Colorado: Senate

A new, conservatively-aligned think tank is taking shape in Colorado, but few details are available about the forthcoming launch of the Colorado Policy Institute.

The state already has an assortment of non-profit policy organizations like the Independence Institute, a libertarian think-tank in Golden, and the Rocky Mountain Foundation, a research and education institute founded by former Congressman Tom Tancredo. Independence Institute founder and former state Senate President John Andrews also recently launched the Centennial Institute, an academic policy center at Colorado Christian University. These groups hold non-profit 501(c)(3) status under federal tax law, and do not typically participate in candidate elections.

Starting today, Coloradans will pay more to register their vehicles.

They'll face criminal charges if they possess someone else's passport, Social Security card or driver's license without that person's permission.

And adults will be in big trouble if they're caught "sexting" to a child.

The three measures are among the 57 new laws that go into effect today.

One of the more high-profile bills this year increased auto-registration fees an average of $41 to start, as part of an omnibus transportation bill aimed at raising money to fix 125 of the state's crumbling bridges.

The new law is expected to generate criticism and about $250 million a year, just half of what transportation experts have said is the annual minimum the state needs to maintain its infrastructure.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday resoundingly rejected an effort to spend $80 million to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and relocate the terrorism suspects, possibly to U.S. prisons.

Considered a setback for President Barack Obama and his pledge to close the prison by January, the vote ended a day of crossed signals and Democratic infighting, including a dust-up between California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Colorado lawmakers.

The future of the detention facility at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has Democrats increasingly on the defensive over the fates of the 240 terrorism suspects detained there.

In a floor speech before Wednesday's 90-7 Senate vote, Feinstein said she knew of one federal facility

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that would be a perfect fit — Supermax prison in Florence, Colo.

A Denver lobbyist who has championed civil rights beat nine other Democratic contenders to become Colorado's newest state senator.

Pat Steadman won a vacancy committee election Wednesday night to replace Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, who resigned to move to Australia.

Veiga had endorsed Steadman, who lobbies at the state Capitol. He has said he plans to resign from his firm.

The election caused angst on two fronts:

Adams County Democrats wanted someone from their county to win the election; Senate District 31 comprises central Denver and portions of Adams County.

Others pushed for a minority to win.

"We need some color down at the statehouse," said Julia Hicks of Westminster, who is black.