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Randy Currently Serving on these House Committees - Agrigculture, Livestock & Natural Resources - State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
| Cowboy Caucus with Rodeo Royalty |
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February 2, 2012 Below is the 2011 Colorado State House of Representaitves
Principles of Liberty Scorecard.
JANUARY 20, 2012 The Second Regular Session of the 68th General Assembly has convened and the fun begins.
Here is an overview of the coming issues for the session. First of all, there
are some changes in leadership.In the House, Republican Leadership will not change: Frank
McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) will be Speaker and Amy Stephens (R-Monument) Majority Leader. Representative
Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) was elected Minority Leader to replace Representative Sal Pace, who is keeping his seat but resigned
from leadership in order to be able to focus on his congressional race. In the Senate, Democratic Leadership will not change: Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) and John Morse
(D-Colorado Springs) will be President and Majority Leader, respectively. Senator Bill Cadman (R-Colorado
Springs) was elected Minority Leader to replace Senator Mike Kopp after Senator Kopp’s resignation from the Senate in
the fall. Governor John HickenlooperGovernor Hickenlooper was sworn in at the start of the 2011 legislative session, and a month
later announced a budget-balancing plan for FY 2011-12. The Governor’s legislative agenda was limited
during the 2011 session, but it’s likely that we will see more initiatives in the 2012 session. On
January 9, 2012 Governor Hickenlooper “...unveiled recommendations to reduce government “red tape” and regulatory
inefficiencies based on feedback from more than 100 business organizations, local governments, advocacy and community groups
statewide.” You can read the report “Cutting Red Tape in Colorado –
Making Government More Efficient, Effective and Elegant”. This report appears to be meeting
with approval from the business community and legislators from both parties. Ballot Initiatives: In 2012, we have already heard of proposals regarding the establishment
of “personhood”; limitations on water diversion and use of Colorado streams; and establishment of “Colorado
Peace Day”. Between five and ten measures will likely make the November ballot. Supporters of an
initiative to legalize limited possession of marijuana for recreational purposes have turned in about 160,000 signatures to
the Secretary of State. Any of the initiatives will require the signatures of about 86,000 registered voters
to qualify for the ballot. Major Issues -- 2012: Budget As was the case in 2011, the condition of the state’s budget will be the most important
and time-consuming issue to be addressed by the General Assembly in 2012. The Legislative Joint Budget
Committee started its budget deliberations in early November; they will continue their work and develop a budget recommended
to the legislature with introduction of the FY 2012-13 budget (“Long Bill”) on March 26, 2012Colorado has more people, more K-12 students, more college students,
more prisoners, and twice the number of Medicaid recipients than the state had ten years ago. For an explanation of the budget go to Budget in Brief for FY 2011-12. The Legislature recently received the December Quarterly Economic and Revenue
Forecast from Legislative Council and the Governor’s Office of State Planning
& Budgeting. The Legislative Council report indicated
“The economy has stabilized and continues to expand at a modest pace. Although the business climate
continues to improve, job growth is being restrained by weakness in the real estate and financial markets, slow wage growth,
higher commodity prices, and general uncertainty about the direction of the economy. The greatest risk
to the forecast is the European debt crisis and its potential impact on the U.S. and global financial markets.”
FY
2012-13 Budget: The Governor delivered his budget request for FY 2012-13 on November 1. On January 3, 2012 Governor
Hickenlooper submitted amendments to the FY 2012-13 budget request. The Governor suggested in his letter that
OSPB had forecasted FY 2011-12 revenues to be about 3.2% higher than the September, 2011 forecast, with further growth expected
in FY 2012-13. His amendments would include transfer of $107 million to the State Education Fund in FY
2011-12; withdrawal of a proposed reduction in K-12 funding of $67 million for FY 2012-13; withdrawal of the proposed reduction
of $30 million in higher education financial-aid programs; an additional $8 million in assistance for low-income seniors,
while continuing the suspension of the Senior Homestead Exemption; and an increase of $10 million to Severance Tax Trust Fund
grants. It’s important to note that these are amendments to the Governor’s budget request and
that the General Assembly will ultimately craft the Long Bill. Other issues: Civil Unions will again be addressed and word has it that they will pass this year.There are bills that expand the use of concealed carry And one of my favorites will be heard this next week- The Cake bill!
