Republicans Win CO Senate

[Rucker61]

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/...#disqus_thread

[O2HeN2]

If we had lost the senate, the year of lost rights would have looked like only a warm-up.

Gun owners would have felt the full wrath of the Dem's revenge for the recalls.

Unfortunately I think we're only put it off for an election cycle or two.

O2

[Great-Kazoo]

If we had lost the senate, the year of lost rights would have looked like only a warm-up.

Gun owners would have felt the full wrath of the Dem's revenge for the recalls.

Unfortunately I think we're only put it off for an election cycle or two.

O2

They will be lined up at the polls 1-2 days prior to election day. Like it was a Chik-Fil-A grand opening.

[SenHolbert]

At least now, we can stop them.

Following the 2013 general session, there was A LOT of frustration expressed as to why we Republicans (the Minority) didn't do more to stop the anti-gun bills. Those frustrations often boiled down to 'why didn't Republicans shut down the process?'

The answer is simple: in Colorado, the Minority has no ability to 'shut down the process.' That is not possible under the COLORADO state Constitution. Apparently, the Constitution of the State of Texas may provide some provision for the Minority to shut down the process. A few years ago, eleven Democrat state Senators from Texas gained much media attention when they left Texas, went to New Mexico, and refused to return until they got what they wanted. OK, if that story is accurate, then we know one thing: the Texas Constitution and the Colorado Constitution are different.

In Colorado, the critical "33, 18 & 1" refers to the rule of Simple Majority. There are 65 seats in the state House. A simple majority is 33 of those 65 seats. There are 35 seats in the state Senate. A simple majority is 18 of those 35 seats. There is one Governor. Thus, if 33 or more members of the House agree, 18 or more of the Senate agree, and the one Governor agrees, then a bill passes into law… and there is NO WAY for those in the House or Senate who disagree (32 or fewer in the House and/or 17 or fewer in the Senate) to stop the bill. If a minority of members were to leave the state or refuse to vote, they (we) would be counted "Absent" or "Excused" and the process would continue because, under the Colorado Constitution, there is no provision for a minority of members to shut down the process. Quorum requirements to start business on any legislative day are also 33 & 18.

With this one majority, we Republicans now have a way to stop bad bills and pass good bills. Any eighteen or more members of the Senate *could* shut down the process, but there would be no need for a majority of members to shut themselves down.

As we move toward the 2015 general session, please keep-in-mind and share with others the reality that our political opposition is watching and they are anxious to know what bills will be run. What will be the agenda for 2015? Who will run which bills? How can they rally their resources to prepare for the upcoming legislative battles? They watch social media and even issue-oriented sites like this one. Thus, it would be really not smart for us to discuss such things in a forum setting. Bills can be introduced starting Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Until then, please encourage keeping our playbook to ourselves. The other team doesn't need our help. We now have 18, they have 34 & 1.

[jslo]

Now, outgoing Senate majority leader Morgan Carroll, is hoping that Republicans will work with Democrats. "People don't want gridlock. I think the voters said that loud and clear". I think, after some of the crap they shoved down our throats, she has a lot of balls to now want to be included in the "discussion". Part of me says, scew her.

[wyome]

thanks for explaining that part of the process Rep Holbert

[BPTactical]

thanks for explaining that part of the process Rep Holbert

X2
Thank you Chris for taking the time to clarify.

Your good peeps

[Eric P]

I love gridlock. We don't need more laws or new spending or new taxes, or new fees.

[Great-Kazoo]

Now, outgoing Senate majority leader Morgan Carroll, is hoping that Republicans will work with Democrats. "People don't want gridlock. I think the voters said that loud and clear". I think, after some of the crap they shoved down our throats, she has a lot of balls to now want to be included in the "discussion". Part of me says, scew her.

They (D's) got their asses kicked Nationally and NOW it's time for compromise AND working together. You wouldn't know it by the comments in that story run in the post and others nationwide.
COMPROMISE We give up something in the name of safety, while the opposition wants more from us.

[Dave]

At least now, we can stop them.

Following the 2013 general session, there was A LOT of frustration expressed as to why we Republicans (the Minority) didn't do more to stop the anti-gun bills. Those frustrations often boiled down to 'why didn't Republicans shut down the process?'

The answer is simple: in Colorado, the Minority has no ability to 'shut down the process.' That is not possible under the COLORADO state Constitution. Apparently, the Constitution of the State of Texas may provide some provision for the Minority to shut down the process. A few years ago, eleven Democrat state Senators from Texas gained much media attention when they left Texas, went to New Mexico, and refused to return until they got what they wanted. OK, if that story is accurate, then we know one thing: the Texas Constitution and the Colorado Constitution are different.

In Colorado, the critical "33, 18 & 1" refers to the rule of Simple Majority. There are 65 seats in the state House. A simple majority is 33 of those 65 seats. There are 35 seats in the state Senate. A simple majority is 18 of those 35 seats. There is one Governor. Thus, if 33 or more members of the House agree, 18 or more of the Senate agree, and the one Governor agrees, then a bill passes into law… and there is NO WAY for those in the House or Senate who disagree (32 or fewer in the House and/or 17 or fewer in the Senate) to stop the bill. If a minority of members were to leave the state or refuse to vote, they (we) would be counted "Absent" or "Excused" and the process would continue because, under the Colorado Constitution, there is no provision for a minority of members to shut down the process. Quorum requirements to start business on any legislative day are also 33 & 18.

With this one majority, we Republicans now have a way to stop bad bills and pass good bills. Any eighteen or more members of the Senate *could* shut down the process, but there would be no need for a majority of members to shut themselves down.

As we move toward the 2015 general session, please keep-in-mind and share with others the reality that our political opposition is watching and they are anxious to know what bills will be run. What will be the agenda for 2015? Who will run which bills? How can they rally their resources to prepare for the upcoming legislative battles? They watch social media and even issue-oriented sites like this one. Thus, it would be really not smart for us to discuss such things in a forum setting. Bills can be introduced starting Wednesday, January 7, 2015. Until then, please encourage keeping our playbook to ourselves. The other team doesn't need our help. We now have 18, they have 34 & 1.

And now I know.... and knowing is half the battle!

Too bad we have to settle on just not having more bad legislation rammed through. This was the first year since I have been eligible to vote that I went straight Republican. I usually vote a mix of R and L depending on what my research on candidates yielded, but this year I wasn't so much voting for R ideals (I differ on a few of theirs) as I was voting against Obama and the CO D lead gov't.