Ignoring pleas to safeguard the public from the next walkout by transit workers or schoolteachers, Democrats on a House committee Thursday voted down a Republican bill that would have barred strikes by all government workers.

House Bill 1187, introduced in the House by Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, and sponsored in the Senate by assistant Senate GOP leader Nancy Spence, of Centennial, would have established firm penalties for employees or unions that struck or incited strikes. In presenting the bill before the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, Gardner pointed to numerous strikes around the state by public schoolteachers over the years as well as a strike in 2006 by bus and light-rail drivers that hobbled the Denver area's Regional Transportation District.

"Our bill's defeat sends a troubling message to the public: that the General Assembly isn't willing to protect basic public services from labor unrest," Spence said after the hearing.

The full Senate approved the appointment of an environmental activist to help regulate the state's public utilities today despite the heated objections of Republicans who say the nominee's approval will place ideology above consumer protection.

The governor's selection of Matt Baker to serve on the three-member Public Utilities Commission will lead to higher utility bills because of his dogmatic opposition to the use of coal in generating power, Republican senators charged. They note 80 percent of Colorado's electricity is coal-fired because it is by far the most cost-effective resource.

The commission is charged with regulating the rates and quality of service of telephone, gas, electric and water utilities. The administration of Gov. Bill Ritter already has named the panel's two other members.

"The PUC's job is to protect the consumer and not to advance a narrow ideological agenda," said the GOP's Sen. Greg Brophy, of Wray. Republican Sen. Shawn Mitchell, of Broomfield, said the move ultimately will mean higher heating and power bills for "struggling families" and added that Baker's approval by the majority amounted to, "waving the white flag on energy independence."