A weekly, usually, column on whatever I find interesting, amusing, heartfelt or weird and which occurs under the Gold Dome, aka the Colorado State Capitol.

A citation is in order … Not that kind of citation; the tongue-in-cheek kind:

First, a little backstory. The two Beckers – Jon, the Fort Morgan Republican and KC, the Boulder Democrat (and no relation), have worked pretty well together over the last couple of years both have been at the Capitol. KC’s first term in the legislature was 2013-14; Jon’s first was 2011-12 but he missed the 2013-14 due to reapportionment of his House district. He came back for the 2015-16 sessions. The two Beckers were the driving force behind last year’s omnibus bill for rural Colorado, a Herculean lift that meant a fair number of late night-negotiations.

The junior Becker (Jon, by about two years) elected not to run for a fourth and final House term for 2019-20 to spend more time with his teenaged sons. That kind of reasoning sometimes comes off like hogwash, but having followed the senior Becker for his entire legislative career, Capitol M knows how devoted a father he is to his boys. (Capitol M has been writing a weekly story for six newspapers in the junior Becker’s district for eight out of the last nine sessions).

Not that he’s leaving political life entirely; he’s running for county commissioner in his home Morgan County, a position he’s held before. And he could always show up back at the Capitol again once the boys are out of high school and on to college or whatever path life they choose.

Back to the citation:  Capitol M happened to be in the vicinity shortly after the 48-hour deadline came and went for Jon Becker to grovel. No groveling to be had. “As the superior Becker” (that oughta get you another citation), Jon said he didn’t have to follow any of the other Becker’s dictates.

Tribute to Jon Becker, part two … It isn’t only the House Majority Leader who holds her not-related cousin in high esteem. So do the lawmakers on the Democratic-led House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee. Chair Rep. Jeni Arndt of Fort Collins handed over the gavel to Becker, the committee’s ranking Republican, on Monday to preside over that day’s bill hearings. Classy. Becker said he was completely surprised by it. Fortunately, he does have a little past experience in running committees; in his first two years in the House, a looooooong time ago, he chaired House Appropriations.

Quote of the week, part one … In rejecting Senate amendments to one of his bills, Rep. Hugh McKean of Loveland asked for a conference committee. “One that will decide in our favor.” At least he’s honest.

Quote of the week, part two … Rep. Jeff Bridges of Greenwood Village, during Thursday’s House Transportation Committee hearing on Senate Bill 1: “You can’t fill potholes with kids and teachers.”

Quote of the week, part three … This exchange among Reps. Dan Pabon and Yeulin Willett Friday evening, as Willett sought the consent of the House for a Senate change to the annual revisor’s bill. The Senate had suggested naming it in honor of Revisor Jennifer Gilroy of Legislative Legal Services, with or without her permission, Willett joked. Pabon responded with some humor of his own. “I know Jennifer Gilroy. Jennifer Gilroy is a friend of mine. Just curious, have you talked to her family about this?” he asked Willett, who had the perfect sick burn. “I know Jennifer Gilroy better than you because I went to law school with her,” which elicited a chorus of laughs and “ohs” from the House.