Request has attorney general sounding like Grim Reaper
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers asked lawmakers for about $1 million to begin preparing for a lawsuit over water from the Colorado River. Any litigation would lock seven states and Mexico in a battle for decades, he said. “None of us will be here,” he told legislative judiciary committee members Tuesday. “Well, maybe a few of these guys, but there’s others of us that will not be here … when this is resolved. (Rep.) Richard (Decker, R-Fountain), you will not be here. I’m sorry. It’s probably 25- or 30- or more year litigation we’re looking at. It took us 22 years to resolve the Arkansas River. That will look like child’s play. … An awful lot is at stake.”
New homeland security committee appointed
Some committees never die. On Tuesday, lawmakers created a new 10-member homeland security panel. Last May, a special senate committee recommended the state unite its grant-making and emergency-preparation functions into a single office that reports to the governor. Gov. Bill Owens’ administration has continued with existing practices, allowing individual departments to concentrate on their specialty. The major change in the new committee is that Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, was cut in favor of Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial. Wiens was a critic of how the Owens administration handled homeland security, but Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, said he selected Spence because she represents the district where state officials channeled disputed funding for an emergency-response center.
Too late for school vote
The House Education Committee on Tuesday delayed voting on a bill to require all public schools in the state to start and end on the same day. It wasn’t that lawmakers couldn’t decide; they ran out of time. The committee ran so late – more than two hours past the usual noon break for lunch – that lawmakers had to leave for previously scheduled 1:30 p.m. meetings. Tourism officials testified that House Bill 1150 would be a boon for their industry while opponents said that power belongs to school districts.
Lawmakers paid to play?
That education committee meeting droned on so long that Rep. Michael Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, joked: “I’m going to introduce a bill for us to get paid by the hour.” Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, replied: “Just don’t put an amendment on it that we get paid what we’re actually worth.”
Deal reached on RTD parking
RTD officials said Tuesday they have reached a compromise with state Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, on a measure to let the transit agency charge for parking at select bus and light-rail park-n-Rides in the Denver area. A negotiated plan may allow RTD to charge transit users who live outside its eight-county area for daily parking, and all users for extended-stay parking, said RTD General Manager Cal Marsella.
Feeling the friendliness
“I appreciate the collegiality shown to me,” said House Minority Leader Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, thanking Democratic leaders Tuesday morning for giving him extra time to prepare for a debate on a bill making changes to Colorado’s probate code. Stengel has complained that Democratic leaders aren’t being fair to Republicans.
