Transcript Golden
May 30, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourgoldennews.com
Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 147, Issue 26
County to limit open carry
FIELD OF DREAMS
Ordinance passed to limit display of guns in some locations By Glenn Wallace
gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com
The Golden High School Class of 2013 graduated at the North Area Athletic Complex on Friday, May 24. The class of 241 students was the 140th to graduate from GHS. Photo by Glenn Wallace
Law aims to keep jobs in state Governor signs bill that GOP links to unions By Vic Vela
vvela@ourcoloradonews.com Gov. John Hickenlooper on May 24 signed into law a state-contracting reform bill that aims to reduce the outsourcing of public works projects and penalizes employers who do not hire local workers or who buy foreign-produced materials. But it’s a bill that earned little legislative support from Republicans, who panned the legislation as another example of Democrats protecting unions over businesses. House Bill 1292, which Democrats dubbed the “Keep Jobs in Colorado Act,” reforms the bidding process for state work projects, such as highway construction. Bill sponsors say the legislation helps to ensure that Colorado taxpayer dollars are being spent on local workers. “This really was my number one priority coming into this legislative session,” said state Sen. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood. “We need to do everything we can to keep and create jobs in Colorado, and make sure our taxpayer dollars are being used as wisely as possible.” Under the bill, state agencies would not only weigh bid costs from contractors, but also would take into consideration “best value” bids, which include factors such as the contractor’s employment practices, such as worker wages and benefits. The teeth in the act is in the enforcement of a law that’s been on the books for 80 years. Before the bill was introduced, there was POSTAL ADDRESS
Gov. John Hickenlooper, shown at the State of the State address Jan. 10. File photo a requirement that state-funded construction projects have a workforce that is made up of 80 percent of Colorado workers. For years, the requirement was rarely, if ever enforced, primarily because the penalty for employers who violated the law was jail time. Now, the bill creates a series of civil penalties that could eventually lead to contractor disbarment whenever that 80 percent threshold is not met. State agencies can waive the 80 percent rule if contractors can show there is not sufficient Colorado labor available for a project.
The bill also requires many contractors to provide proof of the country of origin for materials used in projects, such as iron and steel. The two state entities that will oversee enforcement of the bill’s provisions will be the Departments of Labor and Employment, and Personnel and Administration. Some contractors who testified during the legislative process raised concern their costs of doing business with the state would rise and that the bill’s reporting requirements would increase overhead. In fact, the General Assembly’s Legislative Council’s staff report on the bill states that “the new reporting required by the bill may increase contractor costs.” Republicans have criticized the bill as something that could actually reduce the number of contracting jobs and blasted it as having been spearheaded by unions. The AFL-CIO was a major driver of the legislation. “Whatever happened to the simple, ‘Hey, low bid? Qualified bidder? Sold?’” said Sen. Kevin Grantham, R-Canon City, during a Senate debate earlier this month. “That’s good for the taxpayer.” But bill supporters believe there should be more to the process than just low bids. “A low bid may cost less, but at the end of the day, it may not be the best value for the taxpayer,” Kerr said. And bill sponsors disagree that this bill is all about making unions happy. “I wasn’t trying to protect one kind of worker over the other,” said Sen. Jeanne Nicholson, D-Black Hawk. “I think the important thing is that local taxpayers are protected and that jobs stay here, at the end of the day.”
The open carrying of a gun into some Jefferson County facilities may soon be prohibited, after the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 at the May 21 public hearing to approve an ordinance to ban “open carry” firearms in certain locations. District 3 Commissioner Donald Rosier cast the opposing vote, citing support for the second amendment. “This (ordinance) would allow the sheriff to conduct annual vulnerability assessments to determine which buildings it would be appropriate to have this ban in effect,” county attorney Writer Mott said during the hearing. Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink also helped present the ordinance, that his department helped propose after a couple of recent incidents involving people bringing weapons in to county office space, causing a disruption. Mink said the ban was intended to be implemented only in offices where county department heads had requested it. These offices are places where “a high level of anxiety, and anger, or frustration” may occur. He said so far, the District Attorney’s office, a couple human services locations and the sheriff’s department building were on the initial list to consider a ban. “Obviously, open carry does create a disruption for county staff in some of those buildings,” Mink said. Open carry-banned areas would have to be well marked, to comply with state law which allows for open carry in public places. The open carry ban would not prohibit those with a concealed carry permit from bringing in a firearm. “Until this item showed up I did not realize it was lawful for anyone to openly carry a firearm in county buildings,” Jeffco resident Jim Engelking said during the public hearing. He added that he would like to see the ban extended to all county buildings. Lakewood resident and firearms instructor Aaron James Brown took a different view, expressing concern that the ban limited second amendment rights and could be extended even to open space parkland. ”It’s only law abiding citizens who openly carry,” Brown said. District 2 Commissioner Casey Tighe said he felt the ordinance struck a balance between public safety and second amendment rights. ”Some of the business done in this building can be controversial. There can be tension involved, and there’s always the concern that someone with an open carry is just trying to intimidate,” Tighe said. Commissioner Rosier, who said he carries a concealed weapon every day, said he disagreed with the ordinance, saying that ”signs don’t stop crime.”
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
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