quote:

Originally posted by bigpond73:
^^^ Thanks for the link MDS. I was able to trudge through the mud today after all the snowmelt, and add my name to list.

Mike, thank you for stepping into the fray by taking the time to sign the petition...sorry you had to slosh through the mud to do it...but, hey, if you have mud to slosh through then at least that means you got some precipitation...we're dry as a bone here.

Word has it that this recall petition is getting even more interest and signatures, and there are people who refused to support the last effort that are now supporting this one.

I get great pleasure reading this story...even the wildlife are ticked off at the Governor...so, maybe the recall effort will be successful. How can we get Big Horn Sheep to sign the petition.

[note: pic of "rammed" SUV damage at article link]

===============

Polis' SUV rammed by bighorn sheep during travel around Colorado

Breanna Sneeringer Oct 28, 2020

Motorists are being reminded to use extra caution while traveling throughout the Centennial State after an unexpected wildlife collision occurred involving a bighorn sheep and the vehicle Colorado Governor Jared Polis was traveling in.

Kevin Beaty, a reporter and photographer for the Denverite and CPR News, posted a photograph of Polis' SUV with a large dent in the driver's side to Twitter on Friday. In the tweet, Beaty writes, "Some odd news before the governor speaks about fires here in Loveland. His truck was hit by a bighorn sheep, right the driver side door, sometime during his tour of the state today. Polis said he was inside. No word from the sheep."

Polis quickly replied stating, "the Bighorn Sheep was fine, we were fine, the vehicle still works, that’s Colorado for you!"

Gov. Polis visited Larimer County on Friday to discuss the "impacts of the wildfires" burning across the state, including two of the largest wildfires burning in Colorado history – the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires.

"Keep your eyes peeled, ewe you never know when you might get rammed, Colorado Parks and Wildlife tweeted following the collision. They continued to state that they were "Glad to hear both Governor Polis and the bighorn sheep are OK, but this is an important reminder to give wildlife plenty of space."

Editor's Note: Please be aware of wildlife on roads. Slow down and stay alert when you see highway wildlife warning signs, especially at dawn and dusk. If you encounter wildlife that appears sick, injured, or in need of care, please contact your local Colorado Parks and Wildlife office.

There are still recall petitions available to sign, so bumping this to the top.

Signed one the other day. We can't stand gov pole smoker.

He does that too? No wonder the Kali invaders love him so much, he's one of them!

With the legislature already scheduled to convene for the 2021 legislative session in just a couple months it bears watching to see whether this Special Legislative session will even adjourn for any period other than the coming holidays. It's also worth watching to see whether this special session decides to tackle any other legislative issues besides this stimulus package. This $1 Billion + stimulus package proposed by the Governor and Democrats contains all manner of non- COVID-19 issues such as infrastructure, and my suspicion is that the legislature is going to use this "COVID-19 stimulus relief package" to fund a slew of pet projects or issues that the voters have previously rejected proposals to raise taxes to fund.

I'm hoping this doesn't evolve into a legislative marathon session in which they become a legislative machine, but given their past track record I can't help but be suspicious that they are ramping up for a blizzard of new laws too numerous to track or respond to.


==================

Gov. Jared Polis to call legislature back for special session on COVID-19 relief

Marianne Goodland, Colorado Politics Nov 16, 2020

Gov. Jared Polis intends to call the Colorado General Assembly back for a special session, according to a tweet from House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, a Castle Rock Republican.

Colorado Politics has verified that the governor intends to issue the call at a Tuesday press conference.

Just after 8 p.m., the governor and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate issued a joint statement, saying that "legislative leaders and the Governor’s office have been having productive conversations on how we can step up to help provide additional relief to Colorado businesses and hardworking families during these challenging times.

"Coloradans continue to wait for Congress to act, but we are committed to doing what we can as a state.”

Speaker of the House KC Becker of Boulder told Colorado Politics, "We've been talking to the governor's office and Republicans about the best way to get relief to Coloradans as COVID-19 rages on. It's clear we need to step forward and do something while Congress doesn't."

According to Capitol sources, a COVID-19 relief package was already being discussed for the 2021 session. However, the urgency of the financial struggles Coloradans are facing prompted a discussion of passing a package before the end-of-the-year holidays.

In his 2021-22 budget proposal, Polis has suggested a $1.3 billion stimulus package to get Colorado's economy back on track. That proposal includes $220 million in "shovel-ready public works and infrastructure projects," mostly for the Department of Transportation and for state parks improvements. Another $160 million would go toward broadband investments, including telehealth and education; $78 million for wildfire response; $106 million for small businesses — mostly direct aid grants to restaurants and bars, hit hard by capacity restrictions imposed by the state and local governments; and $168 million for the $375 payment for low-and middle-income earners who lost jobs due to the pandemic.

