Tag: Mark Ferrandino

Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, said the long-bill budget package, which had been due to be presented to the Senate today, was pushed back at least a week because Republicans are looking to "increase the cut to schools while protecting tax breaks for Walmart.

The battle over payday loan fees will strain partisan loyalties at the Legislature again this year as new legislation was introduced Friday in the House.

The gay and lesbian community are one step closer to being able to participate in state sanctioned unions after the Colorado Senate voted to pass on second reading SB 172. Democrats heralded the bill as a historic moment in the fight for civil rights and the protection of children.

Openly gay Chairman of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans Troy Ard is lobbying colleagues and friends to support Senator Pat Steadman's same-sex civil unions bill making its way through the state legislature. Ard's support for the bill is personal, political and ideological. He wants to enjoy equal rights under the law as a gay American; he believes the Republican brand would benefit enormously by embracing gay rights; and he believes Americans should always be pushing their government to expand individual liberties.

Four out of five Coloradans under 30 support same-sex civil unions. In four years those young people will cast one of every three votes cast in Colorado. "When we vote, people listen," said one of the speakers from youth-voter group NewEra Colorado at a Wednesday rally at the University of Colorado Denver in support of the civil unions bill introduced in the state legislature by Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, last month. "We want equality and the time is now. We want the next generation to never even have to think about this. They'll just see that everyone is the same."

Thursday, Denver Mayoral Candidates James Mejia and Doug Linkhart issued statements endorsing the civil unions bill currently making its uncertain way through the Legislature. They join fellow candidate Chris Romer who issued a similar statement earlier this week.

It's not exactly a tidal wave. But the three Republican members of the House who have gone on record as supportive of state Senator Pat Steadman's civil unions bill suggests Democratic House sponsor Mark Ferrandino is right to be confident that the bill will pass if it could somehow climb over likely House committee hurdles.

Denver mayoral candidate Chris Romer today voiced his strong support for Colorado’s civil union bill, Senate Bill 172, and his backing of full marriage equity.

Denver legislators Sen. Pat Steadman and Rep. Mark Ferrandino saw their bill challenged by faith-based opponents of same-sex civil unions Monday, with some calling for tough love to bring those who had entered into sin back into the fold.

Colorado Republican House Rep. Kathleen Conti is leaning strongly in support of civil unions. She said constituent enthusiasm and scripture won her over. “The outpouring I’ve had so far from my town halls leads me to support it,” she told the Colorado Statesman, referring to legislation introduced Monday by Sen. Pat Steadman that would grant same-sex couples who enter into a civil union the legal rights and responsibilities granted to married couples in the state.