STATE BILL COLORADO
Last time, it was Colorado’s House that introduced 40 percent of its bills in a single day.
On Monday, Colorado senators introduced 48 bills — more than a 50 percent increase. Senators now have introduced 131 bills.
Additionally, two House bills and two resolutions were introduced Monday.
You can review the bill summaries below, courtesy of State Bill Colorado.
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By Todd Engdahl, EDUCATION NEWS COLORADO
After 50 minutes of debate, the Democratic-controlled Senate today passed its own version of the contentious resolution that sets a target for state revenues in 2011-12.
On a party-line 20-15 vote, the Senate passed a version of House Joint Resolution 11-1007 that sets a revenue target $195 million higher than that passed by the Republican-controlled house – and which would devote excess revenues, if any, to K-12 education.
The morning debate mirrored the partisan split in the House, but the tone was more polite in the Senate.
The resolution is an annual legislative item that estimates a revenue level for the upcoming budget year. It provides guidance for – but is not binding on – the Joint Budget Committee, which writes the annual state budget bill. The resolution typically takes one of state’s December revenue forecasts, either from the executive branch Office of State Planning and Budgeting or from the Legislative Council staff. The resolution usually uses the lower of the two.
In its original form HJR 11-1007 used the Legislative Council estimate of about $7.1 billion. At the urging of House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, the House amended the resolution down to $6.9 billion.
The Senate vote takes the number back to $7.1 billion, with the additional proviso that if revenues are higher than that next year, that money will be used to reduce the amount of cuts to state support of K-12 education.
Debate in the Senate reflected the philosophical divide that has developed between the two parties on the budget.
Republicans argue the estimate should be set low as a way to avoid midyear budget cuts next year. “It’s more prudent to direct the Joint Budget Committee to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray.
Democrats want to avoid cutting more than they feel necessary. “Let’s use the right number, and let’s make the commitment to our children,” said Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs and author of the Senate amendment. “We want to make cuts at the last possible moment.”
The Democrats also argue that it’s wiser to use the number developed by professionals – legislative staff economists – rather than use an arbitrary figure chosen by legislators.
Republicans question whether it’s legal to put a spending decision – earmarking excess revenues for K-12 – in a resolution intended merely to set a revenue target. Some Republican senators also argued that protecting education spending will hurt other programs.
To make political points, Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, proposed a series of amendments that would have devoted excess revenues to Medicaid, transportation and other programs. He urged “no” votes on all those, thereby getting Democratic members on the record as voting no on those programs.
The most significant political compromise on the 2011-12 state budget probably will have to be made in the JBC itself, which is split 3-3 between the two parties.
From The Denver Post: Continuing a game of budgetary Pong, the Democratic-controlled state Senate today reversed the GOP-led House’s move last week on a revenue resolution, using the original estimate from legislative economists about how much money the state would have in the 2011-12 fiscal year.
Source: KDVR
From KDVR: A Colorado state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill recognizing civil unions in the next several weeks. Sen. Pat Steadman (D-Denver) said Sunday a few details remain to be worked out before his legislation is unveiled.
STATE BILL COLORADO
Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, apologized for a boisterous conversation he had with Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Gunnison, last week on the floor of the Senate.
Balmer’s entire apology follows.
From The Colorado Independent: State Rep. Daniel Kagan’s, D-Denver, bill to allow school-based health clinics to waive co-pays, passed the House unanimously today on final reading. HB 11-1019 will allow School-based Health Clinics (SBHC), which provide less costly health care, to waive co-pays for medical services that eligible children enrolled in the Children’s Basic Health Plan program receive.
STATE BILL COLORADO
9News “Your Show,” hosted for the past several years by departing political reporter Adam Schrager, will become a segment within the newscast, 9News announced on its Facebook page today.
Once a month, the show will be a “half-hour special,” the station said.
Reporter Chris Vanderveen is taking over responsibility for the show, which features questions posed by viewers of political figures, including legislators.
The Facebook announcement follows:
Hey gang, YOUR SHOW is going to continue. We are going to have weekly segments in the Sunday 8am and Sunday 5pm newscasts and a half hour special on the last Sunday of the month. We will continue to ask your questions to the newsmakers in the community and get your answers.
From The Denver Post: A plan that would have made Pinnacol Assurance pay state premium taxes appears to be going nowhere fast, but may not be dead, supporters of the idea say. The Joint Budget Committee earlier this month voted to ask staff to draft a bill that would take away 94 percent of the state-chartered worker’s compensation insurance fund’s exemption from state ta
From The Denver Post: Rep. David Balmer will apologize on the House floor this morning for his behavior toward a senator, joining other lawmakers who have done the Patsy Cline waltz.
From The Denver Business Journal: ProLogis of Denver and AMB Property Corp. of San Francisco said Monday they will merge in an all-stock deal to form a global industrial real estate giant. The merger will mean Denver will lose the ProLogis corporate headquarters to San Francisco, although the companies said Denver will serve as “operations headquarters” for the combined business.