Another $200 million is included for "one-time stimulus legislative priorities."

Special session dates are still in flux but could be anywhere from two to four weeks from now.

If the governor makes the call, it will be his first since taking office in 2019. The last special session was called by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper in October 2017; it was intended to resolve errors in the 2017 bill on sustainability of rural Colorado. The unintended error could have resulted in millions of dollars lost by special districts.

However, Republicans, then in the majority in the state Senate, blocked all efforts to make that correction. The session lasted three days without any legislation passed. The General Assembly resolved the problem when it convened in 2018.

A family near here, perpetually broke with a front porch right out of the Dumpster behind our local Goodwill, all of the sudden owned two new / newer cars this summer. Former Massachusetts residents they are, where the unemployment scam was strong. Their other thing was road-trips to Colorado for marijuana products for resale around here. But Wolf is talking of legalizing recreational use ... there goes their income stream.

I predict a wave of "Entitlement Nomads" setting up 'residency' where ever the pickin's are plumpest.

[Note: Hyperlinks can be found at linked article]


=================

Moxi Theater owner Ely Corliss sits on the stage of the downtown Greeley nightclub moments after he learned Gov. Polis had shut down all in-person drinking and dining and gatherings of more than 10 people for a month to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus in Colorado. (Valerie Vampola, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Colorado Democrats unveil details of their coronavirus relief plans for the special legislative session

NOV 29, 2020 11:35AM MST

Jesse Paul
@jesseapaul
The Colorado Sun — jesse@coloradosun.com Desk: 720-432-2229

Statehouse Democrats on Sunday unveiled eight coronavirus relief bills they will prioritize during Colorado’s special legislative session, which begins Monday and will run at least three days.

The legislation, much of it bipartisan, includes direct payments to small businesses, tax forgiveness, grants for child care centers and money to expand broadband access.

The aid, which is constrained by the state’s budget, totals about $200 million and is aimed at providing a bridge until a much larger congressional stimulus measure is approved. Lawmakers concede that the money isn’t a silver bullet, and business leaders say it’s unlikely to revive businesses that are at the edge of demise.

“The amount the Colorado state government can do to alleviate the burdens of struggling communities is limited,” Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, said in a written statement. “But it’s not nothing.”

There is an additional $100 million in spending related to Colorado’s public health response.

Republicans are expected to introduce measures of their own during the extraordinary lawmaking term, though they are in the minority at the Capitol and thus would need significant support from Democrats to pass anything. It’s also possible other Democratic pieces of legislation could be introduced.

Here’s a look at the details of the policy in the eight priority bills heading into Monday:

Payments for small businesses and artists


The largest piece of legislation, in terms of scope and relief dollars, that Democrats have planned for the special session centers around direct payments to small businesses that have been hit hardest by coronavirus capacity restrictions.

The bill would provide $37 million in direct relief to restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters and other businesses that have been unable to reopen or severely hurt by mandates aimed at slowing the disease’s spread. Businesses like retail stores, which have been able to keep their doors mostly open, would not have access to the aid.

“This is not going to be enough money to help everyone,” said Sen. Faith Winter, a Westminster Democrat who is spearheading the legislation. “But it’s the money we have.”

To be eligible, a business must be able to prove at least a 10% revenue loss since March 26 and have an annual income of less than $2.5 million. Payments are capped at $7,000, based on revenue.

Here are the details:

- An eligible business with annual revenue of less than $500,000 can receive up to $3,500

- An eligible business with annual revenue of more than $500,000 but less than $1 million can receive up to $5,000

- An eligible business with annual revenue of more than $1 million but less than $2.5 million can receive up to $7,000

Just because a business is eligible to receive a certain amount of money, however, doesn’t mean it would receive the full amount. The program would not simply be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, the money will be doled out with need taken into consideration.

The plan is to run the application and payment process out of counties, which in many cases already have mechanisms in place to handle the funds because they distributed federal aid earlier this year. Small counties with limited resources could ask the state for help.

“We’re working out the details today,” Winter said Sunday.

Counties that are under Colorado’s red- or purple-level coronavirus restrictions, as defined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, would get the relief money first. Counties that are in compliance with state public health orders would also be prioritized. Weld County’s commissioners, for instance, have vowed not to enforce state mandates.

“It sounds like it’s a shot at Weld County,” said Tony Gagliardi, who leads the National Federation of Independent Business’ branch in Colorado. “You’re penalizing the small businesses because of actions by the county commissioners that are out of their hands.”

Gagliardi says “we’re at a point where anything will help,” but he’s not sure the money will be enough to help businesses on the verge of closure.

