Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

IS NO PLACE SAFE? Two sources independently confirmed that 7News’ Tony Kovaleski, continuing his Pinnacol reportage, on Wednesday conducted at least one confrontational — dare I say “ambush” — interview of a state legislator here under our peaceful gold dome. Wednesday’s known subject was Republican Sen. Greg Brophy; others, if any, not yet known. Brophy is allegedly targeted for breaking bread with a lobbyist; he’s said to have solved any Amendment 41 concerns by paying his own tab, in cash. Like most news organizations, 7News doesn’t typically discuss its reporting as it’s occurring, leaving us to wonder if Kovaleski has any fire to go with that helping of smoke. Here’s Kovaleski’s earlier confrontational interview of exiting Pinnacol director Debra Lovejoy. FAIR QUESTION: Would Kovaleski’s report have suffered if Lovejoy had listened to her husband?

EXPLAINING HIS VOTE: Robert Ramirez.

MITCHELL TALKS UP his protective powers bill.

FORT COLLINS COLORADOAN welcomes new social services transparency law.

TEXAS GRAND JURY WON’T GET WILLIAMS CASE until after session ends.

PRECISELY THE ECONOMIC NEWS WE WERE HOPING FOR: New National Western complex.

UP TODAY: Prescriptions for Sudafed-type products.

ON GOVERNOR’S DESK: “Son of” Clean Air, Clean Jobs.

UTTER FAILURE TO COMPLETE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY: Statehouse Republicans, Democrats continue to snipe over their lack of map-drawing skills.

WHICH DENVER JUDGE will draw the new Congressional districts?

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

AT LEAST SOMEONE’S ENJOYING COLORADO’S SPLENDOR: John Hickenlooper hits the road today.
9 a.m. –remarks at the rollout of the Proposed Colorado River Cooperative Agreement. Location: Devil’s Thumb Ranch, 3530 County Road 83, Tabernash. Note: Media may listen live by calling 1-800-373-0950 and pass code 202119#. Supporting documents will be available online atwww.ColoradoRiverDistrict.org after 8:30 a.m.
* 4 p.m. – meet with the Rocky Mountain Pellet Company Inc. Location: 1000 Jackson County Road 12 W, Walden.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN, OR WITH TONY KOVALESKI: There’s nothing on the social calendar.

MORE PROOF THAT TALK RADIO REQUIRES CONTROVERSY TO EXIST: Peter Boyles.

SHE SAID IT: “Based on the quality and track record of these two entities, wherever they land in Colorado would create great economic benefit to the state.” — Wendy Mitchell, president and chief executive of the Aurora Economic Development Council.

HE SAID IT: “I call myself an American.” — Rep. Robert Ramirez.

HE SAID IT: “We’re thinking, OK, they’re trying to screw us, so we better come back with a new offer that is skewed to the right so that when we start negotiating and we come back to the middle it’s a little closer to something that would be even.” — Sen. Greg Brophy.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

IN FACT, THERE’S A LINE BETWEEN THE FEDS AND THE STATE on medical-marijuana policy, and U.S. Attorney John Walsh, a Democrat, says legislators are close to stepping over it. Walsh, reviewing legislation at the request of Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, takes issue with a provision in HB11-1043 that would authorize state licensing of “medical-marijuana infused product” facilities with up to 500 marijuana plants, along with the possibility of granting waivers to license even larger facilities. “The Department would consider civil actions and criminal prosecution regarding those who set up marijuana growing facilities and dispensaries, as well as property owners, as they will be acting in violation of federal law,” Walsh wrote Suthers.

NOW ON THE INTERNET: Obama birth certificate.

PROGRESSING: Health-care exchanges. Adultery decriminalization.

UP TODAY: Taxis.

DRIVING THE P.R. MACHINE: Sen. Steve King.

STILL PUSHING WILDLIFE-PARKS MERGER: Sonnenberg and Schwartz.

