http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ritter/ en-us Fri, 5 Jun 2009 15:52:09 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265568/posts As Colorado's Democrat governor effectively signed away a long-standing policy limiting the growth of the state's budget, a key legislative ally called today for rolling back other restraints on taxing and spending. Incoming Senate Democrat leader John Morse welcomed the enactment of controversial Senate Bill 228--diverting billions of dollars away from transportation projects in coming years--by promising that the fight "is just beginning" to retool the state's other constitutional taxing and spending limits. That double-punch left Republicans incredulous, and they pointed out that only months ago, Colorado voters soundly rejected a ballot proposal that would have gutted the perennially popular... Colorado Senate News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265568/posts#comment Fri, 5 Jun 2009 15:52:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254847/posts Former Congressman Scott McInnis has officially entered the 2010 gubernatorial race with little fanfare... The secretary of state's office confirmed that the Republican turned in his paperwork Tuesday afternoon. McInnis has traveled the state building support for his campaign in recent weeks and launched a phone campaign. The Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254847/posts#comment Wed, 20 May 2009 18:00:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252007/posts Freep this poll Gov. Bill Ritter has vetoed a bill that would have exempted some gun buyers from background checks, saying it contains "inadequate safeguards" to prevent ineligible people from buying firearms. The bill would have allowed holders of valid concealed-handgun permits to avoid mandatory criminal background checks by presenting that permit along with one other piece of identification when buying a gun. Critics said there would be no way to guarantee that the current holder of a concealed-weapons permit surrendered it in the event of their arrest for a violent felony. A person in that circumstance would not be... The Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252007/posts#comment Sat, 16 May 2009 01:37:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2237893/posts Former Governor Bill Owens' three children are inviting people to a meet-and-greet for former Republican congressman Scott McInnis, who's thinking about running for governor. McInnis served in the U.S. House for six terms. He and a fellow West Slope Republican, state Sen. Josh Penry, have expressed interest running for governor next year. Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2237893/posts#comment Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:18:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2236856/posts Democrat Bill Ritter rode an anti-Republican sentiment into the governor's office in 2006, but a new poll suggests he might have a much harder time in his re-election bid. In the survey of 1,050 likely Colorado voters, Ritter's disapproval ratings are higher than his approval ratings among all voters, including Hispanics and the most crucial bloc of all in Colorado politics: unaffiliated voters. Ritter ... most likely will face one of two Grand Junction Republicans next year: former Congressman Scott McInnis or Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry. The poll shows McInnis beating Ritter, 48-41, and Ritter barely edging Penry, 40-42.... Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2236856/posts#comment Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:27:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2234950/posts Gov. Bill Ritter today signed into law the historic Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act, which will provide health coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and reduce uncompensated care and cost shifting. House Bill 09-1293 is the most significant health reform legislation in Colorado in four decades. “At no increased cost to taxpayers, the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act will allow us to provide critical health services to people who need those services the most,” Gov. Ritter said. “This historic legislation will significantly address the crisis of the uninsured while also reducing uncompensated care and cost-shifting in our healthcare system. By partnering... The Cherry Creek News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2234950/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:59:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235277/posts DENVER -- Tens of thousands of uninsured patients could get hospital care under a bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Bill Ritter. The new law generates funds through hospital provider fees and federal matching dollars to cover the cost of caring for uninsured patients. Supporters said the measure will keep health care costs down and reduce the number of uninsured people seeking care in emergency rooms because they can go to their own doctor. Thedenverchannel,com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2235277/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:25:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2217440/posts Weld District Attorney Ken Buck said Tuesday that he’s leaning toward running for Senate in 2010 against Senate appointee Michael Bennet. However, Buck said he has ruled out running for other offices while on his listening tour around the state. Buck said he likely will file paperwork to run for the Senate seat in April and then will announce his candidacy. He declined to give a date for his announcement. Bennet, a Democrat, was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to the Senate after Ken Salazar left his seat to take a position in President Barack Obama’s cabinet. Buck, a Republican,... The Greeley Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2217440/posts#comment Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:03:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2206125/posts Gov. Bill Ritter says he would sign a bill giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants if it reaches his desk.... Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2206125/posts#comment Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:18:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2205164/posts Gov. Bill Ritter’s trade mission to Asia in November was funded, in part, by private businesses and that might have violated state ethics laws... Critics have questioned why Ritter would take a trip that cost $78,000 in state money while the state is facing an economic crisis, but records uncovered ... show that thousands of dollars in private money also went to offset some of the state employees’ travel expenses. “You've got a number of groups spending a good deal of money essentially still buying access to our government,” At issue is nearly $34,000 collected in sponsorships and participation fees... TheDenverChannel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2205164/posts#comment Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:53:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2204968/posts It seems like William Rivers Pitt has forgotten his role in perpetrating one of the biggest journalistic frauds (Karl Rove "indictment scoop") of the 21st century. Having conveniently removed that episode from his memory banks, Pitt has now jumped back on his soapbox to lecture conservatives as you can see in his latest DUmmie THREAD, "Idiot Wind." You want some idiot wind, Pitt? Well, this edition of the DUmmie FUnnies is going to blow your own idiot wind right up your butt with your own words. Yes, every single reply will consist entirely of Pied Piper Pitt quotes so... DUmmie FUnnies http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2204968/posts#comment Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:12:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2197516/posts A bill to raise vehicle registration fees to pay for bridge and highway repairs is on the verge of becoming law. Gov. Bill Ritter plans to sign the measure (Senate Bill 108) today near a bridge over Interstate 25 in Thornton. The bridge is among 126 currently rated as poor by state engineers and, at a cost of $19 million, could be among those replaced with the fee money. The bill phases in the fee hikes over three years. For the owners of passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, it would ultimately mean phasing in an extra $41 a year. Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2197516/posts#comment Mon, 2 Mar 2009 21:09:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2191024/posts As Gov. Bill Ritter was looking to slash the budget because of the economic downturn, he and nine other state employees spent more than $78,000 for a trip to Asia late last year... During the trip, Ritter and two other top state officials flew business class on state money, paying $6,500 per ticket ... "It would appear that this is above and beyond what was necessary for a trade delegation of this type," said state Sen. Ted Harvey... Ritter...said business class was necessary because the state employees had to be rested to do business on the trip. TheDenverChannel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2191024/posts#comment Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:24:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2170577/posts Republican lawmakers today signed petitions protesting a possible transfer of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Colorado, saying the state shouldn't be a dumping ground for terrorists. "The type of terrorists these would be, I'd be ill at ease if I lived in Florence or Canon City or Pueblo West," said Republican Sen. Ken Kester of Las Animas "I don't think we need 200 or 300 terrorists in Colorado. They will infiltrate the other convicts that are there." President Barack Obama announced Thursday he would close the Guantanamo Bay prison, located on an American naval base in Cuba, that has held suspected... Rocky Mountain News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2170577/posts#comment Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:42:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157951/posts Gov. Bill Ritter is shattering conventional wisdom in tapping the popular but politically untested Michael Bennet, superintendent of Denver Public Schools, as the U.S. Senate replacement for Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar. The surprising move, expected at a state Capitol news conference Saturday, perplexed many political insiders, most of whom considered Bennet the darkhorse candidate in a field crowded with big name, political veterans like Bennet's old boss, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. To some, the reaction wasn't head-scratching. It was jaw-dropping. Rocky Mountain News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157951/posts#comment Sat, 3 Jan 2009 04:24:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157676/posts Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet is expected to be named Saturday as the future U.S. Senate replacement for Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, according to two Democratic sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to name his U.S. Senate replacement pick on Saturday, ending a brief but frenzied period of speculation about who will take the seat of Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar. The selection would be preliminary, since Salazar is not expected to resign his U.S. Senate seat until sometime after Jan. 15, when he faces a confirmation hearing — and later... Rocky Mountain News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157676/posts#comment Fri, 2 Jan 2009 17:26:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101672/posts Denver, Oct 9, 2008 / 01:01 pm (CNA).- Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput and Denver’s Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley have issued a statement insisting that Catholic teaching holds that human life is sacred from the moment of fertilization, calling claims insisting otherwise, reportedly made by the governor of Colorado, “bad theology and bad public policy.” Governor Bill Ritter, who is Catholic, on Tuesday commented on the Colorado ballot measure Amendment 48, which would define personhood as beginning at conception. He reportedly said: “My understanding is that there are things about calling a fertilized egg a person that do... CNA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2101672/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:50:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090645/posts Saying uncertain economic times require tough measures, Gov. Bill Ritter announced a freeze on hiring new state employees on Thursday and ordered a halt to new construction. It was a major reversal for Ritter. On Monday he said it was too early to begin slashing the state budget before Congress approves a bailout of the financial industry. The Denver Channel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090645/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:21:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2050841/posts How do you rate Gov. Ritter's job performance? Excellent Good Fair Poor Not Sure Don't Care denverpost.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2050841/posts#comment Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:07:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041663/posts Greg Kolomitz, former campaign manager to Gov. Bill Ritter, has started a defense fund to pay his legal bills, and his wife has e-mailed friends alleging that Kolomitz has been "falsely accused" of mismanaging campaign and inaugural funds. The e-mail plea never mentions Ritter by name, but leaves no doubt about who the family thinks is responsible for the "false" accusations that led to an ongoing investigation of Kolomitz. "We have found ourselves in a legal battle with someone whom we believed to be our friend. In April, Ritter alleged that Kolomitz had wrongly used inaugural funds to pay off... The Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041663/posts#comment Mon, 7 Jul 2008 02:59:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034489/posts In Colorado, taxpayers have a tremendous amount of control over their own property taxes. Thanks to the state’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), which stunts the growth of property taxes, those of us who own property in Eagle County shouldn’t expect to see our taxes skyrocket at the same rate as our property values without voter approval. This year, however, taxpayers’ rights were usurped by Gov. Bill Ritter’s decision to freeze the statewide school district property tax rate... Not only was Ritter’s move a clear violation of the TABOR Amendment because it effectively raised taxes without voter approval, it didn’t... Vail Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034489/posts#comment Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:40:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2032271/posts District Attorney Will Investigate. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday notified prosecutors that more spending violations have been uncovered from his 2006 campaign, and that a former aide has written his campaign a check for $10,340 to correct the problem. Ritter had told the Arapahoe County district attorney in April that his campaign violated finance laws by improperly paying about $217,000 to 28 vendors last year. He said at the time his campaign and inaugural committee chairman, Greg Kolomitz, also overpaid himself and his company $83,250 out of Ritter's inaugural account. Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said the district attorney is... The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2032271/posts#comment Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:49:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030033/posts Thursday, June 12, 2008 YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK WorldNetDaily Exclusive Biblical message now criminalized Penalties created for those criticizing homosexuality outside church walls Posted: June 12, 2008 12:45 am Eastern By Bob Unruh WorldNetDaily A new Colorado law is helping homosexual activists achieve their goal of forcing Christians to teach biblical condemnation of homosexuality only behind the closed doors of their sanctuaries. The as-yet untested state law promotes sexual identity "perception" to the level of skin color under state discrimination laws. Some opponents are calling it a "bona fide censorship law," and top analysts for Focus on the Family, the... Worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030033/posts#comment Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:51:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026042/posts "We passed 100 percent of what we set out to do," Ritter told an approving crowd of about 100 health professionals and legislators at Children's Hospital in Aurora. Applause and whoops erupted over the signing of a law that makes 50,000 more uninsured children eligible for federal Medicaid benefits and for the state plan, Colorado Child Health Care Plan Plus, known as CHP+. The law expands the eligibility rules to include kids in families with incomes that are 225 percent above the federal poverty level. The old cutoff was incomes at 205 percent above the poverty line. Rocky Mountain News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026042/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 21:04:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2023834/posts A Denver District Court judge ruled today that Gov. Bill Ritter's controversial mill-levy freeze is unconstitutional. "However well-intentioned and commendable the purpose and consequences ... this Court must be concerned only with enforcement of the Colorado Constitution," District Court Court Judge Christina Habas ... A group of taxpayers, organized by the conservative Independence Institute, filed suit late last year against the Colorado Department of Education, arguing that the property-tax freeze amounts to an unconstitutional tax increase because voters did not directly approve it. "All that's required to raise taxes in this state is to ask first. Only the most arrogant... The Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2023834/posts#comment Sat, 31 May 2008 02:14:42 GMT