Denver Business Journal
John Hickenlooper and Scott McInnis may stand together against three spending-reduction initiatives on Colorado’s November ballot, but they separate on the issue of whether something should be done to make it harder for proposals like them to wind up before state voters in the future. Hickenlooper, McInnis and Dan Maes appeared at a Colorado Association of Realtors forum of gubernatorial candidates Thursday afternoon in Golden. The topics of questions ranged from eminent domain to transportation funding, and not all of the questions went to each of the candidates.
Colorado residents will not vote on a proposed ballot initiative involving grocery store liquor sales this November after the Denver attorney who wrote the measure said Tuesday that he will not attempt to gather the signatures necessary to move ahead with the measure.
A Denver attorney has filed a new ballot initiative that would allow grocery stores to sell full-strength beer, wine and liquor and would permit convenience stores to sell full-strength beer as well. Blake Harrison, who filed a ballot measure in November to let grocery and convenience stores sell wine and full-strength beer, submitted the new proposal Wednesday, two weeks after a House committee killed a bill that would have allowed full-strength beer sales at convenience stores.
A Colorado Springs Republican introduced the first of what is expected to be a full menu of proposals this year to expand liquor sales in Colorado. House Bill 1186, sponsored by Rep. Larry Liston, would let convenience stores of less than 5,000 square feet sell beer with an alcohol content of more than the currently allowed 3.2 percent maximum, just as liquor stores can do. The bill does not allow sales of wine or spirits at the stores and does not touch on whether grocery stores can sell full-strength beer or wine.
Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher on Friday set backers of a proposed initiative had gathered enough signatures to place it on the November 2010 ballot. The proposal ”” dubbed State and Local Debt Limitations ”” has been certified as Amendment 61. The measure would restrict state and local governments from taking on debt without voter approval.
A Denver attorney has filed a ballot initiative that would allow Colorado grocery and convenience stores to sell full-strength beer and wine, reigniting a two-year-old debate over who should be able to pedal different types of alcohol in the state. Initiative 29, which was submitted by Blake Harrison to the Colorado Legislative Council on Tuesday, largely copies a 2008 legislative proposal by now-Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, that was killed in committee.