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Not With a Bang, But a Whimper

by: Colorado Pols

Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 14:40:08 PM MDT

How did the GOP's opposition to Senate Bill 228, the bill to repeal the 1991 Arveschoug-Bird restrictions on the state's general fund that achieved final Senate passage today, collapse in such an embarrassing heap--and what does this fight portend for the next? From the Colorado Independent:

Passing the bill out of the Senate will be the latest success for Morse's surprisingly resilient bill. SB 228 has inspired passionate support and opposition since it was introduced in February. Based on a new legal interpretation written by former state Supreme Court Justice Jean Dubofsky, the bill made it through a packed Senate committee hearing and then emerged victorious from a historic GOP filibuster in the chamber. With each hurdle cleared, SB 228 has gained increased momentum.
The budget reform measure has gained speed recently, for example, when opponents admitted that the state's current budget formulas need fixing and also from the increasing perception among the public - perplexed by Republican responses to the Obama stimulus package - that the free-market anti-government philosophy of the right is ill-suited to deal with the present economic crisis... [Pols emphasis]
the 10-hour filibuster that met the bill on second reading in the Senate two weeks ago was meant to demonstrate the seriousness of GOP opposition but turned instead into a satire of "silly season" partisan-deadlock government. Members of the Republican caucus accused Democrats of manipulating chamber rules, and, in a strange turn, GOP members ended up making a marathon case for big-government-style earmark spending on pet projects, including an endless list of bridges and roads and community college buildings, which they claimed would go unfunded should Morse's bill pass.
"Yeah ... the GOP relationship to transportation [that night], I think it was pretty apparent it was not a committed relationship," said Scott Downes, communications director for the Colorado Center on Law and Policy and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute. "The week before the filibuster, the same group voted against FASTER," he said...
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, at one point during the filibuster referred to the "other programs" that he said would take funding away from the "vital transportation projects" he was pushing. At the speaker's podium, Mitchell at one point seemed ready to clarify and expand on his arguments, saying he was opposed to funding the "other programs, like ..." but then left before actually listing those programs. [Pols emphasis]
...Downes said that Republicans opposing SB 228 have made a tactical error, explaining that political posturing has resulted in a bad-faith argument that people can see through.
"A lot of what the opposition is saying is pure fiction. TABOR is the cap on spending and SB 228 does nothing to erode TABOR. ... SB 228 doesn't raise taxes at all.
"And this choice [the Republicans] have set up in opposing this bill, pavement versus people," said Downes. "It's a false choice."

Colorado Pols :: Not With a Bang, But a Whimper

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Not With a Bang, But a Whimper | 29 comments

Where can we find the actual vote?

I know this is the end of the world as we know it and that all my money will now be taxed away if AB goes away. I just want to see who voted how.

by: MADCO @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 20:45:59 PM UTC

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Strictly Party Line

It was a 21-14 vote.

by: adam.kretz @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 21:38:41 PM UTC

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In the Senate Journal

Go to www.leg.state.co.us.

There's a link.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same. Which one will it be? --Joseph V. Paterno

by: Ralphie @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 01:52:04 AM UTC

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They didn't set the link correctly.

At least not yet.

http://www.leg.state.co.us/Cli...

Page 2.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

by: droll @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 02:00:47 AM UTC

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The Journal is (usually) posted the following day

It's there today.

Today, you're either going to get better or you're going to get worse, but you're never going to be the same. Which one will it be? --Joseph V. Paterno

by: Ralphie @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 15:27:14 PM UTC

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Maybe he was going to attack 'children in wheelchairs'

since the CO GOP seems to be into punishing kids...

http://www.coloradosenatenews....

"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 20:50:56 PM UTC

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I also just got an 'action alert'

that pointed me here:

http://www.keepthecapcolorado....

This is the alert, emphasis mine:

Dear Colorado taxpayers,
The endless crusade at the Capitol for ways to grow government and spend your tax dollars marches forward. Today, the State Senate approved SB228, a bill that has a singular purpose-unchecked growth of government spending.
This comes at a time when the General Assembly has to trim nearly $1 billion from the state budget. In these difficult economic times, families and businesses are being forced to tighten their belts to make ends meet-and our state government should too. Yet politicians are now using our state and nation's economic challenges as an excuse to do away with spending restraints and spend more of your tax dollars.
We must work together to stop this bill so that the state's current budget shortfall cannot be used as an excuse to increase government spending and weaken limits on the growth of government.
Colorado cannot afford to become the next California, with skyrocketing taxes that hurt our state's economy and our quality of life. The time is now to make a stand. There can be no compromise when it comes to the endless growth of our state government.
We have to put Taxpayers First!

"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 20:56:03 PM UTC

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Credits to Walker Stapleton

Of the George Walker Bush Walkers. Seems he's gearing up for his 2010 run against Treasurer Kennedy.

by: adam.kretz @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 21:41:53 PM UTC

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My personal favorite

"Colorado can not afford to become the next California."