“That’s going to be a question in almost every one of these bills,” he said of the special legislative session. “Is it too little too late?”


This bill also includes the following:

An additional $7.5 million for artists to be managed and distributed by a nonprofit or nonprofits

An additional $6.775 million on aid to local governments with the idea that it would allow them to waive business and licensing fees

$1.8 million in waived state business and licensing fees


Friends enjoy wine and a meal inside one of the greenhouse buildings created for dining use during the coronavirus pandemic at the Annette Restaurant at the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun)


Sales tax relief for restaurants and bars


Another bill lawmakers will consider during the special session would allow restaurants and bars to keep up to $2,000 per month, for four months, of the 2.9% in state sales taxes they are required to collect.

A restaurant or bar would have to make about $70,000 in monthly revenue to realize the full benefit, which means that most establishments will receive far less than $2,000 in monthly relief.

A restaurant operator can claim the benefit for up to five sites for a total monthly relief of $10,000.


Teocalli Cocina bartender Tim Knight prepares a to-go cocktail on June 3, 2020. (Dana Coffield, The Colorado Sun)

Some restaurateurs last week expressed disappointment at the tax relief, which is expected to total about $50 million, saying it won’t be enough to make a real difference.

“Restaurants making below $70,000 will also benefit, as they’ll get to keep whatever sales tax is collected, even if that’s just $1,000 or $1,500,” Colorado Restaurant Association CEO said Sonia Riggs said. “Is that going to save a restaurant from the brink? Probably not. But that extra cash may allow a restaurant to pay a portion of their third-party delivery fees, upgrade their contactless payment, or heat their patio – so it definitely has potential to be very helpful.”

Legislative leaders say they recognize the tax relief isn’t much, but it’s what they can do within the constraints of Colorado’s limited state budget. They hope that, paired with the direct payments legislation, the aid will be enough to help restaurants and bars weather the next few months.


Aid for renters and homeowners


Lawmakers will also debate legislation that would provide $50 million in emergency housing assistance to renters and homeowners.

Most of the money, $45.5 million, would go toward an emergency rental assistance program created by the legislature several months ago and run by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. That program offers aid to landlords whose tenants can’t or didn’t pay their rent, and to renters who make below a certain monthly household income.

Another $5 million will be distributed through nonprofits to people who are able to prove financial need due to the pandemic. The money can be used to help people make overdue rent and mortgage payments.

Another $500,000 will go toward providing legal representation for people facing eviction.

“It is important to me that the funds be as flexible as possible, because a staggering number — over 40% of Coloradans — have struggled to make their rent or mortgage payments,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. “I’m also really clear that this money is critically important but won’t be enough. This is simply meant to be a bridge until Congress acts.”


A Clayton Early Learning student gets her temperature taken with hand sanitizer nearby for members of the school community to use. (Scott Dressel Martin, Special to The Colorado Sun)


Help for child care operators


The legislature will also weigh a measure to provide $45 million in relief to child care facilities that have been hit hard by the pandemic. The money would be split between two programs run by the Colorado Department of Human Services — one aimed at keeping facilities open and another aimed at helping them expand their offerings.

The money would start being distributed on Jan. 31.

For the program to keep child care centers open, $35 million would be made available. Facilities could apply for up to $35,000. The Department of Human Services would be tasked with developing an application and vetting process, as well as with creating a system of deciding how much a facility should get depending on its need and size.

The expansion program would get $8.75 million and facilities could apply for up to $50,000 to be spent on things like staff training, employee background check fees, cleaning supplies, educational supplies and capital and facility improvement costs.

The idea behind the expansion program is to help fill gaps created by the closure of facilities because of pandemic-related economic difficulties.


Other aid bills


The four other priority aid bills that will be introduced by Democrats would:

- Provide $20 million toward increasing Colorado’s broadband capacity, specifically for students who are learning remotely

- Devote $3 million to replenishing food pantries

- Offer $5 million to a nonprofit, Energy Outreach Colorado, that helps low-income people pay their utility bills

- Dedicate $100 million to the state’s public health response. The spending would come in anticipation of the money being reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Colorado lawmakers advance a flurry of bills on first day of special session

By Robert Davis
15 hrs ago

Lawmakers spent the first day of Colorado’s special session advancing a flurry of bills that provide a stimulus while rejecting efforts to discuss procedure and executive power.

Of the 37 total bills filed, only 14 survived. The House introduced 22 bills, moving just eight to second readings while the Senate introduced 11 and moved six. Both chambers also passed rule changes to allow for remote public testimony during the session.

Several bipartisan bills survived the first day. In the House, Reps. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, and Lois Landgraf, R-Colorado Springs, introduced a bill that would allocate $45 million for grant programs to help existing child care centers.

