Speaker Carroll targets initiative petition process for reform

House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, introduced legislation on Tuesday designed to address abuses that plagued the ballot initiative process in Colorado last election season.

Co-sponsored in the House by Lois Court, D-Denver, and in the Senate by Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, the bill aims narrowly to address the petitioning process, where signatures in support of initiatives are gathered, and particularly “concerns raised regarding the use of paid petition circulators,” according to a House Democratic Party press release.

Ethics committee votes to ‘admonish’ lobbyist for trying to influence race

A legislative panel on Wednesday recommended that a former lobbyist for the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA) be formally scolded for trying to sway a freshman Republican to vote for Rep. David Balmer (R-Centennial) in a leadership election in December. An ethics watchdog group praised the committee’s recommendation but renewed calls for a criminal investigation into vote-buying allegations and asked legislators to mandate ethics training for professional lobbyists.

Legislative ethics panel throws out influence complaint against Balmer

The Colorado House Ethics Committee voted unanimously Wednesday morning to dismiss a complaint against state Rep. David Balmer, a Centennial Republican, who faced charges he improperly tried to influence a leadership election to succeed House Minority Leader Mike May last month. May filed the complaint against Balmer — and suspended plans to resign from the Legislature to tend to his business — after a newly elected Aurora Republican reported a lobbyist for the Colorado Chiropractic Association, who backed Balmer for minority leader, contacted her about the leadership race with a check in hand.

Balmer ethics probe documents go live

While the state legislature’s House Ethics Committee continues to investigate allegations that Centennial Republican Rep. David Balmer and a lobbyist a little too exuberantly pressed for votes to ensure Balmer’s ascension to Colorado House Minority Leader, an ethics watchdog has posted the complaint dossiers online for all to see.

With Mike May out, who will lead Colorado’s GOP House minority?

Big talk of the week has shifted to who would replace Sen. Ken Salazar after he, in what is looking like a done deal, leaves his Senate seat to lead the Interior Department. But days after Colorado House Minority Leader Mike May announced he was stepping down, there’s no word yet on who might lead Republicans in the House into the new year. Among the top contenders to emerge: Reps. David Balmer, Frank McNulty and Amy Stephens.

Mike May misses chance for a Douglas Bruce-free final term

Doubtless Mike May would have appreciated serving out his final term as Colorado House Minority Leader free of the travails of Douglas Bruce. Alas, that was not meant to be.

When It Comes To Bruce, GOP Leaders Grin And Bear It

In case you were wondering what Republican leaders in Colorado’s Senate and House of Representatives are thinking about the probability of TABOR author, head-thumper and all-around name-caller Douglas Bruce representing their cause come January …

Balancing Access And Security At The People’s Building

Gov. Bill Ritter, along with House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Senate President Pro-Tem Peter Groff, released official statements this afternoon related to today’s deadly shooting at the state Capitol. All four vowed to seek a balance…

New Idea: Let’s Ask The Voters

The debate over what to do about Amendment 41 is neverending. Here are a few of the latest snippets, from the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“Some of us have doubts about the constitutionality of 1304 but…

War In Colorado: $7 Billion So Far

Colorado legislators are going into battle over war this week, with the scheduled introduction on Wednesday of a Senate Joint Memorial to oppose the escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq.

The resolution comes at the same time that…