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Legislative News 2010
2010_Legislation
The League of Women Voters of La Plata County provides the following information to supplement your education regarding pending legislation within the Colorado and Federal Legislatures. Unless specifically noted, the League does not support or oppose any of the specific legislative actions listed below.
To reference the LWVLPC 2008-2009 Legislative activities, click on our Legislation News Archive to your left.
Upcoming Meetings.
Legislative Action Alerts/News.
US Legislative News.
2010 session news.
LWVCO News.
LWVCO Legislative Conference.
Legislation - Economy.
Education Youth & families.
Healthcare_09.
Global Outreach.
Environment.
Past Actions.
Legislative References.
Upcoming Local Legislative Meetings
*The Fiscal Responsibility Information Committee, the 9-R School Board, and the League of Women Voters of La Plata County cordially invite you to attend an informational presentation on three of the ballot initiatives which will be on the November 2010 ballot: Amendments 60 & 61, and Proposition 101.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 10, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the 9-R Board Room at the 9-R Administrative Building, 201 East 12th Street, Durango.
Carol Hedges, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, will be the featured speaker. Ms. Hedges is a recognized expert on the effects of Colorado's TABOR amendment. Her current research explores spending and taxation in Colorado in light of fairness, efficiency and adequacy. She most recently was a senior policy advisor for The Bell Policy Center.
The potential impact of these three issues on publicly-funded education entities such as K-12 schools and colleges makes it important that we well understand the implications of the proposed changes to the Colorado Constitution and to state law. Descriptions and analyses of these initiatives can be found on The Bell Policy Center web site, at the Bell
LWV Legislative Action Alerts/News
*5/24/10 Alert from Mary Wilson - President, LWVUS - Climate Change call for action:
Big oil and the politicians who deny climate change are planning to force a vote on the Senate floor at any moment. Their intent? Block any action to combat the pollution that is destroying our planet. And they could win if we don't act now. Please take action to stop this anti-science, pro-special interest legislation.
Senator Lisa Murkowsi (R-AK) has offered a resolution that will overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's finding -- which is based on the clear consensus of the world's best scientists -- that greenhouse gases cause climate change. It would undo an historic agreement made last year with the auto industry to cut pollution and save up to 450 million barrels of oil each year, according to the EPA. The Senator's resolution clearly benefits special interests at the expense of the American public.
The Murkowski resolution would also block action against pollution spewing from the oldest and worst coal-fired power plants -- again putting powerful interests ahead of citizens like you and me.
The choice is clear: special interests versus the clear scientific consensus that manmade greenhouse gases are causing climate change here and around the world. We cannot let the special interests win. As a citizen who is deeply concerned about protecting our democracy -- and understands the role of science in modern society -- please take action now by contacting your Senators. Make no mistake. The science is clear. We must act to stop global climate change. But do not underestimate the power of special interests in the halls of Congress.
Now is the time to take action.
Thanks for all you do,
Mary G. Wilson President, LWVUS
*Dear LWVLPC members,
As you know, the Supreme Court handed down a decision earlier this year that allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited advertising funds in candidate elections. The practical effect of the Citizens United v. FEC decision is that such unlimited spending can be done in secret. This means, for example, that when you buy a product, you will not know if part of the profits derived by the corporation may be spent supporting a candidate you oppose, or vice versa. We at least should have this information available to us so that we can choose whether or not to buy from that company.
We have received an Action Alert from national League regarding a new piece of Legislation which has been introduced in the House and Senate to require complete disclosure of corporate and union electioneering, known as the DISCLOSE Act -- "Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections". The League of Women Voters is strongly supporting this bill.
The DISCLOSE Act will create strong new disclosure rules, require more complete disclaimers by those running ads, bar election spending by foreign corporations, create clearer coordination rules, and prohibit election ads by large federal contractors or corporations that receive federal bailout funds. Now, even foreign corporations can purchase ads in an effort to sway voters, and they can do so secretly.
Please contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to support the DISCLOSE ACT by clicking on the link below, and typing your zip code in the box on the right.
Tell your members of Congress to support the DISCLOSE Act!
