Colorado Capitol Insider

Republican roads plan driving toward ballot

jfender — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:46:40 -0700

A trio of Republican state lawmakers say they have a solution for Colorado's transportation woes: directing oil and gas taxes...

DNC blog raises cash for Carroll

jfender — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:06:57 -0700

State Rep. Morgan Carroll has a new ally in her bid for the state Senate: the folks at

Hey guys, it's not that Pryor

jfender — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:48:50 -0700

Longtime lobbyist Linda Pryor's friends don't want to come out and ask if she's dead.

In a case of mistaken...

Colo. Dem lawmakers revel in new health care laws

editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:06:14 -0700

Democratic state lawmakers proclaimed victory for health care consumers Tuesday, the first day several health care laws passed earlier this year took effect.

In a news conference on the state Capitol's west steps, the lawmakers highlighted bills requiring medical insurance companies to get state approval before raising premiums and three other bills they said will improve access to medical treatment for the poor and elderly and those living in rural areas. They were among the approximately 50 bills dealing with health care that the legislature passed this year, lawmakers said.

Right-to-work group wants to collect back-up signatures

editor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:26:25 -0700

Proponents of the right-to-work ballot initiative have asked a district court judge for permission to collect additional signatures for their petition, according to Denver Post reporter Andy Vuong.

The request was made Friday in response to a lawsuit filed in May by union interests that challenged the validity of signatures submitted by the right-to-work group.

Right-to-work proponents want to begin collecting so-called curative signatures "to add to the petition in the (event) that the current petition is determined to be without sufficient valid signatures," according to a Denver District Court filing.

Ballot measures have until Aug. 4 to submit 76,000 certified signatures.

Sunday liquor sales, other laws take effect this week

editor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:22:51 -0700

For weeks, Larry May has been getting ready for July 6, the first Sunday in Colorado that liquor stores will be able to open for business.

May, the owner of Parker Payless Liquors in Parker, has hired a few extra people, adjusted work schedules and trained some employees to carry out new duties such as opening and closing the store.

"We've always had a six-day week, so most all our employees worked five days," he said. "Now it's a seven-day week."

May and other liquor-store owners say they aren't sure how much additional business they'll get on Sundays as a result of the change in the law. The law technically takes effect Tuesday, but the first Sunday under the law is July 6th.

Ride this! Republicans mock Democrats for bike-to-work day

Tim Hoover — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:32:52 -0700

Two GOP lawmakers say Democrats are peddling nonsense by suggesting bicycling to work as an answer to high gas prices.

DA's office not "speech police" in ethics lawsuit

editor — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:45:43 -0700

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey's office said in court papers Monday it didn't investigate a complaint about a website run by Senate Republicans because there was no evidence of a crime, and it didn't want to be the "speech police."

Morrissey's office filed the written statement after a Denver district judge ordered it to provide an explanation in response to a complaint by Colorado Ethics Watch.

The group alleged in a lawsuit earlier this month that Morrissey in 2007 failed to investigate Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, for his involvement with coloradosenatenews.com and its funding.

Ritter's ads pull plug on wasted energy

editor — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:34:31 -0700

Gov. Bill Ritter launched an ad campaign Monday that gives tips on saving energy at home.

The governor is shelling out $100,000 from his...

Ritter makes energy-saving pitch

editor — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:10:58 -0700

Gov. Bill Ritter launched a radio and television ad campaign today that gives tips on saving energy at home.

The one-year media effort will be...