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A video made available on You Tube by the Cannabis Therapy Institute shows a previously reported encounter last week between medical marijuana advocates and Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg.

The video depicts Sonnenberg politely asking the videographer to turn off the camera. It’s at 01:50. When the videographer protests, Sonnenberg and several people depart for a meeting in his “private office.”

A person identified as advocate Miguel Lopez then calls out to the representative. Another person’s voice also is heard. The words “secret police, secret police” are called out. Sonnenberg returns to tear up a proposed amendment he was to carry on behalf of the medical-pot advocates. It’s at 02:31.

Later, lobbyist Kara Miller is shown upbraiding the advocates for making the videotape. “You’re cutting off your nose to spite your face,” she says.

The existence of the video was first reported by Westword.

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Watch the full episode. See more Colorado State of Mind.

Topic: The Mainstreets Initiative. What does this new initiative aim to do in the four areas of Colorado designated for the program?

Guests include:

-Ryan Cobbins, a merchant in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver

-Pat Coyle, economic development specialist and director of the Colorado Division of Housing

-Michael Langhorne, president of the Rifle Economic Development Corp.

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Watch the full episode. See more Colorado Inside Out.

The panel discusses the protests in Egypt, the Senate proposal of the Asset Bill, the FasTracks task force of the Metro Mayor’s Caucus. Host Dominic Dezzutti is joined by Patricia Calhoun from Westword, David Kopel from the Independence Institute, Eric Sondermann from SE2 and Penfield Tate III from Greenburg Traurig.

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From 9News: Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) is not moving his family into the Governor’s Mansion, but moving in a different type of cabinet instead. Hickenlooper, who decided with his wife Helen, to continue to raise their 8-year-old son Teddy in their current Denver home, has offered the seven bedrooms in the mansion to seven of his Cabinet members who don’t live in the metro area.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Source: YouTube.com

From 9News: State Sen. Pat Steadman is hoping this is the year his fellow lawmakers will pass a bill allowing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in Colorado. About a hundred supporters gathered at the First Unitarian Society of Denver Sunday afternoon. They held signs and gathered signatures.

From Gayzette: One Colorado has built a coalition of organizations in support of civil unions representing a half million Coloradans, the organization announced today. The Voices for Strong Families Coalition is made up of key labor, education and progressive organizations, said Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado. Key organizations include the NAACP of Colorado Springs, the Latina Initiative, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

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The KRMA current-affairs program debuts a new occasional format dubbed “Colorado Quarterly” and hosted by CEO Doug Price.

This program features a debate on whether schools are favoring the success of girls at the expense of boys. Guests: Lynn Gagnone, Dottie Lamm, Tim Foster and Rico Munn.

Watch the full episode. See more Colorado State of Mind.

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