Colorado: Grand Junction

The Colorado House has given its approval to the update of oil and gas drilling regulations.  
The rules also include new wildlife habitat protections, pit lining requirements, odor controls, chemical reporting regulations and numerous other provisions. They are scheduled to take effect this spring, pending legislative approval. The regulations are subject to a third reading in the House before being considered by the Senate.

The House vote this afternoon came after it rejected several amendments by Republican lawmakers, including one that would have postponed implementation of the rules until July 1, 2010.

The last-minute amendments were no surprise. Colorado Republicans have made cause to parrot every claim by industry lobbyists, and raised all manner of fear-based and hyperbolic arguments against the rules.

The Colorado Transportation Commission has approved a list of "ready to go" highway projects to be funded with federal stimulus dollars.

Colorado will receive a total of more than $500 million for road, bridge and transit projects statewide. Of that total, CDOT will get $317 million for highways and $12.5 million for transit projects in rural areas.

CDOT must have at least 50 percent of its stimulus money for highways committed to projects within 120 days. The remaining money must be allocated to projects within one year.

The following is a list of road projects to be funded with stimulus dollars by region.

While reading this mornings newspapers, Political Notebook’s eyes fell on a curious passage in today’s Denver Post: “‘We have to keep things relevant. And those messages are no less appealing now than they were in the past,’ said (Josh) Penry, 33, who is considering a run for governor.”

Yes, the newspaper says Penry “is considering a run for governor.”

Ever skeptical, we called the Senate minority leader today and asked if he said he is considering running or if someone inferred he is running for governor.

“That might have been her hearsay,” Penry told us. “I’m not. I’m focused on my job, as I’ve told you many times. I’m focused on being Senate minority leader.”

What do you think?

*Penry photo from The Daily Sentinel archives.

While reading this mornings newspapers, Political Notebook’s eyes fell on a curious passage in today’s Denver Post: “‘We have to keep things relevant. And those messages are no less appealing now than they were in the past,’ said (Josh) Penry, 33, who is considering a run for governor.”

Yes, the newspaper says Penry “is considering a run for governor.”

Ever skeptical, we called the Senate minority leader today and asked if he said he is considering running or if someone inferred he is running for governor.

“That might have been her hearsay,” Penry told us. “I’m not. I’m focused on my job, as I’ve told you many times. I’m focused on being Senate minority leader.”

What do you think?

*Penry photo from The Daily Sentinel archives.