to vote against every fee that comes along no matter what. There are many government services where a user-pays fee-based system is appropriate and fair. But as the first Senate Republican leader to own an iPod, and as a dad who needs an occasional Mountain Dew because his daughter kept him up all night, count me as a 'no' vote on both the iPod fee and a fat tax.
"And you can also count Republicans as a 'no' against the budget if it relies on new taxes and big fees to spare government from making the tough choices it needs to balances its budget.
"Now let’s go back to that jobs test for one minute. I just talked about measures we should fix or avoid, but I want to close by focusing on some meaningful job-creating measures this General Assembly can and must take.
"There’s another side to that jobs test, and that’s this:
"If a bill or an amendment or a rule improves the economic health of this great state – if it promotes jobs – let’s move forward together.
"As a first order of business, let’s come together and find a way to fund our critical road and bridge needs.
"Under the arcane rules of our budget, our roads and bridges receive the last dollar of general fund when times are good, and they are the first funding victim when times turn bad.
"Let’s not use a bad economy as an excuse for continuing to treat our roads and bridges as a second-class budget priority.
"In that vein, our first objective should be fixing the most unsafe bridges. There’s more than 120 of them, and they need to be repaired yesterday.
"So let’s not wait. Yesterday, Rep. Mike May and I outlined a plan that would get those unsafe bridges repaired in 2009 using the same innovative financing tool that this General Assembly used to build new prisons and finance the construction of new schools and college buildings across the state.
"By leveraging a small portion of the billions in equity Colorado has in its state buildings, and dedicating a fraction of the state’s general fund and severance tax collections, the state of Colorado can quickly and conservatively put more than a half a billion dollars and thousands of Coloradans to work fixing unsafe bridges.
"Our bridge plan has three primary benefits.
"First, it’s the only plan out there that gets significant new transportation investment into our struggling economy quickly – by late this spring. That means the bridges get fixed quicker, and our contractors get to work sooner.
"Second, our plan leverages existing assets and resources. Colorado has billions in capital assets that are literally just sitting there. Republicans say let’s put those assets to work in a way that helps meet the very real needs of this state.
"Third, this financing approach works. We know it. The legislature and the Governor have used it to fund other critical state projects many times before, and the courts have validated it.
"A final footnote on the transportation issue: we believe strongly in the approach I have just outlined, but we know that Governor Ritter, Senator Gibbs and Senator Romer, and Representative Rice and Representative McFadyen and many others have ideas of their own. And we welcome those and the opportunity to work together in good faith. But let’s not wait for January to become February to become the waning hours of the session before we forge a transportation agreement. Let’s do it now, in
the opening hours of these 120 days. Let’s show that government can make positive change and quickly.
"There will be a number of other proposals from Republicans that will improve the jobs situation in Colorado.
"We believe the best way to kick-start economic recovery is to cut taxes on business investment and job growth. President-elect Obama made the same argument earlier this week, and we agree. Senator Kopp will introduce a bill to eliminate an outdated surcharge on business. And Senator Scheffel is introducing legislation to exempt thousands of businesses from the job-killing business personal property tax. Rather than throwing money at new programs that may or may not work, let’s build on the bipartisan successes of last year and exempt a new round of businesses from the job-killing, business personal property tax.
"Energy is fertile ground for Colorado jobs too. Republicans in the House and Senate will introduce a package of bills that, together, implement an “all of the above energy” strategy in Colorado – more wind, more coal, more solar, more natural gas, and, yes, nuclear, too.
"And finally, Mr. President, we are eager to continue to press the cause of reform and standards and choice in our schools. Talk of a good economy is just idle bluster without strong schools to train our kids.
"Mr. President, Mr. Majority Leader, Fellow Senators, between now and the moment that someone comes to this microphone to move – in earnest – that we adjourn Sine Die, there’s much to be done and the stakes are high for Colorado.
"The only thing to do now is to get started, so let’s.
"Thank you Mr. President and Members of this Senate."
Monday, January 5, 2009
GOP Sets Senate Committee Assignments
The Senate GOP caucus has finalized some committee appointments for the upcoming 2009 session, choosing a veteran legislator from El Paso county to be the ranking minority member on the key State, Veterans and Military Affairs panel.
Bill Cadman, who was appointed to the Senate last year, will assume the ranking member post on the committee that deals with military matters, minority leader Josh Penry said.
