On Wednesday, the Colorado legislature killed a bill that would require those under 18 to wear a helmet while riding as passengers on a motorcycle. Opponents of the bill argued that the state was, in effect, trying to assume the role of parent, and their objections carried the day.
Yestterday, too, the Colorado House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted 10-1 to kill a Senate bill that would have ceded Colorado’s electoral votes as part of an interstate scheme to elect the president by popular vote. From the RMN:
Two college professors ripped a bill that would change how Colorado elects a president, but it turns out that lawmakers don’t like the proposal any better.
The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee voted 10-1 Thursday to kill Senate Bill 46. The measure would have make Colorado part of an interstate agreement to elect the president by popular vote, instead of the electoral system currently in place.
“This proposal has a goal that is misguided, potentially disastrous and uses a method to achieve its passage that is devious and disrespectful of the U.S. Constitution,” said Jim Riley, a professor of politics at Regis University. “Its effects would be potentially catastrophic for the nation. I say this intending no exaggeration.”
Law professor Robert Hardaway of the University of Denver was equally critical.
He said problems with a presidential candidate winning the popular vote but losing the electoral vote are rare, but result in cries for changing the system.
Without the Electoral College, close votes would be a nightmare, Hardaway said. “You think 2000 was bad? You’d have recounts in every precinct, in every state.”
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, who vigorously defended his proposal, and Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, who said little during the committee hearing.
The measure passed 19-15 in the Senate, with all but one of the 20 Democrats supporting it. It had little Democratic support in the House committee.
Note to Colorado Senate Democrats: the Constitution will only remain a “living document” so long as you don’t succeed in murdering the thing.
Oh. And welcome back, cowboys.
Yee-haw.
Congratulations. DC’s gun ban was overturned as well. A bright day.
Now if we could do something about the missus presuming guilt on all us soon-to-be-homeless patriarchs. Anybody say hat trick?
I still don’t know how anyone could expect that electoral-vote scheme to fly—and there is talk of enacting it in California. If in effect in 2004 it would have awarded California’s electoral votes to Bush instead of Kerry.
The electoral vote thing will never fly. Even if it passes in the states, the constitution provides all deals between the states must be approved by congress. How likely is it a sceme to cut small states out of the presidential selection process will pass the Senate?
Good on the DC ban being overturned. Now if we can make sure HR 1022 dies an ugly death…
I’m buying an Evil Black Rifle this weekend, anyway.
If your kids aren’t risking debilitating injury for no good reason, you’re never truly free.
If your kid is too stupid to put a helmet on whilst riding a motorcycle, he deserves to leave his scalp on the pavement.
It’s a government, not a babysitting agency
I don’t understand how the sponsoring senators thought this would be a political winner for them. Essentially they’re telling their constituents that their vote doesn’t matter.
How is that likely to endear them to their voters next election time?
Heh. You believe in Darwinsim, don’t ya, Moops?
RISK? OH JESUS, DID WE LET RISK SLIP BY AGAIN? KILL IT! KIIIIIILLLLL IT!
I’m for risk, not against. Especially when it’s pointless, and more especially when it involves children. Mandatory vaccination, and car seats are the first cobblestones on the path to fascism.
You convince the government and the insurance companies to keep there hands out of my fucking pockets when paying to put his head back together, and I will agree. But every time one of these dumbass fucking rebels with out a clue survives, the next time you see him is marching in support of the ADA. If you are gonna talk the talk, walk the walk.
Ah, but the insurance industry is a babysitting agency.
A babysitting industry in which I am forced to participate.
If I have to pay, I get a say.
Well, the forced part is the gubmint in action. I feel yer pain, and yet, ain’t nobody else gonna listen.
Next are tort reform, school vouchers and medical savings accounts
The birth state of John F. Kerry may fight the tide, but in the end, Colorado will likely Massachusettize!
Speaking as a cog (mid-level) in the insurance-industrial complex, I wish to assure you that my enormo-soul crushing, multinational (European, ha!) corporate master has no interest in babysitting CO motorbike riders. Thank goodness I get to stick to helping fight people like Peter Angelos, Mark Lanier, et al., from converting more industrial sectors into mansions, yachts and struggling AL teams.
And once we get those people wearing helmets, lets outlaw cigarettes. And booze. And McDonalds. And bathtubs. Buildings over two stories. Jeeze, what else should we ban that injure people? Most of the playground equipment. (something that we are well underway) Lakes, streams and swimming pools. Bicycles. Guns, knifes and sticks. Loose women. HIV carriers. Oh, the nanny state could have a field day. But our insurance premiums should go down!
We need to ban wild animals; they’ve been known to hurt people too.