2007 Legislative Wrap-Up
May 11, 2007: The legislative session wrapped up 5 days early this year, but it certainly did keep us busy all winter and spring! In all, the Colorado legislature passed 474 bills this session, including legislation to advance several important reforms to improve Colorado's democracy. Here's an update about what happened during the 2007 session:
Ethics in Government
After months of advocating for legislation to implement Amendment 41, our work paid off when Governor Ritter signed Senate Bill 210. This measure, which garnered bipartisan support in both chambers, establishes an independent ethics commission capable of ensuring public service in Colorado is accomplished in the public's interest. The next step is the selection of members of this commission who are ready to advance the Colorado ethics law by providing clarity and guidance in its application.
The Legislature also adopted an increase in the per diem rate for out-of-town legislators. This legislation was a good opportunity for public debate regarding what our state legislators earn during the session and the true costs of holding public office. We will continue to advocate for adequate resources for legislators to do their jobs.
Elections Reform
This session, we worked with a coalition of non-profit groups to pass meaningful elections reform in Colorado. In the final days of the session, the legislature passed an omnibus elections bill that will go a long way toward improving Colorado's elections. Senate Bill 83 included reforms such as allowing student ID's to be used at the polls, establishing guidelines for vote centers, removing unnecessary penalties related to voter registration drives and improving training requirements for election judges. Unfortunately, the bill was amended to remove a provision that would have re-enfranchised paroled felons by reinstating their right to vote. While our elections will still need to be monitored closely, overall this bill takes a giant step toward restoring integrity to our voting process.
The Legislature also adopted a proposal to allow voters to choose to permanently vote-by-mail without having to sign-up annually. We support measures that give voters more options as to how they cast their vote.
The Legislature also considered legislation to study the use of instant runoff voting (IRV, which allows voters to rank their preferences among candidates to achieve a majority winner in a single election. Although the bill did not pass, a committee will be formed to continue studying this issue.
Money in Politics
The Legislature passed a bill to limit the contributions of limited liability corporations (LLCs), which are currently able to make unlimited contributions in clear violation of the spirit of Amendment 27. As amended, the final bill does not close the "LLC loophole" but is a step in the right direction by limiting LLC contributions. The Legislature also adopted legislation to strengthen disclosure for 527s and require them to file comprehensive disclosure reports with the Secretary of State.
Even though the legislative session has come to a close, our work is far from finished. We will continue to work for meaningful reforms that improve the health of our democracy and hold the legislature accountable to the citizens of Colorado.