Colorado: Senate Bill

Without fanfare or even a mention, Gov. Bill Ritter sometime on Monday “quietly” signed into law Senate Bill 88, which extends health insurance benefits to gay and lesbian domestic partners of state employees, The Denver Post’s John Ingold reports. It’s the same way Ritter, a Democrat, has signed two other gay-rights bills in the last two years, Ingold points out, on a Monday “with scant public notice.”

Ritter said earlier this month he would probably sign the bill, but the gay-rights bill wasn’t listed on numerous recent press releases announcing the governor’s plans to sign everything from a bill “to help kids with food allergies” to a bill that “clarifies the existing statute concerning aggregating multiple charges of theft.

(Photo/Keith Bacongco, Flickr)

And to Poundstone, the change Colorado needs comes in the form of a ballot initiative she’s co-sponsoring that would drastically limit state revenue by slashing taxes and fees. The plan, which is making its way through the review process on its way to the 2010 ballot, stands in stark opposition to the stimulus-spending mantra coming out of Washington, D.C.

The Colorado initiative is alarming at least two state lawmakers who have examined it. Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, said the initiative would “end government as we know it.” And House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, suggested it would move the state down the road to anarchy.

People looking for an itty bitty grocery-getter to put in the garage could have more options under a bill the state Senate gave initial approval to Wednesday.

Senate Bill 75 would allow low-speed electric cars to use state highways and city streets with speed limits up to 35 mph. The cars the bill specifically has in mind are bigger than a golf cart but smaller than a full-size car and top out at about 25 mph, said bill sponsor Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village.

Colorado's largest dealer of such vehicles sold 44 last year, Schwartz said.

"This is a perfect opportunity for citizens to travel locally, shop locally, do the things you need to do in your neighborhood," she said.

Colorado Senate Minority Office (Photo/Bob Spencer, The Colorado Independent)

Republican senators in Colorado are going all out today to stop a bill that would end automatic tax-revenue allocations for roads and capital construction.

Colorado Senate Minority Office (Photo/Bob Spencer, The Colorado Independent)

Threatening a long debate in the Capitol tonight and a “barrage of amendments” to cripple the bill, the senators have now turned to Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter to join them in defeating legislation they say will “gut” both highways and the constitution.

“Republican lawmakers called on the governor to commit publicly… [today] to veto another pending proposal that would amount to the largest cut ever in transportation funding,” read the Senate GOP release e-mailed to the press this afternoon.