CDP Week in review July 27, 2007

Join us at a Benefit for the Colorado Democratic Party with First Lady Jeannie Ritter

Who: Chair Pat Waak With Hosts David Friedman, Rollie Heath, and Bruce Oreck

Date: Monday, July 30, 2007

Time: 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Location: Highland City Club, 885 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302

Contribution: Host $250; Guest $100

http://www.coloradodems.us/events/jeannieboulder

Here of some highlights from a busy week of Colorado Democrats

Pueblo - Last Saturday July 21 The Colorado Democratic Party Central Committee changed the traditional third Tuesday in March caucus date to first Tuesday in February (Feb. 5) to accommodate potential visits by presidential candidates.

Colorado Springs News -The Executive Committee of the Colorado Democratic Party voted to hold the May 2008 State Democratic Convention at the Colorado Springs World Arena. The Broomfield Events Center came in a close second place and was highly recommended for future consideration from the site selection committee.

Denver - The Colorado Democratic Party and others gathered at the Denver Tavern Uptown to Watch First DNC-Sanctioned Debate. Monday marked the first of six Democratic candidate debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Held in Charleston, South Carolina, the first DNC-sanctioned debate was sponsored by YouTube/Google and CNN.

Rep. Mark Udall joined conservation groups on the hill to promote the inclusion of a Renewable Energy Standard amendment into the Energy package the House will consider next week. The proposed amendment would be based on a stand-alone measure first introduced in the House in 2002 by Rep. Tom Udall. Since then, as energy prices have increased, the bill has continued gaining broad, bipartisan support. To date, the legislation has 149 cosponsors - thirty having signed on since July 4. The proposed amendment would create a federal standard requiring electric utilities to diversify their portfolios with wind, solar and other renewable energy sources. The first increase set for 2010, consistently increasing thereafter to meet a 2020 goal. Suppliers can meet these requirements by purchasing credits from other entities who have obtained credits by producing renewable energy. It also allows utilities to bank credits for four years and to borrow credits from up to three years in the future. Municipal and other publicly-owned power plants and rural electric co-ops would be exempted from the requirements. "We believe an RES will create public benefits for everyone. The renewable energy goals are significant, but not overly burdensome for states as it gives them flexibility to achieve these goals. An RES will benefit farmers, save consumers money, reduce air pollution, and increase reliability and energy security," said Rep. Mark Udall who is co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in the House of Representatives.

Governor Bill Ritter's Blue Ribbon Transportation Panel meets Tuesday, July 31 in Akron. Continuing to gather input from across Colorado, Gov. Bill Ritter's Blue Ribbon Transportation Panel will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, July 31, in Akron. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Washington County Events Center, 552 W. 2nd St.

Rep. John Salazar announced his support for HR 1416, The Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. The bill would restore Habeas Corpus rights and Geneva Convention protections that were weakened with the passage of the Military Commissions Act in 2006. Congressman Salazar has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill. Below is a summary from the Congressional Research Service of The Habeas Corpus Restoration Act:

* Repeals provisions of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that eliminated the jurisdiction of any court to hear or consider applications for a writ of habeas corpus filed by aliens who have been determined by the United States to have been properly detained as enemy combatants (or who are awaiting such determination) and actions against the United States relating to the detention of such aliens and to military commissions (thus restoring habeas corpus rights existing prior to the enactment of such Act).

* Repeals the prohibition in the Military Commissions Act of 2006 against invoking the Geneva Convention as a source of rights in any habeas corpus or other civil actions in which the United States or a member of the Armed Forces is a party.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter helps lead the way to the implementation of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. The United States House of Representatives by a vote of 371 to 40 passed H.R. 1, Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007. Rep. Ed Perlmutter was the only freshman member and the only member of the Colorado Delegation to participate in the Conference Committee. He was chosen by the House leadership to be a part of the Conference Committee as part of his work on the House Homeland Security Committee. "I am proud to be the only freshman member who was on the Conference Committee of this important piece of legislation. My colleagues and I from both sides of the aisle worked extremely hard on this bill and today's overwhelmingly bipartisan vote only underscores the role Congress must continue to play in keeping our nation secure. Almost 3 years since the 9/11 Commission Report was released the Democratic-led Congress has finally implemented their recommendations," stated Perlmutter.