Thanks,
Ellen Park, LWVLPC Legislative Chair
*4/22/10 LWVUS:Earth Day message
Today is Earth Day. As our nation reflects on the problems facing our planet, it's important to remember why these issues matter, and what we can do as citizens. League supporters are now asking their Senators to make sure a climate change bill is as strong as possible, and it's not too late to add your voice. Click ACTION ALERT: Support Strong Climate Legislation to contact your Senators. You can also call 1-877-9-REPOWER, a service our friends at Repower America are providing as another way to reach your Senators.
*LWVLPC Legislative Action Report March 2010
from Ellen Park, LWVLPC Legislative Action Chair
US Legislative News
*1/27/10 NY Times:Text: Obama's State of the Union Address
Following is the transcript of President Obama's State of the Union address, delivered Jan. 27, 2010, as released by the White House...
* View 2010 U.S. Senate Legislative Calendar
* View 2010 U.S. House of Representatives Legislative Calendar
Colorado 2010 session news
*5/16/10 Drango Herald: Political taboos fall in session Colo. legislature determines new rules, legalities in session
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Over the course of 120 days, the Colorado Legislature rewrote the rules on what is legal, possible or politically wise in the Centennial State.
For example , in the last four months, the Legislature:
- Legalized the retail sale of medical marijuana, despite no legal precedent in Colorado or any other state.
- Ended 11 tax exemptions and credits, despite the voter-approved Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
- Made a sharp cut to school spending, despite the voter-approved Amendment 23.
- Cut benefits in the state pension system, despite promises made to a generation of state workers.
- Made a bipartisan move to shut down coal power plants, despite a sharp divide in the Senate Republican caucus.
- Revamped the tenure system for public school teachers, despite an emotional battle within the Democratic Party.
"Those were some courageous votes that people took in an election year," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who freed himself from his own re-election worries by withdrawing from the race in January...
* 4/13/10 Denver Post:Tapia takes another run at initiative curbs
The Pueblo senator calls this bid "a simplified Ref. O" By Tim Hoover
State lawmakers may once again ask voters to make it harder to get constitutional amendments on the ballot, an idea Coloradans rejected in 2008. This time, though, there may be no attempt to encourage groups circulating initiative petitions to only change state statutes instead of the constitution.
"This is a simplified Ref. O," said Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, referring to Referendum O, which voters shot down 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent in 2008...
*4/4/10 Denver Post:Colorado officials, lawmakers do little to save Orion space program
By Ann Schrader
Colorado is among the states set to lose thousands of jobs and billions of dollars under a proposed shift in NASA's budget, yet critics say state leaders have lagged in their efforts to preserve the jobs associated with the Orion spacecraft. Stands taken by Colorado officials and lawmakers fall well short compared with other aerospace-rich states, where governors, lawmakers and economic-development officials have aggressively pushed to preserve the program, which aims to carry humans back to the moon and beyond...
*3/23/10 Denver Post:Ritter signs bill requiring greater use of renewable energy by 2020
By Lynn Bartels
Colorado, already viewed as a renewable energy leader, took another step Monday when Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law a bill that will give the state the highest renewable energy standard in the Rocky Mountain West. The measure requires that 30 percent of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020...
*3/14/10 Durango Herald:New tack for taxing online sales
State leverages use tax to force Amazon to collect sales tax
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
ENVER - In the furor over Colorado's "Amazon tax," senators might have stumbled on the Holy Grail of state governments: a legal way to tax the Internet.
It began Feb. 4 during a late-night hearing for the Amazon bill, formally known as House Bill 1993. Dozens of local partners of Amazon.com and other Web retailers arrived to protest because similar bills in other states had led to the mass firings of people like them.
A Republican senator convinced Democrats to rewrite the bill, and what emerged four days later made Amazon and tax officials across the country snap to attention...
*3/10/10 Denver Post:Amazon.com debate heats up at Colorado Capitol By Tim Hoover
The political battle over taxing online sales made through retailers such as Amazon.com intensified Tuesday, with Democrats saying the state should not back down from trying to collect money it's owed and Republicans arguing the new law should be repealed. The hardened stances came a day after Amazon said it would end its relationships with thousands of online affiliates in Colorado who send business its way through blogs and niche websites and then earn commissions on each sale...
