My libertarian hackles are up!
HB07-1347, a bill that would require adults be added to the state's child immunization database was just passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Senator Steve Ward (R-Centennial) was the only Republican to vote in favor of this needless expansion of a big-brother style government registry.
HB07-1347 is a bad, bad bill, and there is no reason any Republican should be voting for it.
Showing posts with label Colorado State Senate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado State Senate. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Harvey fights for the un-born
As we speak the Colorado State Senate is debating the Long Appropriations Bill which sets the Colorado state budget.
State Senator Ted Harvey (R - Highlands Ranch) just ran an amendment to the Long Bill that would prevent Governor Ritter from funding abortion-provider Planned Parenthood, which would be a direct violation of Article V, Section 50 of the Colorado State Constitution.
The amendment failed, but Harvey deserves a pat on the back for standing up for the un-born children of Colorado.
State Senator Ted Harvey (R - Highlands Ranch) just ran an amendment to the Long Bill that would prevent Governor Ritter from funding abortion-provider Planned Parenthood, which would be a direct violation of Article V, Section 50 of the Colorado State Constitution.
The amendment failed, but Harvey deserves a pat on the back for standing up for the un-born children of Colorado.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Senate Rejects Ritter
The Colorado State Senate, in a shocking moment of fiscal sanity, rejected Governor Bill Ritter's ridiculous request for $700,000 to hire a government efficiency consultant.
$700,000 to consult on government efficiency? Apparently I am in the wrong line of work.
Governor Ritter, the answer is simple...
1) Reduce the number of government employees.
2) Reduce the number of government programs.
3) Reduce taxes and regulation.
4) Institute outcome-based budgeting.
5) Abolish the public employees labor union and pay employees based on productivity and performance.
See how easy that is? Now I'm going to invoice the State of Colorado for $300,000.
$700,000 to consult on government efficiency? Apparently I am in the wrong line of work.
Governor Ritter, the answer is simple...
1) Reduce the number of government employees.
2) Reduce the number of government programs.
3) Reduce taxes and regulation.
4) Institute outcome-based budgeting.
5) Abolish the public employees labor union and pay employees based on productivity and performance.
See how easy that is? Now I'm going to invoice the State of Colorado for $300,000.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Harvey fights for law and order
Today Senator Ted Harvey (R - Highlands Ranch) jumped the first hurdle toward requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Harvey caught Senate Dems off guard with his amendment to Senator Ron Tupa's SB07-83. Senate Dem leadership was so befuddled when the amendment was accepted by the chair that they laid it over without a vote, effectively taking a procedural 'time-out'.
Harvey's amendment will be up for a vote later this week on the senate floor.
From ColoradoSenateNews.com:
Harvey caught Senate Dems off guard with his amendment to Senator Ron Tupa's SB07-83. Senate Dem leadership was so befuddled when the amendment was accepted by the chair that they laid it over without a vote, effectively taking a procedural 'time-out'.
Harvey's amendment will be up for a vote later this week on the senate floor.
From ColoradoSenateNews.com:
“With the illegal aliens coming here in droves, one would hope we could take some responsible steps toward protecting the integrity of our voting system,” said Harvey.
Democrats appeared to have been caught off guard by Harvey’s proposal and moved to postpone debate until later in the week.
“The Dems couldn’t believe their own chairman ruled that it fit under the title, so they laid it over,” explained Harvey.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Wednesday's Warrior
Yes, it is indeed that time of the week where we, among other things, announce Colorado's Conservative Champion, its Republican Rambo, its Reagan Renagade yes folks prepare yourselves for this weeks WEDNESDAY WARRIOR!
This weeks wednesday warrior hails from the distant land of Senate Distrct 13. It is none other than Scott Renfroe. While Scott is a newcomer to many political insiders, he won't be for long. Scott beat longtime political player Dale Hall in last summers Republican primary and went on to absolutely trounce his opponent in the general. I'd give you a name for the guy Scott beat in the general, but I don't recall it, you see the beating Scott gave the guy was so bad that it caused memory loss of all things not Scott Renfroe.
All kidding aside, Scott really does have a bright future ahead of him. He is a true Conservative, instantly likable, extremely smart, and unlike many of our representatives is quite keen politically. For those of you in the game, ignore Scott at your own peril.
Three Quick Facts About Scott Renfroe (unashamedly taken from a Chuck Norris site)
1.There is no theory of evolution, just a list of animals Scott allowed to live.
