Colorado Conservation Voters in the News
Colorado Conservation Voters in the News
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Ritter 'un-vetoes' measures Some lawmakers have better luck with new governor By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain
News If at first you don't succeed, just wait for a new governor. Some lawmakers whose legislation was vetoed by former Republican Gov. Bill Owens are having better luck under Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter. Their bills range from allowing communities to tax themselves to provide all-day kindergarten to giving information about emergency contraception to rape victims. Some bills are identical to measures Owens vetoed, while others have been weakened or altered. "What a difference an election makes," said Carrie Doyle, executive director of Colorado Conservation Voters. "Bill Ritter said he would be a 'stubborn steward' for the environment, and he is keeping his campaign promises." For three years, Rep. Al White, R-Winter Park, pushed for a bill that allows communities to increase their taxing capability to buy and maintain open space. It was vetoed twice but was signed into law this year. "There are just different perspectives between the governors," White said. "That's why people elect a governor in a different party. They expect change," said Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Coal Creek Canyon. Not everybody's faring better under the new governor, who took office in January. This week, Ritter vetoed a bill prohibiting certain-sized school districts from hiring physical education teachers unless the teachers are licensed in that subject. Owens vetoed the same measure last year. "Maybe a bill isn't the right way to handle this problem," said the sponsor, Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada. "But I still don't think it right that a licensed teacher who is not trained in phys ed should be teaching P.E." House Bill 1122 is one of two bills Ritter has vetoed this session. The other was House Bill 1072, the controversial measure that would have changed labor union elections. Dozens of bills that have passed both chambers are pending before the governor, including House Bill 1292, which requires schools that teach sex education to include information about contraceptives. Ritter said Wednesday that he's inclined to sign that bill despite a massive lobbying effort by Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family against the measure. Ritter has signed 151 bills into law, including 11 measures on Wednesday. Hospice and home- care providers watched as Ritter signed two of those bills. Senate Bill 35 allows hospices to employ doctors as allowed under federal regulations. Until now, the state allowed hospices only to contract with doctors. Senate Bill 78 restores home health care services to basic health insurance plans. "It makes sure that hospice coverage is available to those who want to buy it," Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, said. "We know that hospice care is a real cost-saver to our state, as well as a support for families." Another bill Ritter signed Wednesday was Senate Bill 87, which limits construction liability to the subcontractor who was directly involved with a defect. Owens had vetoed the bill twice. Rob Wilson, president of the American Subcontractors Association of Colorado, called it the "single most important" bill to help the construction industry this session. As for White's open space proposal, one of Owens' concerns when he vetoed it was that governments would be able to use new tax dollars to cover existing expenses and then use the money that had been earmarked for open space for other costs. "It's a shell game, and Bill Owens was right to veto that bill," said Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs. "I think if Republicans controlled the majority in the legislature, that bill would have died." Vetoed bills now law A look at some of the bills vetoed by former Gov. Bill Owens that have been signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter: • Construction problems: SB 87 limits construction liability to the subcontractor who was directly involved with a defect. • Emergency contraception: SB 60 requires hospitals to adopt protocols to inform a survivor of a sexual assault of the availability and use of emergency contraception. • Kindergarten: SB 26 authorizes school districts to seek voter approval for property tax increases to pay for all-day kindergarten. • Open space: SB 98 allows, if voters agree, local governments to exceed their total tax rate by 0.05 percent for open space and parks. • Prescription drugs: SB 1 establishes the Colorado Cares Rx Program to provide generic prescription drugs to eligible persons at discounted rates. • Whistle blower: HB 1133 requires a health care worker to follow internal patient-safety reporting procedures before going elsewhere, and offers protection to that worker. bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327 Copyright 2007, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved |
