Governor lauds top teachers
Gov. Bill Owens on Thursday awarded “excellence in teaching” awards to three Colorado teachers: Julie Shue from Goodnight Elementary K-8 in Pueblo, Julie Epple from Cardinal Community Academy Charter School in Keenesburg, and Sue Berg from Riverdale Elementary in Thornton. Owens said the teachers were honored for improving student achievement from 2003 to 2005. Berg and Epple each received checks for $5,000, and Shue received $10,000. The funding for the awards came from the Daniels Fund, a Denver-based foundation.
Pols and pins benefit children
Owens also brought a prop to the office Thursday – a bowling shirt that was draped over a chair during the news conference for the teachers. The red shirt – emblazoned with the team name “Motion 2 Strike” – was a reminder of the previous night’s victory over Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper in a fundraiser bowling event, “Concerts for Kids.”
The celebrity bowl-a-thon, at the Lucky Strike Lanes downtown, was a benefit for The Children’s Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado and Denver Public Schools.
Owens claimed victory: “I eked out a narrow win. I don’t bowl, and neither does John. I think the results show that.”
Hickenlooper – in a message relayed through his spokeswoman – said: “The governor didn’t even know how to score a strike or a spare when we started, but his natural talent came through.”
The score in the second game? Owens 117, Hickenlooper 111. But what about the first game? “I got 140 in the first game. He came close.”
Slogging toward second half
Statehouse Republicans chimed in Thursday with their views on how the legislature is doing at the midpoint of the 120-day session. Owens said he’s disappointed lawmakers rejected House Bill 1284, a measure that would have required state universities and colleges to establish a post-tenure review process for faculty members. Owens urged lawmakers to reform the state’s underfunded pension plan for state workers, and he said he was confident lawmakers would provide the $80 million in extra cash he was seeking for transportation projects.
Still, the lawmakers have a lot of work to do in the second half of the session, Owens said.
The new leadership of the House Republicans met with reporters to crow about the defeat of a Democratic-sponsored bill that would have required large companies such as Wal-Mart to provide health insurance for workers. “Hopefully we don’t see more political agendas masquerading as policy,” said new House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.
Ethics complaints to go away
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon announced Thursday he will dismiss his ethics complaint against Democratic Sen. Deanna Hanna today. Hanna announced her resignation Wednesday amid an investigation into a letter she sent asking for $1,400 in “reparations” to a group that endorsed her opponent.
House Democratic and Republican leaders dismissed a complaint against Democratic Rep. Angie Paccione that took issue with an e-mail sent out by her congressional campaign.
The e-mail, which Paccione said was sent by a staffer without her approval, offered prizes to the top fundraisers. One of the prizes was an introduction on the House floor. The e-mail was recalled 30 minutes after it was sent, Paccione said.
The campaign of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, whom Paccione is challenging, has been making computerized calls to voters, accusing Paccione of being “disgraceful and unethical,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, the voice in those recorded calls.
