Subject: ProgressNow Colorado Education Daily News Digest 1/8/2013
From: "Alan Franklin, ProgressNow Colorado Education" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 08:29:59 -0600 (CST)

Daily News Digest

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ProgressNow Colorado Education Daily News Digest 1/8/2013

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http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=5NGSmvwKJ6wFuREKZ0gzQQ

DeGette, Perlmutter plan introduce gun legislation in the new Congress
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=zPMApO4BBHtjpwJKLeRhxA

Democrat Reps. Diana DeGette and Ed Perlmutter are taking up the cause
of gun control in the new Congress. DeGette introduced legislation
that would ban high-capacity magazine clips in the week-old 113th
Congress. The legislation mirrors failed legislation that she and Rep.
Carolyn McCarthy of New York introduced last year. The bill -
dubbed the "High Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act"
- prohibits the sale or transfer of ammunition magazines holding
more than 10 rounds. This restriction was in place from 1994 to 2004,
during the assault weapons ban, but has since been lifted.

Lawmakers don't want Obama's raises
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=-F-cdjVHM9BDNBfb6FpP9w

President Barack Obama could be accused of killing his critics with
kindness. As Senate Democrats and House Republicans battled over tax
legislation and keeping the U.S. economy from going over a "fiscal
cliff" last week, Obama issued an executive order giving lawmakers and
senior U.S. officials a small pay raise for 2013 - the last
thing many lawmakers wanted when arguing over how to cut federal
spending.
RELATED: Rep. Tipton trying to stop congressional pay increases
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=dlrlAKTllIYxCc8x4Yoobg

Ethics panel asked to allow donations for Gessler's legal defense
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=a6gai0sZG2FMBNRbc3CIDg

Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission on Monday denied
Secretary of State Scott Gessler's request to end its
investigation of his use of public funds. Gessler's deputy, in
turn, asked the commission for permission to accept monetary donations
outside of the constitutional gift limit to defend him against
criminal allegations. Democratically aligned Colorado Ethics Watch
filed complaints against Gessler with the Independent Ethics
Commission and the Denver district attorney's office over his
use of public funds to pay for part of a trip in August to Florida
where Gessler attended a GOP lawyers' function and the
Republican National Convention.
RELATED: Ethics panel OKs continuing Gessler probe, mulls legal
defense fund
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=wp5DwdOCfwd3fszzSRwXFg

Measure would help struggling families
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=XlctdD7qEAelRORxqYrBSA

SB 1 broadens the reach of the earned income tax credit, the child tax
credit and the child and dependent care tax credit. All three of them
offer tax refunds for families below a certain income level. The
sponsor, Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, said the bill would put
money in the hands of people who need it most - and who will
spend it locally. "I see it as a very important investment in
working families. I see it as an economic-development tool,"
Kefalas said.
Colorado Democrats plan tax breaks despite shaky state budget
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Is5GFcB2lizjkLL_tW9MHQ

Bill targets Colorado startups for state grants
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=x8ke5-eN8VeMXDgNA80AfA

The Colorado legislature will consider a new set of
economic-development incentives for startups in the first bill of the
upcoming session. The Advanced Industries Accelerator Act, which has
bipartisan support, would allow the state to channel funds directly to
early-stage companies commercializing new technologies and concepts.
RELATED: Dems' first legislation to focus on tech jobs
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Zp_v0Jw1wDtQDnYb1W0mLg

Aurora's Rep. Rhonda Fields looks to tighten private gun sales
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Rnp_A6XwbTDIoS4jdLZqXw

As talk of gun reform reverberates from Washington to state capitals
nationwide, one Aurora lawmaker is set to sponsor at least two bills
that aim to close loopholes in private gun sales and limit
high-capacity magazines. For months, Democratic state Rep. Rhonda
Fields has worked with more than a dozen stakeholders on crafting
potential gun laws in Colorado, but Republican critics contend that
the legislation she's set to propose is fraught with challenges.
RELATED: Waller, Morse predict legislative fight on gun rights
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=WTMu4veP1HC28s7AywQGGg

Firefighters to retry union bill
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=RiEJl2WiXeE7bdTB1iJAXA

A proposal to allow collective bargaining for Colorado firefighters
without local government approval is coming back to the Legislature,
four years after a contentious battle led to a governor's veto and
acrimony from Democrats and unions. Democratic lawmakers and
firefighters said Monday they're reviving the idea and that the bill
is anticipated Wednesday, the first day of Colorado's 120-day
lawmaking session.

Lawmaker has plans to tighten grip on HOAs
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=DlTqmXIiiv00abL2kZyo9A
When Sen. Morgan Carroll sponsored the Homeowners Bill of Rights in
2005, it turns out she was just getting started in her efforts to rein
in rogue homeowners associations boards and property managers who
abuse HOA residents. Stricter reforms followed. Now, as the 2013
Colorado General Assembly opens this week, Carroll is poised as
incoming Senate Majority Leader to tighten the state's grip on
HOAs.

Bill would let Colorado parents buy alcohol for children
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=hoenE-fFA7odraZP2Oyu6g

Parents could be able buy alcohol for their children at Colorado bars
and restaurants if they were 18 and older but not 21 yet, under a
proposal by a Republican lawmaker. Sen. Greg Brophy is introducing the
bill for the legislative session that begins Wednesday. He says he
thought of the proposal because he and his wife recently took their
daughter to dinner to celebrate her 20th birthday, and she couldn't
have a drink with them.

