Please see current Messages from Marsha. These news messages are updated each week and contain timely information!

January 14, 2008

Dear Citizens of House District 19,

The Colorado General Assembly convened again on January 9, 2008, and I look forward to an exciting, productive legislative session. I remain committed to battle for our property, water and constitutional rights, to fight for lower taxes, and to addressing the needs and issues of House District 19.

Over the summer our team worked with many constituents on issues ranging from property tax exemptions for seniors and the disabled military population, sustainable water sources, toll road encumbrances, unemployment benefits for spouses of active military personnel, employment protections for volunteer firefighters and first responders, and educational transitional issues for the children of our military.

Lois Landgraf of Fountain, Senator Suzanne Williams and myself have been working on a Referendum that would extend the current senior homestead exemption to allow seniors to transfer their property tax exemption to their new home if they move. Support from two-thirds of the legislators will be required in order to place this issue on November's ballot.

Numerous errors in the well ownership database of the Division of Water Resources surfaced last year when I was working on HB07-1156. After meeting with Dick Wolfe, Colorado's State Engineer for the Division of Water Resources, it is apparent that our well ownership records are horribly inaccurate. HB08-1014 will address this issue by requiring the buyer of residential real estate to complete an ownership form prior to closing on the property. This would protect the buyer and update the database at the Division in a timely fashion without costing the rest of the taxpayers a penny.

Betty and Tom Palmer's home falls within the three-mile corridor of the Front Range Toll Road (aka Super Slab). Their property, like so many others, has been encumbered by the toll road company documents since August 2006, and as a result, they were denied refinancing! Economic development has come to a halt in Ellicott and sales have been canceled due to the title encumbrances of the toll road. HB08-1007 will remove these documents from the actual titles, yet still alert potential buyers if a property lies within a toll road corridor.

I committed to Fire Chief Trent Hardwig of Falcon, Fire Chief Anstine of Fountain and Fire Chief Manuel Navarro of Colorado Springs that I would sponsor legislation to ensure that their volunteer fire fighters and first responders will have their jobs and benefits secure while fighting to protect our lives and properties.

Jackie, the wife of a Fort Carson Army Soldier, was devastated to find out she would not be eligible for Colorado unemployment benefits after her husband was transferred from Fort Carson to Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Rep. Amy Stephens and I believe that it is important to support the families that support our troops! We are sponsoring a bill to allow spouses of active military personnel to qualify for Colorado Unemployment Benefits under certain conditions.

Last, but not least; I have been working with our area school superintendents, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Council of State Governments on an Interstate Compact that will remove some barriers to educational success experienced by children of military families due to frequent moves and the deployment of their parents.

Although this is a very aggressive schedule of bills, I believe it is attainable. I am committed, engaged and excited to work for you! If there are any questions or comments regarding these issues or any other issues, please contact me at the Capitol at 303-866-2946 or through this website.

Respectfully,

State Representative Marsha Looper

Colorado House of Representatives, District 19
Ag., Livestock & Natural Resources Committee
State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee