Upcoming GOP Legislation

The Colorado Legislative Republicans have issued out their upcoming legislation. Here's a quick preview with some of our thoughts on the bills.

Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R-Berthoud)--Repeal the car tax

In 2009, majority Democrats pushed through a $250 million annual car tax. The measure raised vehicle registration fees by an average of $36 and imposes a punitive $100 late fee. Lundberg is sponsoring a bill that will repeal portions of the car tax, dubbed FASTER, starting with the $100 late fee.

This bill will probably be one of the most popular by Coloradoans, the silent but deadly Ritter car tax during the worst of times was a horrible move by democrats. How are we suppose to get people to invest in our economy again when we keep taking their money away? There already is a vehicle registration fee, why do we need to pay so much more and why do so many Coloradans have to pay a $100 late fee when they've barely heard of the program? If you want revenue, you've got to make it easy for the consumer to buy and be productivity at the work place.

Sen. Nancy Spence (R-Centennial)--Reform Teacher Tenure

Under the current law, teachers spend their first three years of the job on probation. This means that a teacher is observed more often and evaluated more frequently than those who have achieved tenure or non-probationary status. After three years, school principals or administrators decide whether to tenure a teacher or move her to non-probationary status. Once off probation, the evaluation process becomes far more informal.

The process for getting rid of a tenured teacher is difficult and costly. Short of child abuse, tenured teachers are almost guaranteed to keep their jobs forever. Sen. Nancy Spence, of Centennial, has a bill that aims to reform teacher tenure by increasing the probationary period from three years to five years. It will also require tenured teachers to be re-evaluated every five years in order to renew their tenure status.

A bill very likely to be attacked by democrats and the teacher's union, yet extremely beneficial to our school system. There are some really good experienced teachers and some really bad, why would it make any sense to keep teachers that don't know what they are teaching and ineffective in our schools? How can we want Colorado's public schools to succeed when the students are taught by people who have less knowledge of the subject then the teachers and ineffective teaching styles that hurt, not help the class. It's time to great responsible in government and our schools.

Sen. Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction)—Government Reduction Legislation


Penry will be carrying a bill aimed at creating a more focused, efficient government that can provide essential services without asking for more taxes and fees. Highlights of the bill would include abolishing the executive director of the Department of Local Affairs and place those responsibilities with the Lieutenant Governor. It would combine boards and commissions and institute a real hiring freeze.

What better way to save money then make the government more efficient and effective? Instead of raising taxes, contributing to the worsening of our economy, let's use our government revenue to spend on programs that are effective and needed instead on programs that are inefficient and pointless. And how about actually giving responsibility to the Lieutenant Governor instead of paying them to sit around. We could save a ton of money this way. This reform is needed.

Rep. Cindy Acree (R-Aurora)—Allow for the purchase of health insurance across state lines


As Federal legislation creates an unfunded mandate for states to provide health insurance, Acree’s bill would open Colorado’s borders and allow residents to purchase their coverage from other states. The competition would lower the cost for consumers, while also providing them with more coverage options.

 Increasing competition is what we need right now. Competition creates lower costs yet more effective products. Allowing Coloradoans to go across borders to purchase health care will give them even more options for affordable, quality health care that they can pick instead of being stuck with the costs of Colorado. This is a good first step in effective health care reform.

Rep. B.J. Nikkel (R-Loveland)—Force the current administration to fully implement the Taxpayer Transparency Act.

Last session, Nikkel sponsored a bill that required details of state spending and revenues to be posted online. The bill initially encountered resistance, mainly from Ritter’s office, but eventually passed with broad bi-partisan support. When the first bits of state spending were posted online, Nikkel was disappointed to discover the data had been aggregated, therefore, offering little insight into state spending.

Nikkel will run a bill this session to better define the intent of her legislation and require more detailed data be provided to the public.

It's time we found out how our money is being spent with a straight honest answer. Coloradans should have the right to see how our government uses are hard earned money. This will force the government to spend effectively. What is there to hide if there isn't anything to be ashamed of or worry about?

Rep. Marsha Looper (R-Calhan) –No Guantanamo detainees in Colorado


Ever since President Barack Obama vowed to close Gitmo, the question of where to move the enemy combatants has haunted his administration. Colorado’s own ADX supermax prison in Florence has been discussed as a possible location for the prisoners. Looper’s bill would bar Gitmo detainees from being moved to the supermax in Florence.

The only person in Colorado that wants terrorists here is Governor Ritter and boy is he wrong. It's one thing to end torture, it's another thing to bring these terrorists in populated areas of the United States with the ability, however small chance, to escape. Not to mention the mess we'll have with the judical branch on if these terrorists that are now in the US get a right to trial, council, etc. Terrorism should be non-negotiable. How is it possible our own government doesn't get this?
2010 will be a good year for Coloradans if we 1) get these common sense solution bills passed to the benefit of the people and our economy and 2) when we replace incompetent leaders with real leadership that we've been waiting for a long time. The fight starts now and I know which side I'm on. Are you with us?