Legislative News
| February 2010 |
Why was this bill killed?
Rep. David Balmer’s HB10-1079 was killed in the State Affairs Committee, despite the fact that Colorado would save approximately $200,000. The bill would have prohibited the state from erecting signs for projects funded by federal stimulus funds. In committee, Rep. Balmer reported that he had received complaints from constituents who questioned using taxpayer dollars for expensive signs, which require the use of a crane for installation.
Each sign was estimated to cost $500 each, and, if the numbers were extended nationwide, a conservative cost would be $10,000,000. How many taxpayers would love to have that money back in their pockets?
Tax increase bills slink through the legislature
Rep. Murray and her Republican colleagues in the House and the Senate gave it a good fight, but millions of dollars in tax increases were passed by way of lifting tax exemptions on several business functions. Included were taxes on the industrial use of fuel, agricultural production products, downloaded software, candy and soda, and direct mail. Also passed was a limit on write-offs for losses.
“While good people might disagree about whether certain businesses deserve tax exemptions,” said Rep. Murray, “there is no doubt that lifting them during a recession, with no planning time allowed for businesses, is disastrous. This degree of taxation will break the backs of some of our small businesses who are just trying to ‘hang on’ during the recession. You can’t kill the goose on any given day and expect to find eggs laid the next day. The legislature has been busy killing the golden goose that could create real and steady revenue for the state in the future.”
University academics now required to be accountable
Following several years of k-12 school reforms, one of the few remaining “sacred cow” issues has been addressed, thanks to the leadership of our state school board and Education Commissioner Dwight Jones. SB 39 requires teacher education programs to be tracked for their effectiveness in increasing student progress in k-12 schools.
Several years ago, a teacher and pupil ID database was instituted, and now that database will be used to track the effectiveness of education graduates from our higher education institutions.
“This is one of the most surprising bills to be passed in a long time,” said Rep. Murray. “The fact that we had finally reached trackable K-12 teacher accountability was amazing enough, but for us as a legislature to reach into our higher education institutions is groundbreaking.”
“There is anecdotal evidence about which institutions are most (or least!) successful at training teachers, but now we will have solid data to support our opinions. Colleges and universities will be held accountable as to whether they are doing a sufficient job of teaching our new teachers how to manage their classrooms and how to create a vibrant learning environment. No more hiding behind the ivory towers!”
Murray’s motor vehicle late fee relief bill dies
Rep. Murray sponsored a bill that would have given a little relief to motorists whose cars were in repair, as well as to owners of trailers. In addition, the bill would have recognized current practice for special mobile machinery, which is equipment used occasionally on construction sites. The late fee maximum would have been lowered from $100 to $25.
In the house state affairs committee, in partisan action, Rep. Murray’s bill was killed and she was asked to take parts of the bill to other sponsors for amendments to their bills.
Citizens should watch to see whether these amendments are accepted!
Bills that should not have died!
HB1091 Tightening up the allowable ID’s used in elections circumstances
HB1154 Requiring a moratorium on any new mandated health insurance benefits and establishing a new method for the legislature to determine the fiscal impact of any new legislative mandates
HB1100 Prohibiting questionable practices in the removal of ballot initiatives. Would have established it as a class one misdemeanor for a person to give or receive money or any valuable consideration to influence a person to withdraw a petition.
HB1126 Establishing priority-based budgeting for Colorado
HB1136 Requiring all Colorado k-12 schools to perform safety drills beyond fire drills.
HB1153 Modifying the state’s pension board to include more financial experts and fewer pension recipients. |
Shall we save some taxpayer dollars?
By: State Representative Carole Murray
At all times, but especially during these difficult economic times, government efficiency and effectiveness should be a primary goal for any elected official. In this spirit, I've introduced a bill that would potentially save taxpayers between $5,000 to $1 million dollars per county, depending on the size of their county.
The bill would allow all-mail primary elections and would eliminate the requirement to conduct a primary election if there are no contested races. Sounds logical, doesn't it? Trust me that it's going to take some work to get these concepts passed in the legislature.
In the 2008 elections, approximately 70% of Colorado's votes were cast by mail, so the state is well on its way to universal acceptance of mail ballots. The reality, however, is that counties were required to pay for three elections while conducting only one. That is, a single election is held by offering early voting, mail voting, and, of course, polling place voting. To eliminate 2 of these separate methods would be a tremendous cost saving to our counties, thus, allowing those counties more money for other services needed by their citizens.
However, opposition to optional all-mail primaries comes from groups who campaign on statewide issues, and they want to see the voting methods standardized statewide for their own convenience. Of course, there are some individuals who don't trust the security of mail ballots, don't like the post office's role in them, or who simply like to go to the polls.
Douglas County would save around $200,000 if they were allowed to go all-mail, according to county clerk Jack Arrowsmith. The math is hard to deny.
The elimination of uncontested primaries has no opponents. Teller County Clerk and Recorder Patricia Crowson conducted a no-contest primary in 2008, at a cost of almost $40,000 and much larger Larimer County paid $250,000. That's a lot of potholes that could have been filled, or roads resurfaced!
I'll see you next month with more news from your state capitol. I can be reached at murrayhouse45@gmail.com In the News
• Great News! Rep. Spencer Swalm, R, Littleton has shepherded a much-needed health insurance bill, HB09-1143, through the House. The bill allows HMO's to develop low-cost insurance plans, which should result in many uninsured people being able to purchase insurance. The bill now goes to the Senate, so let's hope it finishes the process and becomes law. This would be one step forward in creating new, low-cost solutions to the burgeoning cost of health care.
• Budget-cutting is underway as the state identifies areas to cut back $600 million dollars by July 1, and at least another $300 million in the next fiscal year budget. Rep. Murray is resistant to plugging the budget holes or solving transportation issues by adding fees and fines via legislative action.
• Teller County residents are delighted that Senate Bill 50 has passed out of the Senate and will be heard soon in the House. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Murray and Senator Mark Scheffel, and requires the Governor to appoint a resident of one of the gaming counties to the Limited Gaming Commission. Currently, local residents are prohibited from serving on the board.
• A bill to eliminate the requirement for minutes to be kept in a "sturdy hard-bound book" has passed out of the House and now goes to the Senate. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Murray and Senator Ken Kester, will create government efficiencies and, thereby, save taxpayer dollars . The language covers a variety of statewide boards and commissions. |
