Highlights from the Legislature on Thursday:
— Senate Democrats want to hear more from Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty about his proposed $195 million budget cut for next year. The Senate Finance committee approved McNulty’s nonbinding proposal, but said the proposal could die on the floor unless McNulty identifies what he’d eliminate from the budget.
— Another Senate committee signed off on Gov. John Hickenlooper’s choice to run the Department of Natural Resources, Michael King. King is the current DNR head.
— Hickenlooper encouraged Secretary of State Scott Gessler to turn over any surplus funds in his office to help balance the state budget. Gessler told a House committee Wednesday that he planned to keep $3.5 million for the secretary of state’s office that his predecessor had offered to lawmakers to help balance the budget.
— Republican lawmakers renewed their call to repeal a Colorado law affecting larger out-of-state, online retailers shows. The so-called “Amazon tax” has been blocked temporarily by a federal judge.
New Bills
— Enhances penalties for cruelty to service animals used by police or the disabled (House Bill 1151).
— Allows electronic juror payments (House Bill 1153).
