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Week 10, 2006
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
As of last Thursday night, 212 bills have been introduced in the Senate, 379 bills have been introduced in the House for a total of 591. We have 55 days until the end of the session.
Below are a few of the bills that I have taken note of this past week:
HB06-1346
HOUSE SPONSOR - McGihon,
SENATE SPONSOR - Shaffer,
Bill Summary
For the purposes of health care coverage, expands the definition of "dependent" to include the minor child of a dependent child and the minor child of an unmarried child who is under 25 years of age and either has the same legal residence as the parent or is financially dependent on the parent.
Legislative History
02/21/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor
03/06/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Witness Testimony Only
03/08/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Pass Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/13/2006 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/14/2006 House Third Reading Passed
My comments: I voted NO on this bill. This bill will add costs to businesses, thus hurt the economy. Currently, people can buy health insurance for others if they wish. There is no law against that.
SB06-078
SENATE SPONSOR - Wiens, Isgar, and May R.
HOUSE SPONSOR - McKinley, Green, Borodkin, Hefley, Larson, and Stafford
Bill Summary
Transportation Legislation Review Committee. Specifies that a private corporation formed for the purpose of constructing a private toll road or toll highway shall not have the power to use eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way for the toll road or toll highway, but that a corporation may enter into an agreement with a public entity to enable the construction of a private toll road or private toll highway.
Legislative History
01/16/2006 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation
01/19/2006 Senate Committee on Transportation Pass Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/25/2006 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 1/27
01/27/2006 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
01/30/2006 Senate Third Reading Laid Over
01/31/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/31/2006 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/09/2006 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Pass Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/13/2006 House Second Reading Passed
03/14/2006 House Third Reading Passed
My comments: I voted YES on this good bill before the Transportation & Energy Committee and on the House floor. It passed very strongly. Many people that live in the path of the past proposed "super-slab" highway east of Greeley/Denver/Colorado Springs are relieved that this toll highway by a private entity cannot be constructed with eminent domain power. But, this bill still gives permission for this type of road if permission is given by a public entity.
HB06-1314
HOUSE SPONSOR - Cerbo,
SENATE SPONSOR - (None),
Bill Summary
Prohibits an employer from requiring employees to attend or participate in any communication with the employer, the purpose of which is to express the employer's opinions about religious or political matters. Prohibits an employer from penalizing an employee for not so attending or participating or for making a good faith report of a violation of the prohibitions. Allows an employee to enforce the prohibitions through court proceedings. Exempts religious and political organizations
Legislative History
02/03/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
03/06/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Refer Unamended to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
03/14/2006 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Pass Amended to House Committee of the Whole
My comments: This bill is a "union bill" carried by Rep. Cerbo and the Democrats to satisfy the labor unions. Businesses are strongly opposed to this bill, because it does not give the business owner or management the needed flexibility to communicate with their employees concerning subjects that are almost impossible to clearly define. It this bill passes, it will be a lawyers windfall and will distract the business from doing what they do best, obtain new customers and serve the ones they have by treating their employees very fairly at all times.
HB06-1156
HOUSE SPONSOR - Welker
SENATE SPONSOR Brophy
Concerning increased consumer rights regarding the use of social security numbers. This bill prohibits the public posting of social security numbers, the placement of social security numbers on cards by businesses and the encryption of social security numbers if used on the Internet
My Comments: Colorado is number 7th in the nation concerning identity theft. This bill will help in that area since the use of someone else's' social security number is an important part of the thief's mode of operation. This bill passed out of the House and Senate committees and floors almost unanimously. The next step is for it to be signed by the Governor and become law as of January 1, 2007
HB06-1175
HOUSE SPONSOR - May
SENATE SPONSOR - Grossman
Prohibits smoking in indoor enclosed areas, including places of employment.
My Comments: This bill passed the House by 38 YES, 24 NO, and 3 excused. It takes 33 votes for a bill to pass through the House. I was a strong NO vote on this bill because the infringement on personal property rights. It is my opinion that it is reasonable for a business owner to let people smoke in their business. Some employees do want to work in a smoking establishment. For those that do not, they can find employment at a place that does not allow smoking. Besides, before they hired on to a smoking establishment, they should know that. I do not like "nanny government" and this bill is just that.
It brings to mind a famous quote from our first President, George Washington, "Government is not reason or eloquence, but is like a consuming fire."
Where there is "smoke, there is fire." This bill consumes some people's freedoms. Some small mom and pop bars will lose their freedoms to let their friends smoke in the business that they own and it may result in a few of those businesses to go out of business. Of course, in the infinite wisdom of the Senate and House, the rich gambling casinos along with the smoking lounge at DIA, and cigar bars were exempted from this law.
Please see the attached "Bills in the News for the week ending 3/17/06 for more information.
Sincerely,
Jim Welker Representative
Colorado District 51
As of last Thursday night, 212 bills have been introduced in the Senate, 379 bills have been introduced in the House for a total of 591. We have 55 days until the end of the session.
Below are a few of the bills that I have taken note of this past week:
HB06-1346
HOUSE SPONSOR - McGihon,
SENATE SPONSOR - Shaffer,
Bill Summary
For the purposes of health care coverage, expands the definition of "dependent" to include the minor child of a dependent child and the minor child of an unmarried child who is under 25 years of age and either has the same legal residence as the parent or is financially dependent on the parent.
Legislative History
02/21/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor
03/06/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Witness Testimony Only
03/08/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Pass Amended to House Committee of the Whole
03/13/2006 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
03/14/2006 House Third Reading Passed
My comments: I voted NO on this bill. This bill will add costs to businesses, thus hurt the economy. Currently, people can buy health insurance for others if they wish. There is no law against that.
SB06-078
SENATE SPONSOR - Wiens, Isgar, and May R.
HOUSE SPONSOR - McKinley, Green, Borodkin, Hefley, Larson, and Stafford
Bill Summary
Transportation Legislation Review Committee. Specifies that a private corporation formed for the purpose of constructing a private toll road or toll highway shall not have the power to use eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way for the toll road or toll highway, but that a corporation may enter into an agreement with a public entity to enable the construction of a private toll road or private toll highway.
Legislative History
01/16/2006 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation
01/19/2006 Senate Committee on Transportation Pass Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
01/25/2006 Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 1/27
01/27/2006 Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments
01/30/2006 Senate Third Reading Laid Over
01/31/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
01/31/2006 Senate Third Reading Passed
03/09/2006 House Committee on Transportation & Energy Pass Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
03/13/2006 House Second Reading Passed
03/14/2006 House Third Reading Passed
My comments: I voted YES on this good bill before the Transportation & Energy Committee and on the House floor. It passed very strongly. Many people that live in the path of the past proposed "super-slab" highway east of Greeley/Denver/Colorado Springs are relieved that this toll highway by a private entity cannot be constructed with eminent domain power. But, this bill still gives permission for this type of road if permission is given by a public entity.
HB06-1314
HOUSE SPONSOR - Cerbo,
SENATE SPONSOR - (None),
Bill Summary
Prohibits an employer from requiring employees to attend or participate in any communication with the employer, the purpose of which is to express the employer's opinions about religious or political matters. Prohibits an employer from penalizing an employee for not so attending or participating or for making a good faith report of a violation of the prohibitions. Allows an employee to enforce the prohibitions through court proceedings. Exempts religious and political organizations
Legislative History
02/03/2006 Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs and Labor State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
03/06/2006 House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor Refer Unamended to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
03/14/2006 House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Pass Amended to House Committee of the Whole
My comments: This bill is a "union bill" carried by Rep. Cerbo and the Democrats to satisfy the labor unions. Businesses are strongly opposed to this bill, because it does not give the business owner or management the needed flexibility to communicate with their employees concerning subjects that are almost impossible to clearly define. It this bill passes, it will be a lawyers windfall and will distract the business from doing what they do best, obtain new customers and serve the ones they have by treating their employees very fairly at all times.
HB06-1156
HOUSE SPONSOR - Welker
SENATE SPONSOR Brophy
Concerning increased consumer rights regarding the use of social security numbers. This bill prohibits the public posting of social security numbers, the placement of social security numbers on cards by businesses and the encryption of social security numbers if used on the Internet
My Comments: Colorado is number 7th in the nation concerning identity theft. This bill will help in that area since the use of someone else's' social security number is an important part of the thief's mode of operation. This bill passed out of the House and Senate committees and floors almost unanimously. The next step is for it to be signed by the Governor and become law as of January 1, 2007
HB06-1175
HOUSE SPONSOR - May
SENATE SPONSOR - Grossman
Prohibits smoking in indoor enclosed areas, including places of employment.
My Comments: This bill passed the House by 38 YES, 24 NO, and 3 excused. It takes 33 votes for a bill to pass through the House. I was a strong NO vote on this bill because the infringement on personal property rights. It is my opinion that it is reasonable for a business owner to let people smoke in their business. Some employees do want to work in a smoking establishment. For those that do not, they can find employment at a place that does not allow smoking. Besides, before they hired on to a smoking establishment, they should know that. I do not like "nanny government" and this bill is just that.
It brings to mind a famous quote from our first President, George Washington, "Government is not reason or eloquence, but is like a consuming fire."
Where there is "smoke, there is fire." This bill consumes some people's freedoms. Some small mom and pop bars will lose their freedoms to let their friends smoke in the business that they own and it may result in a few of those businesses to go out of business. Of course, in the infinite wisdom of the Senate and House, the rich gambling casinos along with the smoking lounge at DIA, and cigar bars were exempted from this law.
Please see the attached "Bills in the News for the week ending 3/17/06 for more information.
Sincerely,
Jim Welker Representative
Colorado District 51
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