WAS THERE ANY DOUBT: Senate confirms Garcia’s second job as higher-ed commish.

NOT YET SUPPORTING PINON CANYON EXPANSION BAN: U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton.

SHOULDN’T THE HOUSE BE ISSUING A DAILY REPORT on Larry Liston’s health?

ON GOVERNOR’S DESK: Limits on ag taxes.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

TODAY’S HICKENLOOPER SCHEDULE:
* Noon – remarks at the Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference Lunch. Location: Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood.
* 5:45 p.m. – Lt. Gov. Garcia will deliver remarks at the Inclusive Excellence Business Case Competition VIP Reception. Location: Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, 2044 East Evans Ave., Denver.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN: Nothing on the social calendar.

NOT GETTING OUT THE VOTE: Only 9 percent of Denverites have sent in their ballots.

VINCE CARROLL WANTS NEXT DENVER MAYOR to have fresh perspective. Romer up to task, he says.

SHE SAID IT: “If folks don’t want to be getting those calls, they’d best turn their ballots in.” — Katy Atkinson.

HE SAID IT: “It is not a bill-killer.” — Rep. Tom Massey, on fed-state dispute on marijuana policy.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced three appointments to the Colorado Reapportionment Commission.

They are former state legislator, Gayle A. Berry, a Republican from Grand Junction, from the 3rd Congressional District; former Mayor of Denver, Wellington Webb, a Democrat from Denver, from the 1st Congressional District; and Arnold Salazar, a Democrat from Alamosa, from the 3rd Congressional District.

The full press release follows.

Gov. Hickenlooper announces appointments to Colorado Reapportionment Commission

DENVER ­— Monday, April 25, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today his three appointments to the Colorado Reapportionment Commission and expressed hope that Colorado Chief Justice Michael Bender’s appointments would result in a commission with precise partisan balance.

Hickenlooper’s three picks are: a former state legislator, Gayle A. Berry, a Republican from Grand Junction, from the 3rd Congressional District; former Mayor of Denver, Wellington Webb, a Democrat from Denver, from the 1st Congressional District; and Arnold Salazar, a Democrat from Alamosa, from the 3rd Congressional District.

“In making these appointments I have endeavored to designate individuals who have deep civic and community experience, and who also reflect the diversity of Colorado in terms of gender, ethnicity, geography and political affiliation,” Hickenlooper wrote in a letter to Chief Justice Bender and General Assembly Leadership. “My three appointments have committed themselves to creating more competitive districts, which should therefore create more competitive elections wherever possible.”

Hickenlooper said the 11-person commission should not reflect a partisan majority for either the Democratic or Republican parties.

“When the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court makes the final four appointments to this Commission, I hope he will make sure that there is a precise balance between Democrats and Republicans,” Hickenlooper said. “That means appointing at least one unaffiliated voter to the
Commission. Neither political party should have a majority in this process and we ought to encourage consensus on the Commission.”

The Colorado Reapportionment Commission will meet to redraw the boundaries of the state’s legislative districts. This is separate from the redistricting work going on in the General Assembly to redraw the state’s Congressional districts. More information about the Colorado Reapportionment Commission can be found by clicking here.

“Mayor Webb has agreed to serve as an elder statesman with previous experience in the reapportionment process,” Hickenlooper said. “He served 30 years ago – the last time a reapportionment plan was approved without going to court. It’s our hope that Colorado will benefit from a similar result this time.”

###

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

LIKE CIVIL UNIONS, IT WAS PROBABLY TOO MUCH TO EXPECT that a split statehouse would suddenly embrace in-state tuition for undocumented workers, especially considering that Democrats couldn’t get the measure passed in the years when they controlled the governor’s office, the House and the Senate. Supporters pinned their hopes on the makeup of the House Education Committee, where “the measure probably stood its best chance,” The Post’s Tim Hoover writes. It wasn’t to be, with Republicans rejecting the measure en masse. Coverage here from Education News, The Post, 9News, Associated Press.

