Author: Steven K. Paulson
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Lawmakers object to proposed rafting settlement
DENVER — Talks between a Taylor River landowner and a rafting company won’t affect legislation defining the rights of rafting firms to use private Colorado waterways, a state lawmaker said Wednesday. “Let me be direct and clear. Legislators can and will introduce legislation as they see fit and cannot and will not be part of…
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Ritter signs gender-equity health legislation
DENVER — Gov. Bill Ritter said Monday it’s time to end discrimination in health care as he signed a bill ensuring that women in Colorado will no longer have to pay higher insurance rates than men. Ritter said gender discrimination allowed insurance companies to charge rates up to 60 percent higher than rates for men.…
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State lawmakers to review campaign finance
DENVER — Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher said Wednesday state lawmakers must fix several state laws on campaign finance because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling backed by the Colorado Supreme Court. Gov. Bill Ritter asked the Colorado high court to weigh in after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled businesses and unions should be…
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Colo. officials admit mistakes in child deaths
DENVER — The head of the state Department of Human Services said Monday that mistakes were made when the agency failed to follow up on the deaths of 10 children while they were in the state welfare system. Executive Director Karen Beye told lawmakers the failure to file final reports on the deaths “constituted an…
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Colorado revenue forecast improving, but public schools don’t avoid huge cuts
DENVER — Colorado lawmakers got a dose of good financial news Friday, but they warned it is not time to go on a spending spree or try to revoke austerity measures already under way. The news came on the same day some lawmakers were nearly reduced to tears as they were forced to cut $260…
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Colo. Senate delays plan to protect river rafters
DENVER — The Colorado Senate torpedoed a measure Friday that would have guaranteed rafters the right to float the state’s whitewater rivers. Instead, the Senate amended the bill to study the issue first. The report is due Oct. 31, which means it will be next year before lawmakers can take up the issue again. Sen.…
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Colo. lawmakers approve plan to protect river rafters
DENVER — Colorado rafters say they will continue to fight for the right to navigate the state’s whitewater rivers after a Texas development company threatened to shut them down. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday gave its approval to a bill that would guarantee rafters’ right to continue using Colorado rivers after supporters and opponents…
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Ritter breaks several ribs in bicycle accident
DENVER — Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter was injured while riding his bicycle Tuesday, apparently suffering several broken ribs when he collided with another cyclist, his spokesman said. Ritter was taken to Denver Health Medical Center. His condition wasn’t immediately available, but his spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the governor was in good spirits, laughing and joking…
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Ritter defends health care plan for children
DENVER — In May 2007, Gov. Bill Ritter signed legislation providing health care coverage to all low-income children by 2010. On Thursday, he got his report card. According to a report by the Colorado Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting better health care, Colorado went from a C- in 2008 to a D+ last year…
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Ritter moves on campaign finance reform
Ritter’s chief legal counsel, Trey Rogers, said the governor is asking the court to determine if state campaign finance laws are unconstitutional in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, businesses and unions can now directly spend unlimited amounts of money to produce and run their own campaign…