Colorado: Walsh

Gov. Bill Ritter's major economic development bill received House approval Wednesday, but not before members of his own party called it a "misuse of our funds" and "economics of the absurd."

House Bill 1001 allows companies that create at least 20 new jobs in Colorado to get a 50 percent tax credit on each worker's salary. Ritter said the measure allows the state to compete for jobs, and a Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth endorsed it.

Democrats, however, have tried to kill the proposal, saying the $2.9 million that would be spent next year should be used to help balance the budget.

Outgoing U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar has suggested the names of nine Colorado lawyers to his replacement and Sen. Mark Udall as possible nominees for federal judgeships.

Salazar, who is set to become Interior secretary in Barack Obama's administration, chose to suggest the names to Udall and incoming senator Michael Bennet rather than forwarding them to Obama as recommendations from a still-sitting senator.

"Over the last 30 years, the U.S. District Court has often been plagued with vacancies that have prevented the court from functioning at its full capacity," Salazar said in a statement released by his office. "I hope that our work over the last four years to identify highly qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies will be of help to Sen.

Colorado dog breeders panned a "puppy mill" bill Wednesday, saying more inspections and not more rules are the answer.

But an animal activist pointed out that some of the same breeders who testified against the measure were found to have operated filthy facilities and had reportedly sold sick dogs.

As amended, House Bill 1072, by Rep. Beth McCann, D-Denver, limited the number of dogs in a facility to 50 and also required breeding dogs to be seen annually by a veterinarian.

Lawmakers on the House Agriculture Committee killed the bill on a 7-5 vote, saying they were concerned it wouldn't stop puppy- mill operators and instead would hurt reputable breeders.

COLORADO U.S. ATTORNEY

Stephanie Villafuerte is a former Denver prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney who specialized in domestic-violence, sexual- assault and child-abuse cases. She is now deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Ritter in charge of community partnerships.

"I am extremely honored to be mentioned by Sens. Salazar and Udall as a possible nominee," Villafuerte said. ". . . I look forward to this process, and in the meantime, I remain dedicated to serving the state in my capacity as deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ritter."

William "Bill" Thiebaut Jr. is the 10th Judicial District attorney, prosecuting crimes in and around Pueblo.