by OnSight | Mar 2013 | politics
After years of hard work — including a dramatic showdown at the end of last years’ legislative session — a civil unions bill has finally passed the Colorado State Legislature. Despite contentious debate, the bill ultimately garnered bi-partisan support in the state house, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting in favor.
The bill will head to the Governor in the next week or two, where he has promised to sign it.
Emotional quotes from lawmakers who have worked for decades on civil rights issues anchored the coverage in the Denver Post:
Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, who has sponsored the civil-unions bill for three years, said its passage is the high point of a decades-long struggle.
…
“Today is really a memorial, remembering those who were shamed because they were gay or had AIDS,” said Sen. Lucia Guzman, D-Denver.
…
Speaker Mark Ferrandino, a gay Denver Democrat who has carried the bill each year, said Senate Bill 11 is about love, family and equality under the law.
“This wasn’t a choice. This is who I am. This is who we are,” he said of being gay. “We need to make laws in our society that respect everyone equally.”
…
Rep. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins described living for years worried she was going to lose her friends, her family and her job if she revealed she was gay. She only recently came out.
“I could not share personal stories of who I loved, who I went on vacation with, who I shared my home with and why,” she said. “I’ve waited for this recognition for over 40 years. This truly is a historic day for equality in Colorado.”
Kudos to the Colorado Legislature and the courage of the bill’s sponsors for doing the right thing.
by OnSight | Mar 2013 | OnSight News
OnSight is pleased to announce the hiring of our new Creative Communications Strategist, Abby Leeper. Previously a political media buyer, Abby is excited to put her creative thinking cap back on to create content and copy. Originally from Omaha, Neb., Abby is still a Midwesterner at heart—although after living in Colorado for a few years, she is now convinced that she’ll never leave the Mile High region.
by OnSight | Mar 2013 | OnSight News, Press and Media, Print Communications
Representatives from the City of Loveland, the City of Fort Collins, Colorado State University, and Drive Electric Northern Colorado participated in the ground breaking to install a public charging station at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.
Fewer things put a stop to a media event (or any other event, for that matter) faster than a blizzard. Despite a rather uneventful winter, Mother Nature decided to pummel the Front Range with its largest snowstorm of the season on Sunday, February 24th. Children around the region feverishly performed snow-dances in their bedrooms in hopes of a day off from school. But the staff at OnSight Public Affairs and the Electrification Coalition were still hard at work, collective knots in their stomachs growing tighter and tighter as each inch of snow fell. The launch of a new electric vehicle initiative in Northern Colorado was just one day away.
But by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery was already bustling place. Microphones were checked. Electric cars in the lot were cleared of snow. As guests arrived for the conference, OnSight staffers twiddled their thumbs and contemplated whether or not the media would show up at all after Snowmaggedon 2013.
But one by one, media crews trickled in. And by 9:00 a.m., more than three news stations, a handful of regional papers, a public radio and a local cable network were represented. Despite the odds, the work of the OnSight staff (especially, media relations extraordinaire, George Merritt) paid off, and the media event ran without a hitch.
Here’s more information about Monday’s launch:
State’s First Electric Car ‘Fast Charger’ Arrives in Northern Colorado—KCNC
Initiative to push for electric cars launches in Northern Colorado – Loveland / Longmont
Partnership aims to make Northern Colorado leader in electric vehicles – The Denver Post
Drive Electric Northern Colorado Hopes To Spark A Revolution – KUNC
Electric Cars Stealing the Attention of Fort Collins and Loveland – NOCO5
Drive Electric Northern Colorado launched today by CSU, Loveland, FC – Innovation News
by OnSight | Feb 2013 | politics, Romanoff
Andrew Romanoff won election to four terms in the Colorado House of Representatives, including two terms as Speaker of the House. He earned national acclaim as one of the most effective legislative leaders in America.
Andrew Romanoff has launched his campaign for Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, and it’s already received a lot of positive attention. It’s been less just over a week since he declared his candidacy for Congress, and he has received enthusiastic support throughout the 6th District and across the state. More than 500 Coloradans have already joined the campaign. In addition, twenty-one current and former legislators in Adams and Arapahoe counties recently endorsed Andrew, a group that includes every Democrat now representing the district.