Another bill by Reps. Alex Valdez, D-Denver, and Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, would allow bars and restaurants to keep their monthly sales tax revenue up to $10,000, through February 2021.

“Colorado restaurants, bars and small businesses are struggling and need assistance now so our recovery can stay on track,” Valdez said in a statement. “Only the federal government can deliver the kind relief our state needs most, but we are committed to using what limited state resources we have to boost our recovery and help as many hardworking families and small businesses as possible.”

In the Senate, lawmakers advanced bills that seek to provide relief for small and minority-owned businesses, direct payments for housing assistance, and create a utility bill payment assistance program.

Democrats were more successful in passing partisan legislation than their counterparts. In the House, Democrats advanced a bill that would allow insurance premiums to be claimed as tax deductions. In the Senate, they advanced legislation apportioning more money to Gov. Jared Polis’ emergency war chest.

Meanwhile, House Republicans appear laser-focused on providing tax relief for small businesses and schools. Reps. Van Winkle, Patrick Neville, R–Castle Rock, Kim Ransom, R-Lone Tree, and Dave Williams, R-Colorado Springs, introduced a bill to provide tax credits to schools for additional costs of remaining compliant with COVID-19 restrictions.

However, other House Republican-led bills attempting to limit Gov. Polis’ emergency powers and the duration of his emergency declarations never made it out of committee.

Senate Republicans made the point on the floor that their caucus previously called for a special legislative session, which was rejected by the majority.

"What we are doing here today is standing up for our branch," Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert said on the floor. "Republicans called for a special session months ago... but that was described at the time as a 'political stunt.' Ok, it wasn't."

[Note: Hyperlinks can be found at linked article]

=======================


A line of greenhouse buildings for dining use during the coronavirus pandemic serve customers for the Annette Restaurant at the Stanley Marketplace on Nov. 7, 2020 in Aurora, Colorado. (Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun)


Colorado lawmakers demand counties comply with coronavirus restrictions to access relief money

A bill offering $37 million in direct aid to needy businesses would cut out places -- like Weld County -- that refuse to adhere to state COVID-19 mandates


DEC 1, 2020 4:15AM MST

Jesse Paul
@jesseapaul
The Colorado Sun — jesse@coloradosun.com Desk: 720-432-2229

Colorado lawmakers are trying to use coronavirus relief dollars as a way to persuade counties to follow Gov. Jared Polis’ COVID-19 restrictions.

A bipartisan bill that won preliminary approval on Monday, the first day of a special legislative session, would withhold direct-aid payments to small businesses and arts organizations in counties that refuse to comply with mandates issued by the state’s health department to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The legislation appears to target conservative Weld County, where commissioners have said they won’t enforce red-level coronavirus mandates imposed on the county Nov. 22, including a ban on indoor dining and a ban on all personal gatherings.

“This money was directed toward those businesses that have been most impacted by the public health orders,” said Sen. Faith Winter, a Westminster Democrat who is spearheading the legislation. “If your county is refusing to (enforce) public health orders, the impacts are different.”

One Democratic lawmaker suggested a similar test should apply to restaurants and bars that receive a temporary tax break under consideration in a separate bill.

The attempt to compel counties to comply with guidelines from the state Department of Public Health and Environment comes amid months of tension between Polis and Democratic lawmakers, who have pushed for the restrictions, and Republicans who generally want businesses to operate with minimal restrictions.

The measure — which includes two Republican sponsors — would allow counties to apply to tap into $37 million in relief provided by the legislature. The state would send the money to counties, which in turn would handle distributing up to $7,000 in one-time payments to eligible small businesses, like restaurants, bars, movie theaters and event venues. Counties under more severe coronavirus restrictions because of rising cases and hospitalizations would get priority in receiving the money.

“It’s not right. It’s blackmail on the governor’s part and Democrats’ part,” said Sen. John Cooke, a Weld County Republican, referring to the compliance clause. “It’s not fair at all.”

Cooke said he stands by the decision of Weld County’s commissioners. “They know what’s more important for Weld County than the governor does,” he said. “The governor hates Weld County.”

Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, said the compliance clause is akin to totalitarianism.

“This isn’t a bill intended to be a bill help small businesses as much as it is a bill to punish rebellious counties, to punish those that would challenge,” he said. “This bill doesn’t befit the state of Colorado. This bill befits the People’s Republic of China.”

Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, criticized Republicans for objecting to the compliance clause. He said Gardner’s remarks were offensive.

“If you’re operating basically normally, you probably don’t need this money as much,” he said.


The Fox Theater in Montrose is closed as life in Colorado shuts down in response to the new coronavirus. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Tony Gagliardi, the Colorado state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said he’s concerned about businesses in Weld County being unfairly blocked from accessing the aid through no fault of their own.