TOP STORY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN COLORADO HEALTH CARE: Larry Liston.

NOT THE CAN-DO LEGISLATURE WE WERE HOPING FOR: Bipartisan redistricting blows up.

TELLING THE CHIEF JUSTICE WHAT TO DO, John Hickenlooper is.

THAT BRUCE INDICTMENT? It’s bare bones.

DENVER MAYOR’S RACE is boring Mike Littwin.

PICK ME! Kathleen Curry wants seat on reapportionment panel.

UP TODAY: Solitary confinement. Repeal HB 10-1192 Related To Software.

PROGRESSING: Health exchanges.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS:
7:30 a.m. – remarks at the iDE and RedLine launch of the Smithsonian Exhibition, Design for the Other 90%. Location: Redline, 2350 Arapahoe St., Denver.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN: Nothing on the social calendar.

TOMORROW’S MEMORIAL: Floyd M. Sack.

ANCHORED DOWN IN ANCHORAGE: Bill Ritter.

ANCHORED DOWN IN COLORADO SPRINGS: Karl Rove.

WTF? Denver Post’s website has this headline “Councilman Charlie Brown sees a turkey outside his office window, insert joke here” but no story. At least, not at 8:15 a.m.

HE SAID IT: “I’m just like these kids that we’re trying to help here today. The difference for me is that the Cubans got political asylum from the United States and my residency was established immediately.” — Denver interim Mayor Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, a Cuban immigrant and the city’s first foreign-born mayor.

HE SAID IT: “It is very important that we allot the limited amount of money that the state has to our constituents, and a person who is not a citizen of this country cannot be a constituent. — Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker.

HE SAID IT: “It saddens me no matter how I vote.” — Rep. Robert Ramirez, R-Westminster.

HE SAID IT: “I feel good, but I look like a pirate.” — Rep. Larry Liston.

HE SAID IT: “Let’s be honest. Hickenlooper would be governor and mayor both if someone would let him. I’m just hoping it doesn’t go to a vote.” — Post’s Mike Littwin.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

THE RESIDENT-TUITION-FOR-UNDOCUMENTED-STUDENTS BILL, otherwise known as Senate Bill 11-126 or as “ASSET,” is scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee at 1:30. As Education News Colorado writes, “While many observers give the ASSET little chance in the Republican-controlled House, sponsor Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, said Friday he remains hopeful he can pick up sufficient votes in House Ed, where Republicans have a 7-6 edge. Chair Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, often votes with Democrats.”

THEY LIKE ASSET: Bell and CCLP.

CHIEFTAIN PROFILES MASSEY, a “policy-first” type of guy.

COLORADO HOUSE SPEAKER TOPPLED … back in 1891.

THERE ARE DEMOCRATS IN WYOMING? Party said to be making a comeback.

THINK YOU’VE GOT IT BAD? What about the folks who have to hand-count ballots in District 8?

CSU GRAD running for president of Egypt.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS
10:45 a.m. – remarks at the Military and Veterans Job Expo, organized by the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. Location: West Foyer, State Capitol.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN: Nothing on the social calendar.

TIPTON TO TOUR Pinon Canyon.

SURPRISED? Colorado is No. 6 for suicides.

CAMPAIGN’S STILL INDEBTED: Diggs Brown.

HE SAID IT: “A lot of [voters] have never had any contact with a Democratic politician. And I think a lot of people are going to have a whole different view of Democrats if we just go out there and … show them that Democrats aren’t communist, gun-grabbing liberal welfare queens.” — Andrew Simons, who unsuccessfully ran for Wyoming secretary of state in 2010.

HE SAID IT: “OK, it was a little too idealistic. It was sort of like expecting J.R. Smith to pass the ball.” — Mike Littwin, Post columnist, on bipartisan redistricting commission actually being able to come up with a new map of congressional districts.