* 2/25/10 Durango Herald: Coloradans to pay taxes on Web buys
Ritter signs bill affecting candy, Internet purchases
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau
DENVER - Coloradans' days of shopping tax-free on the Internet are coming to an end.
Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday signed the so-called Amazon tax and eight other bills that repeal income-tax credits. Ritter said he pushed for the taxes to avoid even deeper cuts to schools and programs for senior citizens...
* 2/24/10 Durango Herald: Ritter signs PERA reform
Retirees to see lower retirement benefits from bill
by Joe Hanel
DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday signed into law a rescue plan for the pension system used by school and government employees. Retirees will see the first effect as soon as next month.
The March checks will limit cost-of-living increases to 2 percent. Before Tuesday, the Public Employees Retirement Association paid 3.5 percent annual cost-of-living increases...
*2/18/10 Durango Herald:House cuts $475M from state budget
Measures' approval affects nearly every sector of Colorado government
by Steven K. Paulson
Associated Press Writer
DENVER - Colorado lawmakers slashed jobs and state services Wednesday in an effort to cut another $475 million from this year's budget, targeting education, prisons and Medicaid patients. The 31 bills approved by the House cut nearly every sector of state government as lawmakers worked to cut $1.5 billion over the next two years. The bills face a third reading before they head to the Senate...
*1/14/10 Colorado Senate and House floor debates are now being broadcast on cable TV and on the Internet. To view click CO legislature TV and choose your broadcast.
*1/14/10 Durango Herald: Ritter delivers State of the State Address
GOVERNOR BILL RITTER, JR.
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Joint Session of the 67th Colorado General Assembly
House Chambers, State Capitol
11 a.m., January 14, 2010..
* The 2010 Colorado legislative session has begun as of January 13, 2010 and is scheduled to conclude May 12, 2010.
For information on the following topics, click
2010 Colorado General Assembly general information
Members of the Colorado Senate and House
State Senate and House Committees
Senate Capitol Phone Numbers and Email Addresses
House Capitol Phone Numbers and E-mail Addresses
LWVCO News
LWVCO Legislative Conference
* Legislative Conference Report for 2010
Legislation - Economy
* see 2009 economy legislation news
Legislation- Education Youth & families
*see 2009 Youth & families legislation news
Healthcare_09
*see 2009 Healthcare legislative news
Legislation - Global Outreach
*see 2009 Global Outreach legislative news
Legislation-Environment
*see 2009 Energy, Environment & Sustainability legislative news
Past Legislative Actions
*3/16/10 LWV Legislative Alert - Healthcare from Ellen Park - LWVLPC
ACTION ALERT: Pass Strong Health Care Legislation Now!
* 1/13/2010 Legislative Alert from LWVUS
The Senate and the House of Representatives have both passed health care reform legislation. But a final bill is not yet ready to go to the President. This is a critical time to urge your Representative and Senators, as well as the President, to pass comprehensive health care reform that will extend coverage to tens of millions of uninsured Americans. Final legislation should include a strong public insurance option and should not discriminate on the basis of gender.
Take action today and call your Senators and Representative at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121 to reach the Capitol switchboard. Call the White House at 202-456-1414 or 202-456-1111.
It is essential that the final version of this legislation moves health care in the right direction. It must extend coverage to the uninsured and provide funding for those who cannot afford it. The public insurance option passed by the House will accomplish these goals.
Congress is poised for a critical vote. We cannot afford to do nothing. If comprehensive and effective health care legislation is not passed, more Americans will lose coverage, endangering both our economy and our health.
Make your voice heard with those of other activists around the country. Ask your friends, family and other League members to call as well!
*TAKE ACTION
- 1. Call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121 and ask for your Senators or Representative. Tell your leaders in Congress that they must pass comprehensive health care reform legislation.
- 2. Call the White House at 202-456-1414 or 202-456-1111 and ask the President to push for comprehensive health care reform including the public option.
- 3. Send this alert to other concerned citizens - your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their elected leaders.
BACKGROUND
- Learn more about what the League is doing to support health care reform.