“You’re penalizing the small businesses because of actions by the county commissioners that are out of their hands,” he said.

Weld County’s five commissioners did not respond to messages seeking comment on Monday.

Sen. Rob Woodward, a Loveland Republican, worried during a committee hearing on the legislation that counties may impose more stringent restrictions on their businesses in order to access the direct payments. “Are we encouraging counties who are trying to chase money to keep their businesses afloat?” he asked.

Sen. Kevin Priola, a Henderson Republican who is a sponsor of the direct-aid bill, said no.

“There’s not nearly enough money to encourage municipalities or businesses around the state to elevate (their restrictions) just for running after this,” Priola said.

Winter, the lead sponsor, said the plan is to offer an amendment providing a carveout for businesses located in cities that comply with public health guidelines, even if they are in a county that refuses to do so. Those cities would be able to ask the state, rather than their county, to distribute the direct-aid dollars to them.

Democrats are eyeing similar compliance clauses for other special-session coronavirus relief legislation.

Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, said a bill to provide a four-month tax break to restaurants and bars should include a provision that requires business owners wishing to to participate in the sales tax relief plan to certify that they were in compliance with state and local public health.

The state should “prioritize businesses that are doing the right thing and protect public health,” she said.

Colorado isn't California, CA is well known to legislate money to help those who need assistance, or to work on projects in the public interest. CA's problem is that too much of the $$ is eaten by the bureaucracy, or contracted to gov't cronies, not much ends up benefiting the intended purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by Scoutmaster:
Colorado isn't California, CA is well known to legislate money to help those who need assistance, or to work on projects in the public interest. CA's problem is that too much of the $$ is eaten by the bureaucracy, or contracted to gov't cronies, not much ends up benefiting the intended purpose.

You're not giving Colorado near enough credit...the Democrat controlled legislature and Governorship are tremendously skilled at the wasting of and siphoning off of tax payer funds. Why just earlier this year, while the legislature surrendered their mandated budgetary authority to the Democrat governor, he was able to unilaterally disperse federal CARES act funds, as suited his whims and agenda.

Colorado roads and highways are infamous for being in such poor condition because C.D.O.T. follows practices like raiding their budget to build new bike trails or awarding highway construction projects to former employees who left to start consulting firms or construction companies... and then complains to tax payers that they need additional funding from proposed tax increases to maintain the roads.

Colorado may not be California yet, but the Democrats leaders here idolize CA lawmakers, learn quickly, and they are in a major rush to catch up.

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:. . . Colorado may not be California yet, but the Democrats leaders here idolize CA lawmakers, learn quickly, and they are in a major rush to catch up.

CA Gov Newsom said that the nation and the world look to him and to CA to be the light of the future.

Those Greenhouse patrons remind me of lab rats.

^^^^
Dining in an empty greenhouse isn't my idea of a great eating out experience, but restaurant owners get a big thumbs up from me for doing anything they can to survive. Unfortunately, solutions like this aren't affordable or practical for many restaurants and bars.

I normally don't include pics in these types of posts, but I included those because I thought it was an innovative solution, and I thought perhaps others might find it interesting or worth sharing with struggling business or restaurant owners.

I'd like to see these type of onerous sweeping business restrictions lifted and instead allow business owners the freedom to take precautions that suit their individual environments while allowing the customer to make the final choice...but, as long as these restrictions are in place...well, you gotta love small business innovation.

Day two of colorado's special session sees key bills advance

By Robert Davis
12 hrs ago

The second day of Colorado’s special session saw lawmakers pass several bills and move others through the committee phase.

Bills addressing internet access for rural schools, relief for child care, and tax relief for small businesses all unanimously passed through committees.

House Bill 20B-1001, which passed the House earlier Tuesday, was sponsored in the upper chamber by Sens. Kerry Donovan, D–Vail, and Don Coram, R–Montrose. The legislation would appropriate $20 million in grant funding to increase internet access for rural students, teachers, and parents.

“Kids across Colorado are sitting at their kitchen tables, unbelievably frustrated with their unreliable or nonexistent internet connections,” Donovan said in a statement. “This bill ensures that COVID-19 won’t rob a child of their education or a teacher of their vocation by establishing reliable internet access for all of Colorado’s future writers, scientists, and historians.”

House Bill 20B-1004, which was passed by the House on Tuesday, was carried by Sens. Jeff Bridges, D–Greenwood Village, and Jack Tate, R–Centennial, in the Senate. The bill will allow restaurants and bars to keep up to $10,000 of monthly sales tax revenue through February 2021.

