Seat appointments bill 

    A proposal to change how state officials are appointed to vacant seats cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, passing the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee 8-2.

    HB1345 would strip the governor of the power to appoint the attorney general, secretary of state or treasurer should those offices become open. If it passes, the party of the prior officeholder would choose the replacement.

    Voters would have to approve that change by supporting a new constitutional amendment. Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, sponsored both measures. He anticipates the Legislature will vote against putting the amendment on the ballot.

    The General Assembly would still be able to vote on a provision that would require appointees to take their seat in the Legislature within 14 days. That part of the bill is viewed as being directed at Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, who delayed his swearing in until after the session started so he could be eligible to run for more terms.

State reptile 

    The Western painted turtle completed its epic march Tuesday when Gov. Bill Ritter signed a law making it the official state reptile.

    The governor signed the bill at Skyline Vista Elementary in Denver. Students from the school proposed honoring the turtle and testified before the Legislature in support of HB1017, sponsored by Rep. Cherylin Peniston, D-Westminster.

Tagged for failure 

    A bill that would have made it a crime to possess tools that could be used to deface property failed in the House Judiciary Committee.

    The bill, introduced by Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton, would have made it a Class 2 misdemeanor to possess tools that could be used to create graffiti. The bill was defeated 6-5, with the opposition saying it was too vague on establishing what tools could be used and on what grounds police officers could search a suspect.

Film incentives bomb 

    A proposal to provide $25 million in tax credits to attract film producers to Colorado fell short in the House Finance Committee, failing by a 6-5 vote.    Proponents said HB1355 would help Colorado compete with other states.

    Opponents, led by Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, said the state should focus on improving its overall business environment, rather than favoring a specific industry.

    Rep. Doug Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, was one of the no votes, quipping: “Tell George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for me, at least one legislator said no.”

Sunday liquor sales 

    The House voted 42-20 to allow consumers to purchase liquor on Sundays.

    An equal number of Democrats and Republicans opposed SB82, which must be approved again by the Senate because members of the House changed the effective date of the bill to July 1.

HOW THEY VOTED

SB82, which allows liquor sales on Sunday

Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs No

Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs Yes

Stella Garza-Hicks, R-Colorado Springs Yes

Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs No

Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs No

Marsha Looper, R-Calhan Yes

Victor Mitchell, R-Castle Rock Yes (his district includes Teller County)

Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs Yes

Amy Stephens, R-Monument No