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November 09, 2010 08:40 PM UTC

McNulty: Let The Games Begin?

  • 37 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As of this writing, control of the Colorado House is narrowly in the hands of the Republican Party, who according to unofficial results won a 33-32 majority last week. That result is still pending complete counts in two districts–HD-61 and HD-29, where final outcomes favorable to Democrats could still flip control back to them before the legislative session begins.

In either case, what you’ve got is an extremely closely divided House, where one would presume both sides would use care in apportioning all-important committee sizes, schedules, and partisan proportions that reflect this close division. Since Democrats retook control of the state legislature in 2004, there hasn’t been a major kerfluffle over committees–if anything, some partisan Democrats complained that leadership was being more accommodating to Republicans than Democrats would expect, or received themselves in the minority.

There are signs that presumptive Speaker Frank McNulty is about to prove their worst fears, belying any pledge he made in the last week to work in a bipartisan manner.

There’s nothing definite yet–what we’ve heard is that McNulty has been making inquiries about historical ratios of GOP to Democrats on committees, as well as his latitude to consolidate, rename, recategorize, and set the total membership of them. McNulty has reportedly let it be known that House committees may not necessarily be proportional, and could well through various changes be gamed toward partisan dominance. McNulty technically has the power to set committee categories to make participation in more than one by Democratic issue specialists impossible, and make unfavored committees so large as to be unwieldy. And all of that before we even get to what a difference a 6-3 committee makes over a 5-4 committee.

It’s not the power that’s the problem–it’s the misuse of it.

There is still the possibility that McNulty is merely putting out feelers to see what he can get away with here, and the final decisions he makes will be more reasonable than the scenarios described to us. But with the House the only chamber the GOP controls, and redistricting looming? Don’t count on anything, folks–and be aware of how bad this could get.

UPDATE: So it begins: McNulty just released his list of committee chairs (after the jump), revealing the names of the new committees. And apparently the words “Labor” and “Energy” have been excised from the Colorado House’s vocabulary? That doesn’t bode well…

Speaker Designee McNulty Names GOP Committee Chairs

Speaker Designee Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, today named his picks to head the committees of reference for the Colorado State House of Representatives.

“In these appointments, you will see a wide range of experience and leadership skills and a recognition of Colorado’s geographic diversity,” McNulty said. “These appointments send a strong message that the House Republican Caucus is committed to strengthening Colorado’s economy, reinventing government, and putting Coloradans back to work.”

“The House Majority leadership team and committee chairs represent all regions of Colorado and more than half of Colorado’s counties,” McNulty added. “As we take the reins of the House, Coloradans will notice that this is not time for business as usual at the Capitol and that will be reflected in our decisions on the important issues facing our state.”

The following is a list of State House of Representatives committees of reference with the newly appointed Chair:

House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee

State Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling

Vice Chair, State Rep. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs

“Yes, I did appoint a real farmer as chairman of the Ag committee, there is no one better suited to head it up,” McNulty said. “As Ag Committee chairman, Jerry will be a tireless advocate for Colorado’s agricultural community and will capably navigate the complex natural resource issues Colorado faces.”

House Appropriations Committee

State Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen

“Cheri will bring respect and concern for taxpayer dollars to her role as chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee,” McNulty said. “She will be a leader on the Joint Budget Committee and in the Appropriations hearings.”

House Economic and Business Development Committee

State Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs

Vice Chair, State Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Centennial

“As a successful businessman and one of the more experienced legislators in the House of Representatives, Larry brings extensive experience and knowledge to the table,” McNulty said. “Colorado’s current economic climate has made the House Economic and Business Development Committee an important piece of our economic recovery. I am certain that Larry will bring the same skills and leadership that served him well as a businessman to the decisions that will ultimately be of great importance to our economic recovery.”

House Education Committee

State Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs

“Tom has earned a reputation at the capitol for being a strong advocate for education and also as someone who has a proven ability to bring together diverse groups in order to make great policy,” McNulty said. “Tom will be a strong advocate for Colorado’s education system as Chairman of the House Education Committee.”

House Finance Committee

State Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland

“As a small businessman and entrepreneur, Brian has the experience and knowledge to evaluate complex financial issues and promote sound fiscal policy on behalf of Colorado families,” McNulty said. “Brian has proven himself to be a thoughtful and effective legislator who has always been concerned about the importance of the people’s role in our legislative process.  He will bring that same passion to his work as chairman.”

House Health and Environment Committee

State Rep. Ken Summers, R-Lakewood

“With his experience as a leader in the non-profit community, Ken will be a strong voice as we find solutions to Colorado’s health care challenges,” McNulty said. “Ken’s experience will be a great help in shepherding Colorado through what will be some of the most complex health care issues of our time.”

House Judiciary Committee

State Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs

“Bob is a successful attorney and is known for his understanding of the law and his deep compassion for our fellow Coloradans,” McNulty said. “His background and experience will make him a remarkable leader of the House Judiciary Committee.”