"Allowing these folks to keep the state sales tax they collect won’t eliminate all of their burdens, but it will help to keep more Coloradans employed and lessen the load on those who have invested their lives and livelihoods into these critical Colorado small businesses,” Bridges said in a statement.

Meanwhile, lawmakers amended House Bill 20B-1005, which would allow local authorities to set delivery fee caps, and Senate Bill 20B-001, which provides relief for small and minority-owned businesses.

Amendments to HB20B-1005 removed the County Board of Commissioners as the oversight authority and excluded convenience stores and grocery stores from its jurisdiction.

Senate Bill 20B-001 now requires Gov. Jared Polis to “continue to develop a framework to certify businesses that demonstrate exemplary compliance with public health orders during the pandemic through an evidence-based certification program that is aligned with the state's objectives to contain the COVID-19 virus.”

Republican-led efforts to limit the governor’s emergency powers and impose procedural requirements on his declarations were quashed by the Senate Committee on Finance in a 4-3 vote.

[note: hyperlinks can be found at linked article]

===============

Special legislative session likely won’t curb Polis’ powers; Democrats dispatch several GOP efforts

December 2, 2020

By Scott Weiser

DENVER–As the special session of the Colorado General Assembly called by Governor Polis raced forward Monday and Tuesday, lawmakers pushed forward with 37 bills addressing a variety of COVID-19 pandemic responses.

But while the majority Democrats sped spending, and other bills through committee after committee one subject they were unwilling to approve was limitations on the power of the governor to continue to indefinitely extend his health emergency declarations and executive orders.

Seven bills and resolutions put forward by Republicans all appear unlikely to get further than the first committee hearing.

House Bill 20B-1011, sponsored by Rep. Tim Geitner, R-Falcon and Rod Bockenfeld, R-Watkins, assigned to the Public Health Care & Human Services committee, lost on a 6-3 party line vote Monday.

The bill would have changed the existing 2012 law giving the governor broad authority to issue disaster declarations and executive orders. Those orders must be renewed every 30 days by the governor, but they have no statutory time limitations after which the governor is compelled to bring further extensions to the state legislature.

There is a provision in the current law that allows the General Assembly to call itself into a special session after the first 30 days, where a majority-vote joint resolution by both chambers terminates the governor’s emergency declaration. The problem, says Geitner, is that in the current situation the Democrat majority is not willing to do so.

Geitner and Bockenfeld believe that the law must change so that the governor can still act quickly and decisively in an emergency, for up to 30 days, but after that must bring the matter to the people’s representatives for permission to extend that authority.

Geitner spoke with Complete Colorado Monday.

“As the representative for House District 19 I have received I don’t even know how many emails, text messages and phone calls with concerns about how the governor has been managing the pandemic through executive orders, “ Geitner said. “This bill said if we’re going to have an emergency declaration across the state due to a health related issue, then any time it needs to be extended, let’s bring the legislature back. What that gets you to is a place where the voice of the people can be heard through the legislative process, and that could have a more equitable outcome.”

He believes that the advice and consent of the General Assembly must be mandatory and must be triggered automatically at the end of the governor’s first declaration of a disaster emergency.

Another problem, says Geitner, is the way the existing statutes are constructed. Even if the legislature terminates the emergency declaration, there is nothing preventing the governor from immediately enacting another disaster declaration, starting the clock all over again.

Geitner’s bill specifically addressed “infectious disease, medical or other health-related situation” and provided that after the initial 30 day period the governor could not renew the declaration, but the legislature, by joint resolution, could extend the declaration for up to 60 days at a time and do so indefinitely.

Senator Paul Lundeen, R-Colorado Springs, and Rep. Hugh McKean, R-Loveland introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 20B-001, which was defeated Tuesday in committee. Lundeen’s resolution would have referred an amendment to the Colorado Constitution “concerning legislative oversight of a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor” to a vote of the people on November 8, 2022.

The resolution was fundamentally the same as Geitner’s, stipulating that an emergency declaration by the governor automatically terminates at the end of 30 days and can only be extended by a joint resolution of both chambers passed with a two-thirds majority.

Lundeen was pragmatic about the chances of success of any of the current Republican measures to strip the governor of some of the power he currently enjoys. But he said he is encouraged by “interest among the legislative leadership” to “restore a greater sense of balance between the executive branch and the legislative branch of government.”

“This particular constitutional amendment was arguably outside the [governor’s] call, so it was difficult for the Democrats to get on board,” Lundeen told Complete Colorado Tuesday. “But in the private conversations I had with them, and in some of the public conversations, there was an interest to restore some balance, to get the people’s voice through their elected representatives in the General Assembly, back into the conversation, especially during emergency times–there’s an appetite for that.”

