Colorado: Stephens

Legislative Democrats who pushed through what were considered major insurance reforms last year have come back this year with a number of bills that could turn the industry on its head.

Efforts have been introduced in the past week to:

* Return to the no-fault auto insurance system.

* Require health insurers to cover a slew of new preventive- care services.

* Stop insurance companies from charging women higher rates.

A number of other related bills are expected to come in the near future as well.

Families will pay much higher insurance rates if all of the measures pass, insurance industry leaders warned - this, during a time of recession.

Ransom. Bribery. Extortion.

All three are fighting words - and all three were used Tuesday during a spirited debate on a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to withdraw a ballot measure in exchange for money or anything of value.

Two Republican lawmakers introduced the bill in response to the 2008 campaign, in which proponents of union-backed measures agreed to withdraw their proposals in exchange for $3 million from business interests.

"I think the public recognizes bribery when they see it," said Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs.

HB 1069, by Rep. Amy Stephens of Colorado Springs and Sen. Mike Kopp, died 6-5 on a mostly party-line vote in the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.