Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Date:04/10/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 03:17 PM
Bacon
X
Dyer
X
Place:SCR 352
Gordon
*
Mitchell
*
This Meeting was called to order by
Traylor
*
Senator Grossman
Shaffer
X
Grossman
X
This Report was prepared by
Jessika Shipley
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Conf 06-Parole Board
SB06-223		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:38 PM

Leslee Waggener, State Board of Parole, has a background in human development and services. Ms. Waggener has varied experience working with individuals on parole. She discussed her experience and her qualifications to be a member of the board. Ms. Waggener responded to questions from the committee regarding the increased prison population in Colorado. She recommended the use of more community corrections facilities and return to custody facilities.


01:48 PM

Debbie Allen, State Board of Parole, served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1993-2000. She discussed her service on the board. Ms. Allen answered questions from the committee regarding the number of individuals who are currently incarcerated who are also parole-eligible. She discussed local control over community corrections facilities.


01:57 PM

Matthew Rhodes, State Board of Parole, discussed his background as a defense contractor. Mr. Rhodes talked about his work in the community.










01:59 PM

Al Stanley, State Board of Parole, is the chairman of the board. Mr. Stanley answered questions from the committee regarding the release rate from the Department of Corrections. Senator Gordon asked specifically about streamlining the process of developing parole plans.
BILL:Conf 06-Parole Board
TIME: 02:07:54 PM
MOVED:Shaffer
MOTION:Moved to refer Deborah Allen, Matthew Rhodes, and Leslee Waggener to the Senate for confirmation with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Dyer
Yes
Gordon
Yes
Mitchell
Yes
Traylor
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Grossman
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:10 PM -- Senate Bill 06-223

Senator Gordon, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 06-223 concerning the adoption of an interstate compact for the election of the President of the United States by national popular vote. The bill allows for a change in the way Colorado's presidential electors are chosen, authorizing the Governor to enter into an interstate compact to elect the President of the United States by national popular vote. The bill also sets forth the provisions of the compact, which only takes effect if enacted in states cumulatively possessing a majority of electoral votes. If enacted, the compact would supersede any conflicting provisions of Colorado law.

Under current law, each political party designates presidential electors pledged to support that party's candidate for president and vice president. Electors for the party that wins the most Colorado votes go on to participate in the electoral college. Under the compact, the electors from the party of the candidate that wins the national popular vote would participate in the electoral college.


02:16 PM

Senator Gordon discussed his rationale for supporting this bill, stating that electing the President of the United States by popular vote is the most democratic way of conducting an election. He read a quotation by former U.S. Representative John Anderson that illustrates his position. The committee had an extensive discussion of the pros and cons of elections that are decided by a majority of the popular vote.










02:32 PM

The committee continued discussing the concept of equality of individuals versus the equality of states.

02:36 PM -- John Koza, National Popular Vote, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Coza is the lead author of Every Vote Equal: A State-Based Plan for Electing the President. He is part of a national movement to elect the president by popular vote. He believes this would circumvent the practice of spending large quantities of money on advertising to reach a very small percentage of voters in swing states. He discussed the possibility of recounts under a popular vote system.

02:40 PM -- Barry Fadem, National Popular Vote, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Fadem stated his belief that whichever candidate reaches out to the greatest number of citizens should be elected to represent that majority. Both witnesses responded to questions from the committee regarding the infrastructure changes needed to move from elections decided by the electoral college. Mr. Fadem responded to questions about popular support for a nationwide vote for President.

02:55 PM -- Pete Maysmith, Colorado Common Cause, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Maysmith discussed presidential campaigning and advertising resources. He provided statistics to emphasize his position. The committee engaged in an extensive discussion with Mr. Maysmith regarding the ultimate fairness of popular vote.

03:03 PM -- Mark Grueskin, National Popular Vote, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Grueskin discussed the differences between this bill and Amendment 36, which was proposed in 2004. Amendment 36 failed.


03:06 PM

Senator Gordon wrapped up his presentation of the bill. The committee members each discussed their points of view.
BILL:SB06-223
TIME: 03:16:24 PM
MOVED:Gordon
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-223 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 4-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Dyer
No
Gordon
Yes
Mitchell
No
Traylor
No
Shaffer
Yes
Grossman
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:17 PM

Senator Grossman adjourned the committee.