Of course they have no problem with having Colorado become the next Alabama or Mississippi by underfunding education and infrastructure...

Wow! He even sounds like a Bush.

by: Doppleganger @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 21:53:05 PM UTC

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Colorado can not afford to become

the next E Paso County, either.

by: RedGreen @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 00:00:22 AM UTC

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So according to this email

This bill will lead to unchecked spending as we are forced to cut the budget. Wow, with logic like that these guys should be trying out for Jeopardy.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 03:51:08 AM UTC

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Actually . . .

The public is turning against Obama and the Democrats' budget/bailout policies more and more every day. One need only look at the firestorm over AIG today to see that the Democrats can't shoot straight.

by: Karate Kid @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 22:52:30 PM UTC

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Americans might not like politicians

but they loathe Republican politicians--by far at the bottom of the approval rankings...

"There are a lot of reasons not to elect me." Mitt Romney in a moment of clarity

"I'm Mitt Romney and yes, Wolf, that's also my first name," Willard Mitt Romney demonstrating 'policy flexibility.'

by: ClubTwitty @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 22:56:21 PM UTC

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The AIG CEO's defense

is that the bonuses are in contracts that were in place when AIG signed on for bailout funds.

Oh, yea- that was in 2008 during the Bush administration.

by: MADCO @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 22:57:55 PM UTC

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Watch the news . . .

Geitner was in the room and by most accounts was the architect of the AIG bailout last fall.

by: Karate Kid @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 05:20:10 AM UTC

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I rest my case . . .

Chris Dodd (how the guy is still in the Senate after Fannie/Freddie/Countrywide is beyond belief) was the author of the amendment to allow the bonuses: http://www.politico.com/news/s...

by: Karate Kid @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 05:23:38 AM UTC

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Your link doesn't work. So how do we know your telling the truth?

by: Republican 36 @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 20:23:42 PM UTC

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Oh, he's telling the truth. The amendment to allow

contracts made before Feb. 11, 2009 to be honored was in fact added during a conference committee. Just to prove a point, I'll use
FOX:

SEN. CHRIS DODD, D-CONN.: The language that I wrote on executive compensation had no dates in it like this at all. When my language left the Senate, it did not include it. When it came back, it did.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRET BAIER, HOST: OK, so what's this all about? It's about a provision in the stimulus bill that's called the Dodd amendment. After the conference committee met, the provision included a date, February 11, in which contracts that existed before that date - February 11, 2009 - would not be covered by the new restrictions.

Now, from the
Senate Republican Policy Committee:

The Dodd amendment is the result of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations with the Administration
to provide the Secretary of the Treasury with the authority requested on September 19, 2008.

Oh no! For the first time ever the GOP bites itself in the ass!

There are plenty of people to point fingers at. Why do people immediately expect their party to be perfect? Especially Republicans, who are supposed to inherently distrust any government officials.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

by: droll @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 21:22:36 PM UTC

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DEMS?

Bush was the one that gave money to AIG in the first place!

by: Sage Sam @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 22:58:57 PM UTC

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They are turning against Dems...

for not being aggressive/populist enough in punishing corporate fraud.

They don't want the GOP/conservative solution-the people want an even more aggressive liberal solution.

by: Doppleganger @ Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 23:08:26 PM UTC

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Your Mission

It is your mission to take this unknown knowledge and make sure all Democratic Party Members know it. Do not fail to inform one and all as this cannot be hidden from public view.

In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority. Edmund Burke

10/26/11 Colorado Ex-Pat; S/V Sisu Catalina 30

by: Pam Bennett @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 02:44:29 AM UTC

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What was the deal with trying to send it back

to Appropriations? They know the majority party needs an election, or a drama queen, to flip, right? Like maybe Approp. is the magical committee comprised solely of Republicans.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

by: droll @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 02:18:51 AM UTC

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I meant back as in from the Senate floor,

it hadn't been to Appropriations, just Finance.

"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

12/15/11 - RIP squeaky duck. You were plush, loved and finally ripped apart after over a year.

by: droll @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 02:20:48 AM UTC

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The argument

Was that the fiscal note didn't take into account affects the legislation may have had on Colorado's bond rating. They argued that Appropriations should discuss that issue (once again) before they moved to a final floor vote in the body.

To me, it seemed like this particular amendment was designed to delay the Approps. Cmte. vote until AFTER the Long Bill drops next week, or at least hold it up in the Senate until that point, so that there would be further delay before the House could take action.

It looks like the House will slow down until after debate on the budget though, according to Rep. Marostica at the Capitol press event yesterday, so the attempt in and of itself seemed a little more futile than brilliant in retrospect.

by: adam.kretz @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 15:08:22 PM UTC

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SB 228 will die in the House

by: Republican 36 @ Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 21:52:07 PM UTC

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really?! why? do tell

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.