“Make My Day” law expanded
The House passed an expansion Monday of the controversial “Make My Day” self-defense law, which one critic decried as “a license to kill anybody who looks different than you do.”
Seven statehouse Democrats joined the Republican minority to initially approve House Bill 1011, 33-32. A final vote is expected as early as today.
Bill sponsor Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, calls it the “Stand Your Ground” or “Make My Day Better” law.
The measure says you can kill someone without penalty at your business if the person instills a “reasonable fear of imminent death or serious bodily injury.”
Colorado’s current “Make My Day” law applies only to home invasions.
Opponents said the measure is vague and unnecessary because Colorado law already has a self-defense exemption.
Rural legislators may gain pay
Rural lawmakers would receive an extra $50 a day under a proposal endorsed Monday by a Senate panel.
The bill by Sen. Jack Taylor, R-Steamboat Springs, would increase from $99 to $149 the per diem for lawmakers from outside the Denver area.
Denver lawmakers sympathized with Taylor and other rural lawmakers, who not only have to travel big districts but have to maintain second homes in Denver during the session.
Their financial hardships have increased with passage last year of a ban on officeholder accounts and voter approval in November of Amendment 41, which bans all gifts and meals from lobbyists and acceptance of anything over $50 from others, Taylor said.
If lawmakers fail to raise the per diem for rural lawmakers, the legislature runs the risk of becoming a “rich man’s playground,” said Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver.
Panel kills right-to-work bill
The Senate business and labor committee Monday voted 3-2 against SB 93, a proposal by Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, to make Colorado a right-to-work state.
The vote came three days after Gov. Bill Ritter vetoed a controversial bill that would have made it easier for unions to open negotiations into forming all-union shops.
Measure further restricts 527s
The House passed a bill 62-3 that would impose more restrictions on political organizations that funnel big money into Colorado campaigns.
HB 1074 by Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, requires that so-called 527 committees abide by Colorado reporting deadlines and disclosure rules.
Opponents said they were concerned about overburdening smaller organizations.
Other developments
The House passed a bill that would require public pension funds in Colorado to dispose of investments in companies that have ties to the government of Sudan. House Bill 1184 is Colorado’s version of legislation filed in several states to pressure Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur.
The House passed two renewable-energy bills. HB 1087 would grant schools money to install wind turbines on campus. HB 1145 says that leased public lands will be available for green-powered projects.
The House passed HB 1149, which would make it easier for troops serving abroad to vote in elections.
