Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Oil & Gas Rules head to Gov. Ritter's Desk!


SENATE DEMOCRATS
PROTECT COLORADO’S HEALTH,

ENVIRONMENT, AND JOBS

The Rule Review Bill (HB 1292) passes on 2nds

DENVER— Making sure Colorado has clean air and clean water. Protecting the health and safety of Colorado’s citizens. Strengthening our economy by keeping our workers healthy and allowing the oil and gas industry to thrive. Those are just a few things the new Rules Review bill does and HB 1292, which includes new rules for Oil and Gas, passed the Senate today on 2nd reading.

HB 1292 is sponsored by Senator Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver) in the Senate. “The rule review process is a limited process to look at Executive Branch rules to see if they have exceeded the statutory authority we have given them. We have both generally and specifically given the Oil and Gas Commission the authority to manage and balance the needs of the oil and gas industry with wildlife and natural resources protections. The Commission has done that in this omnibus rules bill and we have found the rules are appropriate.”

Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass):The rules protect our environment, our drinking water supplies, our groundwater, our clean air standards, and our wildlife habitat. They reflect a balance of competing interests, and respond to industry concerns ensuring the on-going vitality of energy development in Colorado which is one of Colorado’s most important industries. I am acutely aware of the Legislature’s responsibility to balance our state’s economic, environmental, and public health priorities, and I am confident that we have done so in the case of these new rules.”

Sen. Joyce Foster (D-Denver): “There is no question rigs are down because oil and gas prices are down. Drilling has slowed recently in Colorado, but drilling has slowed in other states as well because of falling natural gas prices, the economy, and limitations on pipeline capacity. The economy is killing jobs – not oil and gas rules.”


The rules protect drinking water supplies, groundwater, and clean air standards, and will ensure safety for oil and gas and emergency responders by requiring disclosure of industrial chemicals. They add critical protections for wildlife, a precious natural resource that generates massive income for our tourism and outdoor recreation industries. The rules also protect private property rights. At the same time, the rules won’t harm the oil and gas industry. The rules offer more predictable timelines for permit processing and incentives for longer-term planning.

This was the most extensive rulemaking hearing in the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s (COGCC) history. During more than 21 days of hearings, the Commission heard approximately 12 hours of public comment by about 200 people and another 75 hours of testimony from about 160 party and staff witnesses. It also reviewed thousands of pages of written comment, witness testimony, and exhibits, addressed dozens of legal motions, and conducted more than 70 hours of deliberations. The resulting rules reflect substantial input from local governments, the oil and gas industry, property owners, and conservation groups.


HB 1292 was sponsored by Rep. Anne McGihon in the House.

The bill will now head to the Governor’s desk.

Consumer Insurance Protection


GOV. RITTER APPLAUDS NEW CONSUMER INSURANCE PROTECTION AND EDUCATION TOOL

HB 1385 was sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz in 2008


DENVER-- Gov. Ritter today announced that the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Insurance has launched a new online guide designed to protect and educate consumers on insurance choices and to help them save money during this economic crisis. This is the result of a bill from last year sponsored by Rep. Diane Primavera and Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass).

"The creation of this website will make shopping for insurance policies less of a headache for consumers. This website increases transparency and creates a centralized location online where policies can be compared, questions answered and complaints filed and read. We are taking the anxiety out of insurance shopping and making the process easier for everyone," said Sen. Gail Schwartz, who was the Senate sponsor of the bill.

“Rep. Primavera’s 2008 House Bill 1385 called for this web guide, which is a part of our ‘Building Blocks for Healthcare Reform’ plan,” said Gov. Ritter. “As we face this global economic crisis, we know that every penny counts and this website provides easy-to-use information to consumers so they can make the best choices for their budget.”

The website guides consumers through the many choices to consider when selecting insurance including: the types of insurance available, coverage limits, a comparison of benefits offered by different carriers, premium costs and the number of complaints a company has received. Consumers also can find information about how to file written complaints if they are dissatisfied and feel an insurance company hasn’t fulfilled their expectations.

"During these tough economic times, people are losing their jobs and their benefits. Many Coloradans are finding themselves shopping for insurance on their own for the first time in their lives. The website launch is a timely tool for those trying to navigate the maze of insurance policies,” said Rep. Dianne Primavera.

The Division of Insurance has worked hard over the last six months to produce one of the most comprehensive consumer sites in the country,” said Colorado Commissioner of Insurance, Marcy Morrison. “We urge Colorado citizens to become better informed before making tough decisions about any type of insurance."

To view the guide, visit the Department of Regulatory Affairs website or click here.

BIODIESEL FUELING AHEAD

BIODIESEL FUELING AHEAD
SB098 passes final with bipartisan support in Senate



DENVER – Friday, the Senate passed a bill on final reading sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) which assigns the same tax-exempt status for biodiesel as given to dyed special fuels in Colorado. The bill received unanimous bipartisan support during third reading in the Senate on Friday.

