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COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE

Face the State

Content Index: General Assembly

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Voters get no referendum right on tax increases

Tax increases - put in place as a result of recent legislative action nixing certain exemptions - begin taking effect next week. Voters can't exercise their constitutional right to a referendum on the bills as they're deemed necessary for public health and safety. Taxes are good for you...

Play audio - 7:35 minutes
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Legislative preview with Sen. Kevin Lundberg

State Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, has a plan to roll back portions of last year's "FASTER" vehicle registration fee hike. Can he rally enough support from across the aisle to pass his bill?

Play audio - 21:31 minutes
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Vacancy committee to fill HD 51 seat tonight

August 13, 2009

Kari Koppes

By Don Knox
State Bill Colorado

At least five people, up from three last week, are vying for the Colorado House seat that Republican Don Marostica vacated when he was named the state’s top economic-development officer.

FTS Humor: Can you hack it?

Face The State Humor

August 10, 2009

Brandon Shaffer classified ad

The Denver Post reported recently that resumes had poured in for the vacant assistant press secretary position for Colorado Senate Democrat caucus. A highly-placed mole at the state capitol has relayed to us a transcript of one of the interviews.

The scene: A lazy Tuesday afternoon, where State Senate President Brandon Shaffer reads through some resumes, feet on his desk.

Following aborted raid, lawmakers take up Pinnacol's future

A Face the State Staff Report

August 3, 2009

A legislative inquiry into the operations of Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s largest provider of workers compensation insurance, could be a launching point for changes to the laws governing health coverage for injured workers.

'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 7/27/09 - Replacing Marostica; school fees explained

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver to talk about recent stories penned by Face The State. This week: Who will replace state Rep. Don Marostica, who leaves the General Assembly to join the Ritter administration? And are school fees fair to parents and students stuck with shelling out hundreds of dollars every year?

Play audio - 17:37 minutes
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7/27: Who will replace Marostica?

Another week, another legislative vacancy.

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Vacancy committee takes shape to replace Marostica

A Face the State Staff Report

July 24, 2009

Don Marostica file 6/17

Republican state Rep. Don Marostica announced Thursday he will resign his position to accept an appointment from Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, to head the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Party leaders now prepare to appoint what will be the eighth member of the General Assembly seated by a vacancy committee.

'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 7/13/09 - Ritter's revenue estimates; GOP Guv race

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver. A recent Face The State analysis of state government budget projections shows the Ritter administration was slow to adjust its revenue estimates as the recession worsened. Also, the GOP field lining up to challenge the incumbent Governor grew to three with the weekend addition of state Sen. Josh Penry.

Play audio - 16:50 minutes
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The week's news: A naked coffee shop? GJ skirts election law; Isgar to USDA

FTS managing editor Brad Jones and staff writer Kate Melvin wrap up the week in Colorado news. A CU student has a bold idea for a new topless coffee shop, but it won't be on campus. Grand Junction skirts electioneering laws for a second year in a row, and state Sen. Jim Isgar's departure to the Obama administration reopens debate over legislative vacancies.

Play audio - 11:54 minutes
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FTS on 600 KCOL: Vehicle registration fees & budget woes

Face The State visits with 600 KCOL morning show hosts Keith and Gail to talk about state politics and preview the FTS Weekend Edition. County clerks are busy fielding complaints about increased vehicle registration fees, but there's little they can do to help ease the pain. Gov. Bill Ritter has said he'll push for late fee relief, but that won't happen until 2010. In the meantime, lawmakers are working to plot the future of Colorado's budget, but consensus is unlikely.

Play audio - 11:42 minutes
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7/7: 'DWT' law not enforceable

Is a ban on texting while driving enforceable? Colorado Sheriffs say no.

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Fiscal Stability Commission set to kick off

July 6, 2009

By Todd Engdahl
Education News Colorado

The Colorado legislature spent much of the winter and spring wrangling over money, and this summer that debate moves to a new forum – with some new voices.

FTS on 1100 KNZZ: Is the JBC prepared to cut the budget?

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner to discuss state politics. Top of the list: Is Gov. Bill Ritter prepared to make the tough decisions about the state budget deficit? And is the Joint Budget Committee the best venue to ratify his decisions?

Play audio - 11:12 minutes
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FTS Humor: Colorado Democrats' tribute to Michael Jackson

Face The State Humor

July 3, 2009

Michael Jackson's Thriller

By Andrew Ripemoff

The funeral of Michael Jackson is scheduled for July 7, and millions of mourners are trying to cope.

What does this have to do with political news? Well, I couldn’t thing of anything else to write about. Besides, in 2002, the King of Pop sang at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.

So, in light of MJ’s fondness for democrats, we thought it would be appropriate to honor him with a Colorado Democratic slant on some his more popular hits. (For best effect, snap your fingers while singing.)