2.Scott Renfroe can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
3. Scott is the reaon why Waldo is hiding.
This weeks wednesday warrior hails from the distant land of Senate Distrct 13. It is none other than Scott Renfroe. While Scott is a newcomer to many political insiders, he won't be for long. Scott beat longtime political player Dale Hall in last summers Republican primary and went on to absolutely trounce his opponent in the general. I'd give you a name for the guy Scott beat in the general, but I don't recall it, you see the beating Scott gave the guy was so bad that it caused memory loss of all things not Scott Renfroe.
All kidding aside, Scott really does have a bright future ahead of him. He is a true Conservative, instantly likable, extremely smart, and unlike many of our representatives is quite keen politically. For those of you in the game, ignore Scott at your own peril.
Three Quick Facts About Scott Renfroe (unashamedly taken from a Chuck Norris site)
1.There is no theory of evolution, just a list of animals Scott allowed to live.
2.Scott Renfroe can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
3. Scott is the reaon why Waldo is hiding.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
UMM....THANKS
Why in the same week long time span that we gave kudos to Bill Ritter for vetoing HB07-1072, are we again saying something nice about a Democrat?
Perhaps this cold weather is indeed freezing some of the liberal brain cells, also known as the idiot gene, in some of our states prominent Democrats. Perhaps the apocalypse is upon us. Perhaps the swine I saw outside my TED flight to DIA was not just my imagination again.
I am not sure why all the conservative plays by Democrats, but we appreciate it.
Here it goes, THANK YOU Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, for introducing a measure that would have lifted the state smoking ban in taverns. Not surprisingly the bill was still killed by those Democrats who are not affected by the apocalypse, see 'demons', but it was still good legislation none the less. Many of the 30 some bar owners who testified about the measure are losing their livelihood due to the smoking ban. Also thanks to Sen. Tochtrop for being one of the 3 Democrats to sign onto the recent gun bill.
Perhaps this cold weather is indeed freezing some of the liberal brain cells, also known as the idiot gene, in some of our states prominent Democrats. Perhaps the apocalypse is upon us. Perhaps the swine I saw outside my TED flight to DIA was not just my imagination again.
I am not sure why all the conservative plays by Democrats, but we appreciate it.
Here it goes, THANK YOU Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, for introducing a measure that would have lifted the state smoking ban in taverns. Not surprisingly the bill was still killed by those Democrats who are not affected by the apocalypse, see 'demons', but it was still good legislation none the less. Many of the 30 some bar owners who testified about the measure are losing their livelihood due to the smoking ban. Also thanks to Sen. Tochtrop for being one of the 3 Democrats to sign onto the recent gun bill.
State Senate GOP Continues to Flex Muscle
This morning Senator Dave Schultheis (R - Colorado Springs) and Senator Greg Brophy (R - Wray) pulled a fast-one on the gun grabbers in the Colorado State Senate.
John Morse's SB07-34, which would have completely gutted Colorado's conceal carry law, was up for a second reading vote. SB07-34 was fast tracked out of committee and has been laid over for the past several weeks.
It was brought up on second reading today, but Schultheis and Brophy were able to pass a "strike below" amendment, which changed the bill language to allow Colorado to recognize all conceal carry permits issued to legal residents of the United States. The amendment passed with three Democrats voting in favor of the amendment.
Due to the drastic change in fortunes of his bill, Morse asked for the bill to be laid over again. The tough choice in front of Morse and Majority Leader Ken Gordon will be whether or not to kill the now good bill in the senate or try to "fix" it in the house.
We can only hope that the week continues to go poorly for the Majority Party.
[UPDATE]
Brophy and the Minority Press Office take a couple of shots at Morse, here. (See money quote below)
- Box of .45 shells: $14
- CCW Permit: $100
- Protecting the Constitution while taking a high-profile Dem out to the woodshed: Priceless...
John Morse's SB07-34, which would have completely gutted Colorado's conceal carry law, was up for a second reading vote. SB07-34 was fast tracked out of committee and has been laid over for the past several weeks.
It was brought up on second reading today, but Schultheis and Brophy were able to pass a "strike below" amendment, which changed the bill language to allow Colorado to recognize all conceal carry permits issued to legal residents of the United States. The amendment passed with three Democrats voting in favor of the amendment.
