What's the deal with Josh Penry?

CCP's good friends at PoliticalPaleHorse (PPH) have recognized Senator Josh Penry (R-Fruita) as an "outstanding legislator".

While I do like Penry, and I like the PPH even more, I think that I need to set the record straight on Penry's voting record.

PPH says that Penry is fighting against "regressive legislation". This couldn't be further from the truth.

As recently as Tuesday, Penry voted for and co-sponsored a ridiculous piece of nanny-government legislation to regulate landscape architects. PPH even lampooned this legislation, which Senator Greg Brophy (R-Wray) called an, "unnecessary limitation on competition." SB07-107 is the definition of regressive.

Penry is also the Senate sponsor of another regulatory bill to license private investigators, HB07-1083.

Penry voted against SB07-40, which would have allowed branch banks to open on the premises of stores like Walmart and Target.

Penry's rating with the Colorado Union of Taxpayers for the 2006 legislative session was an embarrassing 44%.

RMGO, Colorado's only no-compromise gun rights group, was unable to endorse Penry's run for Senate because of Penry's questionable voting record on gun rights.

I do believe that Penry is one of the rising stars in the Republican Party, but as I have said before, the good of the Conservative Movement and the good of the Republican party are not conjoined goals. I believe that it is highly inaccurate to call Penry an "outstanding legislator".