Andrew is running because, as he says, “What we need, now more than ever, are men and women committed to solving problems, not just pointing fingers or picking fights. We need new leadership in the House of Representatives. And we need new leadership in Congressional District 6.”
Some press on the great energy of the announcement:
About Andrew
Andrew Romanoff won election to four terms in the Colorado House of Representatives, including two terms as Speaker of the House. He earned national acclaim as one of the most effective legislative leaders in America.
Romanoff led the fight to pass an Economic Recovery Plan and steer Colorado out of a deep recession. He brought Democrats and Republicans together to repair our state’s crumbling schools. He authored laws to protect the victims of domestic violence, provide treatment for mental illness, expand the supply of affordable housing, and shield children and seniors from neglect and abuse.
Romanoff has devoted much of his career to teaching, from rural high schools in Central America to the Community College of Aurora. A post at the Southern Poverty Law Center fueled a lifelong commitment to civil rights. He also served on the board of the Center for Women’s Employment and Education, a job-training agency for low-income women.
Learn more about Andrew and his campaign at at www.andrewromanoff.com, and follow along on Twitter and Facebook.
by OnSight | Feb 2013 | CLBA, politics
“Craft beer bill” faces opposition from Republicans, Democrats and craft brewers.
Colorado’s unique liquor laws enable independent businesses to offer a wide selection of products, services and experiences.
DENVER _ A bill that would make alcohol more accessible for minors, threaten Colorado jobs and harm craft beer brewers was panned Friday by Republican and Democratic legislators, craft brewers and local small businesses.
House Bill 1178, introduced Thursday with just a single sponsor, is the latest attempt by out-of-state chain stores like Safeway, 7-Eleven and Circle K to put local retailers out of business by offering full-strength beer in gas stations.
“This is the same bill Coloradans have rejected over and over because we value local jobs and we don’t want alcohol where kids buy candy,” said Kim Schottleutner, who owns DTC Wine and Spirits. “It is guaranteed to hurt local stores like mine and that effects jobs just as we are recovering from the recession.”
Year after year an army of lobbyists descend on Colorado’s Capitol to put a fresh disguise on the same bill the legislature has overwhelmingly rejected time and again. This year’s gimmick is an attempt to entice craft beer brewers who have been thriving under our current system. But local brewers aren’t taking the bait. The Colorado Brewers Guild has opposed HB-1178.
“HB-1178 is not in the interest of Colorado craft beer,” said Todd Usry, the brewmaster and general manager of Breckenridge Breweries. “It would begin to dismantle one of the best craft beer markets in the nation, compromising Colorado jobs in the process. Colorado craft beer is a bright spot in an otherwise cloudy economy. The current system of retail beer sales works well offering opportunity for entrepreneurs.”
Colorado’s current system of more than 1,600 independent, family-owned retailers plays a significant role in the success of the craft beer industry. Upstart brewers are able to walk into a local store, speak to the owner, and reach a deal to get their product on the shelf in days. That can’t happen if out-of-state corporate offices are making the purchasing decisions.
HB-1178 has been assigned to the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee where it faces strong bipartisan opposition among committee members.
“The bill would have devastating impacts on family-owned stores across Colorado and increase access to alcohol for teenagers,” said Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver who chairs the Business Affairs and Labor Committee. “Republicans and Democrats oppose these changes because we need to be working to create jobs not destroy them, and we need to be making our communities safer, not less.”
Legislators overwhelmingly agree that there is no sense in messing with a system that creates jobs, satisfies the consumer and puts a premium on safety.
“Our current system has helped make Colorado the ‘Napa Valley of Craft Beer,'” said Rep. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, who also serves on the Committee. “As an advocate for small businesses, I don’t want to change what makes us the envy of the nation, created tens of thousands of jobs and built one of Colorado’s strongest and fastest growing industries. It’s a bad idea.”
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After years of hard work — including a dramatic showdown at the end of last years’ legislative session — a civil unions bill has finally passed the Colorado State Legislature. Despite contentious debate, the bill ultimately garnered bi-partisan support in the state house, with all Democrats and two Republicans voting in favor.
