“I have some antacid in my office. That’s a problem that can be fixed.”
Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, after Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, said he had “heartburn” over the funding in a bill sponsored by Isgar.
“Your committee has had several beers, um, bills before it.”
Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, after presiding over the Senate debate Tuesday morning.
“I know, the loser gets two dates.”
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, who plans to auction off a date with him and his dog at a NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado charity dinner.
TARGETING 527s
Amendment proposed
A proposed constitutional amendment to rein in the unlimited contributions made to outside 527 groups was introduced in the legislature last week.
House Concurrent Resolution 1010 would cover 527s and other IRS-designated groups that engage in direct or indirect electioneering, said the sponsor, Rep. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction.
The bill, Penry said, would require the groups to follow the disclosure requirements of Amendment 27, the state’s campaign finance law.
The bill would also limit contributions to $4,000 and restrict individuals to $25,000 in contributions to all of the groups, he said.
It would double the campaign contributions allowed to individual candidates.
The proposal, Penry said, would “empower candidates and their campaigns and disempower the shadow groups funded by millionaires and billionaires that are now controlling the elections.”
LOOKING AHEAD
With most of the action on the House and Senate floor this week, it is difficult to predict what time a bill will be debated or even if it will be debated as scheduled.
MONDAY
Credit Scoring: The House business committee will hear a Senate bill to prevent property and casualty insurers from using credit scores when underwriting. 1:30 p.m.
Identity Theft: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear a House bill to make identity theft a felony. 1:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
Immigration: The House State Affairs Committee will consider a proposed constitutional amendment to require English to be the official language of government. 1:30 p.m.
Sex Abuse: The Senate debates two controversial bills: Senate Bill 143, which would open a two-year window in the statute of limitations to let victims of childhood sexual abuse sue regardless of how long ago the attack occurred, and House Bill 1090, which would eliminate the civil statute of limitations in future cases of abuse. 9 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
PERA Reform: Lawmakers begin work on one of the top agenda items of the session – fixing the pension system for public workers. The Senate State Affairs Committee is scheduled to review Senate Bill 162, a comprehensive package of changes that would revamp the board and modify the benefits for employees. 1:30 p.m.
THURSDAY
School Age: The House Appropriations Committee will consider a measure to raise the dropout age from 16 to 17. 7:30 a.m.
COMPILED BY CHRIS FRATES AND MARK P. COUCH
