“Partners” endorsed
The House Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 Thursday to endorse a bill that would ask voters to approve “domestic partnerships” for same-sex couples. Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Jefferson County, joined the panel’s six Democrats in approving House Bill 1344, which survived a last-minute effort to alter the bill so that it would apply to blood relatives. The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee.
Ethics panel named
Democratic Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald of Jefferson County on Thursday appointed a committee to investigate an ethics complaint against Democratic Sen. Deanna Hanna of Lakewood. Last summer, Hanna wrote a letter to the Colorado Association of Realtors asking them to contribute $1,400 to her campaign after they gave that much to her opponent. The committee could recommend Hanna be reprimanded, censured or expelled. Democratic Majority Leader Ken Gordon of Denver said he thought that what Hanna did was wrong but that she did not do it intentionally. “In the end, I believe I will be vindicated,” said Hanna, who has hired an attorney.
65% rule for schools
Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, Rep. Joe Stengel of Littleton, Sen. Andy McElhany of Colorado Springs and gubernatorial candidates U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman, held a news conference Thursday to support a ballot measure that would require school districts to spend 65 percent of their operational budgets in classrooms. Norton said Colorado is 48th in the nation for in-classroom spending. Democratic Rep. Michael Merrifield of Manitou Springs blasted the idea as “a bogus description” because it takes money from things such as transportation, after-school programs and meals. He is sponsoring House Bill 1283, which targets administrative waste without hurting student programs, he said.
Energy panel idea
U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar urged state lawmakers Thursday to consider creating a “renewable energy authority” or similar body to promote energy- efficiency efforts in the state.Salazar said such an authority would help the state “ride the wave” of national efforts to promote renewable energy and would help the country decrease its need for foreign oil.
In other action
The House voted 49-14 to give final approval to a bill that would remove time limits for lawsuits against public and private institutions in cases of childhood sexual abuse. House Bill 1090 now goes to the Senate.
The House voted 60-3 to give final approval to a long- running effort to find a compromise on how landowners should be compensated when oil and gas explorers drill on that land. House Bill 1185 now goes to the Senate.
The state insurance division on Thursday released an online tool to help consumers compare auto insurance premiums. It provides examples of average premiums for good drivers and can be viewed at www.dora.state.co.us/pls/real/ Ins_Survey_Reports.Home.
Lt. Gov. Jane Norton signed an open-government bill Thursday sought by a newspaper group that will require governments to tape-record their closed sessions in case the meetings are the subject of legal challenges later. Norton stood in for Gov. Bill Owens, who is out of the state.
The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 102, which would prevent doctors and nurses from being charged with manslaughter if they give a terminally ill patient too much pain medication. The bill, which now heads to the House, prohibits assisted suicide.
The Joint Budget Committee on Thursday restored about $14.5 million in funding for the disabled that had been cut during the recession.
