By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
GESSLER BEWILDERED by Buescher’s appointment, Post writes.
GOING FOR A THREE-PEAT, Dick Wadhams is.
WHERE ARE THE BILLS? Nothing’s filed since Thursday.
FASCINATING: Jefferson County, unable or unwilling to build a courtroom for a new judge, is allowing that judgeship to be transferred to far-away Montrose County. State Bill’s Matt Masich has story. Hearing today.
SHOCKING: Post scribe Lynn Bartels’ boss’ boss’ boss’ boss’ boss is out of a job, and her boss’ boss’ boss’ boss’ boss’ boss is no longer CEO of Media News. Post’s parent may be merged with Colorado Springs Gazette’s parent Freedom, WSJ reports today. “This was my decision,” Dean Singleton is quoted as saying.
SUPREME COURT talking medical-malpractice “pilot project” litigation reform today, Law Week Colorado writes. Docs, fearing worst, are all ears.
STATE EXTENDS REACH: The Legislative Audit Committee voted 6-2 Tuesday to support a bill that would bring the state’s highway authorities under the scrutiny of the Office of the State Auditor, FaceTheState.com writes. (Entities such as the E-470 Highway Authority and the Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority collect tens of millions of dollars in tolls each year, but aren’t required to submit to oversight by the state auditor.) State Bill subscribers can listen to the testimony here.
SPEAKING OF AUDIO: Signed-in State Bill subscribers can listen to the latest audio:
* Legislative Audit, 1/18/2011
* House Economic and Business Development Committee, 1/18/2011
* Joint Budget Committee, 1/18/2011
* Joint Judiciary Committee, 1/18/2011
* Senate Floor, 1/18/2011
* House Floor, 1/18/2011
Subscribers can get to all the archived audio here or by going to News Center > Audio: Floors and Committees. Not a subscriber? Call or e-mail Meg Satrom at 303-292-1212 or meg@circuitmedia.com.
PREACHING THE TEACHER-REFORM GOSPEL: The Post notes that Sen. Michael Johnston, who wrote SB10-191, has responded to requests from legislators in at least 10 states to help them consider, draft or rewrite similar teacher-effectiveness bills.
MAYBE NOT POSTPONED: Amarillo TV casts doubt on a Denver report that Sen. Suzanne Williams grand jury isn’t happening soon.
POST EDITORIALISTS RIGHTLY GLOAT that Hickenlooper, unlike Ritter, will share his office cell-phone records.
DOME-RESTORATION KICKOFF: It’s today. We’re 99 percent sure.
TO HECK WITH THE NEWS MEDIA: This year, legislators are writing their own stories when their bills pass in committee. Here’s what Don Coram wrote about his HB11-1006, the Regional Tourism Act. Rep. Mark Ferrandino tweeted the news about passage of his HB11-1023, extending a foreclosure program.
THEY’LL BRING IT UNTIL IT PASSES: 9News’ Adam Schrager says this is the eighth year for the “in-state tuition for undocumented students” bill. With video.
JOBS FOR SOME: First outgoing SOS Bernie Buescher gets a job. Now CDOT chief Russ George, formally appointed the new president of Colorado Northwestern Community College.
HE SAID IT: “I went overboard with the rhetoric.” — House Minority Leader Sal Pace
HEADLINES FROM THE UNION RALLY: Colorado AFL-CIO wants bidding advantage for local-workforce businesses (DBJ). Unions outline priorities (Denver Daily News). Union-backed rally emphasizes jobs, growing the middle class (Colorado News Agency).
HE SAID IT: “(T)he party needs a new face.” — Tom Tancredo, of Dick Wadhams.
DO YOU HAVE A MEETING WITH THIS LOBBYIST? Becky Miller Updike, via Facebook: “I dropped my blackberry in Amy’s orange juice this morning which wouldn’t be ALL that bad if I had it backed up on a computer… but nooooo, I’m between a dead computer and configuring a new one so ENTIRE schedule is GONE. Please let me know if we have a meeting and my apologies in advance if I miss meeting with you! Ugh.”
CONGRATS TO MELISSA KUIPERS on her new job, beginning Monday, as a government relations associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
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