The controversial proposal is awaiting Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature
DENVER – A controversial bill to grant state-sanctioned driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants has yet to be signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper, who has been under siege for the past week by proponents and opponents of the measure. Read more »
Gov. Hickenlooper signed a Medicaid expansion bill with estimates on cost varying widely
DENVER – In his State of the State address, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced his plan to expand Medicaid to 160,000 low-income adults. The governor succeeded – despite Republican opposition – and signed the bill into law, Monday. Read more »
Illegal immigrants are among this legislative session’s biggest winners
DENVER– Illegal immigrants are among this legislative session’s biggest winners, scoring big victories on in-state college tuition for undocumented students, and immunity from law enforcement reporting their presence to federal immigration authorities – both signed into law by Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper. And the haul may not be over just yet. Read more »
Opponents argue that 5 nanograms is an arbitrary standard, and that scientific studies are inconclusive
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DENVER– A bill to set marijuana DUI limits passed its final hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday, and was directed to Gov. John Hickenlooper who will likely sign it into law. Hickenlooper urged the legislature to pass the bill, which was revived after being derailed last month.
The passage of the bill seemed to become a crusade for Sen. Steve King (R-Grand Junction) who sponsored the measure and pitched it six times since 2010, including the regular and special sessions last year. Read more »
The Fort Lyon bill was rejected by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday, but revived as an amendment to another bill
DENVER– Gov. John Hickenlooper spent two years lobbying to transform asbestos-contaminated Fort Lyon into a rehab center for the homeless. But, after bipartisan members of a committee killed the bill, it magically reappeared as an amendment to an unrelated bill that swiftly passed the legislature – and is now on the governor’s desk to be signed into law. Read more »
Despite the pleas of GOP lawmakers, Democrats elected not to set aside $30 million in tobacco funds for higher education
DENVER– With some irony, Rep. Daniel Kagan smoked a cigarette on the House floor as he defended removing a more than $30 million transfer from state tobacco taxes to the Colorado College Opportunity Fund to offset the cost of higher education tuition for in-state students. Read more »
Controversial election overhaul bill HB1303 is on its way to the governor
DENVER – Senate Democrats passed a bill to reform elections that Republicans argued will make Colorado vulnerable to fraudulent voters who could steal elections by casting illegal ballots. The measure would allow same-day voter registration without proof of identity – a reform that Democrats argued gives voters greater access to the ballot.
The bill would raise the renewable energy standard, a move Republicans say will raise utility bills
DENVER– House Democrats passed bill Tuesday to double the renewable energy standard on rural electric co-ops and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association – a move that Republicans said would hurt the economy and result in higher utility bills. Read more »
If the tax increase is approved by voters, it will become effective in January 2014
DENVER– Gov. John Hickenlooper will soon have the opportunity to sign into law an education bill that calls for a $1.1 billion statewide tax increase and significantly alters the state funding formula for public schools. The bill originated in Hickenlooper’s “To Be Determined” initiative last year followed by his State of the State address in January. Read more »
The bill would allow for the issuance of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants who produce evidence of residency in Colorado
DENVER– A bill to grant Colorado driver’s licenses and identification cards to illegal immigrants is expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate on Friday. Proponents claim that the measure will make the state’s roads safer. Opponents argue it’s a step toward amnesty – and a security risk.
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