State Report

by State Rep. Marsha Looper

The Colorado House Judiciary Committee and House Finance Committee have passed two very significant pieces of legislation that advance and affirm special rights for gay and lesbian partners.
Senate Concurrent Resolution *1 (SCR1)* and Senate Bill 2 (*SB12-2*) represent two pieces of legislation that redefine marriage between one man and one woman, and repeal a 1993 voter approved provision *prohibiting special protections* for individuals based upon sexual orientation.
*SB12-2*, the Colorado Civil Unions Act, “...authorizes civil unions in Colorado and sets forth the rights, responsibilities, and requirements of persons entering a civil union.” The Colorado Civil Union Act passed out of the Republican controlled House Judiciary Committee on a 6-5 vote and House Finance Committee on a 6-5 vote.
*SCR12-1* an amendment to the Colorado Constitution *also* passed out of Judiciary and will repeal a provision that *prohibits special status for homosexual, lesbian and bisexual individuals*. This provision, in the Colorado Bill of Rights was passed by the voters in 1993 and ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.  The voters never repealed it and many proponents continue to use this provision to protect traditional marriage laws in Colorado.
In 2006, voters passed Amendment 43 *defining marriage in Colorado as only a union of one man and one woman. *
Even though *SB12-2, the Colorado Civil Union Act* is a very important bill to many people seeking a statutory provision for marriage between *two* men or *two* women, many other people believe repealing the prohibition of protected status based upon sexual orientation removes or alters the defense of marriage between one man and one woman and opens the door to laws for special provisions based upon homosexual, lesbian and bisexual orientations. SB12-2 *does NOT have any religious exemptions, and opens the door to lawsuits against the church and it’s sister organizations such as hospitals and schools. *
It appears as if many politicians are on their way to keeping their promise to pass a civil union bill and remove all impediments in the Colorado Bill of Rights. If the bills continue to move to Appropriations and the House of Representatives for consideration, *you can count on me to oppose the measures and push for religious exemptions. *
Now more than ever we need to reduce government intrusion and defend our constitutional and religious rights. Please contact me at www.gomarsha.org for additional information on these and other bills.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your family!
Sincerely, Marsha Looper
Colorado State Representative, HD19

by State Rep Marsha Looper
  Recently the Colorado House of Representatives passed the 2012-2013 State Budget.  This is a responsible budget that increased funding for education, protects seniors and invests in our students.
  Although cuts across all departments were made to meet the requirement for a balanced budget the House of Representatives delivered a sound and reasonable budget to the senate for consideration.
  The following week, legislators in the House of Representatives passed a bill giving Hollywood a $3 million incentive payment, created the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media Operation Account Cash Fund and created a *loan guarantee program backed by Colorado taxpayers!*
  This “Hollywood Bailout” is wrong for many reasons;
  1. This $3 million of tax credits impacts funding for other programs such as K-12 Education, Higher Education, senior services, *military and veterans services* and human services.
  2. Politicians again choose one industry over others by providing public subsidies and special carve outs and artificially propping that industry up.
  3. This bailout bill expands state government, establishes new government subsidies that taxpayers will be funding indefinitely.
  4. The taxpayers of Colorado ultimately have to backfill these losses by higher taxes and fees in other areas.
 
  In my opinion House Bill 1286, the “Hollywood Bailout Bill,” panders to the elites of California while turning our backs on *Colorado’s small businesses and families*. If politicians are going to get serious about limiting the size, scope and power of government they need to oppose any unnecessary spending and entitlements.
  Politicians and policies that pick one industry over another to encourage growth ultimately destroy the free market, true competition and the spirit of entrepreneurship.
  Our nation was founded upon principles that have allowed her people to prosper. *Limiting government*, protecting a person’s inalienable rights to *life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness* begins by requiring politicians and government to get out of our pocketbooks and lives. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and fight for a better future for you, your children and grandchildren.
 
  Sincerely,
  Marsha Looper
  Colorado State Representative HD19
  www.gomarsha.org
  719-238-5600

by State Rep Marsha Looper
  Seven years ago a private toll road company and politicians at the Colorado State Capitol *almost* succeeded in stealing the private property rights of tens of thousands of property owners in the “Super Slab” toll road corridor that stretched from Pueblo County to Larimer County.
  It began on February 8, 2005 when the Colorado House of Representatives passed House Bill-1030, and property owners started receiving notices about a town hall meeting to discuss the legislation and the private-toll-road corridor that was 15 miles wide and over 250 miles long. The Super Slab shortly became the biggest land grab by a private company in America.
  After listening to the rhetoric from politicians and lobbyists about the private toll road project, it was clear the toll-road company did not want to offer a fair price for our property, but were seeking the authority from the legislature to condemn our properties. Immediately, I began working with property owners in El Paso, Elbert, Pueblo, Arapahoe, Adams, Larimer and Weld Counties on a strategy to battle this take-over of our private property rights.
  On March 22, 2005, I had the opportunity to work with six other county coalitions and lead over 2,000 property owners from the toll-road-corridor to our State Capitol to testify in opposition to this bill in the Senate Transportation Committee. On that day, the Senate Transportation Committee listened to the pleas of the people from Eastern Colorado and voted to kill the bill, however our fight to protect our property was not over.
  In 2007, I was elected to represent the citizens of House District 19 and continued to fight to protect everyone’s property rights in HD19. From 2005 until 2009, we successfully worked on legislation that would prohibit toll road developers from condemning our private property and cleared the toll-road encumbrances from our property titles.  Those four-years of hard work, determination and true-grit have guaranteed that our children and grandchildren will never have to worry about their farms, ranches and homes being condemned by a private developer. Because of our work, over 50,000 properties were protected from being condemned by a private company for their private projects.  Families throughout Colorado can rest assured that the threat of eminent domain by a private company for a private toll road will never happen again because of our work.
  Ensuring that future generations will have the same constitutional rights and opportunities for the American Dream takes work, persistence and fortitude. It is this “Spirit of the West” that makes House District 19 and El Paso County one of the best places in America to live!
  Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, protect your constitutional rights and defend the American Dream!
 
  Sincerely,
  Marsha Looper
  Colorado State Representative HD19
  www.gomarsha.org
  719-238-5600