“This bill supports both the biofuel industry and our agricultural community today and into the future,” said Sen. Schwartz. “We hope to promote and expand the next generation of biofuel production in Colorado, including new energy crops such as algae. By supporting these industries, we are creating a positive model for the development of alternative energy sources while supporting Colorado businesses and our rural economy.”

Over the past several years, biofuels have been at a competitive disadvantage due to a Special Fuel excise tax. Senate Bill 98 will open up the market for biofuels by providing the same tax-exempt status for biodiesel as given to dyed special fuels in Colorado. The bill will create the opportunity for petroleum distributors to blend biofuel locally and sell biodiesel products for construction and agricultural use without having to tax consumers.

In working on this legislation, Sen. Schwartz partnered with the biodiesel community, the Colorado Petroleum Association, and the Governor’s Energy Office. This broad base for support and input will ensure that the bill meets the long-term needs of the biofuel industry and firms that are currently advancing biodiesel production in Colorado.

The bill was recently passed by the Senate and is on its way to the House.

Representative Ed Vigil (D-San Luis) is the House sponsor of the bill.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Sen. Schwartz congratulates five Southern Colorado school districts awarded BEST grants


STATE CAPITOL CELEBRATES
B.E.S.T. ANNOUNCEMENT

DENVER – Today, Senator Gail Schwartz ( Senate District 5 ) joined Governor
Bill Ritter, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, and former Speaker of the House
Andrew Romanoff to officially announce the schools receiving new schools
buildings and improvements under the B.E.S.T. (Building Excellent Schools
Today) program.

Of the eleven school districts selected to receive grants, five are from
Southern Colorado. The five Southern Colorado school districts and projects are:

Alamosa School District RE-11J;
two new elementary schools will replace three elementary schools

Sangre De Cristo School District RE-22J;
new PK-12 school

Centennial School District R-1;
new PK-12 school

Sargent School District RE-33J
;
new junior/senior high school and elementary school renovation

Mountain Valley School District RE-1
;
roofing and repair under designed structure


Officials and students from the Sangre de Cristo School District traveled
to the State Capitol to take part in the announcement. Superintendent Lynn
Howard and Lyle Nissen, Chairman of the Capital Construction Committee,
thanked Senator Schwartz and state officials for their support of rural
school districts.

“In Colorado’s current economic climate, securing the funding for these badly needed projects is critical to help provide safe schools for our children,” said Senator Gail Schwartz. “New schools also mean hundreds of new constructions jobs in these communities that will help stimulate the local economy. I am thankful for the support of State Board of Education for Southern Colorado’s public school systems and the families that rely on them.”

The total cost of the first round of B.E.S.T. grants totalled over $98,000,000.

Senator Schwartz was a key sponsor of the 2008 legislation that created the
B.E.S.T, or Building Excellent Schools Today, program. B.E.S.T. increases
the financial assistance provided to school districts by the State of
Colorado for desperately- needed capital construction projects,
particularly in rural school districts.


# # #

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Acequias Honored by Colorado Legislature


SEN. SCHWARTZ PROTECTS
HISTORIC SOUTHERN COLORADO


HB1233 passes final with bipartisan support in Senate


DENVER – Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill on final reading sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass) which promotes and encourages the continued operation of acequias, or historic community ditches, and the viability of the historic communities that depend on this system as a means of irrigation and cultural preservation in Southern Colorado. The bill passed unanimously.

Senator Schwartz presented the bill in front of the Senate this morning. “It has been an honor to carry this historic bill with Rep. Vigil, whose family has lived in San Luis for generations,” said Sen. Schwartz. “HB1233 recognizes the value and cultural importance of the Acequia tradition. In carrying this bill, I have learned a tremendous amount about Colorado’s first water right and the role of early settlers in establishing our agricultural traditions.”

Acequia refers specifically to water management within historic districts on lands settled before to Colorado became a state. Acequia farmers carry out ancient irrigation practices based on a community ditch where water is treated as a community resource. This bill creates a legal structure that will allow Acequia farmers to protect their water rights and formalize their communal water corporations.

HB 1233 recognizes cultural diversity as an important source of resilience in our society and acknowledges the Acequia as one of Colorado’s most important cultural and historic resources. The San Luis Peoples Ditch in Costilla County has the oldest adjudicated water rights in the state, dating back to the 1850’s and is the heart of Acequia culture in Southern Colorado.

Scholars have long recognized Acequia as a civic institution and a significant part of the cultural, historical, economic and ecological history of Southern CO and Northern NM, once part of Spanish colonial territory. Acequias were recognized by Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1987 as valuable cultural, historical and engineering resources that facilitated the settlement and development of agriculture in the American Southwest.

