In The News

Democrat, Independent Join Most Senate Republicans To Pass Capitol ID Bill, 19-15

Posted: March 14, 2018

A bill that would let people pay for ID cards and background checks so that they may bypass Capitol metal detectors passed 19-15 out of the Colorado Senate on Wednesday on a mostly party-line vote. 

All Republicans except Sen. Beth Martinez Humenik voted to approve the bill. All Democrats except Sen. Stephen Fenberg of Boulder voted against. And the Senate's only independent, former Democrat Cheri Jahn of Wheat Ridge, sided with the Republicans.

The bill moves next to the Colorado House, controlled by Democrats. 

The Colorado Lobbyists Association says 91.3% of lobbyists surveyed support an ID-card bypass, citing long lines and frequent trips between unsecured buildings and the state Capitol, which has metal detectors.

Members of the general public also have to go through security screening, but legislators, aides, interns, state employees and certain members of the media do not. 

Vote total

 

Emails Warn Workers At Colorado Capitol Not To Speak To Press

Posted: March 13, 2018

More than 100 Senate staff, aides and interns have been warned against speaking to journalists about workplace issues, including sexual harassment, and the trainings aimed at preventing it, KUNC reports. 

At issue are two emails KUNC obtained from Senate sources that say it is a violation of the chamber's policies for workers to grant interviews to reporters. A third email, sent directly to KUNC by the top Senate administrator, asked KUNC to tell members of other news organizations not to approach aides and interns for interviews, but rather to speak with communications secretaries. "We didn't act on that request because it's not our role to direct the reporting of other news organizations."

The emails have raised the issue of freedom of speech for some at the Capitol at a time when people are speaking out against sexual harassment in hopes of improving workplace culture, KUNC said. 

Full story

 

Capitol ID Card Postponed; Re-Scheduled For Senate Hearing On Tuesday, March 13 

A bill that would allow heavy users of Colorado's Capitol complex to pay for a background check that would let them come and go in buildings more easily is on Tuesday's General Orders calendar in the Colorado Senate. 

SB18-116, Capitol Identification Card, was rescheduled from Monday's calendar. 

The Colorado Lobbyists Association says a survey it took of all lobbyists shows 91.3% support for the idea. It has promoted an awareness campaign, Capitol Clear, to bring attention to the idea, which would require prospective pass holders to submit to a fingerprint-based background check conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

 

Capitol ID Card Up Today For Second Reading In Colorado Senate

Posted: March 12, 2018

A bill that would allow heavy users of Colorado's Capitol complex to pay for a background check that would let them come and go in buildings more easily is on this morning's General Orders calendar in the Colorado Senate. 

SB18-116, Capitol Identification Card, is the third bill scheduled to be heard.

The Colorado Lobbyists Association says a survey it took of all lobbyists shows 91.3% support for the idea. It has promoted an awareness campaign, Capitol Clear, to bring attention to the idea, which would require prospective pass holders to submit to a fingerprint-based background check conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

"Currently, no lobbyists or members of the public undergoes any background check to enter Colorado's Capitol, so this alternative is safer than today's system without background checks," the association says on its website. 

SB18-116, as drafted, also gives the Colorado State Patrol the authority to deny a Capitol ID Card even in instances where a background check comes back clean. This way, persons accused of threatening or harassing behavior would be mandated to go through Capitol metal detectors anyway. 

The bill handily passed the Senate Finance Committee but squeaked through Senate Appropriations Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no. At the committee hearing, neither side publicly voiced their reasons for support or for non-support. 

 

 
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