"Sen. Cadman’s military service along with his natural leadership skills make him the perfect choice to lead the Republican efforts to fight for Colorado’s military community," Penry said.
Other appointments announced by the Senate's minority caucus are:
* Former House majority leader and freshman Sen. Keith King of Colorado Springs as ranking minority member on the Finance Committee;
* Veteran conservative Sen. Dave Schultheis of Colorado Springs as ranking minority member on the Health & Human Services Committee.
Bill Cadman, who was appointed to the Senate last year, will assume the ranking member post on the committee that deals with military matters, minority leader Josh Penry said.
"Sen. Cadman’s military service along with his natural leadership skills make him the perfect choice to lead the Republican efforts to fight for Colorado’s military community," Penry said.
Other appointments announced by the Senate's minority caucus are:
* Former House majority leader and freshman Sen. Keith King of Colorado Springs as ranking minority member on the Finance Committee;
* Veteran conservative Sen. Dave Schultheis of Colorado Springs as ranking minority member on the Health & Human Services Committee.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"Colorado College Legacy Fund" Proposal Introduced
Two Republicans introduced Thursday a proposed constitutional amendment requiring that the state's share of mineral lease revenues derived from federal lands be used to create and maintain a reserve fund for higher education.
SCR 007, which aims to create the "Colorado College Legacy Fund," is the vehicle by which a bipartisan group of legislators aims to turn an idea put forth by University of Colorado president Bruce Benson in March into law.
Originally, the measure's sponsors planned to freeze the state's share of federal mineral leasing revenues directed to K-12 education while increasing the share received by higher education and dedicating a portion to local governments to offset expenses relating to energy extraction activities.
However, House speaker Andrew Romanoff, with support from Gov. Bill Ritter, plans to introduce another means by which K-12 education can be stabilized. Romanoff's "SAFE" proposal would eliminate the Taxpayers Bill of Rights requirement that all tax revenues in excess of the TABOR cap be returned to taxpayers, instead directing any surplus into a K-12 "rainy-day" fund.
Meanwhile, Ritter and a host of private sector groups are discussing a number of initiatives aimed at raising extraction taxes on oil and gas developers and directing those taxes to environmental, municipal and other purposes.
SCR 007 is sponsored by Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, and Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. It was Penry who encouraged Benson to sell the idea of dedicating the state's share of federal mineral leasing fees to higher education.
SCR 007, which aims to create the "Colorado College Legacy Fund," is the vehicle by which a bipartisan group of legislators aims to turn an idea put forth by University of Colorado president Bruce Benson in March into law.
Originally, the measure's sponsors planned to freeze the state's share of federal mineral leasing revenues directed to K-12 education while increasing the share received by higher education and dedicating a portion to local governments to offset expenses relating to energy extraction activities.
However, House speaker Andrew Romanoff, with support from Gov. Bill Ritter, plans to introduce another means by which K-12 education can be stabilized. Romanoff's "SAFE" proposal would eliminate the Taxpayers Bill of Rights requirement that all tax revenues in excess of the TABOR cap be returned to taxpayers, instead directing any surplus into a K-12 "rainy-day" fund.
Meanwhile, Ritter and a host of private sector groups are discussing a number of initiatives aimed at raising extraction taxes on oil and gas developers and directing those taxes to environmental, municipal and other purposes.
SCR 007 is sponsored by Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, and Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma. It was Penry who encouraged Benson to sell the idea of dedicating the state's share of federal mineral leasing fees to higher education.
Senate Gives Preliminary OK to CAP4K, Adds English Proficiency Requirement
Gov. Bill Ritter's signature education initiative gained preliminary approval in the Senate Thursday after lawmakers decided to require school districts and charter schools to assure that all students are proficient in the use of the English language.
The measure, which has bipartisan sponsorship in both chambers, would require schools to track the readiness of students entering high school, mandate that credit be given by means other than "seat time" in a class, and update the state's curriculum standards.
The Senate adopted an amendment by Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, that would add to the curriculum standards a requirement that all students show proficiency in spoken and written English before receiving a diploma. However, it leaves the mechanism for achieving those standards and verifying that a student has achieved them to local school districts and charter schools.
"The goals in SB 212 are not enough--we need to hold districts accountable for reaching and teaching students to speak English," Mitchell said. "If a student spends days, weeks, months and years, in a public school and is eligible to receive a diploma but hasn’t been taught to speak English, its not the student's fault, it's the system's fault. We are failing those students."
