From the monthly archives: February 2012
State lawmakers say it’s a financial hardship to serve in the state legislature, especially for rural lawmakers. This comes as many out of metro lawmakers are defending a recent increase in their daily cost of living expenses. Many legislators have opposed similar pay-increases for state employees amid the economic downturn. And as Bente Birkeland [...]
State lawmakers are once again considering whether to set a legal standard for driving under the influence of marijuana. A measure cleared a senate committee on Monday after a nearly seven hour debate. Similar bi-partisan efforts failed in the Democratic senate last year. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.
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State lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to increase the daily expense rate for legislators who live outside of Denver. Every non-metro area lawmaker could get nearly 4 thousand additional dollars each year. Legislative leaders from both parties back the plan. Bente Birkeland talks to statehouse reporters about the reimbursement rate as part of [...]
Colorado lawmakers will soon debate whether to change how government workers get hired, are fired, and how they are compensated. It’s one of Governor Hickenlooper’s top priorities for the legislative session. Bente (BEN tuh) Birkeland has more from the state capitol.
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State capitol reporter Bente Birkeland recently sat down with Governor John Hickenlooper to talk about the state’s legislative session and some of his top priorities. It’s part of our monthly chat with the Governor.
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Governor John Hickenlooper says he’s sympathetic to the legislature’s plans to give more money to rural lawmakers who have to stay in Denver during the legislative session. But the Governor says lawmakers must make the ultimate decision. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.
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The mountain pine beetle continues to be the most damaging pest infestation in Colorado forests, but there is some good news. Bente Birkeland has more from the state capitol.
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The Colorado house of representatives gave lawmakers who live outside of the Denver area a 22 percent cost of living increase last week. The measure passed under the radar with no debate. But now some lawmakers are speaking out in advance of the bill heading to the senate appropriations committee. Bente Birkeland has more [...]
A federal judge is weighing whether a lawsuit against the Tax Payers Bill of Rights should move forward. Plaintiffs are suing the state, and say TABOR violates the U.S. constitution because it strips the state legislature of its power to tax. But Colorado is defending TABOR and filed a motion asking the judge to [...]
A bill that would crack down on junk food in Colorado schools cleared its first hurdle at the statehouse on Thursday. The measure would ban trans fats in public schools, and as Bente Birkeland reports, it goes farther than bans in other states.
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