Roll call, February 27
The Rocky
Published February 27, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Photo by Linda McConnell / Special to the Rocky
A man who barged onto the floor of the state House of Representatives on Tuesday is held for state patrol troopers after he was escorted from the chambers. The man had shouted at lawmakers to "stand up for our families" as he was led away.
LAWMAKER HUMOR
A bill requiring the Department of Agriculture to keep livestock information confidential generated a humorous exchange in the House.
"I'm just a city boy, so I have some questions about this mule-burro thing," said Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Aurora.
"If a mule is a hybrid, is it related to a Prius? And then, those burros, what if they don't want to be donkeys. Can we keep them as separate from the donkeys?"
"The answer is 'no' and 'yes,' " said Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh.
"Rep. McKinley," asked Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton, "can you tell me if an elephant is a hybrid of a donkey?"
"To answer Rep. Solano's question," said Rep. Mike May, R-Parker, "an elephant is a donkey that pays taxes."
THEY SAID IT
"Majority-sponsored bills are kind of like Elvis, they just keep showing up."
Sen. Steve Ward, R-Littleton, after Senate Democrats magically revived two bills that Republicans appeared to have killed.
On tap today
9 a.m. House and Senate convene
House takes final votes on:
* HB 1176, which would protect the child custody rights of Colorado National Guard troops and military reservists deployed on active duty.
* HB 1103 to regulate the safety of amusement park rides.
* HB 1193 would prohibit a judge from presiding over a case when a judge from the same court is a party.
* HB 1314 would fund counseling programs for gambling addicts.
The Senate takes final votes on:
* SB 159, which would lower the blood-alcohol threshold for violations of "boating under the influence."
* SB 120, which seeks to combat childhood obesity by requiring schools to ban all but the most nutritious beverages from being sold in vending machines and cafeterias.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.

