FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2010 For more information:
Katie Reinisch
Rep. Ferrandino

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Rep. Ferrandino to Present his SMART Government Act

(DENVER) – Tuesday at 12:45, JBC member Rep. Mark Ferrandino will present his House Bill 1119, the SMART Government Act.

Passage of the “State Measurements for Accountable Responsive & Transparent” or SMART Government Act will allow Colorado to use tax dollars more wisely, and ensure the public is receiving quality and essential services from our government.

WHAT: Press Conference to present HB 1119, The SMART Government Act

Immediately following, the House State Affairs Committee will hear testimony and vote on the bill.

WHO:
· Representative Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver)

· Rich Jones, The Bell

WHEN/WHERE: TOMORROW, TUESDAY, 2/9

1. Press Conference: 12:45 PM in the Third Floor Press Conference Room (NW corner of third floor, above Speaker’s office).

2. Hearing on HB 1119 at 1:30pm. It’s the first bill up at 1:30pm in HCR 0112, Capitol basement.

(Note: There will be a podium poster/banner)

HB10-1119
Download SMART Government Act
FERRANDINO–SHAFFER B.

# # #

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr;
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net.
Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

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OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
WWW.COLORADO.GOV/GOVERNOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2010

CONTACTS

Linda Rice
George Merritt

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES STATE FUNDING FOR FOUR LOCAL PROJECTS

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced four communities impacted by energy and mineral production will receive grant funding totaling $17 million, which will help create 1,853 jobs and strengthen local economies.

The grants are being made available through 2009′s Senate Bill 232, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz and Rep. Buffie McFadyen. The legislation set aside the funding for a one-time, competitive grant allocation for projects in energy-impacted cities and towns.

“These projects will create jobs, help get our economy healthy again and strengthen Colorado communities,” Gov. Ritter said. “They will contribute to downtown vitality, transportation improvements and strategic investment in public broadband infrastructure. These Colorado communities and their citizens will see direct improvements to their lives.”

Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Executive Director Susan Kirkpatrick, said, “The projects selected have been chosen for their potential to make game-changing, sustainable impacts for years to come. The department greatly values the role of our local partners, the Energy Impact Advisory Committee and the legislature for their input and feedback throughout this process. We look forward to working with these communities as they invest these funds in a way that will improve quality of life.”

The one-time grants are funded with federal mineral lease revenues. DOLA received pre-applications from 10 communities in July 2009. From there, seven projects were invited to apply using several criteria, such as the significance of the project for the community, evidence of project relationship to challenges created by energy and mineral development, and measurable outcomes.

“This legislation is a timely measure in assisting communities that bear the impact from energy production,” Sen. Schwartz said. “Most importantly, these grants represent a critical investment in regional jobs and infrastructure. I am pleased to have initiated this effort on behalf of these communities.”

“Through the funding of these projects, we have created an opportunity to support jobs in Colorado,” Rep. McFadyen said. “It gives me a great deal of pride to know these communities will benefit both through employment opportunities and overall improvement to infrastructure.”

Public hearings and presentations for these seven projects were held on Feb. 1, 2010. The projects selected to receive funding are:

Town of Parachute Interchange at US-6 & I-70 – $8 million

Applicant/Partners: Town of Parachute, Garfield County, Encana, Williams

Project Type: Transportation

Project Description: This project consists of two elements: construction of a new full-diamond interchange on I-70; and a downtown by-pass. The interchange improvements include construction of a full-diamond interchange (two on and off ramps) with acceleration and deceleration lanes. The interchange is located approximately 2 miles west of the existing Town of Parachute I-70 interchange (Exit 75). The project also involves completing a truck by-pass of Parachute from State Highway 6 to CR 215. Acceleration and deceleration lanes at SH 6, a bridge over Parachute Creek and an additional 1,500 feet of road surface would complete the by-pass route.

Mesa County 29 Road Overpass – $3.2 million

Applicant/Partners: Mesa County, City of Grand Junction

Project Type: Transportation

Project Description: The 29 Road Overpass Project is a joint effort by Mesa County and the City of Grad Junction that consists of the construction of a grade-separated crossing of the Union Pacific Railroad in Grand Junction. This project is a component of the beltway loop around the core of the Grand Valley serving Grand Junction, and the outlying communities of Whitewater, Clifton and Fruitvale.

Southwest Colorado Council of Governments (SWCCOG) Regional Telecommunications Infrastructure – $3 million

Applicant/Partners: Southwest Colorado Council of Governments, City of Durango, City of Cortez; Towns of Bayfield, Mancos, Dolores, Dove Creek, Rico, Silverton, Pagosa Springs; Counties of Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, San Juan and Montezuma; Fort Lewis College; Southwest Community College, and various other public agencies such as libraries, schools and fire districts.

Project Type: Regional Broadband Infrastructure

Project Description: This is a regional telecommunication and broadband infrastructure improvement project coordinated by the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments and Region 9 Economic Development District. The overall regional project is comprised within each county and municipality. These smaller portions support the overall regional goal of high-capacity connectivity among public facilities in the various political subdivisions. This project further grows the high capacity network out into each local community and additionally aggregates demand on a regional basis to make the on-going cost affordable.

City of Delta Highway 50 Bypass – $2.8 million

Applicant/Partners: City of Delta

Project Type: Transportation

Project Description: This project consists of the construction of an alternate road for the purpose of routing truck traffic away from the City of Delta’s Historic Main Street. The alternate truck route will relieve traffic congestion and improve safety for the city’s downtown business corridor located along State Highway 50. The project includes the construction of an overpass structure above the Union Pacific railroad tracks to allow uninterrupted access for emergency responders to and from the North Delta area and the completion of a four lane road connecting at the north and south ends of Main Street.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2010 For more information:
Holly Shrewsbury, 303-866-2863

Rep. Fischer, 970-215-7898

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Rep. Fischer Stops Developers
From Abusing Tax Loopholes
Farm Land or Urban Blight?

(DENVER) – A bill to close a loophole providing substantial give-aways to developers passed out of the House today 55-8-2.

House Bill 1107, sponsored by Rep. Randy Fischer (D-Fort Collins), restricts the use of tax increment financing on agricultural land. An unintended consequence of current law is that often productive agricultural land is designated an “urban renewal area,” opening the door to the use of tax increment financing (TIF) by developers. This creates the widely-shared perception that TIF is being abused. HB 1107 will help correct this by limiting the use of agricultural land in urban renewal areas unless that land meets very specific requirements.

“When I travel to Denver on my way to the State Capitol, I pass by acre upon acre of verdant irrigated farmland. How can anyone confuse productive farm land with abandoned or derelict buildings and crime ridden streets that are characteristic of urban blight?” asked Rep. Fischer. “I can’t and I don’t think most Colorado citizens can either. We need to recognize in statute what is common sense: Farm land is not urban blight.”

This issue is of particular importance to Fort Collins and northeastern Colorado. The entire town of Timnath, located just southeast of Ft. Collins, designated its entire town as an urban renewal area on previously productive farmland. A Wal-Mart was built on the land, as well as 400 homes. This development pulled jobs and revenue away from Ft. Collins and cost Colorado taxpayers millions of dollars.

Rep. Fischer continued, “House Bill 1107 is designed to put the brakes on the exponential growth in the state’s backfill of local school revenues that are being siphoned off through tax increment financing. At a time when the state can least afford it, the loophole addressed in this bill is costing Colorado taxpayers over $50 million per year. Alarmingly, the high growth rate in the state’s share of TIF back-fill could end up costing the state over $200 million by 2020.”

# # #

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr,
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2010
For more information:
Courtney Law

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Primavera Bill Bringing Affordable Chemo Choices for Patients Passes Final House Vote

(Denver) – State Representative Dianne Primavera’s (D-Broomfield) House Bill 1202 will require health insurance plans to cover oral chemotherapy treatments when medically necessary, as determined by a patient’s doctor. The bipartisan bill passed a final vote in the House today 53-10, with 2 excused.

According to Colorado oncologists, every year thousands of Coloradans are diagnosed with a type of cancer where oral chemotherapy is the only or best form of treatment. HB 1202 requires health insurance plans that already cover standard intravenous chemotherapy treatments to also cover newer oral chemotherapy treatments in a manner that keeps out-of-pocket costs for patients equitable.

“This bill will give thousands of cancer patients a fighting chance. As a cancer survivor, I understand the peace of mind that comes with knowing all treatment options are available to you,” said Rep. Primavera.

The bill was cosponsored in the House by Rep. Frank McNulty (R-Douglas County) and is sponsored by Lois Tochtrop (D-Arapahoe County) in the Senate.

# # #
About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party

Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr, Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan. Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2010 For more information:
Courtney Law

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Gagliardi Bill Helping Foster Kids Get Driver’s Licenses Passes Final House Vote

(Denver) – Representative Sara Gagliardi’s (D-Arvada) bill to help foster kids get a driver’s license easier, successfully passed a final reading in the House today 63-0, with 2 excused.