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Editor’s Note: This e-mail succeeds an earlier e-mail of Under The Gold Dome — Monday’s installment — that went out erroneously at 8 a.m. today.

Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER WHO STARTED IT, but the rhetoric — and I mean that in a bad way — surrounding the redistricting maps is beneath both Senate President Brandon Shaffer and House Speaker Frank McNulty. These gentlemen are paid to transact the people’s business, not to air their grievances publicly, and yet Coloradans wake up this morning to headlines here, here and here complaining of bomb-throwing and not-so-secret agents. Well, here’s a wake-up call: Get it done, or let a Colorado judge sort it out. These are times when you wish there was a commissioner of politics who had the ability to issue big fines to keep the peace. Civility? I feel another Pete Webb column coming on.

CONFIDENTIAL TO BRANDON SHAFFER: Republicans don’t want competitive districts. They have a 5-2 advantage. They will never want competitive districts.

CONFIDENTIAL TO FRANK MCNULTY: Go ahead, write the press release. But resist the urge to hit send. In fact, don’t hit send.

SPEAKING OF MAPS: Committee meets at 5 p.m.

LAWMAKERS TALK DEAL to add $90M to schools.

SENATE DEMS kill immigrant crackdown bills.

DOUGLAS BRUCE HIS OWN LAWYER, at least for now.

THAT POT DUI BILL? Now a study.

YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT JOB? Hickenlooper visiting McDonald’s today.

BOARD MEMBER QUIT, but Wildlife-Parks merger still on track.

STICK A FORK IN IT: Betsy Markey’s campaign committee.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS
* 10 a.m., joining U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, St. Paul (Minn.) Mayor Chris Coleman and Tuscon (Ariz.) Mayor Bob Walkup for a media conference call Tuesday to discuss the success of the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. Sec. Chu will also announce a new round of funding to support President Barack Obama’s goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on the road in the United States by 2015.
* 11:15 a.m. – Gov. Hickenlooper will visit a McDonald’s Hiring Event. Location: McDonald’s Restaurant, 505 E. Colfax Ave., Denver.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN: Nothing on the social calendar.

HE SAID IT (IN 2010): “Failure to rein in nasty attitudes can be attributed to leadership. I’m told that 20 to 30 years ago, smart-aleck representatives would be summoned, quaking, to the speaker’s office for a thorough remonstrance. And they’d leave straightened up. Not now.” — Pete Webb.

IT SAID IT: “civility [sɪˈvɪlɪtɪ]
n pl -ties
1. politeness or courtesy, esp when formal
2. (often plural) an act of politeness” — Collins English Dictionary

HE SAID IT: “Mark my words. I have no doubt. There will be fatality accidents as a result of someone driving the influence of THC.” — Sen. Steve King to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

TOMORROW THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE on Redistricting will begin negotiating congressional boundaries drawn on 11 different maps. But, according to the Colorado Statesman, neither side could wait to start getting their digs in on Friday, when the committee’s five Republicans and five Democrats exchanged their maps. Here for your reading pleasure are four reports detailing myriad map-making woes.
* Shaffer, Heath deny partisan map motives (Longmont Times-Call)
* Colorado redistricting panel spirals into partisanship, The Colorado Independent
* Redistricting maps in — Bipartisanship out? Colorado Statesman
* Colorado Redistricting: Maps from the “Kumbaya Committee,” Swing State Project.

BOIGON DROPPING OUT, supporting Hancock.

AFTER-FACT DEBATE BEGINS on criminal-sealing bill.

APPLICATIONS FOR LOTTERY DIRECTOR due today, under Hick’s plan requiring 100 senior execs to reapply for their jobs.

PROGRESSING: Ag-land tax reform.

ENJOYING ‘CITY OF LIGHTS’ BENEFIT: Bill Ritter.

