Eyeing the Governor’s Mansion
House Majority Leader Alice Madden made news last week when she said she was considering a run for governor now that Big Hick, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, has decided to stay put. Under the Dome sat down with the Boulder Democrat to talk about her weighty decision.
Q: Why are you thinking about running for governor?
A: Well, I dedicated the last three years of my life to getting majority in the House, and we have made so much progress. … And I know what we could do with a visionary governor.
Q: Why do you think you could win?
A: I’m the kind of person that if I put my mind to it, I can succeed. And a lot of this is about can you reach the hearts and minds of people.
Q: What’s wrong with Democratic candidate Bill Ritter?
A: I don’t really have much to say about Bill Ritter. This isn’t about Bill Ritter. It’s about whether I want to do this or not.
Q: What are your considerations for whether to get in?
A: At this point, it’s very, it’s very personal. It’s time with my family, what that means. I have 12- and 14-year-old boys, my husband does some traveling. It comes down to what does this mean for our family.
Q: How do you beat this rap that you’re a liberal?
A: Well, people look at my voting record. It’s rather insulting to the voters to assume that they’ll think X or Y about anybody. I think people are smarter than that. … They vote for people, particularly in the rural areas. If they know someone and they like someone it doesn’t matter if there’s a D or R after their name.
This is your legislative life
After Republican Sen. Norma Anderson stepped down in January after 19 years in the legislature, the state auditor’s office released a “performance audit” of her career that showed that of the 445 bills she sponsored, 317 became law.
The report recommended the General Assembly provide Anderson, whose knowledge of legislative rules is legendary, “with a text messaging service on her cellphone so we can easily obtain legislative history and rule information in a moment’s notice.”
The tongue-in-cheek report was presented to Anderson at a luncheon in her honor last month. State Auditor Joanne Hill said they told Anderson, “We’d be following up in six months.”
LOOKING AHEAD
MONDAY
Immigration and voting: The Senate Judiciary Committee considers Senate Bill 146, to require people to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, 1:30 p.m.
Changing doctors: House Bill 1097, to allow injured workers to change their doctors, goes before the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, 1:30 p.m.
Prescription drugs: The House Health and Human Services Committee considers House Bill 1252, a proposal for the state to set up a prescription-drug clearinghouse. 1:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
DNA tests for felons: Anyone in prison, on parole or on probation for a felony conviction will submit DNA samples to the state if Senate Bill 150 becomes law. The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider it.
Punishing skiers and riders: House Bill 1250, a proposal to increase the fine to $1,000 for violating trail closures or using chairlifts or ski runs while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, will be considered in the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Vaccines: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will take on the controversy over the presence of mercury in vaccines. Senate Bill 99 would make it illegal to give pregnant women and young children vaccines containing more than a specified amount.
Breast-feeding at work: The Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee will consider Senate Bill 167. Employers may be required to give at least two breaks a day to express milk, and to make a reasonable attempt at giving nursing mothers a private place to pump. 1:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
Toll roads: Should local and county governments be given more say over proposed for-profit toll roads? Should they be allowed to charge taxes and fees? Senate Bill 115 will be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.
