Highlights from the Legislature on Tuesday.
— The Senate backed a nonbinding resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 8) pledging that all children will have access to health care coverage through private insurance or public programs by 2010. Republicans were able to amend the resolution to make it clear that government efforts to expand coverage for children shouldn’t be done in a way to encourage families or businesses who already buy insurance to give up that coverage.
— The House approved and sent to the Senate a measure (House Bill 1128) that would require clerks to use electronic signature verification, despite concerns that signatures change as people age and complaints from groups representing disabled voters that it’s almost impossible to verify some of their signatures.
— The House unanimously approved and sent to the Senate a plan (House Bill 1178) that would make it a misdemeanor to send deceptive e-mails for marketing purposes.
— The House Judiciary Committee without discussion killed a measure (House Bill 1096) that would have charged a 99 cent fee for hotel room movies.
— The Senate Local Government Committee backed eliminating the 6.9 percent sales or use tax limit that can be imposed by the state, counties and cities (Senate Bill 128). Voters would still have to vote on any tax increase. Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Denver, said there are already 17 exemptions allowing the tax to rise above the limit. For example, Denver’s rate is 7.25 percent and Northglenn’s is 8.85 percent.
— The Senate backed the appointment of Patrick W. Hagge of Fort Collins to serve as an employer on the Workers’ Compensation Cost Containment Board.
— The Senate supported the reappointment of Forrest M. Casson of Lafayette and David H. Kast of Colorado Springs, both Republicans, to serve on the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority board of directors.
— The Senate backed the appointment of Thomas S. Schweitzer of Castle Rock, a Republican, to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission.
