Capitol Coverage

Colorado does not support President George W. Bush’s plan to send additional troops to Iraq. That’s according to a resolution state senators passed Thursday. The vote followed a somber debate, and lawmakers voted along party lines. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. http://www.capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?375

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After months of hearings lawmakers introduced a $17.8 billion spending plan for the state earlier this week. It’s the second state budget crafted since the voters gave the state a break from TABOR spending limits. The proposed budget will increase funding for state programs from prisons, to schools, to driver’s license offices. Senators debated the […]

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Colorado utility companies must get twice as much energy from renewable sources under a bill the Governor signed into law Tuesday. Governor Ritter also signed a bill to give companies more incentives to build transmission lines, which are key to developing renewable energy. The laws are part of Democrats’ pledge to boost renewables in Colorado. […]

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U.S. Army Training Expansion Colorado would not support the U.S. military’s use of eminent domain to expand the Pinon Canyon military training site in south-east Colorado under a bill that overwhelmingly passed the House Monday. But legal experts and lawmakers say the bill can’t stop the military from condemning private land. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver […]

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A Republican lawmaker says the home building industry threatened her when she wouldn’t agree to vote how they wanted. The lawmaker was the only Republican on a house committee to support a bill that would give home owners more protection from shoddy construction. The bill passed the committee Friday. It’s scheduled for debate on the […]

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After more than two hours of debate, lawmakers Thursday gave the initial nod to a bill to remake the commission that regulates the oil and gas industry. Republicans offered dozens of amendments because they say the bill would hurt the state’s economy. The bill scheduled for a final vote in the house Friday. It then […]

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Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers reached a compromise on an ethics in government bill. The chambers have been at odds over how to address the ethics amendment voters passed last fall. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. Sorry, no transcript available. Listen to this story here: http://www.capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?369

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A bill that would forbid high school graduation for students who cannot speak English competently was given initial approval at the capitol. This came despite stiff opposition from several Democrats. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. Sorry, no transcript available. Listen to this story here: http://www.capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?367

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Victims of Domestic violence would get more protection from the courts under a bill that passed a house committee unanimously. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. Sorry, no transcript available. Listen to this story here: http://www.capcov.org/cgi-bin/showpost.cgi?366

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More than 770,000 people in Colorado don’t have health insurance and the number is rising. A state law that allows health insurance companies to base rates on medical history is partly to blame, according to proponents of a new health care bill that’s expected to be introduced as early as Tuesday. Bente Birkeland reports from […]

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