That’s mine
Republican Rep. Al White of Winter Park had a few choice, and unprintable, words Thursday after Democratic Rep. Tom Plant of Nederland introduced a bill to funnel $15 million in gaming revenue into tourism promotion.
The Democrats, White said, had stolen an issue he has worked on for six years.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said White would be a co-sponsor who would get credit with Plant when it passes.
But it remains to be seen if everyone can now play nicely in the sandbox.
State auditor to quit
State Auditor Joanne Hill announced Thursday that she will resign in May. Hill’s five-year term is ending, and she has decided not to seek another term in the appointed position.
Hill oversaw high-profile audits including those of the University of Colorado Foundation and CU athletic department, homeland security and the lottery.
Republican Sen. Jack Taylor of Steamboat Springs, chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee, said the committee is working to find a replacement and have the new auditor confirmed before the legislature adjourns in May.
Don’t call us liberal
Pete Maysmith of Colorado Common Cause doesn’t like it when people refer to his group as liberal.
But on Thursday, Maysmith put out a letter rallying members of the lefty group ProgressNowAction to support lobbying reform. He signed it, in part, as “Good Government Advisor to ProgressNowAction.org.”
Asked what gives, Maysmith said he would advise any group that asked.
“We’ve worked in coalition with groups and individuals that are, again, traditionally seen as to the right and to the left,” Maysmith said.
For the record, Maysmith prefers that Common Cause be described as “open government advocacy group.”
Matters of state?
Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, on Thursday aggressively quizzed Rick O’Donnell, outgoing head of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, during a committee hearing on the department.
Most of the questions were about state issues. But at one point she asked O’Donnell whether he supported the Bush administration’s cuts to financial aid for college students. That’s when the gloves came off.
“Are you running for Congress?” O’Donnell asked.
Paccione is running in the 4th Congressional District and O’Donnell in the 7th.
In other action
A vote on Senate Bill 19, which would require drivers to carry emergency medical coverage to pay for trauma treatment after a car accident, was delayed until Wednesday.
Senate Bill 96, which would create a $3.25 million fund to fight wildfires, was passed 7-0 by the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Lawmakers approved House Joint Resolution 1007 urging Congress and President Bush to protect the National Renewable Energy Laboratory from budget cuts.