HEADLINE OF THE WEEK: Liston’s beer bill fails to ferment in House

SB213 COULD CAUSE 2,000 kids to lose health insurance.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS
Noon – Lt. Governor Garcia will deliver a keynote address at the Aerospace Industries Association/National Defense Industrial Association Workforce Meeting with the Colorado STEM Network, hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy. Location: U.S. Air Force Academy, HQ USAFA/RRS, 2304 Cadet Dr., Suite 2300, Colorado Springs.

DINNER ON YOUR OWN: There’s nothing on the social calendar.

CONGRATS TO OUR SISTER NEWS ORG. Law Week Colorado won 14 awards including five first places, the most of any media organization founded in the past decade.

SHE SAID IT: “I do have family members who are undocumented. These are families that have lived here and have paid taxes.” — Sen. Angela Giron.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

ELEVEN HOURS? TWELVE HOURS? A BAKER’S DOZEN OF HOURS? I may have lost track of the length of the budget debate in the Colorado House, but some notable quotes arose as tempers flared and tables turned. This morning, your challenge is to match the legislator to the quote. The quotable legislators are Ferrandino, Waller, McNulty, Court, Stephens, Gerou, with one legislator quoted twice. [Answers at the end of column.]

1. “How about ‘yes’ to balancing the budget? How about ‘yes’ to doing the tough work? How about ‘yes’ to, ‘It’s tough to lead?’ ”
2. “I would like an apology.”
3. “It’s a little insulting to say we’re not making the tough decisions.”
4. “These are the Coloradans who are fueling Colorado’s economic recovery, and they should be thanked, not disparaged as special interests.”
5. ‘I am so tired of the notion that our businesses are so put upon.”
6. “I think this is the most responsible budget we’ve had in years.”
7. “These are services folks, and this is what civil society does.”

SPRINGS SCHOOLS taking $13M budget hit.

PROGRESSING: Tax checkoff for schools.

BACK TO YOU, HOUSE: June primaries.

SIGNED: Scrap-metal sales bill.

EL PASO COUNTY’S ECONOMIC PRIORITIES: Business development, including small business. The military. Tourism. Health, sports and fitness. Information and technology.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: Eunice Wharton Fine, Republican, District 50, 1979-1984, who loved reading, knitting, sewing, travel with her husband and attending all her grandchildren’s recitals, sport competitions and school activities.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS
* 8:30 a.m. – receiving the annual wildfire briefing for Colorado, deliver remarks and participate in a media availability. Location: Denver Jet Center, 7625 S. Peoria St., Englewood.

TODAY’S SOCIAL CALENDAR:
* Lunch, Colorado Health Institute, The State Health Insurance Exchange, 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., LSB-A, Contact: Allison Summerton 720.382.7092
* Bikers at the Colorado State Capitol Day, 12:00-1:30, West Steps of the Capitol, Contact: Deborah Chandler 303-637-9685

ALLEGATION OF THE DAY: Catholic Register reporter peddled bad poll data, says Colorado Independent.

HAPPY TO STAND IN THE RAIN: MIchelle Obama at Coors Field last night with Jill Biden, Jessica Simpson.

SHE’S IN LINKHART’S TV COMMERCIAL: Former Sen. Pat Pascoe.

NEW EL PASO DEM CHAIR wants to retake HD-17.

RELIVING ROCKY FLATS, Wes McKinley is.

KENNY BE HAS FUNNY TAKE ON MAYORAL CANDIDATES. But it’s not online, apparently.

CLASSROOM TEACHERS dig Mejia.

IS IT JUST ME, OR DOES THE CHIEFTAIN’S WEBSITE suffer from too much white space?

WE’VE GOT YOUR ANSWERS HERE: 1. Stephens, 2. Gerou, 3. Ferrandino, 4. McNulty, 5. Court, 6. Waller, 7. Court.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

NIXED: Pot-investment fund.

DELAYED: Parks-DOW merger bill.

