Ferrandino weighs taking on payday loan industry in Colorado

The payday loan industry gouges Coloradans like it does Americans across the country, targeting mostly low-income single women, including military spouses. Denver Democratic state Rep. Mark Ferrandino tried and failed to introduce legislation in 2008 that would have curbed the worst of the abuses, where desperate borrowers take loans at hundreds of percent interest and enter a debt cycle they rarely are able to exit. Ferrandino may try it again this year.

Ritter signs bill granting gay health care benefits ‘in the dark of night’

Without fanfare or even a mention, Gov. Bill Ritter sometime on Monday “quietly” signed into law Senate Bill 88, which extends health insurance benefits to gay and lesbian domestic partners of state employees, The Denver Post’s John Ingold reports.…

Steadman wins appointment to SD 31

The final vote is in — Pat Steadman has won the vacancy selection to replace Democratic state Sen. Jennifer Veiga in Senate District 31 in the third round of voting. With 93 votes, the civil-rights lobbyist surpassed former state Rep.…

It’s a showdown between Steadman and Ragsdale to fill SD 31 vacancy

There will be a third and final round of voting between Pat Steadman and Ann Ragsdale in the Senate District 31 vacancy meeting to pick a successor for state Sen. Jennifer Veiga, a Denver Democrat. Lobbyist and gay-rights activist…

SD 31 vacancy committee casts first round of ballots: Ragsdale leads

In between fanning themselves with placards in a sweltering middle school auditorium, 157 Democratic officials have cast their votes in the contest to replace state Sen. Jennifer Veiga, the Denver Democrat who is stepping down from the State Legislature.…

Vacancy meeting kicks off to replace retiring state Sen. Veiga in SD 31

Denver and Adams County Democrats are crowded into the Morey Middle School auditorium — stuffy but dripping historic charm — to pick the successor to state Sen. Jennifer Veiga, who announced last month she is stepping down to move to…

More vacancy committees slated for off-session legislative hopefuls

Michael Johnston’s win in the SD 33 vacancy committee election Monday night is just one of a handful of district party gatherings expected within the next few weeks to choose successors for state lawmakers departing for greener pastures.

Ritter says he expects to sign bill granting benefits to same-sex partners

Gov. Bill Ritter said he will probably sign a bill passed Tuesday that extends health insurance benefits to gay and lesbian domestic partners of state employees.

“I expect to sign that but I haven’t heard from the opposition on that,” Ritter, a Democrat, told The Denver Post’s Tim Hoover. “If there’s a request to do that, I’ll certainly let them do that.”

State House sends same-sex domestic partner benefits bill to governor’s desk

The Colorado House gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that extends health insurance benefits to gay and lesbian domestic partners of state employees. The bill has already passed the state Senate and heads to Gov. Bill Ritter for his signature.

Speaker Carroll notifies Facebook friends he won’t seek Groff’s seat

Laying to rest speculation he might ditch control of the Colorado House of Representatives to make a bid for a state Senate vacancy, House Speaker Terrance Carroll spelled out his intentions this weekend on his Facebook page:

Terrance Carroll says lots of folks have been asking if I will seek Peter Groff’s soon to be vacant state senate seat. The answer is no. I like being Speaker of the House.