A senator’s heart goes ape
Sen. Dave Owen, R-Greeley, made an announcement on the Senate floor Tuesday, Valentine’s Day: He and his wife, Marilyn, have been married for 50 years, “and I’ve got to tell you, I love her more today than I did when I first met her,” he said.
Vice President Dick Cheney may have shot a lawyer in Texas, “but I got shot by Coo-pid!” Owen said.
He pulled the toy ape he’d gotten his sweetheart for Valentine’s Day from a plastic bag and held it up to the microphone so other senators could hear that the stuffed animal had a recording of bongo drums inside.
“That’s a lovely gift, and so thoughtful!” quipped Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County. “I think jewelry would have been better.”
But Marilyn Owen, her husband’s guest on the Senate floor Tuesday, said it was a great present. “I loved it,” she said. “I loved it.”
Icing on the debate
The Colorado Republican Party dropped a cake off at the state Capitol on Tuesday that read, “Democrat legislators. Thanks for all you do, and for keeping our names a secret! Research and Democracy.”
The cake referenced a group that gave $83,000 of in-kind contributions to several Democratic lawmakers’ office accounts. Republicans have requested documents from lawmakers to learn who is behind Research and Democracy.
The state Democratic Party responded by saying “gimmicks can’t hide the Republican culture of corruption.”
“Today’s delivery of a cake to the House Democrats is just another tactic by the Republicans to divert attention from their misuse of the public trust,” said party chairman Pat Waak.
Of note
The House unanimously approved House Bill 1104 and sent it to the Senate. The bill would require applicants for an identification card to provide a fingerprint.
The House approved House Bill 1143, requiring county clerks to request criminal history records for election assistants.
The House approved and sent to the Senate House Bill 1188, which would require counties and communities to inspect elevators and escalators based on national standards.
