Senate Judiciary to consider “Colorado Road and Community Safety Act” Wednesday 

Would increase number of licensed drivers on the road, provide ID cards for immigrants

Driver’s Licenses for All is a grassroots group that grew out of the Initiative 52 ballot campaign that collected more than 30,000 signatures with 1,200 volunteers and less than $12,000.

Colorado Republicans loudly voiced their dissatisfaction with decennial reapportionment, but the GOP maintains a voter-registration edge going into this fall’s elections, shows a State Bill Colorado analysis.

The House today is narrowly Republican, 33-32. With reapportionment, the GOP enjoys a 27-17 lead in seats considered safe, shows State Bill’s analysis of Colorado Legislative Council data. State Bill defines a safe district as one in which one party holds at least a 10-percentage point voter-registration advantage over the other party.

Reapportionment, however, created more competitive and ultra-competitive districts, State Bill found. And it’s in competitive districts, where the party advantage is between 5 percent and 9.99 percent, where the Democrats have the advantage, six to two. Assuming that these seats fell to their respective parties, the Republicans would hold 29 seats and the Democrats 23.

That leaves the ultra-competitive seats, where one party’s advantage is less than five percent. Here again the Democrats have an advantage, but it’s only seven to six. The Democrats must win all seven seats and pick up three of the Republican-leaning ultra-competitive seats to claim the majority. If the Republicans win at least four of the six Republican-leaning seats, they would keep the majority.

The charges below list the five safest GOP and Democratic seats.

REPUBLICAN SAFE SEATS
District Differential Incumbent
Senate 09 | Percent: 40.35 | Lambert
Senate 01 | Percent: 34.21 | Brophy
Senate 04 | Percent: 30.26 | Scheffel
Senate 10 | Percent: 27.74 | Open
Senate 07 | Percent: 25.28 | King

DEMOCRATIC SAFE SEATS
District | Differential | Incumbent(s)
Senate 33 | Percent: 51.18 | Johnston
Senate 34 | Percent: 42.49 | Guzman
Senate 18 | Percent: 34.41 | Heath
Senate 31 | Percent: 26.69 | Foster, Steadman
Senate 32 | Percent: 26.31 | Aguilar

DENVER — If you aren’t going to use your judgeship, why not let someone else have it?

A bill introduced in the Colorado Senate last week would add a district judgeship in the western slope’s 7th Judicial District while taking away a vacant district judgeship in the 1st Judicial District, which comprises Jefferson and Gilpin counties. The bill gets its first hearing on Wednesday at the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The 1st Judicial District got funding for three new district judgeships in 2007, but two of those remained unfilled due to space constraints. If SB11-028 were to pass, one of these unfilled judgeships would to the 7th Judicial District, which comprises Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties.

The change would be budget-neutral.

The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Gail Schwartz and Republican Rep. Don Coram, who represent legislative districts that lie within the 7th Judicial District.

The judge-shift was requested by the Colorado Judicial Department, said spokesman Rob McCallum.

“Simply put, there was a greater and growing need for another judge in the seventh judicial district,” McCallum said by e-mail.

District court case filings have increased 25 percent over the last four years, according to Judicial Department data. Civil cases, excluding foreclosures and tax liens, have grown nearly 63 percent at the same time.

As a result, the district court is staffed at just 60 percent of the level recommended by the state court administrator’s office.

The 1st Judicial District court management gave its blessing to giving away the judgeship, according to a Judicial Department fact sheet.

By Jake Strickler, STATE BILL COLORADO

Wednesday’s 68th General Assembly of the Colorado House of Representatives began on a somber note as Denver’s Archbishop Chaput spoke in honor of the victims of last weeks’ tragic shooting in Arizona before leading the assembly in Morning Prayer.

The weight of that event, though noticeably present, did not stop the morning’s speakers from adopting a lighthearted and optimistic attitude toward having fresh blood and new ideas with which to confront the problems facing this state and the rest of the nation.

Before swearing in the representatives for this term, Chief Justice Michael Bender expressed his thanks for “having this indoors,” the first of several references to the bitter cold that has fallen upon Colorado over the last few days. The atmosphere within the chambers, in contrast, was warm and congenial. As outgoing Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll announced the nomination and confirmation of Republican Frank McNulty as new Speaker, one representative jokingly yelled out, “How about a hug?” The two obliged the request to applause and laughter.

