Bill advances to ban state worker strike
A Democrat-sponsored bill that would bar state employees from striking won a preliminary victory in the state Senate on Tuesday.
None of 17 amendments Republicans offered to change House Bill 1189 was successful. In the end, the bill passed easily because Republicans — who adamantly support a strike ban — said the bill was better than nothing.
“It’s not a terribly strong bill,” said Sen. Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs. “But it’s the only bill in front of us to try to accomplish what needs to be done.”
The bill has its origins in Gov. Bill Ritter’s executive order last year allowing many state employees to form partnership agreements and negotiate collectively.
Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, said fears of employee strikes because of the executive order are overstated.
“This is about ensuring we have decent salaries and we have decent health insurance,” he said. “This is not about striking. This is about quality of life.”
The bill now faces a third reading in the Senate before heading to the governor for his signature.
Ethics panel completed
Fremont County Commissioner Larry Lasha has been named the fifth and final member of the independent state ethics commission, which can now begin drafting rules for itself.
The panel’s four other members appointed Lasha, who had to be an unaffiliated voter from a local governing body.
The good-government organization Colorado Ethics Watch, which has criticized the commission’s progress, applauded the appointment.
“We expect the ethics commission will expeditiously start performing its duties,” organization director Chantell Taylor said in a statement.
