Snow day for CSU interns
Student interns from Colorado State University in Fort Collins couldn’t make it to the state Capitol on Thursday because falling snow made the trek too treacherous.
“If you have a CSU intern, they have determined that it is unsafe to drive on I-25,” announced Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, during the Senate’s morning session. A few senators chuckled at the notion that Interstate 25 is ever safe. So Bacon amended his comment: “It is more unsafe to travel today on I-25.”
Insurance bill delayed
The Senate health committee Thursday delayed action on a bill to require drivers to carry emergency medical-care coverage on their auto insurance.
Insurance companies argued that the change would increase the cost of auto insurance. But emergency medical providers said the legislation would help stem losses caused from the switch from a no-fault system to the tort system. Democratic Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, the committee’s chairman, said he is working on a major amendment to the bill and has scheduled a vote for Thursday.
“Least incorrect” number
Lawmakers on Thursday settled on a revenue projection for next year – $7 billion. The amount is a prediction by the Legislative Council staff and is higher than the $6.9 billion projected by Gov. Bill Owens’ budget office. The Joint Budget Committee approved the number Thursday but with a warning: It’s guaranteed to be incorrect.
“Of the wrong estimates, we’ve chosen the wrong Legislative Council estimate,” said Rep. Tom Plant, D-Nederland, chairman of the JBC. The estimates cannot predict the future perfectly, so lawmakers pick the one they expect to be “least incorrect.”
New bills of note
House Bill 1163, sponsored by Rep. Joshua Penry, R-Grand Junction, would require the state to sell bonds backed by expected proceeds of the tobacco-litigation settlement. The money would go to roads, schools, colleges and a “budget-stabilization fund.”
House Bill 1156, sponsored by Rep. Jim Welker, R-Loveland, would prohibit any person or entity from publicly displaying an individual’s Social Security number.
House Bill 1175, sponsored by Reps. Mike May, R-Parker, and Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, and Sens. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, and John Evans, R-Parker, would ban smoking in most indoor spaces, including bars and restaurants. The ban would not apply to private homes.