Due to the drastic change in fortunes of his bill, Morse asked for the bill to be laid over again. The tough choice in front of Morse and Majority Leader Ken Gordon will be whether or not to kill the now good bill in the senate or try to "fix" it in the house.
We can only hope that the week continues to go poorly for the Majority Party.
[UPDATE]
Brophy and the Minority Press Office take a couple of shots at Morse, here. (See money quote below)
- Box of .45 shells: $14
- CCW Permit: $100
- Protecting the Constitution while taking a high-profile Dem out to the woodshed: Priceless...
Some of Morse's fellow senators dubbed the development an embarrassment to him and the Democrat leadership. Morse, a rookie legislator serving in his first elective office ever, watched in silence as his first bill was manhandled by critics--including three members of his own party--and rewritten into the opposite of what he intended.
“He never saw it coming,” said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray. “The next time that Senator Morse wants to take away the rights of law-abiding citizens, he’d better get up a little earlier in the morning." [Emphasis added]
Abortion Ban falls in Committee
Senator Scott Renfroe's ban on abortion-on-demand, SB07-143 was killed in committee last night.
Despite moving testimony in favor of the bill, it was killed on a 4-3 party line vote.
Read the RMN's story here.
From the story:
[Update]
ColoradoSenateNews.com has more here.
Despite moving testimony in favor of the bill, it was killed on a 4-3 party line vote.
Read the RMN's story here.
From the story:
Chelsea Warne, 17, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, said no one, including her mother, had the right to decide if her life had value or if she would be a burden on society.
''If I have no value nestled in my mother's womb how can I have value in a world who sees me as broken, a mistake, and somehow less?'' said Warne, who plans to enter the pre-nursing program at the University of Northern Colorado in the fall. [Emphasis added]
[Update]
ColoradoSenateNews.com has more here.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Abortion Ban Before Senate Committee
Senator Scott Renfroe's (R - Greeley) SB07-143, which would ban abortions in the state of Colorado, is up for debate today in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
While SB07-143 isn't expected to pass out of committee, it will be a good litmus test for the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Renfroe sits on the committee, as well as, Steve Ward and Shawn Mitchell.
Renfroe's principled stand got coverage last night on CBS4.
The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 1:30pm today, in SCR352.
While SB07-143 isn't expected to pass out of committee, it will be a good litmus test for the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Renfroe sits on the committee, as well as, Steve Ward and Shawn Mitchell.
Renfroe's principled stand got coverage last night on CBS4.
The Senate Judiciary Committee meets at 1:30pm today, in SCR352.
Friday, February 09, 2007
McElhany, Groff stick it to Polis, Ward
Senate President Pro tem Peter Groff (D-Denver) and Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany (R-Colorado Springs) just announced that they are introducing legislation to fully implement Jared Polis' Amendment 41, as written.
This is a major escalation in the pressure on Polis for his poorly worded, and generally daft "ethics" amendment. Full implementation of A-41 is very, very bad for Polis' public image, as well as, being generally bad policy. This is a well calculated move my McElhany to use Groff's personal dislike of Polis (and ties to Fitz-Gerald) to strength the position of the Republican party.
This is also a shot across the bow of Senator Steve Ward who, as previously mentioned, is Senate Sponsor for a Polis backed legislative "fix" of A-41. Ward is crossing the good of his party, the will of the Minority office, and good public policy to score cheap, "bi-partisan" political points.
Developing Story....
[UPDATE]
Read McElhany and Groff's full comments here.
Quote of the Week
The Quote of the Week goes to State Senator Josh Penry (R-Fruita).
"Did he [Ritter] have his fingers crossed when he signed the Colorado Promise?" said during floor debate on HB07-1072 the Big Labor Pay-off closed shop union bill.
"Did he [Ritter] have his fingers crossed when he signed the Colorado Promise?" said during floor debate on HB07-1072 the Big Labor Pay-off closed shop union bill.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Amend. 41 "Fix" Would Shatter GOP Gains
Up until now, General Assembly Republicans had done a good job of sticking together and getting out of the way of the liberal legislation express train that has the potential to run the Colorado Democrats into the ground. The Caucus has generally held together well, and let the Dems shoot themselves in the foot, with anti-business, big government legislation.
There have been a torrent of rumors coming out of the statehouse about what was going to happen with Amendment 41 (A-41). Who wanted to fix it, and how it could be fixed were hotly debated questions.
It was strongly sensed that Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald didn't want anything done about A-41 since her potential CD-2 primary opponent Jared Polis was the financial power and brains behind A-41.