SB 212 also phases out the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) for ninth and tenth graders over time, replacing it with the American College Test (ACT).
The bill faces one more vote in the Senate before moving on to the House. Its primary sponsors are Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Sens. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Joshua Penry, R-Fruita.
The measure, which has bipartisan sponsorship in both chambers, would require schools to track the readiness of students entering high school, mandate that credit be given by means other than "seat time" in a class, and update the state's curriculum standards.
The Senate adopted an amendment by Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, that would add to the curriculum standards a requirement that all students show proficiency in spoken and written English before receiving a diploma. However, it leaves the mechanism for achieving those standards and verifying that a student has achieved them to local school districts and charter schools.
"The goals in SB 212 are not enough--we need to hold districts accountable for reaching and teaching students to speak English," Mitchell said. "If a student spends days, weeks, months and years, in a public school and is eligible to receive a diploma but hasn’t been taught to speak English, its not the student's fault, it's the system's fault. We are failing those students."
SB 212 also phases out the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) for ninth and tenth graders over time, replacing it with the American College Test (ACT).
The bill faces one more vote in the Senate before moving on to the House. Its primary sponsors are Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Sens. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Joshua Penry, R-Fruita.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Ritter, Legislators Announce Plan to Use Mineral Royalties To Create Rainy Day Reserve, Fund Higher Ed Capital Projects, Assist Local Communities
Gov. Bill Ritter and a bipartisan group of legislators announced Thursday morning a landmark bill to use the state's share of federal mineral royalties to fund higher education capital projects, assist local communities affected by energy development activities, and establish a reserve fund that would stabilize higher education funding.
About $1 billion of the expected royalty revenues would be directed to affected communities over the next decade. Another $650 million would be alloated toward capital construction projects at colleges and universities around the state.
The proposal would also direct three-quarters of a billion dollars into public education over the next ten years and dedicate $150 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Any bonus payments received by the state, in addition to royalties, would be used to fund the new rainy day reserve dedicated to higher education maintenance and appropriations stabilization. Another portion of those bonus payments would go into a "local government permanent fund" to help communities affected by energy extraction activities.
The U.S. government receives royalties on minerals, except for those governed by the General Mining Law of 1872, extracted from federal public lands. Colorado, like all other states, receives a share of the royalties attributable to extraction activities within its borders.
Forecasts say that Colorado can expect to receive about $2.7 billion in royalty payments between 2008 and 2018.
The bipartisan sponsors of the historic legislation spoke of its importance to assuring Colorado's fiscal stability as the bill was released this morning.
"The real legacy of this bi-partisan legislation is that when the drilling stops, Colorado will have a substantial permanent fund to take care of the state's colleges, universities and impacted communities,” Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, said.
Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, noted that the proposal, if enacted into law, would be Colorado's first effort to tap energy extraction as a means of funding basic needs in over 100 years of mining history.
"We’ve had repeated booms from mineral and energy development in this state for over 100 years,” Buescher said. “This will be the first time we put something away for our children.”
SB 218 will make its first legislative stop in the Senate Education Committee. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village, and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, along with Penry and Buescher.
About $1 billion of the expected royalty revenues would be directed to affected communities over the next decade. Another $650 million would be alloated toward capital construction projects at colleges and universities around the state.
The proposal would also direct three-quarters of a billion dollars into public education over the next ten years and dedicate $150 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Any bonus payments received by the state, in addition to royalties, would be used to fund the new rainy day reserve dedicated to higher education maintenance and appropriations stabilization. Another portion of those bonus payments would go into a "local government permanent fund" to help communities affected by energy extraction activities.
The U.S. government receives royalties on minerals, except for those governed by the General Mining Law of 1872, extracted from federal public lands. Colorado, like all other states, receives a share of the royalties attributable to extraction activities within its borders.
Forecasts say that Colorado can expect to receive about $2.7 billion in royalty payments between 2008 and 2018.
The bipartisan sponsors of the historic legislation spoke of its importance to assuring Colorado's fiscal stability as the bill was released this morning.
"The real legacy of this bi-partisan legislation is that when the drilling stops, Colorado will have a substantial permanent fund to take care of the state's colleges, universities and impacted communities,” Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, said.
Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, noted that the proposal, if enacted into law, would be Colorado's first effort to tap energy extraction as a means of funding basic needs in over 100 years of mining history.