6/22: Legislative overtime?

Will lawmakers be called back to work? It all depends on budget numbers released today.

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'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 6/22/09

FTS managing editor Brad Jones and 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver discuss statehouse Democrats' recent "team-building" retreat, the topic of a recent Andrew Ripemoff humor column. Also, with just-released news the state is $250 million in the hole for the budget year ending next week, will lawmakers be back to work this summer to patch the hole?

Play audio - 14:29 minutes
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FTS on 1100 KNZZ: Will we see a special legislative session?

FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner to discuss whether legislators will be called back (or call themselves back) for a special session after updated tax numbers are released Monday. If they do go back into session, what would be cut, and how?

Play audio - 11:58 minutes
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Inside the Democrats $4,300 Retreat

Face The State Humor

June 19, 2009

Sprinkled donut - flickr

Statehouse Democrats recently repaid $4,300 to the state for a "team building" retreat paid for with public money after it was revealed Republicans weren't invited. FTS humor columnist Andrew Ripemoff takes a look inside the exclusive event.

SENATE PRESIDENT BRANDON SHAFFER: Good morning everyone, and welcome to the retreat. Before we get started, are there any questions?

REP. JOEL JUDD: Yeah, are they going to bring out anymore glazed donuts? Someone took the last one.

Monday budget forecast could determine need for special session

A Face the State Staff Report

June 18, 2009

House Chamber - file

When lawmakers finished this year's legislative session May 6, discussions immediately began on whether the General Assembly would be called back into session to deal with worsening revenue, forcing deeper state budget cuts. Updated financial forecasts are due on Monday and lawmakers are expecting to hear shortly thereafter if they will called back to work this summer.

As he leaves for Washington, Groff's staff get a cushy farewell gift

June 16, 2009

Monday, the AP reported that former Colorado state Senate President Peter Groff paid his staff $30,000 in bonuses before he left office, despite a statewide hiring freeze and a budget crisis that could mean furloughs for thousands of other workers.

At the end of the legislative session, Groff left the Colorado Senate for a position in the Obama administration as director of the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Center. He is an outspoken supporter of school choice, an opponent of the business personal property tax and a respected leader by Democrats and Republicans alike. It is hard to say anything bad about him.

But this time, Groff made a mistake.

6/12: Tolling drivers isn't 'conservation'

What do toll roads and state-owned railroads have to do with conservation? Not much.

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Ritter to sign transparency bill in private

June 3, 2009

Bill Ritter and Don Marostica

Gov. Bill Ritter will sign legislation to place the state's checkbook online, though he'll do so without the same public ceremony that marked the signing of an executive order intended to head off the very legislation he'll now enact into law.

5/27: Race shouldn't matter in vacancy cmte. appointments

Does skin color matter in selecting state lawmakers?

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5/26: Dem intern switches parties

A Democrat state capitol intern saw it all under the gold dome, and she's switching parties as a result.

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Segment 2 - Dems prompt intern to switch parties; McInnis 'in' for Guv

FTS staff writer Rachel Boxer has the latest capitol gossip: State Democrats' policy priorities have prompted a capitol intern to switch parties; plus, former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis finally makes clear his intention to run for Colorado Governor.

Play audio - 10:31 minutes
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Segment 1 - The week's news: Nudity a first amendment right?

FTS managing editor Brad Jones and staff writer Kate Melvin take a look at the week that was in Colorado News. Is public nudity a First Amendment right? Should CU force freshmen to join the school's alumni association? And who cares if state Sen. Shawn Mitchell gives out his capitol security code when capitol security is laughable?

Play audio - 10:23 minutes
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Lobbyist Steadman prevails In election to succeed Veiga

May 21, 2009

Patrick Steadman

By Don Knox
State Bill Colorado

DENVER – Longtime lobbyist Patrick Steadman won a vacancy election Wednesday night to succeed Sen. Jennifer Veiga, who recently resigned her Denver seat to move to Australia. Steadman was selected after three rounds of balloting exposed the divided district’s split between Denver and Adams counties.

Dem capitol intern set to join GOP

A Face the State Staff Report

May 20, 2009

Jean Gadberry

While Democrats hailed the latest legislative session as a success, at least one party worker is defecting after disagreeing with some of her party's actions under the Capitol dome.

9 vie for Jennifer Veiga’s Seat in Colorado Senate

May 18, 2009

jenniferveiga.jpg

By Don Knox
State Bill Colorado

DENVER – At least nine people will vie Wednesday night in a Democratic party vacancy committee election to succeed Jennifer Veiga in the state Senate representing District 31. The district includes south and central Denver, including downtown, as well as portions of Arvada and Westmister.