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Legislators play musical committee chairs
1/15/2010
By Leslie Jorgensen Most of the last-minute changes in 2010 General Assembly committee assignments weren’t really unexpected — but a couple of changes in the House Agriculture Committee made some Republicans feel like they’d just landed on the floor in a game of musical chairs. House Majority Leader Terrance Carroll swiftly uprooted a couple of Democrats after their rebellious actions made headlines. After Rep. Kathleen Curry, of Gunnison, switched from Democrat to unaffiliated last month, Carroll removed her as Speaker Pro Tempore and awarded that leadership role to Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo. Curry’s chairmanship of the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee was given to Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, who had served as committee vice chair. Rep. Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, was bumped up to vice chair. Fischer has an engineering background with degrees from Colorado State University in natural resources management and in civil engineering. For more than 20 years, he worked on the reclamation and remediation of abandoned mine sites throughout the United States. Carroll said that Pace, an adjunct professor at CSU Pueblo, has a strong understanding of water and agriculture issues. “This team will work for ranchers and farmers as well as for every water user in the state. That means that every Coloradan has a stronger voice, thanks to this team,” said Carroll. Not every Coloradan agreed with that statement. Republicans raised their voices in a protest press release. “Rep. Fischer’s record of hostility toward agriculture and the energy industry does not bode well for Colorado’s economy and job market this year,” said House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker. “Important policy decisions that will impact farmers, ranchers, miners, and oil and gas workers are now in the hands of a legislator who has actively opposed each of these industries.” A bill sponsored by Fischer in 2008, May said, would have caused a financial hardship for farmers. House Bill 1230, which failed, would have required more stringent emissions standards on all diesel powered equipment. To meet those standards, farmers would have had to retrofit existing equipment or purchase new equipment. “Fischer’s tractor tax enraged the agriculture community and even threatened to put some farmers out of business,” said May, who also questioned the Democrat’s understanding of water storage for agricultural irrigation. “Without adequate water to irrigate, many of Colorado’s farms would simply dry up,” May said. A Republican member of the committee criticized Pace’s appointment, and said he has no background or understanding of agricultural issues. However, Pace touts the experience he gained on those issues while serving as director of John Salazar’s 3rd Congressional District office and managing Salazar’s re-election campaign in 2006. There also will be a couple of Republican changes on the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee. May named Rep. Scott Tipton, of Cortez, as the “Ranking Republican” on the committee, a position held last year by Rep. Marsha Looper, of Calhan. “I think Scott will do a great job — and he’s very qualified,” said Looper, who, like Tipton, is a rancher. Insiders said the higher profile position will help Tipton in his campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Salazar in CD 3. Tipton also switched from the Local Government Committee to the Education Committee. The Republicans have added another rancher to the committee. Rep. Randy Baumgardner, of Hot Sulphur Springs, will replace Rep. Frank McNulty, of Highlands Ranch. McNulty is the “Ranking Republican” on the Legislative Audit Committee and a member of both the House Transportation and Energy Committee and the Education Committee. On the other side of the aisle, Democratic Rep. Edward Casso, of Commerce City, found himself iced after steaming over Ritter’s announcement last week that he would not seek re-election because of family concerns. Casso issued a burning media release that read in part: “With Ritter’s abrupt decision, we now have a chance to make a real case to the voters of Colorado that we should retain Colorado’s highest office,” declared Casso. “As with most of his decisions in the last four years, the governor is a day late, a dollar short, and without regard except for his own well-being and interests.” Carroll ousted Casso as vice chair of the Business Affairs and Labor Committee, and named Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, to the leadership position. Casso, who had criticized the governor for vetoing a couple of union bills during the session last year, will remain on the committee. Asked to comment, Casso told The Colorado Statesman that he’d been advised by House leadership to remain mum. Republican Reps. Bob Gardner, of Colorado Springs, and Ellen Roberts, of Durango, might be singing a lyric from The Sound of Music, “I must have done something good.” Both are attorneys who served on the House Judiciary Committee. Gardner is now “Ranking Republican” of the committee. Then, in a surprise move, Roberts was removed from the committee and replaced with Rep. B.J. Nikkel, of Loveland. Roberts was switched to the Health and Human Services Committee, where she was awarded “Ranking Republican” status. In December 2008, Gardner and Roberts had been part of a failed coup for House Minority leadership. The unsuccessful coup had pushed Assistant Minority Leader David Balmer, of Centennial, to replace May as House minority leader. The slate pitted Bob Gardner against House Minority Whip Cory Gardner, of Yuma, and Roberts against Minority Caucus Chair Amy Stephens, of Colorado Springs. In the end, “change” wasn’t in the air. May, Cory Gardner and Stephens remained solidly entrenched. Bob Gardner lost his “Ranking Republican” status on the Local Government Committee, and Balmer was later stripped of his legislative campaign fundraising duties, now performed by Rep. McNulty. — Leslie@coloradostatesman.com HouseAGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND NATURAL RESOURCES Chair: Rep. Randy Fischer. Vice Chair: Rep. Sal Pace. Democrats: Reps. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, Wes McKinley, Judy Solano, Edward Vigil, Su Ryden. Republicans: Reps. Scott Tipton, (ranking member), Randy Baumgardner, Cory Gardner, Marsha Looper, Jerry Sonnenberg. Independent: Kathleen Curry. APPROPRIATIONS BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR EDUCATION FINANCE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES JUDICIARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATE, VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY SenateAGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND NATURAL RESOURCES APPROPRIATIONS BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION FINANCE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES JUDICIARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY STATE VETERANS AND MILITARY AFFAIRS TRANSPORTATION JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE |
Jun. 14, 2013Vol. 114, No. 24 |