PROGRESSING: Software-tax repeal. June primaries bill.

EXONERATED: John Morse.

AMYCARE RESUSCITATED: Another vote on the tenuous bill to establish health care exchanges in Colorado is set for this morning. House Majority Leader Amy Stephens said she doesn’t plan to use her “Obamacare” opt-out amendment to kill the bill.

MEANWHILE, STEPHENS, MCNULTY send letter to the Colorado Congressional delegation that calls for an end to federal Medicaid mandates.

GARFIELD COMMISSIONERS: Don’t take us out of the 3rd C.D.

THOSE PER-DIEM RULES? They’re vague, committee decides.

STICK A FORK IN IT: Ultimate Electronics.

WHAT PITKIN COUNTY WANTS FROM HICKENLOOPER: Developing local assets (like lodging properties); state investment in transportation, technology and housing; developing “professional level jobs”; support of tourism and specifically arts tourism and special events; and expanding the green energy economy.

BUDGET RELIEF puts $500K back in Glenwood Springs schools.

SOMEBODY TEACH THEM: State Ed Board wants to know definition of an “effective educator.”

WAIT, HERE IT IS (hat tip, Ed News): “Effective teachers in the state of Colorado have the knowledge, skills and commitments that ensure equitable learning opportunities and growth for all students. They strive to close achievement gaps and to prepare diverse student populations for postsecondary success. Effective teachers facilitate mastery of content and skill development, and identify and employ appropriate strategies for students who are not achieving mastery. They also develop in students the skills, interests and abilities necessary to be lifelong learners, as well as for democratic and civic participation. Effective teachers communicate high expectations to students and their families and find ways to engage them in a mutually supportive teaching and learning environment. Because effective teachers understand that the work of ensuring meaningful learning opportunities for all students cannot happen in isolation, they engage in continuous reflection, on-going learning and leadership within the profession.”

OF COURSE: The above definition was written by 15-member council appointed by then-Gov. Bill Ritter as part of an application for Race to the Top funding from the federal government.

OF COURSE, PART II: Denver Post, in story about the definition, apparently lacks space to print it.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

HICKENLOOPER PUBLIC EVENTS
* 11:15 a.m. – joining Great Outdoors Colorado to announce an initiative to increase jobs available from the Colorado Youth Corps Association for 16- to 25-year-olds throughout the state. Location: Lincoln Park, located across from the state Capitol, between Lincoln Street and Broadway Avenue, Denver.
* 4:45 p.m. – remarks at the groundbreaking celebration of Project Angel Heart’s future home, which provides nutritious meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illness. Location: 4950 Washington St., Denver.

TODAY’S SOCIAL CALENDAR:
* Colorado Rural Electric Association Luncheon, 12:00-1:30 P.M., Warwick Hotel, 1776 Grant Street, Denver, Contact: Liz Fiddes, CMP 303-455-2700 x 103

BENDER’S SUPREME COURT sits for its first photo, here.

VETERANS SALUTE B.J. Nikkel.

TODAY’S MEMORIAL: Mid-1980s lawmaker Dale Erickson, dubbed “Dr. No.”

TABOR COMING TO FLORIDA?

DESPITE REPUBLICAN-LED CALLS to strip funding from National Public Radio, public broadcasting emerged largely unscathed.

CARLA MADISON’S HUSBAND will run for her Denver city council seat. He’s joining Adam Crowley, Steven Dewberry, Warren Edson, Rene I. Farkass, Paul Noel Fiorino, Jake Fleck, Nita (Dwinita) Henry, Mark Iannucci, Thomas Henry Juniel, Mark G. Martinez, Owetta R. McNeil, Tom Morris, Robert Price, Tom Rutherford, Dan Stafford and Susan Whitehurst.

THE ABOVE ITEM is how you know the job market still stinks.

EVERYONE NEEDS AN EDITOR: In story about tonight’s open house in the Colorado House, Post calls us “Colorodans.”

