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Newly-appointed GOP Sen. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud took his seat today, bringing Republican strength in the upper chamber to its full 14-member complement.
Lundberg was appointed by a Larimer County GOP vacancy committee to replace former Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, Saturday.
Showing posts with label Steve Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Johnson. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's Sen. Lundberg, R-Berthoud
Rep. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud got a promotion today as a Larimer County GOP vacancy committee appointed him to replace former Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins.
The vote was 86-42, with Lundberg outpolling Army veteran and businessman Mike Lynch.
The veteran legislator from rural Larimer County was chosen despite opposition from Johnson, Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, and many local elected officials, who maintain that the Republican party must move toward the center to regain the political edge in the state.
But the GOP activists at the vacancy committee meeting rejected that view.
Quoted in a story by the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Sue Rehg said the GOP needs to stay on the right.
"Right on schedule, several groups of GOP centrists started wagging their fingers at values voters, blaming them for every lost opportunity on Nov. 4," Rehg said. "The answer, they claim, is not to become a more conservative, Reagan-esque party, but to acquiesce on the GOP's core issues in favor of energy and environment. Republicans are in the wilderness not because they spent the last six years embracing (limited) government and moral values, but because in so many areas the two parties have become almost indistinguishable."
So did several state senators, including Greg Brophy, R-Wray.
"His experience, common sense and fiscally conservative approach to problem solving is exactly what these times call for," Brophy said. "He will make a difference.”
Lundberg himself urged the vacancy committee to appoint him because of his conservative views.
"The problems our party has experienced have not been because our principals need to change, but because we haven't lived up to them," he said. "Some say that we should run to the middle to get ahead of the crowd. I disagree."
Lundberg, who is an evangelical Christian, denies that human-caused global climate change is occurring, opposes legal abortion and domestic partnerships and marriage rights for gay couples, is an advocate for tax reduction, and argues for expanded production of oil, oil shale, and other petroleum products. He was a leading opponent of Referendum C, which gave the state a five-year break from the revenue ratchet-down effect of the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, in 2005.
Lundberg, who has been a member of the House since January 2003, was in his last term as a representative. He had previously made an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 1998 and served for six years as a member of the board of directors of Colorado Christian University.
His appointment creates a vacancy in House District 49. A GOP selection committee from that district will meet next weekend.
Ray Walter of Windsor and BJ Nikkel of Berthoud have announced their desire to be chosen as Lundberg's replacement.
The vote was 86-42, with Lundberg outpolling Army veteran and businessman Mike Lynch.
The veteran legislator from rural Larimer County was chosen despite opposition from Johnson, Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, and many local elected officials, who maintain that the Republican party must move toward the center to regain the political edge in the state.
But the GOP activists at the vacancy committee meeting rejected that view.
Quoted in a story by the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Sue Rehg said the GOP needs to stay on the right.
"Right on schedule, several groups of GOP centrists started wagging their fingers at values voters, blaming them for every lost opportunity on Nov. 4," Rehg said. "The answer, they claim, is not to become a more conservative, Reagan-esque party, but to acquiesce on the GOP's core issues in favor of energy and environment. Republicans are in the wilderness not because they spent the last six years embracing (limited) government and moral values, but because in so many areas the two parties have become almost indistinguishable."
So did several state senators, including Greg Brophy, R-Wray.
"His experience, common sense and fiscally conservative approach to problem solving is exactly what these times call for," Brophy said. "He will make a difference.”
Lundberg himself urged the vacancy committee to appoint him because of his conservative views.
"The problems our party has experienced have not been because our principals need to change, but because we haven't lived up to them," he said. "Some say that we should run to the middle to get ahead of the crowd. I disagree."
Lundberg, who is an evangelical Christian, denies that human-caused global climate change is occurring, opposes legal abortion and domestic partnerships and marriage rights for gay couples, is an advocate for tax reduction, and argues for expanded production of oil, oil shale, and other petroleum products. He was a leading opponent of Referendum C, which gave the state a five-year break from the revenue ratchet-down effect of the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, in 2005.
Lundberg, who has been a member of the House since January 2003, was in his last term as a representative. He had previously made an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 1998 and served for six years as a member of the board of directors of Colorado Christian University.
His appointment creates a vacancy in House District 49. A GOP selection committee from that district will meet next weekend.
