Kopp’s “leaner government” bill dies in committee
DENVER – A plan to trim the fat from Colorado state government failed to muster enough votes to make it out of committee and its sponsor, state Sen. Mike Kopp R-Lakewood-South Jeffco, said the bill, which had bipartisan support, died because of “hyper-partisan” politics.
Kopp’s Senate Bill 165, dubbed a “Blueprint for a Leaner Government”, would have sought out and identified “redundancies and waste” in state government, Kopp said.
SB 165 would have created two bipartisan study groups to examine state agencies and functions and regulatory duties to find more efficient ways of doing business.
But Kopp’s measure failed a crucial test, falling 3-2 in the State Affairs Committee.
“While the bill had bipartisan support, the hyper-partisan State Affairs Committee killed the bill and provided no credible rationale for doing so,” Kopp wrote in his Weekly Capital update.
Rep. Andy Kerr, (D-Lakewood) pushed House Bill 1267, which is intended to make leasing solar panels more affordable for homeowners through the House Finance Committee earlier this week.
Homeowners who purchase solar panels now can qualify for property tax exemptions, but those who lease panels get no property tax break. Kerr’s bill would change that discrepancy.
Solar panel leases allow homeowners to avoid the high cost of purchasing solar panels, provide clean energy and protect household budgets from fluctuating utility prices, according to Kerr.
“This common-sense change is a win for homeowners who want to adopt sustainable energy, and it is a win for the companies that hire crews to assemble, install, and maintain the panels. Streamlining government, growing business, and protecting the environment makes this a smart plan for Colorado,” Kerr said.
Gov. Bill Ritter earlier this week signed a bill sponsored in the House by Kerr that would shore up Colorado’s faltering Public Employees Retirement Association, or PERA.
The bill authorizes several stopgap measures to stem the depletion of PERAS funds and is expected help the fund avoid insolvency in the near term.
More than 400,000 state, school and local government employees in Colorado participate in the retirement program, including delaying retirement for current employees who are not yet vested in PERA.
The bill also reduces PERA’s Cost of Living Adjustment to reflect the Consumer Price Index, but guarantees a 2 percent increase for all retirees, active and inactive participants after one year. The bill also would call on employers will be asked to contribute an additional 2 % (1.5% for schools) and employees will be asked to contribute an additional 2% until the fund is solvent.
“This bill represents the necessary work that needs to be done to protect the retirement future of Colorado employees. Even in these tough partisan times we can come together in a bipartisan manner and do what’s right for PERA retirees,” Kerr said.
The bill was sponsored in the Senate by President Brandon Schaffer, D-Longmont, and Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction.
Other bills introduced by Lakewood state legislators:
Tyler – HB 1001, HB 1050, HB 1077
State Rep. Andy Kerr (D-Dist. 23) – HB 1040, HB 1164
State Rep. Jim Kerr (R-Dist.28) – HB 1011, HB 1085, HB 1118, HB 1150, HB 1153
State Rep. Ken Summers (R-Dist 22) – HB 1091, HB 1157
State Sen. Betty Boyd (D-Dist. 21) – SB 006, SB 010, SB 020, SB 056, SB 068, SB 097.
