“Get out of my face.” – Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, to a radio reporter who was seeking comment after an ethics panel dropped its investigation of his per diem pay.
“You can’t cross-examine a ghost.” – Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Centennial, opposing House Bill 1088, which allows criminal prosecution of child sex abusers decades after the incident.
“We were criticized when we were in the majority for God, gays and guns. Now, all they do is gays, gays and gays. That’s all they’re after. They literally have a fetish.” – Rep. David Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, while watching Democrats argue in support of a proposal for domestic partnerships. If approved by voters in November, Colorado would offer same-sex couples the same legal rights enjoyed by married couples.
Who’s playing politics?
State Democratic party chief Pat Waak says Republican Attorney General John Suthers should be investigated for ethical violations for “dismissively rejecting” her previous call for an investigation of Trailhead, a Republican fundraising group.
Suthers was appointed to his position last year by Gov. Bill Owens, a Trailhead founder, Waak noted.
“That Suthers is making decisions about possible criminal violations by his political patron should trouble Coloradans greatly,” said a news release Waak sent out Friday.
Owens dismissed Waak’s complaint as the product of “a political year.”
Suthers spokeswoman Kristen Hubbell said Suthers declined to investigate Trailhead for campaign phone calls that have gotten under the skin of some Democrats after consulting with two Democratic district attorneys.
“Pat’s playing politics,” Hubbell said. “We based our decision on the law.”
Ref. C accounting
The state economist last week released an updated forecast that showed the state will keep $4.25 billion over the next five years, thanks to the passage of Referendum C.
The economist’s forecast is important because it is what lawmakers use when they write the state budget.
The report found:
The second-largest source of revenue for the state is expected to bring in $1.9 billion, a 4.8 percent increase.
Officials said a healthy ski season helped make up for the holiday season’s mixed results.
LOOKING AHEAD
Monday
Sex abuse: The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault plans a news conference to rally support for House Bills 1088 and 1090 and Senate Bill 143. Those measures would change the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits in cases of sexual abuse of a child. Noon on the west steps of the Capitol.
Sex abuse, part 2: House Bill 1090, which would lift the statute of limitations for lawsuits against the employers of sex abusers, is set for hearing in the Senate State Affairs committee. At 1:30 p.m.
State budget: According to session deadlines, the state budget plan is due for introduction in the House. The spending plan will likely be debated throughout the week and is supposed to be finally passed by the House on Friday.
Tuesday
Referendum C: The road tour of lawmakers continues in Golden. Lawmakers have been trying to get out of the Capitol to discuss with voters how the extra money is being spent. Several of them plan to gather at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, at 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Drug costs: Senate Bill 1, which has been hanging around all session, gets its first hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The original draft of the bill calls for asking voters whether Colorado should join a multistate purchasing pool in an attempt to get discounted prescription drugs. At 1:30 p.m.