House Local Government Committee

State Rep. Laura Bradford, R-Collbran

“Hailing from Western Colorado, Laura understands the importance of local issues and the consequences state level decisions have on local economies,” McNulty said. “Armed with that knowledge, Laura will serve as a strong voice for Colorado communities that make up the backbone of our state.”

House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee

State Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton

“Jim has spent his time in the legislature cleaning up government, reducing waste, and promoting efficiency,” McNulty said. “This focus is exactly why I have appointed him to head up the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.  He’ll bring that same focus and tenacity to his new post.”

House Transportation Committee

State Rep. Glenn Vaad, R-Mead

Vice Chair, State Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan

“With more than 30 years working on transportation issues on behalf of Coloradans, Glenn is eminently qualified to head up our Transportation Committee,” McNulty said. “Glenn has always been willing to propose creative solutions to transportation issues and I am certain that he will bring that same creativity to his work as chairman.”

###

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37 thoughts on “McNulty: Let The Games Begin?”

  1. If this is true and McNulty rejiggers the committees, a circus will ensue and less will get done.

    To all Republican legislators who may read these words – don’t overestimate the position you currently hold. Your power will come from persuasion and not from partisanship.

    Prove to the people that you can govern and the people will reward you. Prove to the people you are powerful, and they will send you packing – again.

    Good luck.

    1. Prove to the people that you can govern and the people will reward you. Prove to the people you are powerful, and they will send you packing

      Sounds like Nancy Pelosi should have heeded that advice as well

  2. If this is true, and it may be, then the Republicans will demonstrate that they have no interest in working towaards solutions and simply seek to try to make things as miserable as possible over the next 2  years. They then would use their new found financial superiority, thanks to the SCOTUS, to blame the Democrats.

    1. Massey is a great legislator, and I was always impressed with Rep. Gerou when I sat in on committee hearings, despite my disagreements with her. Vaad’s thoughtful as well.

      Sonnenberg won’t be horrid.  

  6. “With his experience as a leader in the non-profit community, Ken will be a strong voice as we find solutions to Colorado’s health care challenges,” McNulty said. “Ken’s experience will be a great help in shepherding Colorado through what will be some of the most complex health care issues of our time.”

    I find nothing in his bio to suggest that Summers is anything but a far-right social conservative with no specific expertise in healthcare (unless you count prayer to heal substance abuse.)

    I foresee testifying in front of his committee on every wackadoo anti-abortion bill, which will be killed in the Senate.  On the bright side, rollback of tort reform will be DOA too, so there is a bright side to divided government.

    I mush prefer the work of his Gooleganger.

  7. Is it because she’d raise a stink about how crappy this State is at treating vets? Because she’d put out some meaningful legislation that would have bipartisan support and would probably be signed Guv Hick?

  11. He’ll see you suckas later.

    Except I just heard something VERY interesting about that trip to Costa Rica, which I can’t say yet due to Pols’ unsourced information policy.

    I’d be watching my inbox if I were you, Pols!

  12. Do they still have the same responsibilities or do those change with the name?

    Will the House Economic and Business Development Committee still deal with labor issues?

    Will the House Health and Environment Committee still deal with human services issues?

    Will the House Transportation Committee still deal with energy issues?

    OR

    Does this just show that state GOP considers labor, human services and energy as low priorities?

        1. Unless McNulty figures out how to derail the minority’s allotted bills, State House Republicans will still have to deal with labor and energy bills regardless of the name of the committee that deals with them.  IIRC, it’s pretty much up to the House leadership which committee a given bill winds up in anyway, except that bills with fiscal issues have to go through at least the Appropriations committee.

          McNulty can fiddle with the mechanics to try to game the committee structure in favor of Republican interests, and he can rename them to emphasize the priorities of the party (which obviously aren’t labor or energy issues).  But he can’t essentially rename a category of bills out of existence (though he might try).

          1. with Frank McNulty, he is an arrogant, marginally intelligent, idealogue. He is completely sold out to the oil and gas lobby and to any other high-dollar corporate sugar daddy to whom he can suck up.

            He also litters. I’ve seen him do it.

            Mr. McNulty and I are, I believe, members of a mutual disrespect society.  

              1. Anyone who tosses trash on the street when standing 15 feet from a trash can has a problem…

                but that comment was just a cheap insult.

                My real complaint with McNulty is his penchant for treating environmentalists with contempt, his complete obeisance to the O&G industry, and his political point of view, in general.

                We don’t like each other…OK?

          2. Last time the Republicans held the house, they’d assign any bill they didn’t like to the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee, which actually did very little that had to do with those subjects. Its purpose was to kill every bill sent to it.

            Republicans were tyrants, and they will be again.

              1. In general, Dems at least sent bills to the proper committee of reference to be killed.

                State affairs is always going to be the “etc” committee. I mean what’s a more appropriate committee for a bill returning the US to the gold standard or auditing the fed?

            2. I remember the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs “place where good bills go to die” Committee well from the bad old days, and I fully expect something similar to happen with Republicans in charge with their one-seat mandate.

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