Legislative News

By Marianne Goodland
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The Senate Wednesday gave preliminary approval to 32 so-called “negative supplementals” that would shave $475 million from the state’s 2009-10 general fund budget. The bills reduce general fund appropriations to state agencies and enact a series of cash fund transfers to the general fund.

Final Senate votes were held Friday, Feb. 26, and all supplementals were approved.

But amidst the gloom of cutting the budget, there were a few winners.

By Jimy Valenti
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Legislation allowing full-strength beer to be sold in corner stores fell flat this week after a legislative committee voted 8-3 against House Bill 1186, sponsored by Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs.

By Marianne Goodland
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

After more than a month of contentious hearings and debate, the controversial bill to shore up the Public Employees’ Retirement Association is now law. Gov. Bill Ritter Tuesday quietly signed Senate Bill 1 in a brief ceremony that was attended by a handful of elected officials but was not open to the public.

By Cindy Brovsky
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Two rural legislators are turning to Colorado taxpayers to help protect a symbol of Colorado’s Western heritage.

By Anthony Bowe
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Months of laborious compromises prefaced the unveiling of a bill Thursday that would create a child ombudsman office that Gov. Bill Ritter said will add accountability to a troubled child welfare system.

By Marianne Goodland
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Gov. Bill Ritter announced Thursday he will submit a new proposal to the Joint Budget Committee to rebalance the state’s 2010-11 budget.

By Marianne Goodland
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The bill to shore up the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) defined benefit plan is on its way to the desk of Gov. Bill Ritter, after getting final approval from the House Tuesday.

By Jimy Valenti
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee last week unanimously cleared Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, of accusations that he double-dipped — that is, charged his campaign account and the state for the same expense.

By Marianne Goodland
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The package of tax exemption and income tax repeals that have been the cause of so much acrimony in the General Assembly is on its way to Gov. Bill Ritter for signing. But the last day for eight of the nine bills, dealing with concurrence on Senate amendments in the House, was a repeat of the harsh words and bitter battles that have characterized the bills in the past three weeks.

By Jimy Valenti
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Coloradans wanting to fill up their gas tank, buy a bag of chips and a pack of cigarettes at their local corner store are closer than ever to being able to add a full-strength six pack of beer to their list.