"We’ve had repeated booms from mineral and energy development in this state for over 100 years,” Buescher said. “This will be the first time we put something away for our children.”
SB 218 will make its first legislative stop in the Senate Education Committee. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village, and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, along with Penry and Buescher.
Friday, March 28, 2008
CAP4K Clears First Hurdle
Gov. Bill Ritter's far-reaching proposal to re-structure the state's public education system won approval from a Senate committee Thursday, clearing its first hurdle on the way to the lawbooks.
SB 212, which incorporates the governor's "Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K)", was approved by the Senate Education Committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.
CAP4K, which Ritter introduced at a press conference last month,has four principal elements:
1. The state Board of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education would be required to establish definitions of school readiness and college and workforce readiness.
2. The state's Model Content Standards that guide the high school curriculum would be expanded and improved. They would apply to all grades from pre-school to the first year of college (standards currently only exist for grades 3 through 10) and align those standards with the content and skills needed for success after high school.
3. The school readiness assessment program would be based on a goal of assuring that all students who graduate from high school are ready for college and/or the workforce.
4. Post-secondary institution admission policies would be modified to allow students to earn credit by proving their proficiency in a particular subject as opposed to limiting the circumstances under which knowledge can be assumed to a student's completion of a course.
Among the means used to assess student proficiency would be a series of subject-based examinations that would replace the CSAP tests.
SB 212 now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The bill's bipartisan prime sponsors include Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Sens. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Josh Penry, R-Fruita.
SB 212, which incorporates the governor's "Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K)", was approved by the Senate Education Committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.
CAP4K, which Ritter introduced at a press conference last month,has four principal elements:
1. The state Board of Education and Colorado Commission on Higher Education would be required to establish definitions of school readiness and college and workforce readiness.
2. The state's Model Content Standards that guide the high school curriculum would be expanded and improved. They would apply to all grades from pre-school to the first year of college (standards currently only exist for grades 3 through 10) and align those standards with the content and skills needed for success after high school.
3. The school readiness assessment program would be based on a goal of assuring that all students who graduate from high school are ready for college and/or the workforce.
4. Post-secondary institution admission policies would be modified to allow students to earn credit by proving their proficiency in a particular subject as opposed to limiting the circumstances under which knowledge can be assumed to a student's completion of a course.
Among the means used to assess student proficiency would be a series of subject-based examinations that would replace the CSAP tests.
SB 212 now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The bill's bipartisan prime sponsors include Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Sens. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Josh Penry, R-Fruita.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
DNA Bill Gets Initial Senate Approval
Although several members listed as co-sponsors decided not to vote for their bill, a measure that would grant convicted felons a new trial when law enforcement authorities lose or fail to keep DNA evidence passed the Senate on its first test this morning.
SB 205, which is sponsored by 26 senators, was approved on a voice vote.
However, some of those who had signed on to sponsor it ended up opposing it.
Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, was among them. He said that he believes there are "plenty of other opportunities" to remedy loss of evidence. Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, argued that the bill will benefit only one man.
Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, has said he was inspired to draft and introduce the bill because of the situation surrounding Clarence Moses-El, who was convicted of a 1987 rape on the basis of a the victim's testimony that she had seen his face in a dream. The Denver Police Department discarded the DNA evidence gathered during the investigation of the crime in 1995 despite a court order requiring its preservation. Moses-El has always maintained his innocence.
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, disagreed with GOP colleagues Wiens and Penry. "As awful as it may be for a victim or a victim’s family to contemplate a retrial, our first responsibility here ought to be for justice," Mitchell said.
The bill faces a final vote in the Senate before moving on to the House.
SB 205, which is sponsored by 26 senators, was approved on a voice vote.
However, some of those who had signed on to sponsor it ended up opposing it.
Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, was among them. He said that he believes there are "plenty of other opportunities" to remedy loss of evidence. Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, argued that the bill will benefit only one man.
Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, has said he was inspired to draft and introduce the bill because of the situation surrounding Clarence Moses-El, who was convicted of a 1987 rape on the basis of a the victim's testimony that she had seen his face in a dream. The Denver Police Department discarded the DNA evidence gathered during the investigation of the crime in 1995 despite a court order requiring its preservation. Moses-El has always maintained his innocence.
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, disagreed with GOP colleagues Wiens and Penry. "As awful as it may be for a victim or a victim’s family to contemplate a retrial, our first responsibility here ought to be for justice," Mitchell said.
