Compromise reached on Civil Rights Division re-authorization
"I think the commission right now is fair and balanced," said Rep. Leslie Herod, Democrat from Denver. She sponsored House Bill along with House Speaker Crisanta Duran and State Senator Robert Gardner. But Republican State Senator Robert Gardner said that many of his colleagues felt the commission had a blind spot towards conservative viewpoints. The senators wanted the legislature to exert more control over who got picked to serve on the panel. "That certainly is what my con
Civil Rights Commission Passes
The seven-member commission hears civil rights cases in the state. Lawmakers agreed to limit how many from each party can serve – and they added a business representative. Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod says it’s an important compromise. “We put together I think, a balanced proposal. 1:55- It was a big issue to add a business member. It was a big issue to change the makeup of the commission and to give away the majority power of the majority party.” Some GOP changes to the nomi
House Democrats Force Senate to Negotiate Civil Rights Division Reauthorization
The governor currently appoints all seven members of the commission, but that could change under the to-be-debated Senate amendments, which would increase the commission to a nine-member body and divvy up appointments. The governor would appoint five members, and the ranking House and Senate members of the political party opposite the governor's would appoint two members each. The Senate amendments would also require the commission to include representatives of labor unions,
Colorado Civil Rights Commission bill clears Senate with bipartisan support, but House Democrats say
A bipartisan compromise on the future of the embattled Colorado Civil Rights Commission – one of the most politically fraught bills of this legislative session – cleared the Senate with unanimous support on Monday. But a battle looms ahead in the House. The proposed changes go too far, said House Speaker Crisanta Duran and Rep. Leslie Herod, both Democrats from Denver, in a statement after the Senate last week gave initial approval to the bill. The House and the Senate now ha
Civil rights commission up for dogfight in Senate committee Wednesday
Wednesday’s biggest dogfight at the state Capitol is likely to be over House Bill 1256, the measure to reauthorize the state’s Division of Civil Rights and Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The bill is scheduled for the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1:30 p.m. The measure cleared the House on March 21 on a 36-26 vote. Despite Republican claims that they always have intended to allow the commission and division to continue, 26 of the House’s 28 Republicans (at that time) voted
GOP bill would alter Civil Rights panel
Democrats in the Colorado House may not like it, but GOP senators are planning to make changes to a bill today that would reauthorize the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. While House Democrats say the seven-member commission is functioning just fine, Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, plans to make a few changes to HB1256 when the Senate Judiciary Commission reviews it this afternoon, including adding an eighth member. Gardner said he doesn't believe the commission is bal
