By Recorder Staff

Nikkel to Meet in BerthoudState Rep. B.J. Nikkel will be conducting a series of town hall meetings to meet her constituents while traveling around House District 49 on Saturday, Feb. 21. Her first stop will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Berthoud Community Library, 236 Welch Ave. She has invited State Sen. Kevin Lundberg (Dist. 15) to join her. Rep. Nikkel will also be visiting Wellington, Windsor and Red Feather Lakes.

Nikkel will introduce her first bill – the Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act – which requires state departments to make their budget database available online at no cost to citizens.

Lundberg to Push Mock Gun BillLater this month Sen. Kevin Lundberg will introduce a bill to give school districts more leeway in dealing with student weapons on campus. The current law mandates expulsion of students possessing firearms, except in the case where the student is proactive and turns in the weapon to a teacher or administrator.

Lundberg’s bill addresses the case of students who carry fake rifles for drill teams and color guards and was prompted by a recent incident. Marie Morrow, a student and drill team member of the Douglas County Young Marines, was suspended on Feb. 5 after another student reported Morrow’s fake rifles to school officials.

In his weekly e-mail update, Lundberg said, “The bill will not change the teeth of this law, but it will recognize the situations where no threat is present and therefore no law should prohibit.

Other Lundberg Bills in Process
Last week, Sen. Lundberg introduced three bills:
SB 220 would create a temporary severance tax exemption for commercial oil shale production.

SB 221 would create a property tax credit for students who move from a public to a private or parochial school.

SB 222 would require signs to notify drivers that an automated traffic control camera system is being used

Markey, Musgrave Ads Not Criminal
According to a press release from District Attorney Larry Abrahamson, complaints filed by U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey and former Rep. Marilyn Musgrave will not result in criminal charges being filed.

Both candidates alleged that statements in political advertising made by the other were “knowingly reckless,” and in violation of Colorado campaign laws concerning false statements in campaign ads. The complaints were investigated by Abrahamson’s office and then reviewed by a bi-partisan committee, which recommended that no charges be made in either case.