Colorado Capitol Report

In this Capitol Report:

• Dust Settles on Controversial 2015 Legislative Session
• News Media Coverage

Dust Settles on Controversial 2015 Legislative Session

It has been more than a week since the legislature adjourned on Wednesday, May 6^th.  The news media have issued post-session analyses (see below), and lawmakers have scattered to the four corners of the state, returning to their homes and private lives.

On Tuesday, CACI issued its post-session review and the complete listing of the bills that it lobbied.

Thanks to the CACI lobbying team!

A huge thank-you goes to CACI’s veteran lobbying team for its tireless work during the 2015 legislative session:

• Chuck Berry, CACI President;
• Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations;
• Dan O’Connell, CACI State Governmental Affairs Representative;
• Leah Curtsinger, CACI Federal Policy Representative; and
• Larry Hudson, CACI contract lobbyist.

And a big thanks also goes to the following CACI Council Chairs and active members!

• Energy and Environment Council–John Jacus, Partner, Davis, Graham & Stubbs;
• Governmental Affairs Council–Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations;
• HealthCare Council–Cindy Sovine Miller, President and CEO, Sovine Miller and Company;
• Labor and Employment Council–Stacey Campbell, Shareholder, Campbell Litigation; and
• Tax Council–Rhonda Sparlin, Partner, RubinBrown

News Media Coverage

For news media coverage of the end of the session, see:

“The 2015 General Assembly: winners, losers and in the middle,” by Lynn Bartels, John Frank and Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 10^th.

“2015 legislature’s winners and losers,” by the Editorial Board, The Denver Post, May 10^th.

“Colorado legislative session: the good, the bad and the snug,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, May 10^th.

“Legislative promises for Colorado’s middle class largely not kept,” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 10^th.

“Sine Die,” by Marianne Goodland, The Colorado Statesman, May 8^th.

“Compromise struck on student testing bill,” by Vic Vela, The Colorado Statesman, May 8^th.

“Fracking foes hit wall with legislature as Democrats sidestep fractious debate,” by Valerie Richardson, The Colorado Statesman, May 8^th.

“Making ‘statements’ at the Colorado statehouse,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 8^th.

“Modest progress for 2015 Colorado General Assembly,” by the Editorial Board, The Denver Post, May 7^th.

“Hickenlooper vows to continue fighting for hospital-fee road-funding plan” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7^th.

“Legislative leaders vow to bring back construction-defects reform, ag-land bills,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7^th.

“Hickenlooper suggest vetoes for red-light camera bills, touts agenda,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 7^th,

“2015: The Colorado Legislative session that did little for business,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 7^th.

“Testing, photo radar add to busy last day at Colorado legislature,” by John Frank, Lynn Bartels and Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 6^th.

“Colorado lawmakers conclude work with testing compromise,” by Ivan Moreno and Kristen Wyatt, The Associated Press, The Pueblo Chieftain, May 7^th.

“Flurry of votes as lawmakers call it a wrap,” by Peter Marcus, The Durango Herald, May 6^th.

News Media Coverage

Below is recent news-media coverage of state and federal political, policy and governmental issues of interest to CACI:

“Governor authorizes I-70 study, but what’s next for winter drivers?” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 14^th.

“Colorado health insurance exchange seeks reimbursement from Medicaid,” by Electa Draper, The Denver Post, May 14^th.

“New Colorado law increases tax incentives for rural economic development,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 14^th.

“Colorado health insurance exchange questioned by oversight committee,” by Electa Draper, The Denver Post, May 13^th.

“Michael Williams seeks to replace Kathleen Conti in House District 38,” by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post, May 12^th.

“State Sen. Ellen Roberts considers U.S. Senate bid in 2016,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 12^th.

“Colorado health exchange proposes major fee hikes,” by Katie Kerwin McCrimmon, Health News Colorado, The Denver Business Journal, May 11^th.

“Court ruling offers help for condo builders burned by construction defects lawsuits,” by Valerie Richardson, The Colorado Statesman, May 11^th.

“Former EPC GOP vice chair Dave Williams to seek Gordon Klingenschmitt’s seat in the House,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, May 9^th.

“Testing bill the one notable achievement in education policy,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 9^th.

“Coffman settling in as state’s chief lawyer,” by Ernest Luning, The Colorado Statesman, May 8^th.

“Tense debate precedes re-up of consumer watchdog office,” by Vic Vela, The Colorado Statesman, May 7^th.

“Testing agreement comes in session’s final hours,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 6^th.

“Mixed bag of education bills crosses finish line as session ends,” by Todd Engdahl, Chalkbeat Colorado, May 6^th.

“Hospital Provider fee bill dies, but it’ll be back,” by Marianne Goodland, The Colorado Statesman, May 6^th.

“Workforce-development package heads to Hickenlooper largely intact,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 6^th.

“Morgan Carroll considering run for Mike Coffman seat,” by Mark K. Matthews, The Denver Post, May 6^th.

“Last-minute agreement means change for Colorado urban-renewal laws,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 6^th.

“Bill defining independent contractors dies in Colorado House,’ by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5^th.

“Final road-funding efforts crash in Colorado Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, My 5^th.

“A rush to pass Senate leader’s bill showcases session’s final hours,” by John Frank, The Denver Post, May 5^th.

“Colorado can track ROI for big tourism marketing budget, governor says,” by Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, May 5^th.

“$3.5 billion Colorado highway bonding bill dis: another road measure in limbo,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5^th.

“Unions file 140 petitions for ‘ambush elections’ under new NLRB rule,” by Kent Hoover, The Denver Business Journal, May 5^th.

“Bill for creating hurdles for cutting CO2 in Colorado dies at Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 4^th.

“Efforts to tackle Colorado’s affordable-housing crisis fail in Legislature,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, May 4^th.

“Export-Import Bank exec visits Colorado, argues for bank’s survival,” by Monica Mendoza, The Denver Business Journal, May 4^th.