Don’t think too deeply
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, issued kudos Monday morning to the special guests who serenaded House members. But he conceded he didn’t know whether their song choice – “Chain of Fools” – had a hidden meaning. He said it was probably best to leave it to “artistic license.”
Homeland Security tardy
The state legislature’s special Homeland Security committee Monday reviewed a November state auditor’s report that was critical of the state’s handling of federal grants. Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, chairman of the committee, said he hoped the briefing over “plowed ground” would help the panel set future policy rather than spur a partisan fight. The audit found that the state hadn’t set priorities to evaluate funding requests and had channeled federal dollars for local governments into a state emergency-response center. The meeting, scheduled to begin at noon, started 40 minutes late. While waiting for Grossman to arrive, Rep. Mike May, R-Parker, said: “I think this lack of action is what the committee should do anyway.”
Couples’-rights bill deadlocks
The Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee deadlocked 3-3 on a bill to allow “reciprocal beneficiary agreements” that would grant some legal rights to couples that cannot marry. Senate Bill 166, sponsored by Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, was a way to help same-sex and blood relatives gain some of the legal benefits that married couples have. But gay-rights advocates said it failed to offer as many protections as a domestic-partnership proposal some lawmakers hope to put on the ballot in November. The bill was strongly opposed by Paul Cameron, chairman of the Family Research Institute of Colorado Springs, who said passage would inevitably lead to gay marriage and a decline in birthrates.
3 Dems want Grossman’s seat
Three Democrats have declared their intentions to run for Democratic Sen. Dan Grossman’s seat this November. Grossman announced in January he would not seek another term. Rep. Fran Coleman and Jennifer Mello, a failed candidate for University of Colorado regent, announced their intentions last month. Democratic activist Chris Romer, the son of former Democratic Gov. Roy Romer, announced his bid last week.