Ray Walter of Windsor and BJ Nikkel of Berthoud have announced their desire to be chosen as Lundberg's replacement.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Johnson Resigns
Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, has resigned from the General Assembly after being elected to the Larimer County Commission in November.
The resignation, which will go into effect Jan. 6, opens the door for the Larimer County GOP to appoint his replacement.
Among the candidates interested in the appointment are Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, Loveland businessman Mike Lynch and Windsor financial planner Deborah Moeck.
Johnson was reelected to the Senate in 2006. His replacement will serve until January 2011 unless reelected.
Johnson previously served for six years in the House of Representatives.
The vacancy committee will make the appointment Jan. 10.
The resignation, which will go into effect Jan. 6, opens the door for the Larimer County GOP to appoint his replacement.
Among the candidates interested in the appointment are Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, Loveland businessman Mike Lynch and Windsor financial planner Deborah Moeck.
Johnson was reelected to the Senate in 2006. His replacement will serve until January 2011 unless reelected.
Johnson previously served for six years in the House of Representatives.
The vacancy committee will make the appointment Jan. 10.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Senate Clears Romanoff's B.E.S.T. Bill
A bill that would allocate nearly $1 billion toward the repair of decaying and dangerous public school facilities around the state got the final approval of the Senate Thursday.
HB 1335 would tap the state's school trust lands to raise about $500 million. Romanoff proposes that about $30-$40 million of revenues from natural resource exploitation conducted on those lands be used to make payments on necessary capital obtained via debt instruments.
The other portion of the total amount to be dedicated to school renovation and repairs would come from local contributions.
Colorado's school trust lands were granted to the state upon admission to the union and on condition that they be used to benefit school children. However, the state has never before had a structured mechanism for tapping into revenues generated on those lands for the benefit of public schools.
Public school buildings across the state are aging. According to a news release issued by the House majority communications office, hazards include failing roofs, structural problems, inadequate fire safety, faulty and dangerous boilers, absestos and carbon monoxide contamination.
The bill must return to the House for consideration of Senate amendments before heading to Gov. Bill Ritter's desk.
Democrats Peter Groff of Denver and Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village sponsored HB 1335 in the Senate.
Five Republicans opposed the measure in today's vote, including Sens. Bill Cadman and Dave Schultheis of Colorado Springs, Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Steve Johnson of Fort Collins, and Tom Wiens of Castle Rock.
HB 1335 would tap the state's school trust lands to raise about $500 million. Romanoff proposes that about $30-$40 million of revenues from natural resource exploitation conducted on those lands be used to make payments on necessary capital obtained via debt instruments.
The other portion of the total amount to be dedicated to school renovation and repairs would come from local contributions.
Colorado's school trust lands were granted to the state upon admission to the union and on condition that they be used to benefit school children. However, the state has never before had a structured mechanism for tapping into revenues generated on those lands for the benefit of public schools.
Public school buildings across the state are aging. According to a news release issued by the House majority communications office, hazards include failing roofs, structural problems, inadequate fire safety, faulty and dangerous boilers, absestos and carbon monoxide contamination.
The bill must return to the House for consideration of Senate amendments before heading to Gov. Bill Ritter's desk.
Democrats Peter Groff of Denver and Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village sponsored HB 1335 in the Senate.
Five Republicans opposed the measure in today's vote, including Sens. Bill Cadman and Dave Schultheis of Colorado Springs, Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, Steve Johnson of Fort Collins, and Tom Wiens of Castle Rock.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Senate Appropriations Sidelines Effort to Ban Porn Sales to Kids
A bill that would have made it a crime to sell pornography to minors in the state died in the Senate Appropriations Committee Friday.
SB 125 was a broad effort to shield minors from exposure to nudity or displays of sexual activity. The bill provided that violation of the ban would be a misdemeanor.
The bill's specific criteria for determining whether sex-related material violated the ban is one source of the controversy surrounding the proposal. The language employed by bill sponsor Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, was as follows:
"A material or performance is deemed harmful to minors if the material or performance depicts nudity or sexual activity and if the material or performance, when taken as a whole, meets the following criteria:
(a) a reasonable adult person would find that the material or performance has a predominant tendency to appeal to the prurient interest of minors; and
(b) a reasonable adult person would find that the depiction of nudity or sexual activity in the material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning what is suitable for minors; and
(c) a reasonable adult person would find that the material or performance lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors."