After a brief recess in which a committee was formed to notify the Senate of the House’s readiness to move on to the afternoon’s joint session, the quips kept coming. Majority Leader Amy Stephens apologized for the delay while chuckling that the “Senate is slower than molasses.”
After the recess, the tone became more sedate and reflective as the representatives got down to business.

Dominant concerns

With the reading of the nominations to this session’s various committees, the dominant concerns of this term were immediately identified: energy policy, job creation, healthcare reform, education, and the struggling economy.

McNulty’s opening remarks confirmed and addressed all of these concerns. The message was clear from the beginning: “Coloradans are struggling.” He communicated his desire for all representatives, new and returning, to have absolute, unwavering focus on solutions to the above problems. He also emphasized the need for ideological unity, referring to the transfer of power from the Democrats to the Republicans’ current one-seat majority in the House: “Philosophical disagreements should not distract us from the important challenges at hand.”

After expounding further upon the urgency and gravity of the issues being faced, McNulty invoked the pioneer spirit that built this state and expressed his belief that the same resourcefulness and determination will help Colorado and Coloradans work through current hardships.

Incoming Minority Leader Sal Pace’s remarks were in general agreement with McNulty’s. After getting in one jab (“Thanks for keeping my podium warm for the next two years”), Pace was quick to take up McNulty’s call for unity among the parties. After characterizing “the peaceful and orderly transfer of power from one party to another” as a “true spectacle of democracy,” Pace called for all representatives to “turn down the rhetoric” and “work together on behalf of all the people of Colorado.

“If we invest a little up front, we’ll save a lot down the road,” was the central message of Pace’s remarks. If party differences can be laid aside and this energy redirected into solving problems, this term’s representatives can work to “ensure that every action we take under this dome is intended to leave things better for the next generation, and for those children in this gallery today.”

By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO

NPR HAS AN AMUSING LOOK AT A ‘TEFLON’ HICKENLOOPER and a not so amusing look at the budget woes he faces. Here’s “All Things Considered.” Speaker McNulty at 2:08: “The rich uncle that has been giving us money isn’t here anymore.”

STATE OF THE STATE PREVIEW: Gov. John Hickenlooper says he’ll offer core principles but no major new programs in his first state of the state speech, Associated Press asserts.
– Go here this morning to watch.

THAT WAS SOO NOVEMBER: What’s with that flare up yesterday with the changing of the committee names? The Post has more about it here. Ashby, too.

TOUGH CROWD: Left-leaning ColoradoPols.com accuses the right-leaning McNulty, on his first day as speaker, of speech plagiarism. Much ado?

FROM STATEBILL’S VIRTUAL BILL DESK:

* House filed 58 bills. See them here.
* Senate filed 38 bills. See them here.

Post’s Tim Hoover talks about 10 of those bills here.

STORY TIP FOR OTHER JOURNOS: Many folks accessing their State Bill “virtual bill boxes” from tablet computers yesterday … Do you subscribe? If so, go here to see what we’re talking about.

ABOUT THAT NEW ‘FACE THE STATE’ NEWSPAPER: Brad Jones & Co. is out with a new weekly print publication — yep, a new *newspaper* — that includes a very cool crossword puzzle featuring many of us dome-heads. Yes, we were obsessed with that damn puzzle. (Full disclosure: Circuit Media, our parent company, assists with production, sales. E-mail Meg Satrom for a media kit: meg@circuitmedia.com.)

EDUCATION SITUATION: The first education bill of the 2011 legislative session was introduced Wednesday, a measure that proposes corralling “excess” state revenues and using them to offset cuts in state K-12 support, Education News Colorado reports.

PULLED FROM THE PAPERS: Rep. Mark Waller, a Republican, impressed with Hick’s inaugural speech (CS Indy). GOP, Dems show unity — sort of. (Durango Herald). Dems wary of widespread cuts (Denver Daily News). GOP vows major reversals (Denver Daily News). Bills target gas, oil revenue, pieces of Ritter legacy (Durango Herald). Lawmakers hold to cautious optimism as session begins (Aurora Sentinel). Colorado legislative leaders differ on how to spur jobs, business (DBJ).

WILLIAMS WATCH: Post editorializes Dems right to withhold chairmanship. … Headlines: After fatal crash in Texas, Colorado senator shows up for first day of legislative session (Post). Colo. lawmaker in fatal crash speaks (Amarillo TV Channel 7). Defiant, Sen. Williams returns to legislature after fatal crash (KDVR). Question: Is the media keeping a respectful distance?