Representative Ed Vigil (D-San Luis) is the House sponsor of the bill.

HB 1233 is now headed to Governor Bill Ritter’s desk for signing.

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Friday, March 13, 2009

New Energy Economy Expo at the Capitol with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.!



On Thursday March 12, I was joined by Governor Ritter and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at our New Energy Economy Expo to celebrate Colorado's leadership in new clean-energy technologies and legislation. With the help of Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Environment Colorado, and the Governor's Energy Office, the event was organized to showcase advances in clean technology and Colorado's green energy future. The expo exhibitors featured New Energy Economy businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs from the solar, wind, efficiency, biofuel, transportation and smart grid sectors.

We are all proud of the great strides Colorado has made over the last few years with respect to renewable energy investment. In collaboration with Governor Ritter, the Colorado state legislature has committed to making Colorado a national leader in our New Energy Economy. Past and current legislation to support our state's green innovation has created a more stable and resilient economy in Colorado during these difficult economic times by attracting jobs, manufacturing and innovation to the state.

At the event, Robert Kennedy Jr. applauded these efforts, saying “Colorado is at the forefront of an energy revolution that promises to transform the U.S. economy. Gov. Ritter and other Colorado leaders have established the state as a national and international leader in the production and manufacturing of traditional and renewable energy."

(Sen. Schwartz, Nichole Goodman-Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Robert Kennedy Jr., Carly Marie Knudson)


This session, the legislature's Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth endorsed 11 of its 25 bills to focus specifically on renewable energy and clean technology promotion. These bills will promote construction of green, solar-ready homes, the development of green jobs, and the expansion of green businesses. Green industry saves our environment, but more importantly it develops reliable jobs for Colorado. To read the Select Committee's final report and learn more about these exciting initiatives, please follow the link provided below:

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2009/comsched/09JobCreationFinalReport.pdf



Wednesday, March 4, 2009

DEMOCRATS’ JOBS BILLS PASS THE SENATE


Senate Chamber
State of Colorado
Denver

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
CONTACT
Alejandra Garza de Gutierrez (303)866-5288
Abigail Vacanti (303) 866-4882


DEMOCRATS’ JOBS BILLS PASS THE SENATE
SB 51 and SB 162 pass final reading and head to House

DENVER— The economic crisis is hitting people hard throughout the country and Colorado is not immune. 47,000 jobs have been lost in the last twelve month and Colorado’s unemployment rate is over 6%. With these numbers on everyone’s mind, the Colorado Senate passed two important bills on final reading this morning which will create jobs for Colorado.

SB 51 passed this morning on a vote of 24 to 11. This bill is sponsored by Senator Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) will help average home owners, for the first time, finance renewable energy upgrades for their homes and businesses. By bringing alternative energy upgrades within reach for hundreds of thousands of people in Colorado, this bill will save people money, increase our energy independence, and create thousands of jobs. SB 51 will also bring in millions of dollars in investment to Colorado by attracting investment capital and renewable energy firms to our state. (SB 51 fact sheet attached)

“Colorado has been the leader in the new energy economy,” said Senator Carroll, “and we must continue to do so. We need to make affordable, renewable energy available to more homeowners. When we do that, they will save money and we will be putting more renewable energy companies to work. It’s a win- win situation.”

Senator Gail Schwartz’s (D-Snowmass) Broadband Bill (SB 162) had bipartisan support and passed by a vote of 33 to 2. This was one of the 26 major jobs bills which came out of and was endorsed by the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, which Sen. Schwartz chaired. The DC based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation estimates that if $10 billion is spent on broadband nationwide, we could see 498,000 permanent jobs in existing and new businesses. Colorado needs to be ready for this. This bill will create the mapping of broadband connectivity throughout the state so that Colorado can take advantage of federal stimulus dollars to build out broadband connectivity state-wide.

Last month, President Obama traveled to Denver to sign the $787 billion “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” into law. According to the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, Colorado will also see some of the $7 Billion earmarked for broadband Internet. If Colorado sees even 2 % of this funding, it could provide $140 Million for Internet and digital infrastructure.


“This bill will create a plan to expand broadband throughout Colorado, especially in underserved areas,” said Senator Schwartz. “This project is ready to go. The faster we can get broadband to rural areas, the faster we can level the playing field and ensure that health care, education and businesses can establish themselves in all regions throughout the state. This state’s economic development depends on expanding broadband.”

These two bills will now head to the House.

SB 51, sponsored by Sen. Carroll, is carried by Rep. Claire Levy (D).

Rep. Larry Liston (R), Rep. Buffie McFadyen (D), Rep. Joe Rice (D), and Rep. Judy Solano (D) will carry SB 162 in the House and was sponsored by Sen. Schwartz in the Senate.

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