This language was drawn from a federal statute called the Child Online Protection Act, which was enacted into law by Congress in 1998. That law and a predecessor called the Communications Decency Act were ruled unconstitutional as a violation of the First Amendment in two cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Court has held that the First Amendment does allow legislatures greater latitude to restrict the access of minors to pornographic material to minors than would be allowed for adults, but there is uncertainty about whether this "community standard" criteria is constitutional. The Court did not have a majority of its members agreeing that the First Amendment allows pornographic material to be banned with such language in either of the cases ruling on the constitutionality of COPA or CDA.
In addition, opponents of the bill have raised concerns that, whether or not it is consistent with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it has a higher likelihood of being in conflict with the state constitution's speech clause.
In any event, the decision by the Appropriations Committee turned on money, not the freedom of speech.
Republican Sen. Steve Johnson of Fort Collins was apparently perplexed by the majority's conclusion that there's not enough to pay for the bill's mandate.
"There is an appropriate, unexpended, unaccounted for funding source," Johnson said.
SB 125 had previously been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee when Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, joined with three Republicans on that committee to support the measure.
SB 125 was a broad effort to shield minors from exposure to nudity or displays of sexual activity. The bill provided that violation of the ban would be a misdemeanor.
The bill's specific criteria for determining whether sex-related material violated the ban is one source of the controversy surrounding the proposal. The language employed by bill sponsor Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, was as follows:
"A material or performance is deemed harmful to minors if the material or performance depicts nudity or sexual activity and if the material or performance, when taken as a whole, meets the following criteria:
(a) a reasonable adult person would find that the material or performance has a predominant tendency to appeal to the prurient interest of minors; and
(b) a reasonable adult person would find that the depiction of nudity or sexual activity in the material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning what is suitable for minors; and
(c) a reasonable adult person would find that the material or performance lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors."
This language was drawn from a federal statute called the Child Online Protection Act, which was enacted into law by Congress in 1998. That law and a predecessor called the Communications Decency Act were ruled unconstitutional as a violation of the First Amendment in two cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Court has held that the First Amendment does allow legislatures greater latitude to restrict the access of minors to pornographic material to minors than would be allowed for adults, but there is uncertainty about whether this "community standard" criteria is constitutional. The Court did not have a majority of its members agreeing that the First Amendment allows pornographic material to be banned with such language in either of the cases ruling on the constitutionality of COPA or CDA.
In addition, opponents of the bill have raised concerns that, whether or not it is consistent with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it has a higher likelihood of being in conflict with the state constitution's speech clause.
In any event, the decision by the Appropriations Committee turned on money, not the freedom of speech.
Republican Sen. Steve Johnson of Fort Collins was apparently perplexed by the majority's conclusion that there's not enough to pay for the bill's mandate.
"There is an appropriate, unexpended, unaccounted for funding source," Johnson said.
SB 125 had previously been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee when Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, joined with three Republicans on that committee to support the measure.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
School Nutrition Bill Clears Senate
A bill that would require the state's school districts and charter schools to sell only those beverages that meet science-based, nationally-recognized nutritional standards gained final approval by the Senate Thursday.
SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, is an attempt to combat childhood obesity. The bill would direct the state Board of Education and the Charter School Institute to set rules establishing what nutritious beverages can be sold on campuses.
If enacted, the bill's provisions would go into effect for the 2008-2009 school year. Its terms would cover sale of beverages after regular school hours, such as when students are engaged in extracurricular activities. It would apply to sales of beverages in school cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and at fundraising activities conducted on school campuses.
The bill passed on a 20-13 vote, with Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, the only Republican in support. All Democratic Senators, except Paula Sandoval of Denver, voted for the bill. Sandoval and Republican Nancy Spence of Centennial were absent, though Spence voted against the bill in committee.
SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, is an attempt to combat childhood obesity. The bill would direct the state Board of Education and the Charter School Institute to set rules establishing what nutritious beverages can be sold on campuses.
If enacted, the bill's provisions would go into effect for the 2008-2009 school year. Its terms would cover sale of beverages after regular school hours, such as when students are engaged in extracurricular activities. It would apply to sales of beverages in school cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and at fundraising activities conducted on school campuses.
