Blake: Capitol workloads vary

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

When it comes to pay, all 100 Colorado legislators are equal: $30,000 a year, plus per diem.

But when it comes to productivity, some of them - like the animals on Orwell's farm - are more equal than others.

Everybody has to be on the floor of the House or Senate during debate and votes, but the difference is in the committee assignments, which can vary widely.

Collectively, the hardest working group are the Senate Democrats. There's a reason for it. They have only an 18-17 edge, but they must maintain a 4-3 edge in all 10 of the Senate's committees of reference - the ones that must approve bills before they go to the floor.

Thus eight of the 18 Democrats have three committee assignments and the others at least two. We're not counting the Joint Budget Committee, which is a full-time job for two Senate Democrats.

The load is such that Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald sits on one committee (State Affairs) and Majority Leader Ken Gordon on another (Judiciary). Until recently leadership did not sit on committees.

Senate Republicans have it easier. Most sit on just two committees, although Greg Brophy of Wray has three and Jim Dyer of Centennial just one (Judiciary).

Committees generally meet two and sometimes three times a week for several hours each session. If testimony is heavy, some committees can meet into the evening.

"The majority has to work harder," agrees Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder. "You're carrying most amendments, and the lobby comes to you."

"But we love every minute of it," added Mary Alice Mandarich, Democratic chief of staff.

In the House, Speaker Andrew Romanoff insists his 35 Democrats carry an equal load. Except for the two JBC members, everyone has to sit on two committees of reference - no exceptions. Would Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, like to spend more time campaigning for the 4th Congressional District seat? No doubt, and congressional candidates have been indulged in years past. But Paccione still has to sit on both the Business Affairs and Education committees.

It's the House Republicans where the greatest workload discrepancy is found. Three of the 30 are assigned to three committees: Rookies Josh Penry of Grand Junction and Cory Gardner of Yuma, plus Tom Massey of Poncha Springs. Massey has the biggest load since the other two are on Appropriations, which generally meets just once a week, before the morning session.

Another half-dozen Republicans have just one committee: David Balmer of Centennial (Business Affairs), Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs (State Affairs), Lauri Clapp of Centennial (Judiciary), Mike May of Parker (Local Government), David Schultheis of Colorado Springs (State Affairs) and Rob Witwer of Genesee (Judiciary).

Republicans argue that they sit on other groups, such as Legislative Council, the Audit Committee or Capital Development. True, but so do the Democrats. Committees of reference are the fairest comparison.

Balmer is a major Republican fundraiser, and Cadman is a party strategist, but Stengel maintains he's not playing favorites. "There's nothing sinister here," he said Tuesday. "It's more complicated than it looks" making sure members get committee assignments that don't meet in the same time slot.

He did concede he was making allowances for Witwer's and Balmer's regular jobs, and that Clapp had asked off her second committee for personal reasons.

To make sure people try to get on committees instead of off, the legislature could shift to a piecework system. But the problem would be: What should you get more credit for - helping kill a bill or helping pass one?

Regent candidate: Lawyer Troy Eid, thwarted in his quest for the U.S. attorney's job in Colorado, has announced he's running for a statewide seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents.

He said he'll run whether or not his wife Allison is chosen for the Colorado Supreme Court by Gov. Bill Owens today. She's one of three nominees.

Eid insists he's not doing it for the free football tickets, not having seen any kind of game between John Elway's retirement and this year's AFC championship.

His goal: establishing a post-tenure review policy for the faculty. "We don't need any more Ward Churchills," he said.

He's running for the seat being vacated by Pete Steinhauer. Among his Republican rivals is Steinhauer's wife Julie.

blakep@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5119.