Printed on 6/5/08
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Opening Comments:
Another week went by in a hurry. It is a very fast pace at the Capitol with much to read and absorb about the different bills that we vote on in the committees and on the House and Senate floors. Constituents send letters, emails, and phone calls concerning how they feel on various issues. Of course, the lobbyists (we have about 800 of them) approach us about their concerns on a particular bill that they care about.
I find that the lobbyists can give information that is hard to get quickly otherwise. It is important to listen to both sides and make the very best decision to be FAIR and at the same time to decide what is RIGHT from what is WRONG. Most of the time, this is easy to do, but at times, some bills and decisions are tough because it is easy to be 50% right and 50% wrong on a tough issue. But, we must make a decision because we vote at least 2,000 times on the different bills and resolutions during our 120-day session.
Whenever I vote, I keep in mind that every law that is passed affects someone's life one way or another. I like President John Adams quote:
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people." John Adams
Bills In The News:
Attached is a list of the "Bills In The News for the week ending 1/20/06." Many of these may be of interest to you.
Two of my bills are:
--HB 1062 by Rep. Jim Welker (R-Loveland) would require school districts to collect information on each student's citizenship status and report this data to the state Board of Education. Awaiting a hearing in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs
--HB 1156 by Rep. Jim Welker (R-Loveland) concerning increased consumer rights regarding the use of social security numbers. Is not assigned to a committee at this time.
Three in progress:
I am having a bill to be drafted on "campaign finance reform." Now, some state legislators get large sums of money for there "office accounts" while we are in session. My bill would not let that to be done. Office accounts cannot be used for political electioneering, but must be used for office staff and newsletters.
I am doing some study and work on a bill that would allow about 30-40 percent of the inmates in our state prisons to do meaningful work by the production of various products or services to help us reduce our recidivism rate from 52%. I recommend that part of the money made would go to restitution, part of it to incarceration costs and then of it in the inmate's savings account. When paroled, inmates may have a few thousand dollars saved up so that they can get a place to rent with the deposit and some "breathing room" to find work. Currently, our system is set up for failure!
Last Thursday, I started drafting a bill that would allow our public K-12 school teachers to be protected from frivolous lawsuits by our Attorney General's office with a $1,000,000 retainer (trust fund). Right now, the teacher must get their own insurance or be persuaded to join the liberal NEA/CEA union for legal protection. I will keep you informed on the progress of this bill.
I find that some bills, when introduced in a committee create a real ripple effect. Laws can be like a "bowl of Jell-O." Trying to change one simple thing can result in opening up discussion in an entire industry. A case in point is HB 1062 by Rep. Matt Knoedler (R=Lakewood) that would real a 20-year old requirement that limousines have a TV, phone and beverage services to be designated a "luxury limousine." The bill was taken off the table in our Transportation & Energy Committee because the Taxi industry wanted some other changes and we are not clear what a "luxury limousine" is. To some, it is a stretch vehicle and to others, it is a sedan that can be 20 years old that is black.
I want to keep these updates somewhat short because I know that you have a lot to read from the Internet and in the print media. Feel free to email me at jim@jimwelker.com on any issue and I will be in touch with you in a very timely manner.
Best regards,
House District 51
Rep. Jim Welker
2641 N. Taft Ave
Loveland, CO 80538
(970)667-5227
< Back to Capitol Updates
Week 2, 2006
Home / Legislation / Capitol Updates
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Opening Comments:
Another week went by in a hurry. It is a very fast pace at the Capitol with much to read and absorb about the different bills that we vote on in the committees and on the House and Senate floors. Constituents send letters, emails, and phone calls concerning how they feel on various issues. Of course, the lobbyists (we have about 800 of them) approach us about their concerns on a particular bill that they care about.
I find that the lobbyists can give information that is hard to get quickly otherwise. It is important to listen to both sides and make the very best decision to be FAIR and at the same time to decide what is RIGHT from what is WRONG. Most of the time, this is easy to do, but at times, some bills and decisions are tough because it is easy to be 50% right and 50% wrong on a tough issue. But, we must make a decision because we vote at least 2,000 times on the different bills and resolutions during our 120-day session.
Whenever I vote, I keep in mind that every law that is passed affects someone's life one way or another. I like President John Adams quote:
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people." John Adams
Bills In The News:
Attached is a list of the "Bills In The News for the week ending 1/20/06." Many of these may be of interest to you.
Two of my bills are:
--HB 1062 by Rep. Jim Welker (R-Loveland) would require school districts to collect information on each student's citizenship status and report this data to the state Board of Education. Awaiting a hearing in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs
--HB 1156 by Rep. Jim Welker (R-Loveland) concerning increased consumer rights regarding the use of social security numbers. Is not assigned to a committee at this time.
Three in progress:
I am having a bill to be drafted on "campaign finance reform." Now, some state legislators get large sums of money for there "office accounts" while we are in session. My bill would not let that to be done. Office accounts cannot be used for political electioneering, but must be used for office staff and newsletters.
I am doing some study and work on a bill that would allow about 30-40 percent of the inmates in our state prisons to do meaningful work by the production of various products or services to help us reduce our recidivism rate from 52%. I recommend that part of the money made would go to restitution, part of it to incarceration costs and then of it in the inmate's savings account. When paroled, inmates may have a few thousand dollars saved up so that they can get a place to rent with the deposit and some "breathing room" to find work. Currently, our system is set up for failure!
Last Thursday, I started drafting a bill that would allow our public K-12 school teachers to be protected from frivolous lawsuits by our Attorney General's office with a $1,000,000 retainer (trust fund). Right now, the teacher must get their own insurance or be persuaded to join the liberal NEA/CEA union for legal protection. I will keep you informed on the progress of this bill.
I find that some bills, when introduced in a committee create a real ripple effect. Laws can be like a "bowl of Jell-O." Trying to change one simple thing can result in opening up discussion in an entire industry. A case in point is HB 1062 by Rep. Matt Knoedler (R=Lakewood) that would real a 20-year old requirement that limousines have a TV, phone and beverage services to be designated a "luxury limousine." The bill was taken off the table in our Transportation & Energy Committee because the Taxi industry wanted some other changes and we are not clear what a "luxury limousine" is. To some, it is a stretch vehicle and to others, it is a sedan that can be 20 years old that is black.
I want to keep these updates somewhat short because I know that you have a lot to read from the Internet and in the print media. Feel free to email me at jim@jimwelker.com on any issue and I will be in touch with you in a very timely manner.
Best regards,
House District 51
Rep. Jim Welker
2641 N. Taft Ave
Loveland, CO 80538
(970)667-5227
< Back to Capitol Updates
