Seed Newsvine
Republicans at the capitol are circulating a petition asking Gov. Bill Ritter not to volunteer Colorado's Supermax prison as a site for the relocation of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The request, which was drafted by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, implores Ritter to oppose any effort by President Barack Obama to relocate individuals captured in the War on Terror to the state.
"I don't really think it would be appropriate to mix these terrorists with the current prison population. They're going to be in our prisons recruiting inmates to kill American servicemen and civilians," Kester said. "Besides, there simply isn't enough room. We don't have the beds or staffing to accommodate that many new prisoners."
Evan Dreyer, the chief press spokesperson for Ritter, said the GOP is simply looking to score political points.
"I don't think the Republicans in the Colorado statehouse are acting any different than the Republicans in Washington," Dreyer said. "There was a similar type of knee-jerk reaction from Republicans in Washington as we saw today from Republicans in the statehouse."
U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio and the House minority leader, issued a statement Thursday criticizing Obama's decision.
Boehner, expressing fears that federal judges would order detainees held in a prison in the continental U.S. released, said Obama's plan to close the Cuba prison has not been well thought out.
Dreyer explained that Ritter supports Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and that the ultimate decision about who can be placed at Supermax is not in the governor's hands.
He also emphasized that Ritter believes that any detainee who is classified as a combatant under relevant international law should not be housed at the high-security prison complex near Florence.
"If they're military detainees, then Supermax is not the appropriate facility for them to be detained in," Dreyer said.
The military detention complex at Guantanamo Bay holds about 250 prisoners that could be classified as enemy combatants.
Obama issued Thursday an executive order that requires the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility used by the U.S. armed forces to hold foreign citizens suspected of involvement in the nation's war against al Qaeda and allied terrorist organizations.
As of Friday afternoon the petition included the signatures of three statehouse Democrats: Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, Sen. Paula Sandoval, D-Denver, and Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus.
Republican signers of the petition include Senate minority leader Josh Penry of Fruita, Kester, and 12 other GOP senators. House Republican leadership team members Mike May of Parker, David Balmer of Centennial, Cory Gardner of Yuma and Amy Stephens of Monument, as well as 18 other GOP representatives, also signed the document as of Friday afternoon.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Gibbs Introduces FASTER Transportation Funding Bill
A much-anticipated bill that would raise motor vehicle registration fees to finance improvements and repairs to the state's heavily used and decaying highway and bridge system was introduced at the capitol today.
SB 108, sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, would ask the average Colorado driver to pay $32 more in registration fees in the first year of the program and then, on average, an additional $42 above what is being paid now every year after that.
The plan would raise about $214 million during its first year in effect and about $265 million every year after that.
Those funds would be used to repay Certificates of Participation, a form of loan, that would be used to finance up-front improvements including repairs to 126 bridges with structural problems.
A "fact sheet" on the so-called FASTER proposal released by Senate Democrats' communications office says that Gibbs' bill, starting in the second year of the program it creates, would generate about $160 million for safety improvements and about $100 million for bridge-related work.
In addition to the increased registration fees, Gibbs' proposal would also institute a new fees on motor vehicle rentals, late motor vehicle registrations, and registration of oversize or overweight vehicles.
Gibbs also said at a capitol news conference Friday that about $10 million raised by the new fees would be available for mass transit projects. In addition, the legislation would authorize municipalities to use tolls or public-private partnerships to finance road projects and allow the use of experimental financing methods like allow communities the option to explore other road project financing mechanisms such as a per-mile driving tax instead of the current tax applied to each gallon of gasoline purchased at the pump.
Republicans have said they are not inclined to support new and increased fees and Gibbs' bill has no GOP co-sponsor.
Gibbs acknowledged that Republican lawmakers have not signed on to his approach.
“Today we are starting a very important conversation,” he said.
In any case, however, Gibbs said Friday that the potential for economic stimulus is also a powerful justification for his bill.
A recent study by the Colorado Contractors Association indicates that a $250 million annual investment in the state's transportation system would generate between 10,000-40,000 new jobs.
The House sponsor of the FASTER proposal is Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton.
SB 108, sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, would ask the average Colorado driver to pay $32 more in registration fees in the first year of the program and then, on average, an additional $42 above what is being paid now every year after that.
The plan would raise about $214 million during its first year in effect and about $265 million every year after that.
Those funds would be used to repay Certificates of Participation, a form of loan, that would be used to finance up-front improvements including repairs to 126 bridges with structural problems.
A "fact sheet" on the so-called FASTER proposal released by Senate Democrats' communications office says that Gibbs' bill, starting in the second year of the program it creates, would generate about $160 million for safety improvements and about $100 million for bridge-related work.
In addition to the increased registration fees, Gibbs' proposal would also institute a new fees on motor vehicle rentals, late motor vehicle registrations, and registration of oversize or overweight vehicles.
Gibbs also said at a capitol news conference Friday that about $10 million raised by the new fees would be available for mass transit projects. In addition, the legislation would authorize municipalities to use tolls or public-private partnerships to finance road projects and allow the use of experimental financing methods like allow communities the option to explore other road project financing mechanisms such as a per-mile driving tax instead of the current tax applied to each gallon of gasoline purchased at the pump.