WHAT NEXT, CATS, DOGS SLEEPING TOGETHER?: In Congresss, Udall says Rs, Ds should sit close to each other.

OBSESSED: This column marks State Bill’s 6,000th ‘tweet.’

Colorado representatives introduced 58 House bills today — the first day of the General Assembly.

Review summaries of the bills, sponsor names and committee assignments here, courtesy of State Bill.

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Colorado senators introduced 38 Senate bills today — the first day of the General Assembly.

Review summaries of the bills, sponsor names and committee assignments here, courtesy of State Bill.

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Sen. Suzanne Williams, who was involved in a fatal car accident in Texas, won’t head the Senate Transportation Committee after all.

Senate Majority Leader shuffled the deck, naming Evie Hudak to take Williams’ place because transportation issues require “a full-time active chair.” Williams has been in Texas attending to family members injured in the accident.

Newly appointed Sen. Irene Aguilar’s committee assignments also have been made.

The full press release follows.

Senate Majority Leader John Morse Makes Final Adjustments to Senate Committees

DENVER—Today, Senate Majority Leader John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) announced final changes to the senate committees for the upcoming legislative session. Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminster) will serve as the Senate Transportation Committee chair, a position that had originally been slated for Senator Suzanne Williams (D-Aurora). Additionally, Senator Irene Aguilar, M.D. (D-Denver), who was elected to fill the vacancy of Senator Chris Romer is assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee, the Local Government and Energy Committee, and will serve as vice-chair of the Business, Labor and Technology Committee.

On the change to the Transportation Committee appointment, Senator Morse offered the following comment:

“Today, in my capacity as the Senate Majority Leader, I appointed Senator Evie Hudak to serve as chair of the Transportation Committee. There are a number of important measures to come before the Transportation Committee this session requiring a full-time, active chair. Senator Williams’ accident in Texas on December 26th and the needs of her family and the Gomez family will undoubtedly consume substantial energy and force her to spend some time away from the senate.

It is in the best interest of Senator Williams to devote herself to the long and painful process ahead for her to assist, as she is able, in the recovery of her family and the victims of this horrendous tragedy.

My thoughts go out to the young family who must carry on without their mother, and I wish for a healthy recovery by Senator Williams and her family. This unimaginable loss of life and the pain they must feel weigh heavily on me and my colleagues.”

Boilers, builders, babies, beer and the budget are among big topics for Adams County legislators as the Colorado General Assembly prepares to convene on Jan. 12.

Rep. John Soper, a Democrat representing House District 34, has submitted a bill for the state labor department that would create a director for boiler inspections.

“When you get high-pressure steam going, it’s dangerous,” Soper said.

“It’s just been kind of a gray area” about who’s in charge, he said. The bill was in “rough draft” shape last week, Soper said, adding that he thought it would apply to commercial and residential boilers, with reinspection required for commercial uses.

“I’m running my prevailing wage bill again,” he said. He said the bill would mainly affect the construction crafts, and the outcome would be: “When you put state tax dollars into a project, you pay the prevailing wage on it.”

Rep. Kevin Priola, a Republican representing House District 30, wants contractors who build for municipalities and local governments to get relief in how “retainage” money is handled. Retainage is money that is held back to ensure that construction contracts are met.

Priola would like to see payments expedited once a project is being used. He said contractors sometimes are being “strung out for 12 to 16 months” before being paid and “are being asked to act like banks for local municipalities.” Expediting payments would allow the businesses to employ more people, Priola said.

Soper is making a similar proposal to reduce retainage. Like Priola’s, it would cut retainage from 10 percent to 5 percent. Soper would like to see the bill cover the private sector as well as the public sector, but said, “I’m willing to compromise on that if that’s what it takes to get something, and to show bipartisanship.”

Priola also plans a bill that would require people purchasing metal for recycling to secure more documentation than is mandated now. Most buyers already meet that standard, he said, “but there are bad players, buying things that are clearly stolen.”

Sen. Lois Tochtrop, a Democrat representing Senate District 24, is taking up the fight to keep convenience and grocery stores from selling full-strength beer, as a way to protect liquor stores.

“That is going to be a fight,” Tochtrop said. “My line is drawn in the sand.”