“I always say you don’t want 100 legislators trying to manage the challenges you face in the in the moment of crisis. You want one clear voice executed as the executive of the state should do,” Lundeen said. “We are many months into this and it’s clear that the voice of the people is needed in order to shape more customized policies than the one-size-fits-all government edicts from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.”

Lundeen is clear that none of this is intended to interfere with the governor’s authority to react rapidly in disaster situations, or to disparage the scientists and epidemiologists who are doing their best to deal with an unprecedented situation.

“When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you’re an epidemiologist, everything looks like a virus you’re trying to control,” Lundeen said. “But we’ve got other aspects of society to represent. We’ve got all sorts of small businesses that are trying to stay open and survive. It’s not that the epidemiologists are bad, they’re not, but they are singular in their focus. We need more perspectives brought into the conversation.”

[My emphasis added]

[note: hyperlinks to the individual bills can be found at the linked article.]


================

Special session ends with 10 bills heading to governor

Michael Karlik, Colorado Politics Dec 2, 2020

The General Assembly approved a COVID-19 relief package of 10 bills on Wednesday, ending a three-day extraordinary session that Gov. Jared Polis called just two weeks prior.

The assistance measures, which ranged from providing support to child care operators and food pantries to capping fees charged for food delivery, amounting to approximately $280 million in funding.

“Coronavirus is real. It is deadly,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, on the final day of debate. “We know that the state of Colorado can do better — can and must do better — to keep people alive. But we also have to do our part to support these small businesses and pull together money from various places to provide as much support as we can.”

Polis’ call for a special session outlined seven areas for the legislature to take action: small business, child care, housing aid, broadband, food insecurity, utilities assistance and public health response.

Among other items, the governor specifically asked lawmakers to appropriate money for the disaster emergency fund, allow restaurants and bars to retain up to $2,000 per month in sales tax revenue, and enhance Internet access for educators and school children — all of which the General Assembly did.

The measures headed to the governor’s desk are as follows:

House Bill 1001 will provide $20 million to create a broadband grant program for school districts to expand Internet access. Money must be distributed by Feb. 1.

House Bill 1002 authorizes $45 million in grants to operators of child care centers through two separate programs. The first covers expenses for existing operators and the second will assist businesses that are expanding or just starting up. The state must award grants by Feb. 28.

House Bill 1003 provides $5 million to food pantries, with the state needing to send out the money by March 31.

House Bill 1004 allows restaurants, bars and vintners to deduct $70,000 of net sales from their taxes, resulting in a retention of approximately $2,000 per month in sales tax revenue for each retailer, up to a limit of five sites. The bill allows retention for November through February.

House Bill 1005 gives authority to counties and municipalities to cap fees that third-party food delivery companies charge to restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation also prevents those companies from cutting the compensation or tips of employees to make up for lost revenue and requires them to disclose to customers any fees or commissions imposed on the restaurants.

House Bill 1006 adjusts several requirements of insurance premium tax payments, intended to make estimates of taxes owed more accurate.

Senate Bill 1 provides $37 million in relief to small businesses with revenue of less than $2.5 million; $7.5 million to arts and cultural organizations; and $4 million to minority-owned businesses. Grants for small businesses are capped at $7,000, and counties must disburse payments by Feb. 12.

Senate Bill 2 grants $54 million in emergency housing assistance, $1 million in legal eviction aid, and $5 million to individuals who are ineligible for other forms of relief, such as unemployment insurance, food assistance or the onetime $1,200 payment from the federal government.

Senate Bill 3 gives $5 million to Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit that provides assistance to low income households in paying energy bills. It must spend the money by June 30.

Senate Bill 4 transfers $100 million to the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund for the governor to use for the Disaster Emergency Fund. The bill is intended to fill the gap left by the slow reimbursement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for costs the state has incurred.

Colorado begins sending out $375 stimulus payments

By Derek Draplin | The Center Square 13 hrs ago

Colorado’s labor department has begun sending out one-time stimulus payment to eligible Coloradans, Gov. Jared Polis’ office announced on Wednesday.

Coloradans who were eligible for weekly unemployment benefits from March 15 to October 24 can now receive the $375 payments from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE).

“Whether you’ve suffered from the virus itself, faced economic struggles, or felt the mental toll -- no one is left unscathed by this pandemic,” the governor said in a statement. “This direct cash payment will help cover rent or put food on the table for over 400,000 Coloradans who have struggled, but we know that Colorado or any state can only do so much, and national help is urgently needed.”

The governor’s office said, “it may take several days for claimants to receive their one-time payment,” adding that claimants don’t need to contact CDLE to receive eligibility.

Polis signed an executive order in October allocating $168 million from the state’s Disaster Emergency Fund to be distributed by CDLE. The payments are expected to reach 435,000 eligible individuals in the state.