Currently, Colorado teens in the foster care system face barriers in getting their licenses because they cannot provide the signature of a legal guardian. House Bill 1059 allows kids in the foster care system to easily register for driver’s education and apply for their learner’s permits. The measure would allow foster kids to sign for themselves when registering for driver’s education.

“I’m thrilled this bill passed in the House and look forward to its success in the Senate. This bill represents a minor fix to an issue that affects a lot of children’s lives. The kids in our foster care system face enough hurdles in life, so I’m pleased that I can help make their lives a little easier,” said Rep. Gagliardi.

The bill is sponsored by Linda Newell (D-Arapahoe County).

# # #

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr,
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2010 For more information:
Courtney Law

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Kerr Bill Helping Small Business Employees Get Life Insurance Passes Initial House Vote

(Denver) – Rep. Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) is looking out for small businesses and their employees with House Bill 1203. His bill allows sole proprietors and small businesses to provide group life insurance coverage to their employees. The bill passed an initial vote in the House today.

HB 1203 will change the minimum number of lives requirement from the group life insurance statute from three to one. The measure provides a benefit to Colorado’s small businesses currently only afforded to larger companies.

“This bill will help Colorado’s small businesses become more competitive by allowing them to provide helpful benefits to their employees,” said Rep. Kerr.

The bill is sponsored by Pat Steadman (D-Denver) in the Senate.

###

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party

Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr, Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan. Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2009 For more information:
Katie Reinisch

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

A D V I S O R Y

MONDAY 1:30 PM, Rep. Scanlan and Lt. Gov

presents Colorado Kids Outdoors Legislation

WHAT: This past year, the Lt Governor toured the state, speaking with Coloradans to discuss the fact that our kids are growing up disconnected from the natural world around them. Working with Rep. Christine Scanlan, they crafted their bill to get “Colorado Kids Outdoors” via science/environmental education, House Bill 1131. The bill is sponsored in the Senate by Dan Gibbs.

Tomorrow, the Lt Governor will testify in the House Education Committee in support of Rep. Scanlan’s bill that will establish an environmental literacy plan and a grant program to help kids reconnect with nature. At the Capitol in House Committee Room 0112. There is sure to be compelling testimony from teens and teachers.

Some have described this program as “No Child Left Inside.”

WHO:

· Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien

· Rep. Christine Scanlan (D-Summit County)

WHEN: MONDAY, Feb. 8, 1:30 PM

WHERE: House Education Committee, HCR 0112

# # #

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr,
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Nicole Cosme, CMD
Director of Marketing

The Boy Scouts of America Celebrates 100th Anniversary – Presents Report to the State of Colorado

Youth Delegates Highlight Community Service, Past Year’s Accomplishments, and Future Goals

Denver — On MONDAY February 8, 2010, the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), a delegation of young men and women embodying the goals of Scouting and exemplifying the Scout Oath and Law will present the BSA’s 2009 achievements and 2010 goals during its Report to the State at the Colorado State Capitol hosted by Speaker of the House Terrance D. Carroll.

( Speaker Carroll was an Eagle Scout. As Becky Bye wrote in the Denver Bar Association’s The Docket: “After high school, he spent five summers working at the High Adventure Camp — a Boy Scout camp in the Blue Mountains of Virginia and “the Boy Scout version of extreme camping.” By his final summer there, he was promoted to program director. Among his duties, Carroll taught campers lumberjack skills, which included throwing axes and building houses. “) – KR

The Report will be in given in the Old Supreme Court at 9 a.m. followed by a Tribute to the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th Anniversary in the House Chambers at 10 a.m.

Delegates from across the state will then have an opportunity to tour the capitol and then join together for a fellowship luncheon at the Colorado History Museum at 12 p.m.

Through the efforts of 26,474 dedicated volunteers and the support of over 2,210 community and religious organizations in every neighborhood the state of Colorado has been positively impacted. In 2009, the Boy Scouts of America served more than 108,342 young people with its program of citizenship, mental and physical fitness, and character development.

“For 100 years, the mission of the Boy Scouts of America has been to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by teaching the values of the Scout Oath and Law,” said John Cabeza, Scout Executive for the Denver Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. “As the specific needs of Colorado youth have changed, the BSA has evolved to meet those needs while remaining a positive influence. Today, one of every two American males has had an affiliation with the Scouting program, and their combined contributions continue to significantly benefit our state and nation.”