She said most liquor stores are “mom and pop” operations that have already been hurt by Sunday sales. “Liquor stores aren’t making more money, they’re just open more,” she said. “Dad’s away from home another day.”

Tochtrop also is pushing a proposal for roofers to be regulated, a “consumer issue” that she says was requested by “good, honest, competent” people in the roofing industry.

“We’re a state that has a lot of hail damage,” she said, adding that homeowners can be victimized by “unscrupulous” people who do shoddy work or simply leave.

Rep. Judy Solano, a Democrat representing House District 31 in Brighton, said the bills she plans to propose are cost-saving measures. One would give judges alternatives to incarceration for truant students. Another would help educate the community about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and explore wheter insurance could cover diagnosis of the disorder.

A third bill takes on renewable energy. Solano, who chaired the 2006 House Select Committee on Strategic Renewable Energy, said she will propose a bill to study distributed generation in hopes of making renewable energy sources such as solar panels more affordable.

On education

Solano said she will again be proposing a CSAP (Colorado Student Assessment Program) Bill. Solano has pushed bills each year to decrease the amount of standardized tests students must take. This year will be no different, she said. This year, she said she wants to return the decision regarding tests to the local school boards. Solano said she isn’t against testing, and schools must be accountable, but that there is a better way to do it.

Also in regard to schools, Rep. Robert Ramirez, a Republican representing House District 29, is sponsoring bills to make schools safer and bring transparency in the budget documentation from school boards.

Although he would not go into detail about the bills he is sponsoring, he did say they were “necessary.”

Rep. Cherylin Peniston, a Democrat representing House District 35 in Westminster, will also propose an education bill – one to separate law language regarding gifted and talented children from that for children with special needs. Currently, both groups of students are under the same “exceptional child statute.” Peniston said the change was to lay some of the foundation for future funding, when funding becomes available.

Big issue: state budget

Lawmakers agreed that the budget, which must be balanced under the Colorado Constitution, will be a challenge this year.

“We’re going to have to make some pretty stiff cuts,” said Soper, who predicted cuts in higher education funding.

“That (federal) stimulus money is what carried the last budget,” he said. “We don’t have that this year.”

“There are a lot of areas that there are going to be cuts in that we’re going to have to figure out ways of refining those entities so that they don’t really take any losses other than the dollar value,” Ramirez added.

Solano agreed the budget would be a challenge, and said she expected more cuts to education, but beyond that, she wasn’t sure where else they would cut.

Tochtrop said that when the budget is being shaped, “we want to protect the folks who need protection” while making sure “we keep Colorado as a business-friendly state.”

Priola said the budget will be “a huge issue” and added that he plans to focus on getting people back to work and improving the economy.

He said he wants to help attract and retain small businesses and “respect the taxpayer in whatever small way I can.”

Ramirez said to support small businesses throughout the state, “we need to try to get as many red-tape regulations out of the way so it will open up opportunities for businesses to open up in Colorado or continue working and take some of the stress off of our small business community, which in turn will start bringing our Coloradoans back to work.”

Rep. Don Beezley, who will be serving his first term this year and representing House District 33, said he ran for the legislature for budgetary reasons. He said some of his bills will focus on fiscal responsibility measures such as limiting general fund growth.

“I do believe that’s been lacking,” he said. “That’s one of the reason we have a budget problem. We’ve passed four record budgets in a row.”

Beyond balancing the budget, Peniston said the Legislature’s assignment to redistrict Colorado’s Congressional representatives will also be a significant issue.

Rep. Edward Casso, a Democrat representing House District 32, had not responded to phone and e-mail messages by presstime.

Scott Gilbert can be reached at scottg@metronorthnews.com. Caroline Kipp can be reached at carolinek@metronorthnews.com. June Younger can be reached at jyounger@metronorthnews.com.

Edward “Eddie” Stern, a former press secretary to outgoing Congressman John Salazar, has been picked to lead the communications efforts for Colorado’s Senate Democrats.

The position wasn’t announced but appeared on a state telephone roll today. Stern wasn’t immediately available for comment, but deputy commuications director Jack Wylie confirmed his appointment.

Besides serving as Salazar’s deputy press secretary, Stern also worked on the congressman’s ultimately unsuccessful re-election bid. Salazar lost to Scott Tipton, a state legislator, in his bid for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Stern succeeds Abigail Vacanti, who recently joined a Denver political communications firm, SE2.