A marijuana proposal aimed at training people who
work in medical marijuana businesses has cleared the Colorado
Senate. The Senate voted 24-11 Wednesday in favor of a “responsible
medical marijuana vendor” designation. The optional designation
would allow pot shops to train employees in state marijuana
regulation and how to spot fake marijuana cards. In exchange, the
businesses could get a break if they run afoul of state
regulations. A similar designation already exists for the alcohol
industry. The marijuana industry backed the measure. It now heads to the
House.
Republicans in the Colorado House approved a
proposal to ask voters whether people should provide their photo ID
before casting ballots. The measure passed the chamber Tuesday on a party-line vote with Democrats opposing. The bill is likely doomed in the Democratic-led Senate. Similar photo ID requirements have been blocked by legal challenges in Texas and Wisconsin. Republicans say requiring photo IDs to vote is a way to prevent fraud. Democrats say voter impersonation is rare and that requiring photo ID at the polls amounts to voter suppression.
Republicans tried a similar proposal last year but it wouldn’t
have required the voters’ approval. That measure also passed the
House before failing in the Senate.
Colorado voters are closer to being asked whether
to change the state constitution to change employment protections
for state employees. A bill approved by the Colorado House Tuesday updates the rules for how state employees are hired and fired. Many of the changes are in the state constitution, meaning voters would have to approve
the changes this November. The bill includes revised pay standards and big changes to the so-called “bumping” rule, in which senior employees could
“bump” newer hires if they’re laid off. The rule would be
eliminated for most employees. The bill also creates first-ever
severance pay for most state employees.
A more formal vote is required in the House before the proposal
moves to the Senate. Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper called for many of the changes.
DENVER (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court today will hear an appeal
from Secret Service agents who say they should be shielded from a
lawsuit over their arrest of a Golden man who confronted Vice
President Dick Cheney. The justices will review a federal appeals
court decision to allow Steven Howards to pursue his claim that the
arrest violated his free speech rights. Howards was detained by
Cheney’s security detail in 2006 after he told Cheney of his
opposition to the war in Iraq.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) – Volunteer searchers using metal
detectors have recovered a Texas woman’s engagement ring after she
lost it at her husband’s grave at the Air Force Academy. The
Gazette reports Gayle Zompa of Galveston got her ring back last
week. It slipped off her finger four months ago as she was placing
flowers on the grave of her husband, Edward, who graduated from the
academy in 1961 and was an Air Force pilot for 25 years.