The bill faces a final vote in the Senate before moving on to the House.
Friday, March 14, 2008
US Highway 285 Designated "Ralph Carr Memorial Highway"
Both chambers of the General Assembly approved Friday a resolution designating the portion of U.S. Highway 285 from its intersection with Colorado Highway 470 in Jefferson County to the New Mexico state line as the "Ralph Carr Memorial Highway."
The designation honors the late former Republican governor known for his opposition to interning Japanese-Americans during World War II.
A recent book by local reporter Adam Schrager details the impact Carr's stance on the question of imprisoning Americans of Japanese descent had on his political career.
Carr, a former Conejos County attorney, assistant attorney general and United States attorney, sought a U.S. Senate seat in 1942. He lost to incumbent Democrat Edwin Johnson, in part because of his opposition to federal efforts to detain Japanese-Americans at the Ameche relocation camp in eastern Colorado during his term as the state's 29th governor between 1939-1943.
Carr (Dec. 11, 1887-Sept. 22, 1950) grew up in Cripple Creek. He was an opponent of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" program but generally supported FDR's foreign policies.
He was nominated by the GOP for another term as governor in 1950 but died before the general election. He was replaced as the Republican candidate 20 days before the election by Daniel I.J. Thornton, who went on to beat the favored incumbent, Walter W. Johnson. Ironically, Thornton was succeeded by the man who beat Carr for the U.S. Senate seat in 1942, Edwin Johnson.
Carr is buried in Denver's Fairmount Cemetery.
The resolution re-naming U.S. Highway 285 was sponsored by Reps. Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, and Rafael Lorenzo Gallegos, D-Antonito, and Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
House Passes Resolution Calling for all CO Children to Have Health Insurance Coverage by 2010
The House passed Wednesday a resolution establishing a goal of assuring access to health insurance coverage for all children in the state by 2010.
SJR 8, which had previously passed the Senate in slightly different form, is not law. It is simply an expression of the legislature's desire and of a goal.
Debate on the resolution was nevertheless lengthy and, at times, contentious.
Reps. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, and Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, eventually proposed an amendment changing the language of the resolution from words requiring the legislature to "pledge" universal coverage of children to the less demanding commitment only to try to do so.
That amendment passed with 51 "yes" votes, though it provoked opposition from a number of Democrats including speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, majority leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Health & Human Services Committee chair Anne McGihon, D-Denver.
Rep. Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs was the only GOP member of the House to oppose the amendment.
The amendment soothed the controversy, as 61 members of the House voted "yes" on adoption of the resolution after it was approved.
The naysayers were Republican Reps. Douglas Bruce and Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs and Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud.
The Senate had previously amended the resolution to make clear that the goal of universal coverage of children should not create disincentives for people to obtain private health insurance.
After that amendment was adopted unanimously in the Senate the resolution passed in that chamber on a 27-7 vote.
The Senate "no" votes on the resolution were cast by Republican Sens. Greg Brophy of Wray, Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs, Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Mike Kopp of Littleton, Joshua Penry of Grand Junction, Scott Renfroe of Greeley and David Schultheis of Colorado Springs.
SJR 8, which had previously passed the Senate in slightly different form, is not law. It is simply an expression of the legislature's desire and of a goal.
Debate on the resolution was nevertheless lengthy and, at times, contentious.
Reps. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, and Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, eventually proposed an amendment changing the language of the resolution from words requiring the legislature to "pledge" universal coverage of children to the less demanding commitment only to try to do so.
That amendment passed with 51 "yes" votes, though it provoked opposition from a number of Democrats including speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, majority leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Health & Human Services Committee chair Anne McGihon, D-Denver.
Rep. Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs was the only GOP member of the House to oppose the amendment.
The amendment soothed the controversy, as 61 members of the House voted "yes" on adoption of the resolution after it was approved.
The naysayers were Republican Reps. Douglas Bruce and Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs and Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud.
The Senate had previously amended the resolution to make clear that the goal of universal coverage of children should not create disincentives for people to obtain private health insurance.
After that amendment was adopted unanimously in the Senate the resolution passed in that chamber on a 27-7 vote.
The Senate "no" votes on the resolution were cast by Republican Sens. Greg Brophy of Wray, Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs, Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Mike Kopp of Littleton, Joshua Penry of Grand Junction, Scott Renfroe of Greeley and David Schultheis of Colorado Springs.
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