However, according to today's RMN, Senator Steve Ward (R-Centennial) and Representative Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver) will be sponsoring legislation to "fix" A-41. This is a bad idea not only for Ward, but for the Republican party in Colorado.
A-41 is the brain child of one the liberal-billionaires who bought the state legislature for the Democrat Party in 2004 and 2006. Polis' poorly worded Amendment was meant to "fix" the influence of lobbyists over politicians, instead it prevent municipal employee's children from receiving college scholarships.
Polis screwed up and he knows it. The hostility that has risen over A-41 is very good for Republican. There has been a plethora of finger pointing news articles, featuring Dems bashing Dems. This is great for the Republican party and the conservative cause (two issues which don't always walk hand-in-hand).
A-41 is bad policy, so why try to fix it when it could be repealed it all together?
Could Ward be trying to burnish his "moderate" credentials for a potential run in the CO-6 primary? Ward also broke ranks with his pro-life colleagues to vote twice in favor of the Dems Emergency Contraceptive Bill (SB07-60). Ward is out of his mind if he thinks he can run to the left and win a Republican Primary.
From the article:
Ward's trip off the GOP reservation have raised the hackles of Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany:
There have been a torrent of rumors coming out of the statehouse about what was going to happen with Amendment 41 (A-41). Who wanted to fix it, and how it could be fixed were hotly debated questions.
It was strongly sensed that Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald didn't want anything done about A-41 since her potential CD-2 primary opponent Jared Polis was the financial power and brains behind A-41.
However, according to today's RMN, Senator Steve Ward (R-Centennial) and Representative Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver) will be sponsoring legislation to "fix" A-41. This is a bad idea not only for Ward, but for the Republican party in Colorado.
A-41 is the brain child of one the liberal-billionaires who bought the state legislature for the Democrat Party in 2004 and 2006. Polis' poorly worded Amendment was meant to "fix" the influence of lobbyists over politicians, instead it prevent municipal employee's children from receiving college scholarships.
Polis screwed up and he knows it. The hostility that has risen over A-41 is very good for Republican. There has been a plethora of finger pointing news articles, featuring Dems bashing Dems. This is great for the Republican party and the conservative cause (two issues which don't always walk hand-in-hand).
A-41 is bad policy, so why try to fix it when it could be repealed it all together?
Could Ward be trying to burnish his "moderate" credentials for a potential run in the CO-6 primary? Ward also broke ranks with his pro-life colleagues to vote twice in favor of the Dems Emergency Contraceptive Bill (SB07-60). Ward is out of his mind if he thinks he can run to the left and win a Republican Primary.
From the article:
That is truly a political contortion in the fashion of the prime contortionist himself, John Kerry. Ward will supporting changing A-41 so long as he feels that it is politically expedient for him to do it.Ward said he decided to sponsor the legislation because he feels it is the duty of the legislature to tackle the issue instead of "punting" it to the courts.
He said he voted for Amendment 41 and talked last weekend to numerous constituents who want the law's problems fixed.
He also is bracing for stiff opposition and indicated that he might not support the bill later if he feels it violates the intent of the voters. [Emphasis added]
Ward's trip off the GOP reservation have raised the hackles of Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany:
[McElhany] said Wednesday the bill would drill "a truck-sized loophole" through the new law.
McElhany called the measure "unconstitutional" and a "full- blown rollback."
Read McElhany's full remarks at ColoradoSenateNews.com.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Wednesday's Warrior
Today, being Wednesday, means that for those of us working stiffs, the work week is almost half over. To celebrate these momentous occasions, each and every Wednesday, the Colorado Conservative Project is going to recognize truly heroic political feats, in honor of surviving half a week.Wednesday's Warrior: right-to-work champion Sen. Ted Harvey (R - Highlands Ranch).
The Rocky Mountain News' Business Section has a piece on Harvey's SB07-93, which is a right-to-work bill. Harvey has been the prime sponsor of right-to-work legislation every year he has been in the legislature; a testament to his belief in this issue.
Today, in the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee, Harvey's bill is up for debate and testimony. Committee Chair Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver), senate sponsor of the Big Labor pay-off, closed shop union bill (HB07-1072) is expected to lead the charge to kill Harvey's bill.
For those with a disposition toward schadenfruede, the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee will be meeting at 1:30pm in SCR354 at the Colorado State Capitol.
