Live from the Colorado Legislature

Rocky Mountain News

Published January 21, 2008 at 10:41 p.m.

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Lights! Camera! Action! Now turn to your neighbor and hug one another.

That was the direction given to Colorado House members as cameras rolled in the chamber on the first day of airing on the ZZZZ-Span network.

"I love all of you. Now turn to your neighbor and say, 'I love you' even if you're mad at them," said Rev. Leon Kelly, founder of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, as he delivered the opening prayer.

It wasn't exactly a made-for-TV- moment. Some lawmakers rolled their eyes. Others showed some love and primped for the camera.

"Are you getting this?" joked House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver.

Now cut. Great shot.

The Colorado legislature made history Monday afternoon with live coverage of floor action that got under way at 1 p.m. on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 165.

Coloradans will also be able to access live video feeds at coloradochannel.net, where archives of House floor "shows" also will be available for 18 months

A clerk in the Capitol bill room rolled out the red carpet Monday morning for Denver Police Detective John White.

White, a former college basketball star turned cop turned lobbyist, kept insisting he deserves star treatment when he ambles into the bill room each morning to collect calendars and bills.

"So I rolled out a sheet of paper and wrote 'red carpet' on it just for John," said Dorothy, a bill room clerk.

White flashed his intoxicating smile and said, "Don't I deserve to walk on a red carpet with rose petals under my feet?"

In your dreams.

When controversy hits close to home, it pays to be a lawmaker.

Rep. Rosemary Marshall, embroiled in a legal battle with a Republican Web site, is considering a bill that would make it more difficult for the public to obtain certain documents from lawmakers.

Under current law, drafts of proposed bills are considered "work product" and are not public records. However, e-mails, memos and other correspondence between lawmakers, lobbyists and stakeholders are fair game.

Marshall, D-Denver, is considering a bill that would shut off the public's access to such memos, letters and e-mails if they include discussions of a proposed bill.

"We're considering legislation," she said. "I guess nothing is really ever private."

The proposed bill comes as Marshall faces a lawsuit over her refusal to release a memo from Gov. Bill Ritter requested by Facethestate.com under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Brad Jones of Facethestate.com is seeking a memo that contains excerpts of legislation Marshall drafted that would grant state employees collective bargaining rights.

Such a bill hasn't been introduced. This fall, Ritter signed a controversial executive order granting state employees the right to join unions and enter into "partnership" agreements.

"This is a clear case that if you don't like a law, than change it," Jones said. "In this case, she is one of 100 people in the state that could do that." Jones argues the memo he seeks is a public record because it was drafted by a California attorney and shared with a handful of people outside the statehouse.

"This is really about the public's right to know an issue when it comes to fulfilling a request under the open records law," he said. "If her bill passes, she will get to wave a magic wand over documents that contain language for draft legislation."

The lawsuit is set to be decided in Denver District Court this week.

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