HE SAID IT: “They filed a complaint and said I worked too hard and that’s unethical. Working too hard? Guilty as charged. Unethical? That’s patently ridiculous on its face. Always has been.” — Senate Majority Leader John Morse, exonerated in ethics complaint.

HE SAID IT: “With respect to the 450 teachers who will be fired with the loss of this income, no.” — Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, on voting against the software-tax repeal bill.

HE SAID IT: “He was a huge Glenn Beck fan.” — Tim Erickson of his father, late Rep. Dale Erickson.

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Compiled by Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

MEDICAL MARIJUANA LOBBYISTS vigorously plied their trade Monday in a furious attempt to stop an amendment to HB 1043, the “clean-up” bill, that struck language allowing for the creation of investment funds that proponents hoped would fund a restructuring of the industry. The amendment passed. Rep. Mark Barker, R-Colorado Springs, said the funds would skirt federal money-laundering laws.

IT’S HOUSE’S TURN: Done with budget, Colorado Senate free to turn to other matters.

SENATE BUDGET VOTE to decommission Fort Lyon passed 34-1. Grantham opposed.

DENVER’S ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON CATHOLICS to thank legislators for rejecting civil unions.

DEMS RALLIED OVER THE WEEKEND in Weld County.

SURPRISED TO SEE THE POST play the death of the beer-sales bill so prominently. A simple vote count in the weeks before would have produced the headline earlier.

OK, THAT CLEARS THING UP: Hickenlooper, in “Sorry I haven’t written e-mail,” explains his view of governmental elegance. “We aren’t talking about fashion. We are talking about honoring the hard work of state employees and elevating public service.”

REMEMBERING ROBERT DENIER

MAYBE LEGISLATORS NEED THEM, TOO: A Senate committee today will consider a bill that would allow certain police vehicles to have darkly tinted front driver and passenger windows.

TODAY’S CALENDARS. House. Senate.

SUBSCRIBERS: Your Virtual Bill Box is here. Your Personal Calendar is here.

THINK YOU HAVE A BUSY TUESDAY? Here’s Hick’s public calendar:
* 9:15 a.m. – speech at the International Research Center for Energy and Economic Development (ICEED) conference. ICEED is a non-profit organization that provides relevant information and research on national and international energy issues. Location: Millennium Hotel, 1345 28th St., Boulder.
* 11 a.m. – remarks at the Sustainable Opportunities Summit. Location: Marriott Denver City Center, 1701 California St., Denver.
* 12:15 p.m. – remarks at the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Colorado Leadership Alliance (CLA) Luncheon to recognize outstanding collegiate leaders, the CLA Leader of the Year award and the 9NEWS Leader of the Year. Location: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, Centennial Ballroom, 650 15th St., Denver.
* 7:45 p.m. – remarks at the Achieve 2011 Gala to benefit the Denver Public Schools Foundation. Location: Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, 650 15th St., Denver.

TODAY’S SOCIAL CALENDAR:
* Colorado Automobile Dealers Association ALEC Membership Reception, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 290 East Speer Boulevard, Denver. Contact: Linda Pryor 303-324-1085
* Colorado Legislative Women’s Caucus Celebration of Women in Legislative Leadership, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., The Carriage House, The Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, Contact: Laura Hoeppner (303) 564-6367

OBAMA SURPRISED Longmont students on D.C. field trip.

R.I.P. KAM KUWATA. Leading Dem strategiest in California has died.

HE SAID IT: “If you’re a Democrat like Obama and you’re looking to solidify support among whites … you have to focus on white suburban women. He’s maximized his support among minority voters … The only place he can go is up, among whites.” — University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato.

SHE SAID IT: “What the heck have we been down here for debating this for how many hours?” — Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver.

SHE SAID IT: “I feel we’re not truly balancing the budget when we transfer severance tax money to fill budget holes.” — Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango.

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