- Sign up to receive Action Alerts directly by email. Don't miss an opportunity to take action! It's easy to sign up and the League will never share your email with others: http://takeaction.lwv.org/lwv/mlm/signup/.
- For additional information, please contact LWVUS Grassroots Lobbyist Christina Vamvas at lobbying@lwv.org.
League of Women Voters
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036
202-429-1965 http://www.lwv.org lwv@lwv.org
*On Saturday, February 20, you are invited to join the LWVLPC to meet and question our Colorado legislative representatives (Rep. Ellen Roberts, Sen. Bruce Whitehead)on issues facing our area in the 2010 Colorado Legislative Session. The session will be held from 9:30 to 11:30am in the Peaks Room of the Durango Rec Center. sponsored by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County
*Jan 25, 2010: LWVCO Legislative Conference Day will be held in Denver Monday, January 25, 2010
from 8:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. at the
Colorado History Museum - State Museum
Room: Boettcher Auditorium
1300 Broadway, Denver.
To view the flier click LWVCO Leg Conf
The agenda for the day is:
- Rep. Mike May - Redistricting
- Panel on Education - needs and where the money is coming from - includes higher ed and charter school needs
- Christine Watson - Update on what is happening in the Legislature
- Sen. Rollie Heath - Lunch speaker - Chair, Interim Committee on Fiscal Stability.
- Afternoon can be spent at the capital and attending committee hearings.
*1/25/10 Legislative Alert from LWVLPC and LWVUS
Over the past six months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to improve air quality here in the Four Corners and nationally. They have agreed to review air-pollution standards for gas and oil operations; to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) and mercury emissions standards whose primary source are coal-fired power plants; to establish a new standard for ground-level ozone; and to require retrofit technologies for reducing air pollution from the Four Corners Power Plan and the Navajo Generating Station, two of the largest pollution sources in the United States. These sources of air pollution in the Four Corners also contribute to global climate change.
Now, an amendment has been proposed to weaken the Clean Air Act and block progressive and needed EPA action against climate change. We strongly urge you to immediately contact Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall. Ask them to oppose the Murkowski amendment by using the League of Women Voters Action Alert site, below: just click where indicated.
The amendment may be voted on as early as Wednesday, January 20th. Please send your message opposing weakening of the Clear Air Act today!" Deanna Collins, LWVLPC EE&S Chair
LWVLPC ACTION ALERT: Stand Up Against Weakening the Clean Air Act
The Senate is expected to vote as early as Wednesday, January 20th on an amendment that would weaken the Clean Air Act and block EPA action against climate change. If it passes, the amendment will put public health at risk and jeopardize long-overdue action to cut emissions from the biggest polluters.
Take action today by clicking here and entering your zip code.
Now is the critical time to urge your Senators to oppose the weakening of a law with a nearly 40-year track record of protecting human health and the environment and spurring innovation. Just as EPA is finally beginning to use the Clean Air Act to cut dangerous pollution that is causing global climate change, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R AK) is trying to block that action.
The Murkowski Amendment would let America's biggest polluters off the hook and negatively affect thousands of American businesses that are waiting for Congress to set clear energy and climate policies that will unlock billions of dollars in job-creating clean energy investments.
A vote on the Murkowski Amendment could come any time during the week of January 20. Make your voice heard with those of other activists around the country. Ask your friends, family and other League members to contact their Senators as well!
TAKE ACTION
- 1. Contact your Senators now, click here and enter your zip code. Tell them to oppose the Murkowski Amendment and to support action against global climate change.
- 2. Send this alert to other concerned citizens - your grassroots network, your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Encourage them to contact their Senators today!
BACKGROUND
Learn more about what the League is doing to support climate change legislation.
Sign up to receive Action Alerts directly by email. Don't miss an opportunity to take action! It's easy to sign up and the League will never share your email with others: http://takeaction.lwv.org/lwv/mlm/signup/.
For additional information, please contact LWVUS Grassroots Lobbyist Christina Vamvas at lobbying@lwv.org.
League of Women Voters
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036
202-429-1965 http://www.lwv.org lwv@lwv.org
Legislation References
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Last revised: August 13, 2010 15:47 PDT.
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League of Women Voters of La Plata County, Colorado. All rights reserved.
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