El Paso County GOP Shake Up
Colorado Pols has a ridiculous post about the internal goings on of the El Paso County Republican party, that requires at least brief commentary.
In a nut shell, new El Paso County GOP Chair Greg Garcia and the executive board removed one John Hazelhurst from his position as precinct committee person for violating the county party's bylaws. The bylaws say that all party officers, which includes precinct committee people, are forbidden from publicly supporting any candidate in a general election other than the Republican candidate.
Hazelhurst publicly support three Democrats in the 2006 general election, including John Morse, claiming he was the "smart, reasonable" candidate.
Mr. Hazelhurst was justly removed from party leadership, and his claims to be "heart broken" about it ring hollow with me.
It's important to look at Morse record so far, to see how egregious Mr. Hazelhurst's support of Morse really was. Morse defeated State Sen. Ed Jones in 2006, as a moderate, riding the Anti-GOP Establishment wave.
The question I have for Mr. Hazelhurst is this; are anti-family, anti-gun, anti-business, big government policies "smart, reasonable" or anywhere remotely similar to the platform planks of the Republican party?
John Morse in office has proven to be anything but "smart" or "reasonable".
For the Record, here's the case against Morse:
Anti-Family
Morse joined established liberals like Betty Boyd to "celebrate" the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the United States. Pictures of a smiling Morse holding a "Bridge the Gap: Roe in 2007" standing next to the Director of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood can be found here. He is a co-sponosor of SB07-60 requiring hospitals to counsel the use of emergency contraceptive measures. He also voted twice for SB07-80 which would require 12 year old girls to be vaccinated by their school for HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Anti-Gun
Morse has staked out a strongly, anti-2nd Amendment stance. He is the the author of SB07-34, which would strip Colorado's conceal carry reciprocity laws.
Anti-Business
Voted and vocally supported HB07-1072, the Big Labor pay-off, closed shop union bill.
Big Government
Morse sponsorship of SB07-26 (Full Day Kindergaden), SB07-136 , & HB07-1263 (DOJ Training Fee Increase) reflect his dedication to greatly increasing the size of government.
John Morse has three more years before he is held accountable by the voters of El Paso County. It will be interesting to watch how much more liberal he becomes over the next few years and how much he alienates his constituents with his far-left voting record.
In a nut shell, new El Paso County GOP Chair Greg Garcia and the executive board removed one John Hazelhurst from his position as precinct committee person for violating the county party's bylaws. The bylaws say that all party officers, which includes precinct committee people, are forbidden from publicly supporting any candidate in a general election other than the Republican candidate.
Hazelhurst publicly support three Democrats in the 2006 general election, including John Morse, claiming he was the "smart, reasonable" candidate.
Mr. Hazelhurst was justly removed from party leadership, and his claims to be "heart broken" about it ring hollow with me.
It's important to look at Morse record so far, to see how egregious Mr. Hazelhurst's support of Morse really was. Morse defeated State Sen. Ed Jones in 2006, as a moderate, riding the Anti-GOP Establishment wave.
The question I have for Mr. Hazelhurst is this; are anti-family, anti-gun, anti-business, big government policies "smart, reasonable" or anywhere remotely similar to the platform planks of the Republican party?
John Morse in office has proven to be anything but "smart" or "reasonable".
For the Record, here's the case against Morse:
Anti-Family
Morse joined established liberals like Betty Boyd to "celebrate" the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the United States. Pictures of a smiling Morse holding a "Bridge the Gap: Roe in 2007" standing next to the Director of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood can be found here. He is a co-sponosor of SB07-60 requiring hospitals to counsel the use of emergency contraceptive measures. He also voted twice for SB07-80 which would require 12 year old girls to be vaccinated by their school for HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Anti-Gun
Morse has staked out a strongly, anti-2nd Amendment stance. He is the the author of SB07-34, which would strip Colorado's conceal carry reciprocity laws.
Anti-Business
Voted and vocally supported HB07-1072, the Big Labor pay-off, closed shop union bill.
Big Government
Morse sponsorship of SB07-26 (Full Day Kindergaden), SB07-136 , & HB07-1263 (DOJ Training Fee Increase) reflect his dedication to greatly increasing the size of government.
John Morse has three more years before he is held accountable by the voters of El Paso County. It will be interesting to watch how much more liberal he becomes over the next few years and how much he alienates his constituents with his far-left voting record.
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