Republicans have said they are not inclined to support new and increased fees and Gibbs' bill has no GOP co-sponsor.
Gibbs acknowledged that Republican lawmakers have not signed on to his approach.
“Today we are starting a very important conversation,” he said.
In any case, however, Gibbs said Friday that the potential for economic stimulus is also a powerful justification for his bill.
A recent study by the Colorado Contractors Association indicates that a $250 million annual investment in the state's transportation system would generate between 10,000-40,000 new jobs.
The House sponsor of the FASTER proposal is Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton.
Merrifield's Bill Discouraging Slow Mountain Drivers Moves On
The House gave preliminary approval today to a bill that would punish drivers on narrow mountain roads who hold up lines of traffic by driving too slowly.
HB 1042 cleared the chamber after rural legislators led by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, led an unsuccessful effort to secure an exemption for farm vehicles and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, failed to win a provision excusing trucks carrying hazardous waste from the proposed law.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, has argued that slow-moving vehicles are dangerous because they provoke drivers of vehicles behind them to attempt to pass when not advisable.
Merrifield has said that the bill would not require slower drivers to pull off the road if there is no safe place to do so.
The bill, if enacted into law, would allow law enforcement officers to cite a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle at slow velocity is impeding the forward progress of five or more other motor vehicles
The bill must pass a third reading in the House before moving on to the Senate.
HB 1042 cleared the chamber after rural legislators led by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, led an unsuccessful effort to secure an exemption for farm vehicles and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, failed to win a provision excusing trucks carrying hazardous waste from the proposed law.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, has argued that slow-moving vehicles are dangerous because they provoke drivers of vehicles behind them to attempt to pass when not advisable.
Merrifield has said that the bill would not require slower drivers to pull off the road if there is no safe place to do so.
The bill, if enacted into law, would allow law enforcement officers to cite a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle at slow velocity is impeding the forward progress of five or more other motor vehicles
The bill must pass a third reading in the House before moving on to the Senate.
Voter Photo ID Bill Killed Again
Yet another GOP effort to require that voters show a government-issued photo identification document before being allowed to cast a ballot died at the statehouse Thursday.
The House killed a similiar bill last year.
HB 1115, sponsored by Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood, would have mandated that a prospective voter show a Colorado driver license or Department of Revenue identification card, U.S. passport, local, state or federal government employee identification card, military identification or state university student ID card before being given a ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April 2008 that states may require voters to show photo identification before voting without violating the U.S. Constitution.
The decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board has not yet prompted any state that did not already require voters to show a photo ID every time they vote to do so, according to a website maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires states to enact statutes requiring voters that have registered to vote by mail, and who did not supply such proof of identification with their registration, to show identification the first time they vote.
The vote in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee was on a party-line basis, with all seven Democrats opposing Summers' measure.
The House killed a similiar bill last year.
HB 1115, sponsored by Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood, would have mandated that a prospective voter show a Colorado driver license or Department of Revenue identification card, U.S. passport, local, state or federal government employee identification card, military identification or state university student ID card before being given a ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April 2008 that states may require voters to show photo identification before voting without violating the U.S. Constitution.
The decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board has not yet prompted any state that did not already require voters to show a photo ID every time they vote to do so, according to a website maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires states to enact statutes requiring voters that have registered to vote by mail, and who did not supply such proof of identification with their registration, to show identification the first time they vote.
The vote in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee was on a party-line basis, with all seven Democrats opposing Summers' measure.
House Education Committee Holds Off on Two Big Bills
The House Education Committee heard testimony Thursday on two of the most significant education-related bills of the session but put off a vote on both.
During early afternoon the committee heard an hour of testimony on HB 1009, which would require all public schools and colleges to conduct at least two emergency drills each year.
Later, committee chair Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, laid over HB 1057, after taking several hours of testimony on that measure. HB 1057 would require many businesses to grant employees time off to attend school-related functions for their children.
Business interests oppose the school activities leave legislation, arguing that it would be unfair to employees who are not parents and that, in any event, an employee's vacation time or personal leave should be used for such things.
But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, told the committee that such employer benefits do not provide enough time for parents to participate in their children's education.
The Denver Post quotes Kerr as saying that the need for the bill is "hard to quantify because these are not people who are used to standing up and making noise. It's the parents you most need to talk to who are the ones who are least likely to be there for conferences."
At least some of the state's school districts take the position that easing the way for parental involvement in school academic activities and attendance at parent-teacher conferences would raise student achievement.
"Any chance for parents to be involved in their child's learning is a benefit for students," Lynn Setzer, a spokesperson for Jefferson County School District, said.
According to the Post report Kerr will amend his bill to lower the maximum amount of time available for an employee to attend school events from 40 hours to 18 hours each year. The bill would also limit the employee to six hours per month and require that notice be given to an employer before time is taken away from work to attend a school-related event, which could include parent-teacher conferences, science fairs, dramatic and musical events in which the employee's child is a participant, and other academic functions.