More patients to strain Medicare
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=t34TBtst712r2t-JDXukDQ

Gov. John Hickenlooper's proposal last week that Colorado expand its
Medicaid program in accordance with federal health care reform is
likely to bring many new patients into the ranks of the insured. Many
of those who'll qualify have been getting treatment for free through
programs for the medically indigent. That's the good news. The bad
news is that newly insured patients are likely to access health care
more often than they did when they had no coverage, and an already
strained system will be hard-pressed to meet the higher demand.

Colorado committee likely to shoot down extra money for gun checks
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=y0Au9tt34VXkZg2cvbQh7g

It doesn't look good for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and its
request for additional state funds to combat the slam of firearms
background checks. CBI missed a window of opportunity to immediately
secure its request for $500,000 to deal with the flood of checks
pouring in at about 1,800 a day - well beyond the rate of checks
that the bureau is able to process.

Denver-area oil and gas water rule OK'd
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=cdUDJ7U0XkDuH31kmofFAg

Colorado's oil and gas commissioners set a rule Monday requiring
companies to test groundwater before and after drilling -
leaving environment and industry groups displeased. The state
commissioners also denied an industry motion - backed by
homebuilders, cattlemen and farmers - to exclude testimony from
people who live near oil and gas drill sites.
RELATED: Colorado regulators deny oil industry's move to quash
resident testimony about drilling near homes
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=_4eouMOn2GapIN5i2bVMBA

RELATED: Oil, gas panel OKs groundwater sampling rule
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=5GygtSbbRG9fDPH0DEFRXg

RELATED: Groundwater testing rules approved
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=1rB6IQKENZIzoFcoVEDQMA

RELATED: New drilling rule requires water tests
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=HbHWAOlhZ6vMI6Z4_WSDng

Elbert County panel considers oil, gas rules
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Wufkk3B37SAzZd4Zg4vDsg

Boulder County refuses to sign Gross Reservoir agreement
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=rN44Sr8XLD9MIlMMxJ7U1Q

The Boulder County commissioners on Monday night declined to sign an
intergovernmental agreement with Denver Water, withholding their
approval for a planned expansion of Gross Reservoir.

Denver bar beating case against cops back for discipline hearing
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=PTQf5zg2xC2hxiVWnPqZzQ

A panel of lawyers who hear discipline cases for Denver's Civil
Service Commission listened on Monday to the first of what could be
two weeks of testimony in the case of a pair of fired city police
officers who are seeking reinstatement - for a second time. The
discipline of officers Devin Sparks and Randy Murr has gone unresolved
for nearly four years.

More homeless veterans find housing
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=gsqHIm_63BD0ka_rwHqZfQ

According to a study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
released in December, the number of homeless veterans has decreased by
17.2 percent since 2009. Veterans made up nearly 10 percent of all
homeless adults last year. An estimated 63,000 people were counted as
homeless during a nationwide survey conducted in January 2012. Indeed,
some of those successes have been realized in Grand Junction.

ACLU: Colorado State Patrol to pay $1 million in wrongful death suit
out of Grand Junction
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=9T7ctSGjdUPLISeDZ8Hxkw

RELATED: Kemps, state settle for $1 million
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=KDzY4XQkIX09Ypvhf8nisg

Foresters have 180,000 piles of trees to burn in Colorado forests
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Bt4hfJZ_PF3KvoriX8BJfg

Lafayette imposes building permit moratorium
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=Vv6u651rBLmBM6EsV4eHCA

Panel, mayor differ on Friday stormwater meeting
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=OvmB7ZPqb__f-uDUB8Xmtg

Commerce City lieutenant files intent to sue police chief, city
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=TlJKmL9FVaHX7rUDStMHKQ

Grant funds RTD express bus from LoDo Denver to Commerce City
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=kX6zxYalEg1A-umbTa55AQ

Hart, McFadyen bringing staff to new jobs
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=KXIVZFDVc7ikBJwtyLdVDA

Azad planning no major changes
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=NQFdfrc_Jd1Y9nOR61DrRQ

Speaker outlines a no-bully policy for Summit County schools

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=nqVQ76S1bIx3PZG0Z6M62g

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=83rKPwomWUHtAKMonasL_g

Jefferson, Broomfield counties ponder consolidating 911 operations

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=_K4aL6PRVWCWHm7gMEs3zQ

http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=RPlVY4kk22PURK01Ocvj2Q

Off-duty Boulder officer in elk shooting had called in sick, operates
taxidermy website
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=zjoJjKYX6VhjTLh0U6B43Q

The off-duty Boulder police officer who has been suspended over his
role in the killing and disposal of a neighborhood elk on Mapleton
Hill last week called in sick the night of the shooting and operates a
website advertising "quality taxidermy at an affordable price."
RELATED: Boulder chief on elk shooting: 'If that officer needs to be
fired, I assure you he will be fired'
http://progressnowcolorado.pnstate.org/site/R?i=5rPH9PXuhjA4v8uAQn6BAA

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