The Colorado Legislature is on the third day of a special legislative session to provide more pandemic relief, ranging from small business support and utility bill aid to expanded broadband internet access.

Colorado had 9,171 new unemployment claims filed during the week ending on November 14, the highest number of new claims since July.

Since the pandemic began in mid-March, 611,135 claims have been filed and $6.12 billion has been disbursed, according to the CDLE.

[note: hyperlinks and article comments found at the linked article]

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In the absence of Weld County enforcement, Colorado officials target businesses in defiance of public health orders

By TREVOR REID | treid@greeleytribune.com | Greeley Tribune
PUBLISHED: December 1, 2020 at 6:09 p.m. | UPDATED: December 1, 2020 at 6:12 p.m.

When the Weld County commissioners late this past month issued a statement declaring their intent not to enforce the state’s public health orders in accordance with the county’s Level Red designation, state officials warned they could issue cease and desist orders and temporarily suspend business licenses.

A number of Weld restaurants ignored the threats and announced their intentions to remain open for indoor dining, including The Country Inn in Greeley and Parrott’s Sports Grille in Firestone. At least one restaurant, Bulldog Pub and Grub in Greeley, has had its liquor license suspended due to violating COVID-19 restrictions, according to posts on Bulldog’s Facebook page.

Brandon Bird, owner of Bulldog, took to GoFundMe to create a legal defense and employee fund. On the fundraiser, he says state officials came in Thanksgiving eve and suspended the restaurant’s license. In a Facebook post, Bird added the state cited about 15 people dining in on Nov. 23 and about 30 people dining in on Nov. 24 as its reasons for suspending the license.

“With encouragement from the community, our local health department, our local law enforcement, and our local county we have continued to operate our business in a safe manner the last three days,” Bird wrote. “The state overstepped and moved to immediately suspend our license with no due process based on no liquor code violations.”

According to an email from the state on Nov. 25, Liquor Enforcement Division investigators conducted 78 checks on Nov. 23, finding 12 licensees were not complying with public health orders. Once educated, 10 licensees immediately came into compliance. Two refused and said they would remain open, according to the state, but one called back the following day and said they would comply after all.

Parrott’s initially withdrew its intention to defy the state’s order before announcing Saturday they would reopen to dine-in. The restaurant then created a support fund on GoFundMe, which had 11 donors as of Tuesday afternoon.

On Nov. 24, investigators conducted 17 more checks in Weld, including 10 re-checks of establishments that had been visited the day before. Six were not complying with public health orders. Once educated, three immediately complied, two called back and said they would comply and one licensee continued to refuse to comply with public health orders and was being moved into summary suspension.

Bird expressed in posts frustrations about stores such as Walmart and Target remaining open while dining in is closed under the state’s health orders. An unnamed person from the state’s Joint Information Center said the state’s guidelines are based on how the virus spreads.

“Dining indoors is considered a higher risk activity because people dining indoors at a restaurant typically do not wear masks because they are eating and drinking, they have contact with restaurant staff, and there are numerous high touch surfaces,” the person wrote. “In addition, restaurant patrons tend to stay at the restaurant for an extended period of time.”

Most grocery and retail store customers, however, are not at stores for extended periods of time and are required to wear masks throughout shopping. It’s also easier to keep distance from others while at a store than while seated at a restaurant, the Joint Information Center staffer wrote. Investigations in recent months have shown people are visiting with people from other households at restaurants, furthering viral spread, according to the Joint Information Center.

Bird’s GoFundMe has raised a little more than $8,000 with nearly 130 donors as of Tuesday afternoon. Bird said they intend to use the funds to regain the business’s license and maintain staff as they fight a legal battle.

“We will march on because, frankly, there is still a lot of good in this country, and a lot of good people to feel that it’s worth saving,” Bird said in a video.

An unnamed person at the state’s Joint Information Center said state agencies continually communicate with state-regulated entities to promote and ensure compliance. Licensees are directly contacted if state agencies receive complaints about potential executive order or health order violations, and licensees are informed action may be taken to protect the public, according to the Joint Information Center.

Weld County Commissioners Scott James on Tuesday morning said in a live Facebook update that the county’s hospitals and health care workers are “taxed.”

“There’s no doubt that they’re taxed, so the best that we can do is continue to follow those basic tenets that we know combat this thing, as far as limiting your social contact, as far as social distancing, as far as facial coverings if that’s what you choose is right,” James said.

James said he personally supports mask use, but also said there’s data on “both sides” of mask-wearing. One hundred of the top health care systems in the U.S. have come out in support of mask wearing as a means to slow the spread of the virus, including UCHealth, Banner Health and Kaiser Permanente.