Colorado: Brandon Shaffer

It's just 39 steps to his new digs, but Brandon Shaffer carefully wrapped framed family photos in newspaper, placed them in a box and readied them for the short trip down the hall to the Senate president's office.

Twelve years in the Navy will do that to you, the Longmont Democrat said Wednesday as he packed up his office and conferred with the new chief of staff.

"After a while, it becomes a mind-set," Shaffer said, neatly lining up the contents of emptied drawers and bookcases. "You like things done with military efficiency."

The GOP admits it's not certain what to expect from Shaffer, known for being more precise and meticulous than his predecessor and who issued pink slips to some legislative staffers after becoming president.

Responding to news of the veiled chancellor search being conducted by Colorado State University, House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann and Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer introduced legislation yesterday demanding greater transparency in the way the state’s public universities select leaders.

“For Colorado to pick the right leaders for our colleges, we need the right process. We need a process that is open, transparent, accountable and inclusive,” Sen. Shaffer said in a press release announcing introduction of the bill, HB 1369.

Under the proposed law, public universities would be required to assemble search committees that reflect the full range of the university community. Search committees would openly agree on the job qualifications they are seeking, publicly advertise positions and take at least six months to thoroughly vet the candidates.

Hundreds of business people gathered outside the Capitol Monday to urge lawmakers to vote against legislation that would drain $500 million from a workers' compensation insurance fund to help balance the state budget.

The opponents, who included Pinnacol employees, insurance agents who sell Pinnacol coverage and some business owners with policies, gathered on the west side of the Capitol.

A Pinnacol employee with a bullhorn led the crowd in chants, including "Shame on Shaffer," a reference to Senate Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, the sponsor of one of the bills that target Pinnacol money.

Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, pointed behind him and told the crowd that "we should be scraping the gold off the dome before we raid your money.

A bill that gives some workers unpaid time off to attend their child's parent-teacher conferences got a passing grade in the Senate on Monday, despite protests from Republican lawmakers.

Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, urged support of House Bill 1057, saying students perform better when their parents are involved.

Republicans agreed but said the bill isn't the answer and sends the wrong message to businesses.

"You can't legislate parental involvement anymore than you can legislate parental love or anything else," said Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial.

Sen. Mark Scheffel, a Parker Republican, said he was concerned because there was little testimony in the Senate Education Committee about businesses refusing to allow their