In 2009, the BSA in Colorado met the emerging needs of society with youth programs and services, including Good Turn for America, a national service initiative that addresses critical areas of need in society; and increased emphasis on the overall well-being of children through encouraging American youth to live an ongoing healthy lifestyle. Over thousands of Scouts throughout the State provided projects in their communities including food, clothing and toy drives, clean-up of local schools, serving food to senior citizens and shelters, visiting nursing homes and collecting coats for Denver Homeless. In addition, 1,014 youth achieved Eagle Scout – the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Together this class of Eagle Scouts facilitated over 141,090 hours of volunteer service and provided $2,857,073 in value to their communities through completion of their Eagle Scout projects over the past year.

“We use numbers and statistics to measure our success in delivering the Scouting program,” Cabeza said. “But behind the numbers, you will find young men and women learning leadership, developing character, and serving their communities with the caring guidance of countless volunteers and supporters. The BSA will continue to rise to the challenges of the 21st century and seek to help ordinary young people become extraordinary adults. We do this by recruiting quality leaders, generating adequate funding for our programs, inviting youth from all backgrounds to join, and offering fun and relevant programs that are founded on strong values.”

Besides presenting the official report at the Colorado Capitol, there will also be several engagement programs throughout 2010 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary. Serving over 108,342 young people between 7 and 20 years of age with 6 councils throughout the state of Colorado, the Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s foremost youth programs of character development and values-based leadership training. If you would like more information about the programs available through the Denver Boy Scouts, please contact www.denverboyscouts.org

About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving more than 4.6 million youth between the ages of 7 and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting movement is comprised of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation’s leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA, please visit www.Scouting.org.

More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.Scouting.org/100years.

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Attorney General releases statement underlining his concerns with the Massey-Romer medical marijuana legislation

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers released a letter to members of the Colorado Assembly today summarizing his position on medical marijuana legislation, which is scheduled to be presented before a House committee next week. Suthers’ letter underlines his and the law enforcement community’s concerns that the Massey-Romer bill clearly goes beyond what the voters intended when they passed Amendment 20 in 2000.

Due to scheduling conflicts, Suthers may be unavailable to attend next week’s hearing on the bill.

Suthers_20100205

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 5, 2010 For more information:

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Rep. Fischer Stops Developers from Abusing Tax Loopholes;
Helps Balance State Budget

(DENVER) – A bill that will help balance the state budget by closing a loophole providing substantial give-aways to developers was given initial approval by the House this morning.

House Bill 1107, sponsored by Rep. Randy Fischer (D-Fort Collins), restricts the use of tax increment financing on agricultural land. An unintended consequence of current law is that often productive agricultural land is designated an “urban renewal area,” opening the door to the use of tax increment financing (TIF) by developers. This creates the widely-shared perception that TIF is being abused. HB 1107 will help correct this by limiting the use of agricultural land in urban renewal areas unless that land meets very specific requirements.

“When I travel to Denver on my way to the State Capitol, I pass by acre upon acre of verdant irrigated farmland. How can anyone confuse productive farm land with abandoned or derelict buildings and crime ridden streets that are characteristic of urban blight?” asked Rep. Fischer. “ We need to recognize in statute what is common sense: Farm land is not urban blight.”

This issue is of particular importance to Fort Collins and northeastern Colorado. The entire town of Timnath, located just southeast of Ft. Collins, designated its entire town as an urban renewal area on previously productive farmland. A Wal-Mart was built on the land, as well as 400 homes. This development pulled jobs and revenue away from Ft. Collins and cost Colorado taxpayers millions of dollars.

Rep. Fischer continued, “House Bill 1107 is designed to put the brakes on the exponential growth in the state’s backfill of local school revenues that are being siphoned off through tax increment financing. At a time when the state can least afford it, the loophole addressed in this bill is costing Colorado taxpayers over $50 million per year. Alarmingly, the high growth rate in the state’s share of TIF back-fill could end up costing the state over $200 million by 2020.”

HB 1107 will have a final House vote on Monday before it moves to the Senate where it is sponsored by Senator Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) .

# # #

About the Colorado General Assembly Majority Party
Thirty-seven Democrats comprise the majority of Colorado’s 65-member House of Representatives. Leadership for the 67th General Assembly includes Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll; Majority Leader Paul Weissmann; Speaker Pro Tempore Buffie McFadyen, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr,
Caucus Chair Karen Middleton and Majority Whip Christine Scanlan.
Current and past House proceedings can be seen on Comcast Channel 165 or at www.coloradochannel.net. Breaking news, legislator biographies and photos are available at www.coloradohouse.org.

Stay ahead by signing up for State Bill E-News! >