Pubdate: Sun, 28 Apr 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Authors: Lynn Bartels and Kevin Simpson
Page: 1B

TENSION BOILS OVER AS POT TAX BILL STALLS IN LATE-NIGHT SESSION

A disagreement over procedural matters in the Colorado House late 
Friday stalled action on a marijuana taxation measure after angry 
Republicans exited the chamber, returned briefly after midnight and 
lawmakers adjourned early Saturday.

The tension came after a day of wheeling and dealing, first over a 
school finance reform bill and then over a controversial renewable 
energy standards bill impacting rural co-ops.

Democrats, who are in the majority, stopped a Republican lawmaker 
from speaking but explained he would be able to finish his argument.

"You guys are in charge, you run the agenda and you just shut off the 
voice of the minority and that's not right," Rep. Frank McNulty, 
R-Highlands Ranch, said loudly.

"You can have all the time to debate when we come back," said Speaker 
Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.

The education measure provides a framework proponents say creates 
greater funding adequacy and equity among Colorado's 178 school districts.

If passed, Senate Bill 213would require voter approval of a $1.1 
billion tax hike to take effect.

That legislation hit a snag when the House sponsor, Rep. Millie 
Hamner, D-Dillon, introduced an amendment outlining areas where early 
tax revenues - funds that come in before the new formula would go 
into effect in the 2015-16 school year-could be allocated.

Republican objections prompted Hamner to withdraw the amendment, and 
the parties sought a compromise. But in the meantime, the House moved 
on to other matters, including renewable energy and two marijuana 
bills. The House announced shortly before midnight that the school 
measure wouldn't be acted on until Monday.

House members debated the renewable energy measure Thursday and 
Friday, with fired-up Republicans arguing it would cripple rural 
Colorado. Senate Bill 252 would require Colorado's rural cooperative 
utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable 
energy by 2020 - a sharp increase from the existing 10 percent mark 
they're required by state law to hit by 2020.

The lengthy battle over that measure - which eventually received 
initial approval - pushed back debate on other measures.

The House managed to finish debate on one marijuana measure late 
Friday. That bill would set the nation's first regulations for how 
recreational pot can be grown, packaged and sold. It sets product 
safety rules and marijuana purchasing limits for out-of-state visitors.

Lawmakers were in the middle of trying to lower the tax rate proposed 
in another marijuana bill when Majority Leader Dickey Lee 
Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, interrupted Republican Bob Gardner of 
Colorado Springs, who was talking about his amendment.

She said the chamber needed to adjourn before midnight so that bills 
debated that day would not be lost, and after midnight the House 
would convene again and could resume his argument. Republicans were 
furious. "We're tired of being bullied," said Minority Leader Mark 
Waller, R-Colorado Springs. "You guys can do this on your own."

Republicans left, and after midnight the House convened again. GOP 
members eventually returned, and Gardner finished his argument.

The bill would give recreational pot a 15 percent excise tax and a 
special pot sales tax of 15 percent, in additional to local sales 
taxes. Republicans were seeking to lower the tax to 10 percent excise 
and 10 percent sales taxes.

The House will take it up again Monday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom