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INTERNET TAX CHALLENGED. The Direct Marketing Association filed a
lawsuit against House Bill 1193, one of the governor’s tax proposals
that requires the collection of sales taxes for online purchases. The
lawsuit claims the bill is an invasion of privacy for consumers and
discriminates against interstate commerce.
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned a
Chicago gun ban, ruling that constitutional gun rights must be
respected by the states. Click here to read the opinion in the case,
McDonald v. City of Chicago. At the end of last year, numerous caucus
members signed an NRA amicus brief in the case in support of gun
rights. The ruling may impact Colorado, particularly in light of the
decision this week by the CU regents to appeal an earlier court ruling
that found the school’s on-campus gun ban to be illegal.
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. The Bureau of Land Management has announced that
Colorado’s Vermillion Basin will be off limits to energy development
as part of the bureau’s proposed Resource Management Plan.
RITTER UPDATE.
§ Gov. Ritter’s deputy chief of staff, Stephanie Villafuerte,
resigned to take a job with the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center
as their executive director.
§ Peter Weir, head of the Department of Public Safety, will be
leaving his position at the end of July to take a position with
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey.
§ Gov. Ritter named David Mason Colorado’s seventh poet
laureate. Mason replaces Poet Laureate Mary Crow.
COLORADO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. Municipal officials elected members to the
CML Executive Board at their annual conference, choosing Minturn Town
Manager Jim White as president and Lakewood Councilmember Diana Allen
as Vice President. CML also issued its annual post-session report.
ON THE BALLOT.
§ Two fiscal policy ballot issues were filed for the 2012
ballot. The measures, which can be found here, are being pushed by the
liberal-leaning Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute and would change the
state’s tax structure.
Communications Office
IN THE NEWS. This week’s top stories are attached.
Policy Office
NEW LAWS OF NOTE. More than 40 new laws went into effect on July 1,
the most notable being House Bill 1284, which guides regulation and
oversight of the thousands of medical marijuana dispensaries that have
spread across the state.
ECONOMY. The national unemployment rate dropped slightly in June from
9.7 to 9.5 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Federal Level
STIMULUS. Colorado is receiving $5.2 million for a broadband project
by Nunn Telephone Company in the northern area of the state.
FEDERAL GRANT. Colorado was awarded a $1.14 million grant from the
U.S. Department of Labor to provide on-the-job training for health
care or energy related positions for the long-time unemployed.
SUPREME COURT NOMINEE. President Obama’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme
Court, Elena Kagan, faced members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
this week. If confirmed by the Senate, Kagan would replace retiring
Justice John Paul Stevens.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. President Obama gave a speech this week on
illegal immigration, advocating a balanced approach to the contentious
issue without providing many details or providing a policy plan to
address the nation’s illegal immigration problem.
Upcoming Events
Monday, July 5
· CAPITOL CLOSED. In observance of the Independence Day holiday.
Tuesday, July 6
§ GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE HISTORIC TOURS, If your group contains
more than 10 people, please contact the Colorado Historic Society at
303.866.3682 before arriving. Every Tuesday through August 24, 400 E.
8TH Avenue in Denver, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Wednesday, July 7
§ PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. Informational meeting hosted by
the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to discuss Xcel Energy’s plan
for “tiered rates” for their residential electric customers.
Information about the tiered rates plan is also available online.
Please RSVP by July 2 to Terry Bote at 303-894-2827. Hearing Room A at
the PUC, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250. 10 a.m. to noon.
§ HIGHER EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLANNING. Three committee meetings:
o Mission & Governance Committee. To call in, dial
1-866-258-0959 and enter meeting room code *1770121*. Colorado
Department of Higher Education, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1600 in Denver.
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
o Pipeline Committee. To call in, dial 1-866-258-0959 and enter
meeting room code *2298823*. Colorado Department of Higher Education,
1560 Broadway, Suite 1600 Denver. 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
o Sustainability Committee. To call in, dial 1-866-258-0959 and
enter meeting room code *1770121*. Colorado Department of Higher
Education, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1600 in Denver. 10 a.m. – Noon.
Thursday, July 8
· COLORADO CARBON CAPTURE and SEQUESTRATION TASK FORCE,
Meeting, Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman, room 318, 1:30 p.m. –
4:30 p.m.
Friday, July 9
§ CENTENNIAL INSTITUTE. Western Conservative Summit. July 9-11.
'Right Turn, Right Now,' hosted by Colorado Christian University.
Speakers include Dick Morris, Dennis Prager, Arthur Brooks and Jerry
Boykin. Tickets are $150 for the full conference, or $75 for the
Bachmann dinner alone. Reserve Now at Centennialccu.org. RSVP by
calling 303.963.3424. Denver Marriott South in Lonetree. Begins at
5:30 p.m. on Friday, ends at Noon on Sunday.
§ EDUCATION. Assessment Stakeholders Committee. Meeting to
discuss the ongoing effort to revise the assessment system that the
state uses to measure student achievement and growth. For questions,
contact Emmy Glancy at 303-866-6118 or glancy_e@cde.state.co.us.
Antlers Hilton, 4 South Cascade Ave., in Colorado Springs. 9 a.m. to 4
p.m.
Saturday, July 10
· GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE, Free Family Day, 400 E. 8TH Avenue,
Denver, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Coming Soon …
July 12 – 13
· LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
July 22
§ PROGRESSIVE 15. Standing Committee Meeting, Ft. Morgan.
July 25 – 28
§ NCSL. Legislative Summit for the National Conference of State
Legislatures. Click here for more information. Louisville, Kentucky.
August 5 – 8
§ ALEC. Annual Meeting of the American Legislative Exchange
Council. Click here for more information. San Diego, California.
September 11 – 14
§ CSG-WEST. Annual Meeting of the Council of State
Governments-WEST. Click here for more information. Sun Valley, Idaho.
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