DENVER—State Reps. Libby Szabo and Ken Summers presented a bill to the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee today that will clarify Colorado’s voting process and help ensure fair elections. House Bill 1111 requires voters to provide photo identification in order to help ensure voter confidence.   “This bill will standardize and clarify how we identify voters in an election,” said Szabo, R-Arvada. “It brings certainty to our election process and ensures only those who are eligible can vote.” Summers, R-Lakewood, added:   “House Bill 1111 will bring greater integrity and confidence to the voting process. People have to show photo identification for performing basic activities of life; I think it’s fair to expect the same securities for elections.”   House Bill 1111 passed the House State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee and now moves to … Read entire article »

Feb. 22, 2012 Szabo’s Senate Bill 094 Unanimously Passes the House    DENVER—Today, the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 094, sponsored by state Rep. Libby Szabo. The measure ensures food meant for home consumption remains eligible for a Colorado state sales tax exemption regardless of how the food is marketed.   Under current law, food sold for home consumption at grocery stores, supermarkets or convenience stores is exempt from state and local sales taxes. Any “convenience food” that is prepared for immediate consumption, like hot food sold at restaurants, is taxable.   Recently, some municipalities in Colorado have attempted to levy taxes on foods for domestic consumption because they have been marketed as “convenience foods.” Szabo’s measure ends this overreaching practice.   “Undermining current tax law at the expense of struggling families and working individuals is wrong,” said … Read entire article »

Feb. 22, 2012 DENVER—Today, the House of Representatives passed the Save Colorado Jobs Act, sponsored by state Rep. Chris Holbert. The measure offers Colorado business owners relief from the burden of the business personal property tax.   House Bill 1029 would allow local governments, including counties, to exempt up to 100 percent of locally assessed business personal property taxes.   “The Save Colorado Jobs Act encourages businesses to grow,” said Holbert, R-Parker. “It respects the authority of local governments and works to keep jobs in Colorado while accelerating our economic recovery.”   Relocation consultants report that Colorado’s business personal property tax factors into many job creators’ decision to leave the state. Holbert’s measure is written to prevent this drain on Colorado’s economic recovery.   “Communities and local governments play a vital role in our state’s economic recovery,” said Kevin … Read entire article »

DENVER—The House of Representatives sent a bill to the Senate today that helps ensure the Second Amendment rights of Coloradans.   House Majority Leader Amy Stephens is sponsoring House Bill 1064 to prevent the seizure of firearms during a declared state of emergency.   “The right to bear arms for law-abiding citizens must never be violated,” said Stephens, R-Monument. “Our Second Amendment rights help guarantee protection against violence to ourselves, our families and property.”   Over thirty states have passed legislation similar to Stephens’s measure. HB 1064 passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.   ### … Read entire article »

DENVER— The Colorado House of Representatives’ second annual open house received rave reviews yesterday, as hundreds of constituents visited the state Capitol.   “Our open house was a great success,” said state Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, who serves as the House Majority Caucus Chair.  “Our goal was to show Coloradans from across the state and all walks of life that this is their building, and that they are welcome here any time. And I believe we did just that.”   Members of the public appreciated the access they had, not only to the House Floor and the House Balcony, but also to their elected officials.   “It’s nice to meet people in our government in a less formal setting,” said Lynde Iozzo of Fairplay, who was touring the capitol with her son Flynn.  “In our … Read entire article »

DENVER— Today, state Reps. Kathleen Conti and Rhonda Fields presented a bill in the House Judiciary Committee that will create tougher enforcement laws for hit-and-runs.   House Bill 1084 makes hit-and-runs a Class 4 felony, which carries the same weight as driving under the influence of alcohol.   “Just like a person who gets behind the wheel drunk, people who flee the scene of an accident make a conscious decision that puts others in danger,” said Conti, R-Littleton. “This bill corrects an injustice that is long overdue.”   In 2010, a man crossing the street near Coors Field was hit by a driver who fled the scene. The victim was in a coma for several days but the driver only received three months in jail after making a plea bargain.   “Under current law, a person charged with … Read entire article »

DENVER—Today, the House Finance Committee unanimously approved a measure that will offer Colorado business owners relief from the onerous business personal property tax.   House Bill 1029, or the Save Colorado Jobs Act, would allow local governments, including counties, to exempt up to 100 percent of locally assessed business personal property taxes. State Rep. Chris Holbert sponsors the measure.   “The Save Colorado Jobs Act encourages businesses to invest capital and grow,” said Holbert, R-Parker. “This bill not only makes Colorado more welcoming to the needs of our state’s job creators, it will save jobs and raise revenue—without increasing taxes—from expected gains in sales and income taxes.”   Relocation consultants report that Colorado’s business personal property tax factors into many job creators’ decision to leave the state. Holbert’s measure is written to prevent this drain on … Read entire article »

DENVER—The House Finance Committee passed the Responsible Budgeting Act to reinstate the 6 percent general fund limit today.   House Bill 1075 is sponsored by Reps. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, and Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland.   “This proposal reinstates the long-standing spending limit that Democrats in the General Assembly repealed in 2009,” said Beezley.  “Colorado’s working families and small businesses must live within their means, and they expect government to live within its means too.  This bill ensures that.”   HB 1075 encourages responsible spending practices by limiting growth in General Fund appropriations to 6 percent of the prior year’s appropriations. Fifty percent of the funds above that limit will be allocated to a state reserve fund that can only be utilized by a two-thirds majority vote of the House and Senate. The remaining 50 percent will be … Read entire article »

DENVER—Today a federal court began hearing the arguments of a group that includes current and former lawmakers who oppose the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The challengers listed in the lawsuit Andy Kerr v. John Hickenlooper argue the 1992 voter-approved measure is unconstitutional.   The citizens of Colorado approved the Tax Payer’s Bill of Rights in 1992. The measure constitutionally requires all tax increases to be approved by registered voters in Colorado.   Several lawmakers, including state Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, and Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Fountain, have signed on to the lawsuit.   “This lawsuit is a politically desperate attempt to silence the voice of Colorado’s voters,” said Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood. “Even after voters rejected another tax increase last November, Democrats continue to look for ways they can revive their tax-and-spend agenda.”   Last November, voters … Read entire article »

Measure implements rules for establishing a teacher evaluation system DENVER—Gov. John Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1001 into law today.  The measure implements rules establishing a teacher evaluation system.   The bill’s cosponsor, Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, hailed the bill’s signing, saying–   “A good education system is key to having a robust economy. Because of the teacher evaluation system established by this law, we are ensuring that our students come out of school better prepared to enter college and the workforce.”   Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, added–   “This law will provide true accountability for parents, so they can chart the best course for success of their children.  I’m proud of the bipartisan work that went into this bill.”   The rules were written and approved by the State Board of Education, as a result of Senate Bill 10-191.  … Read entire article »