Gov. Bill Ritter infuriated labor leaders with his veto of a firefighters bill this afternoon, but he made plenty of Coloradans happy with the measures he signed earlier in the day.
Actors, undertakers and environmentalists were among those who cheered when Ritter scrawled his signature on bills they helped push through the legislative session this year.
At a film studio near Broadway and Alameda, more than 100 people watched — cameras rolling — as Ritter signed legislation re-establishing the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media. The bill provides tax incentives to attract and grow film production throughout the state.
“Keep your speeches to a small trailer,” the governor advised the four bill sponsors when it was their turn to talk.
The crowd laughed, but Ritter was on a tight schedule: He had nine bill-signings scheduled in his office in half an hour.
Friday marked the deadline for Ritter to take action on what often has been called “the session from hell” and not just because 666 bills were introduced. The governor and lawmakers grappled with a $1.2 billion deficit. In all, Ritter signed 464 bills into law and vetoed four.
During the lighthearted signing ceremonies in his office, Ritter noted that exactly 16 years ago — on June 4, 1993 — he was sworn in as Denver’s district attorney after being appointed by then-Democratic Gov. Roy Romer.
Since becoming governor in 2007, Ritter has held hundreds of public bill signings, including ones Wednesday at Arapahoe Basin Ski & Snowboard Area in Summit County and in Montrose.
The governor said the reception has been incredible.
“People really respond well to our taking our state business outside the Capitol,” he said.
Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, who made the five-hour trip to Montrose to watch her wildfire bill get signed into law, said she didn’t mind driving through mountain passes and rain.
“My bill got signed,” she said. “And the reception was great because it was wildfire bills being signed in front of wildfire volunteers.”
But plenty of ceremonies are held at the state Capitol, including the nine back-to-back, move ’em in, move ’em out events today.
Ritter got a kick of Rep. Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, when she said during the signing of her bill that “we’re finally putting the matter to rest.” The measure requires funeral homes and crematories to register with the state.
The governor playfully jabbed former Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, when he signed a measure that creates an income-tax credit for farmers and ranchers who donate their water to protect rivers and streams in the state.
Ritter invited Grossman, director of the Environmental Defense Fund, to come close so he could see what it looks like when a bill gets signed. That got a big laugh from Grossman, who had nine bills vetoed by Republican Gov. Bill Owens in 2006.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