The bill passed on a 20-13 vote, with Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, the only Republican in support. All Democratic Senators, except Paula Sandoval of Denver, voted for the bill. Sandoval and Republican Nancy Spence of Centennial were absent, though Spence voted against the bill in committee.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bill Banning Possession of Tobacco by Minors To Get Committee Hearing
A bill that would ban minors from possessing tobacco in Colorado will get a hearing before a Senate committee Monday.
SB 88, sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, and Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, would also forbid the distribution of free tobacco products at public events.
The proposed "Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Act" also has two Republican co-sponsors in the Senate - Sens. Greg Brophy, R-Wray and Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins - as well as the backing of the Senate president and president pro-tempore.
SB 88, sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, and Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, would also forbid the distribution of free tobacco products at public events.
The proposed "Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Act" also has two Republican co-sponsors in the Senate - Sens. Greg Brophy, R-Wray and Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins - as well as the backing of the Senate president and president pro-tempore.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Baker Confirmed to PUC
The Senate confirmed Gov. Bill Ritter's nomination of Matt Baker to the Public Utilities Commission Thursday, overcoming virtually unanimous GOP opposition to the Environment Colorado executive director.
The vote was 21-13, with Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, joining the Democrats in voting "yes" on the nomination.
Under Baker's leadership Environment Colorado prepared and issued a report on ways in which Colorado could combat global climate change. The report urged the state to refrain from licensing new coal-fired power plants.
The vote was 21-13, with Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, joining the Democrats in voting "yes" on the nomination.
Under Baker's leadership Environment Colorado prepared and issued a report on ways in which Colorado could combat global climate change. The report urged the state to refrain from licensing new coal-fired power plants.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Vote Solution to be Unveiled Today
Gov. Bill Ritter and legislative leaders will hold a news conference early this afternoon to announce a plan for running the autumn elections.
This morning, at an oversight hearing conducted by the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee, Secretary of State Mike Coffman said he would support a proposal to conduct an all-mail election in November.
He also said the legislature should any counties desiring to permit in-person paper balloting in addition to mail balloting to do so.
There are several proposals aimed at resolving the voting quandary pending in the General Assembly.
These include HB 1155, sponsored by Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, and Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, which would allow Coffman to re-test the electronic voting machines that were decertified for use last month.
HB 1155 was endorsed by the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee on Jan. 17. It now moves to the House floor for the first of two votes needed to move the bill on to the Senate.
In addition, Gordon indicated before the start of the session that he would introduce a bill to permit use of traditional paper ballots, and possibly an all-mail election process, in order to sidestep Coffman's Dec. 17 decertification order.
This morning, at an oversight hearing conducted by the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee, Secretary of State Mike Coffman said he would support a proposal to conduct an all-mail election in November.
He also said the legislature should any counties desiring to permit in-person paper balloting in addition to mail balloting to do so.
There are several proposals aimed at resolving the voting quandary pending in the General Assembly.
These include HB 1155, sponsored by Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, and Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, which would allow Coffman to re-test the electronic voting machines that were decertified for use last month.
HB 1155 was endorsed by the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee on Jan. 17. It now moves to the House floor for the first of two votes needed to move the bill on to the Senate.
In addition, Gordon indicated before the start of the session that he would introduce a bill to permit use of traditional paper ballots, and possibly an all-mail election process, in order to sidestep Coffman's Dec. 17 decertification order.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Steve Johnson to Leave Senate?
Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, has decided to run for a seat on the Larimer County Commission this autumn, according to a report in the Loveland Reporter-Herald.
Johnson, who was re-elected to his second term in 2006, says he will not resign his Senate seat unless he is elected commissioner.
Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, was a candidate for the Senate seat now held by Johnson in 1998. He is likely to seek appointment to the slot if Johnson resigns after the November election and a vacancy committee must fill the District 15 seat until the November 2010 election.
Johnson is a member of the Joint Budget Committee and possibly his party's leading expert on the state budget in the General Assembly.
Johnson, who was re-elected to his second term in 2006, says he will not resign his Senate seat unless he is elected commissioner.
Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, was a candidate for the Senate seat now held by Johnson in 1998. He is likely to seek appointment to the slot if Johnson resigns after the November election and a vacancy committee must fill the District 15 seat until the November 2010 election.
Johnson is a member of the Joint Budget Committee and possibly his party's leading expert on the state budget in the General Assembly.
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