Energy bill wins initial Senate OK
The Senate tentatively approved the centerpiece of Democrats’ renewable-energy package Thursday, a bill to require utilities to produce at least 20 percent of their power from alternative sources by 2020.
The proposal faces one final vote in the Senate, then will have to go back to the House for concurrence on a Senate committee amendment before it can be sent to Gov. Bill Ritter.
House Bill 1281 is the cornerstone of the renewable-energy agenda of Ritter and Democratic legislative leaders.
In addition to increasing the renewable-energy standard for investor-owned utilities to 20 percent, it sets the first renewable-energy standard for rural electric cooperatives.
Fix eyed for retail discount mix-up
The lawmaker who fought to exempt rural areas from cut-rate gasoline promotions said Thursday that he didn’t intend to ban other discounts as well – from free coffee to cheap Thanksgiving turkeys – as opponents warned his provision would do.
At the request of Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, the Senate voted to exempt counties with fewer than 200,000 people in an effort to protect mom-and- pop operations in small towns.
Opponents of Isgar’s change, including Attorney General John Suthers, said his wording would prevent any promotion where things are sold below cost or given away.
Isgar said his amendment was drafted quickly because the bill was moving rapidly toward approval. He said the problem can be fixed in a conference committee with members from both the House and Senate.
Efficiency-study funding rejected
The Senate rejected a request by Gov. Bill Ritter for $700,000 in emergency funding during the current fiscal year to pay for an efficiency and management study.
State senators objected to Ritter’s effort to get the extra money by adding an amendment in the House to a bill that provides mid-year funding to the governor’s office.
Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County, said the efficiency program deserves a full review and should be considered in a separate bill.
Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said Thursday that the governor will seek a separate bill.
Grants would back school safety
The Senate Education Committee passed a measure that would set up a grant program for school safety.
The program created by House Bill 1059 would provide money for construction that impacts school safety, giving priority to projects that prevent intruders from entering schools, said Sen. Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont.
The bill passed unanimously and now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Ritter signs three higher-ed bills
Gov. Bill Ritter signed three higher education bills into law Thursday:
Senate Bill 48 by Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, and Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, which allows public institutions of higher education to enter into an unlimited number of employment contracts extending longer than five years. The goal is to make Colorado public institutions more competitive in recruiting and retaining research faculty and staff.
Senate Bill 54 by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D- Snowmass Village, and Rep. Fischer, which would lift statutorily enforced capital bonding limits and replace them with market-based limits.
House Bill 1026 by Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Bacon, which requires graduate students to purchase health insurance, with the intent of lowering health insurance premiums at Colorado State University.
Can we quote you on that?
“Nonwomen may attend the women’s health conference.”
– Rep. Alice Borodkin, D-Denver, inviting her House colleagues to the event
“The fashion rule has been relaxed.”
– House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, after House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, and Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose, opened their jackets to show off matching pink shirts
