Colorado: Edward Casso

A major bill to raise annual vehicle registration fees to pay for road and bridge improvements squeaked through another vote Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Senate Bill 108, known as FASTER, won initial approval in the House, over the objections of every House Republican and four Democrats, including the House majority leader. It must still receive another vote in the House.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, urged his colleagues to pass the bill, saying it is critical the state invest money to repair its aging infrastructure. He said the work generated by the bill would preserve as many as 8,000 jobs in Colorado and generate new ones.

MEOW! HISS! HISS!

In a video conference with the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, Republican lawmakers groused not much has been done this session.

Rep. Laura Bradford, R-Collbran, couldn't resist poking fun of some Democratic bills that have been introduced.

"I was going to propose a bill putting all cats in plastic bags on slow-moving vehicles with carbon monoxide detectors," she said.

A STEP FORWARD FOR SEPT. 11 BILL

Rep. Edward Casso, D-Thornton, won committee approval for his bill to recognize Sept. 11 as a sort of unofficial state holiday. State agencies would remain open, but workers could take the day off with pay in exchange for another holiday.