peter marcus
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Local control efforts moving ahead for now
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Proponents of a series of proposed ballot initiatives that would authorize local governments to ban hydraulic fracturing are moving ahead after negotiations around a legislative fix failed. Coloradans For Local Control had watched the negotiations carefully; they are proposing ballot questions that would authorize local control over oil and gas development, potentially expanding fracking bans…
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HUMMERS
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Cross-dressing Republicans; a country-themed dig at the Senate; and a catfight that has been a long time coming — all this and more in a typical day at the state Capitol. And despite a few production difficulties and some off-key singing, the House minority pulled off their annual theatrical payback on the majority. “Hummers” is…
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Construction-defects legislation introduced
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With only a week left in the legislative session, lawmakers last Wednesday night formally introduced one of the most controversial pieces of legislation, a measure that aims to curb construction-defects lawsuits in an effort to spur the development of affordable housing. The measure has been a long time coming, with negotiations on Senate Bill 220…
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Labor, business unite over workers’ comp bill
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Business and labor shared a rare Kumbaya moment over workers’ compensation reform this week, with both sides of the debate agreeing that the experience should be used as a template for how to bring two sides together on a polarizing subject. When House Speaker Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, last year asked Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver —…
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Former Sen. Wattenberg was a true ‘cowboy’s cowboy’
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Former Sen. Dave Wattenberg was remembered by the Colorado legislature on April 25 for being a “cowboy’s cowboy” — a lawmaker with a wonderful sense of humor who believed that policy fights should end on the chamber floor to make way for a stiff drink and a few laughs with colleagues from both sides of…
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K-12 school funding bill remains in limbo
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Before the bell rings on the “Capitol High School” legislative session that ends May 7, a slew of education proposals must still make their way through the process, including a significant K-12 funding measure that still faces controversy. The so-called Student Success Act would add $110 million in funding. But the issue has been a…
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Fracking compared to slavery at debate
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Environmental activists walked into the lion’s den on Monday night, supporting the notion for a ban on hydraulic fracturing at a meeting of the conservative-leaning Centennial Institute, which favors the controversial oil and gas exploratory process. The debate included activists Phil Doe and Wes Wilson of the progressive organization, Be The Change. But the activists…
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Current, former governors celebrate life of Vanderhoof
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Two former governors joined Gov. John Hickenlooper and lawmakers in the House chamber on Monday to celebrate the life of former Gov. John Vanderhoof, a man remembered for being forward thinking and able to work across the aisle to advance the interests of the state. Vanderhoof died on Sept. 19, 2013. He was 91 years…
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Environmental issues are in the air — and below the ground
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As Earth Day approaches on Tuesday, environmental issues are in the air — and below the ground. Citizens are pushing a series of ballot initiatives that would allow bans on hydraulic fracturing, while the oil and gas industry continues to grapple with how to educate the public on what they perceive to be the benefits…
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Support — and non-support — of ‘personhood’ comes back to haunt Republican candidates
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For the first time, so-called “personhood” supporters are actively opposing a Republican candidate, and that candidate is Weld County District Attorney and Congressional District 4 hopeful Ken Buck. The pro-life movement, which aims to assign constitutional rights to the unborn in an attempt to ban abortion, feels like Buck stabbed them in the back when…