Colorado Corn
Public Policy
** Farm Bill: Where Colorado Corn stands **
Click here to view the full 2013 Bill Positions - Updated 04-26-13
SUPPORT
SB 74 - Irrigation Water Right Historical Use Acerage:
This bill provides needed certainty and objectivity for determining the number of acres intended to be irrigated by holders of early decrees which did not contain language specifying an acreage amount.
SB 181 - Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Projects
This amendment deletes the words "improve and enhance" in section 15. It is a change in policy to the bill and should be done by separate legislation.
HB 1169 - No Background Check with Concealed Carry Permit
This bill would allow a gun purchaser to use the background check that they underwent when they received their concealed carry permit and would thus remove the burden of a second background check.
OPPOSED
HB 1192 - Genically Engineered Food Labeling
House Bill 13-1192: Every credible study has shown no significant health difference between GMO and non-GMO foods so labeling provides no benefit to consumers while increasing the costs on all foods and expenses to state government. Consumers can already purchase foods which are voluntarily labeled as non-GMO.
HB 1224 Prohibiting Large-capacity Ammunition Magazines
This is a partial taking of a right given to citizens of the United States, in our constitution, to bear arms.
HB 1269 Reduce Conflict of Interest Oild and Gas Commission
This bill allows for a shift in focus to emphasize environmental concerns as a priority over the responsible development of oil and gas resources. It also restricts ownership access to mineral rights and resource development.
SB 252 Renewable Energy Standard Retail Wholesale Methane
The percentage increase of the renewable standard will show a marked increase in electrical rates for all customers.
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FEDERAL POSITIONS
OPPOSE - Shaheen anti-sugar amendment - This amendment would take away a tool Congress gave to USDA to ensure that sugar policy operates at no cost to the taxpayer, or, if there is to be a cost, to keep that cost to a bare minimum and to ensure that farmers repay their loans in full.
OPPOSE - Begich-Flake anti-crop insurance amendment - This amendment would release information about individual farmers and ranchers and would not put crop insurance on par with all other federal programs. This information is already largely available in aggregate form on the USDA website.
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Colorado Corn Public Policy Committee Members: Chairman Rick Palkowitsh, Dave Cure, Dave Eckhardt, Greg Larson, Charles McMurdy, Doug Melcher, Steve Scott, Bruce Unruh and Byron Weathers.
The Public Policy Committee conducts conference calls every Friday at 7 AM during the legislative session to discuss policy that affects corn growers and the agricultural community as a whole.
The following is a list of bills that have been introduced in the current session that we have either taken a position on or are currently monitoring. To view the bills in their entirety, click on: http://www.leg.state.co.us/
Please contact one of our committee members if you have an interest in a bill not listed