The bill would not permit parents to take unpaid leave from work to attend a sporting event.
Education News Colorado is reporting that Merrifield may have laid over both bills because there is not currently enough "aye" votes to move them out of committee.
During early afternoon the committee heard an hour of testimony on HB 1009, which would require all public schools and colleges to conduct at least two emergency drills each year.
Later, committee chair Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, laid over HB 1057, after taking several hours of testimony on that measure. HB 1057 would require many businesses to grant employees time off to attend school-related functions for their children.
Business interests oppose the school activities leave legislation, arguing that it would be unfair to employees who are not parents and that, in any event, an employee's vacation time or personal leave should be used for such things.
But the bill's sponsor, Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, told the committee that such employer benefits do not provide enough time for parents to participate in their children's education.
The Denver Post quotes Kerr as saying that the need for the bill is "hard to quantify because these are not people who are used to standing up and making noise. It's the parents you most need to talk to who are the ones who are least likely to be there for conferences."
At least some of the state's school districts take the position that easing the way for parental involvement in school academic activities and attendance at parent-teacher conferences would raise student achievement.
"Any chance for parents to be involved in their child's learning is a benefit for students," Lynn Setzer, a spokesperson for Jefferson County School District, said.
According to the Post report Kerr will amend his bill to lower the maximum amount of time available for an employee to attend school events from 40 hours to 18 hours each year. The bill would also limit the employee to six hours per month and require that notice be given to an employer before time is taken away from work to attend a school-related event, which could include parent-teacher conferences, science fairs, dramatic and musical events in which the employee's child is a participant, and other academic functions.
The bill would not permit parents to take unpaid leave from work to attend a sporting event.
Education News Colorado is reporting that Merrifield may have laid over both bills because there is not currently enough "aye" votes to move them out of committee.
AP: Ritter Not Opposed to Guantanamo Terror Detainees at Supermax in Florence
The Associated Press is reporting that Gov. Bill Ritter has indicated he would be supportive of Obama administration efforts to move detainees from the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Colorado's Supermax federal prison.
President Obama issued an executive order Wednesday that will require the military detention complex in the Caribbean to close within one year.
The AP report quotes Evan Dreyer, Ritter's chief spokesperson, as saying
The report also quotes Dreyer as saying that Ritter has not discussed relocation of prisoners from the Cuba facility to Supermax.
The federal Supermax prison, which holds a maximum of 490 prisoners, was constructed near Florence in 1995.
Among its inmates are Zacarias Moussaoui, a participant in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC; Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted of crimes arising from the 1993 World Trade Center attack; and Richard Reid, who tried to blow up an airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean with a shoe bomb.
President Obama issued an executive order Wednesday that will require the military detention complex in the Caribbean to close within one year.
The AP report quotes Evan Dreyer, Ritter's chief spokesperson, as saying
"If Supermax is chosen, there's no reason to take a 'not in my backyard' approach."
The report also quotes Dreyer as saying that Ritter has not discussed relocation of prisoners from the Cuba facility to Supermax.
The federal Supermax prison, which holds a maximum of 490 prisoners, was constructed near Florence in 1995.
Among its inmates are Zacarias Moussaoui, a participant in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC; Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted of crimes arising from the 1993 World Trade Center attack; and Richard Reid, who tried to blow up an airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean with a shoe bomb.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
House Committee Clears Mandatory Cat ID Chip Bill
A bill that would require all cat owners to implant their feline companions with an identification microchip or buy an ID tag for their cat cleared a House committee today.
HB 1019 was approved by the Local Government Committee on an 8-2 vote.
"Cats shouldn't be this poor second cousin to dogs," Colorado Veterinary Medical Association president Jed Rogers told the committee. "It's easy for people to spot their dog at a shelter. Whereas my little black cat, there could be 50 black cats at a shelter. And it's a black cat."
Rogers said that fewer than one in 20 cats is retrieved from a shelter.
The bill also allows municipalities and counties to charge pet owners fees if the cat's identification tag or chip does not include a home address. It also would require city residents who regularly feed or shelter a stray cat to tag the animal.
The bill now moves to the House floor.
HB 1019 is sponsored by Rep. Cherilyn Peniston, D-Westminster, and Sen. Joyce Foster, D-Denver.
HB 1019 was approved by the Local Government Committee on an 8-2 vote.
"Cats shouldn't be this poor second cousin to dogs," Colorado Veterinary Medical Association president Jed Rogers told the committee. "It's easy for people to spot their dog at a shelter. Whereas my little black cat, there could be 50 black cats at a shelter. And it's a black cat."
Rogers said that fewer than one in 20 cats is retrieved from a shelter.
The bill also allows municipalities and counties to charge pet owners fees if the cat's identification tag or chip does not include a home address. It also would require city residents who regularly feed or shelter a stray cat to tag the animal.
The bill now moves to the House floor.
HB 1019 is sponsored by Rep. Cherilyn Peniston, D-Westminster, and Sen. Joyce Foster, D-Denver.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)