It outlines the regulations which need
To be followed for people to sell homemade cakes. Of course there are many other issues that are before the legislature
and we will keep you up to date on the ones that you have interest in, as always. Bills of Note: .
HR 1003 (Balmer) Called for a constitutional convention for proposing an amendment to the United
States Constitution to repeal the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”. The resolution passed the House
on a 32-31 vote.
HJR12-1002
(Baumgardner – Nicholson & White) Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Grand Winter Sports
Carnival and celebrates a century of skiing in Colorado. The resolution passed the House unanimously.
HB 1015 (Holbert – Neville) Modifications DORA Sunrise
Review Process: Modifies the DORA sunrise review process for analyzing proposals to regulate an unregulated professional
or occupational group. The bill passed the Economic and Business Development Committee unanimously.
HB 1030 (Looper & Priola – Williams S.) Repeal Transportation-related
reporting requirements: Repeals certain requirements for specific transportation and energy related reports to be
provided to various committees in the General Assembly. The bill passed the Transportation Committee unanimously.
HB 1028 (Gerou-Steadman) Continue Low-income
energy related assistance: Extends the funding from the severance tax trust fund to provide energy-related assistance
to low-income households. The bill passed the Finance Committee unanimously.
HB 1050 (Wilson-Nicholson) Extend nongame and endangered wildlife
tax checkoff: Extends the period for which state income tax return forms will include a line for taxpayers to make
a voluntary contribution to the nongame and endangered wildlife fund. The bill passed the Finance Committee unanimously.
HB 1068 (McKinley)
Non-profit cemetery corporation board of directors: Requires the board of directors of a non-profit cemetery to include
at least one owner of a lot, grave space, niche or crypt. The bill also gives owners the right to inspect the financial records
and attend board meetings. The bill passed the Local Government Committee unanimously.
HB 1078 (Vigil-Schwartz) Exempt drinking water certificate designation:
Exempts facilities that store, treat, or processes solid waste from the requirement to get a certificate of designation. The
bill passed the Local Government Committee on a 9-1 vote.
HB 1034 (Looper – Spence) Waste tire processor end user fund: Extends
processors and users end fund, which encourages tire recycling, until July 2020. The bill passed the Transportation Committee
and was referred to the Appropriations Committee. Upcoming Events Monday,
January 23
§ MILITARY APPRECIATION
DAY. The Adjutant General of Colorado, Maj.
Gen. Mike Edwards, will host an informal reception in the West foyer. 9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Consideration
of House Joint Resolutions and Tributes to the Military will be presented in the House of Representatives. 10 a.m. – noon. § HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE BOARD MEETING.
Click here for more information. COPIC, Mile High Room, 2nd
floor, 7351 E. Lowry Blvd in Denver. 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
§ COLORADO CHARTER SCHOOLS. 18th
Annual Conference. Feb. 23 -24. Click here to see the agenda. Omni Interlocken Resort, 500 Interlocken
Blvd. in Broomfield.
§ TOURISM INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO. DAY§ HEALTH CARE REFORM. Health Care Reform Implementation meeting. Click here for more information. Mile High Room of COPIC Denver. 8:30
am – noon.
Tuesday, January 24
Wednesday, January 25
§ BULLY PREVENTION INSTITUTE. Sponsored by The Colorado Department of Education, The Colorado Legacy
Foundation, and The Colorado School Safety Resource Center. Click here for more information. Aurora Public Schools Professional Learning
and Conference Center, 15771 E. 1st Ave in Aurora. 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. § COLORADO DIVISION
OF INSURANCE. The Division of Insurance is charged
with preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment
in Colorado. Click here for more information. Division of Insurance Conference, room
850B, 1560 Broadway in Denver. 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Thursday, January 26
· ECONOMIC VITALITY CAUCUS. 7:30 am in Capitol rm 0112. For information, call Cheryl 303-866-2949·
LIVEWELL COLORADO DAY AT THE CAPITOL.
For more information contact
Karen Ryan at (720) 353-4120 ext. 215 or karenryan@livewellcolorado.org. Festivities will be all day at various locations. Old Supreme
Court Chambers. Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, January 27
§ INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE. Open House. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Mary at (303) 279-6536 ext. 102 or mary@i2i.org. Independence Institute. 727 E. 16th Avenue, in
Denver, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Keep checking back with us for more updates. |
