Pizza not from nixed firm
The Senate Select Committee on Government Accountability held its first meeting Wednesday to discuss its schedule and munch on a pile of pizzas paid for by Axiom Strategies Inc., a Denver-based lobbying firm. Lobbyist-funded lunches are not unusual at the Capitol, but these cheesy pies might raise a few eyebrows. Axiom Strategies represents Accenture LLP, the computer-services firm tied to two high- profile blowouts last year. The secretary of state fired Accenture in November after spending $1.5 million on a $10.5 million voter-registration system. And the state Department of Labor terminated a contract with the company after spending $35 million on a system that didn’t work. Peggi O’Keefe of Axiom Strategies said Accenture doesn’t provide funding to wine and dine lawmakers, so her firm will assign the pizza tab to another client, the Colorado Dairy Farmers. Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, chairman of the committee, said he didn’t know which client paid for the pizzas. “I don’t know who paid for the pizza, but if it was Accenture, they may be asking for their money back after the bills we passed out of committee this afternoon.”
Senators’ eyes on contracts
The Senate on Wednesday launched a multi- pronged effort to more closely monitor state contracts. The Senate’s State Affairs Committee voted 5-2 in favor of Senate Bill 64, a measure that requires the state to set up a centralized database for monitoring and evaluating state contractor performance. The bill also requires state agencies to disclose and justify hiring contractors based out of state. Because the bill is expected to cost $987,198, it was assigned to the Appropriations Committee. The committee also approved SB 63, which sets standards for project managers on computer projects, by a 6-0 vote. That bill also goes to Appropriations, with an estimated cost of $490,000 over two years.
Bar brawl over bill
House Minority Leader Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, threw the House into a tizzy Wednesday with a unusual request to pull a bill out of committee and direct it to the full House for debate. He wanted to force another vote on House Bill 1029, which lets elderly people on Medicaid avoid the state estate tax if they agree to accept 50 percent of the medical benefits they would get from Medicaid. The House refused on a party line vote of 35-30. But not without a nasty exchange between party leaders. As Stengel made his case to require another hearing on the bill, House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, argued against his view. “Do your legal research,” Stengel, who failed the bar exam last summer, said to Madden, who is a lawyer.
Ballot proposal targets tax
Some of the taxes generated by higher oil and gas prices could end up back in taxpayers’ pockets under a proposed ballot question. Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute, said his proposal would limit the oil and gas taxes the state could keep. The difference would be refunded to taxpayers to help offset higher energy costs. The proposal gets its first hearing on Feb. 17.
Ref. C on the road again
The partners who brought you Referendum C are taking their show on the road again. Today, lawmakers, business leaders and other supporters of last fall’s ballot measure will hold a meeting to discuss state budget matters – the first of a series of town hall meetings. The public meeting is at 7:30 a.m. at the Colorado History Museum, 1300 Broadway, Denver.
Illegal-workers bill dies
A proposal to bar illegal workers from receiving most worker’s compensation benefits died in the Senate business and labor committee Wednesday, the first immigration bill to receive a committee hearing at the capitol this session. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, had argued that the bill would deter employers from hiring illegal workers, but Democrats on the committee were not persuaded. Brophy pointed out that the bill lost on a party-line vote. “Actions speak louder than words,” he said afterward. “I see a number of proposals coming from Republicans. All I see from the other side of the aisle are reasons to vote no.” Republicans have sponsored several immigration-related bills this winter. Democrats say they are working on proposals of their own.
In other action. . .
The House Transportation & Energy Committee killed a proposal (House Bill 1116) that would have barred government attempts to divert traffic to support toll roads after lawmakers said it would contribute to traffic congestion.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee rejected a measure (Senate Bill 101) that would have cut off state-supported health care to newer smokers who get head, neck and lung cancer.
New bill of note
Increasing the numbers of hours of training for a marriage and family therapist license from 1,000 hours to 1,500 hours. (House Bill 1318)
