A measure to ensure high school graduates can communicate—in English—won the approval of the Senate Education Committee today, even picking up two key Democrat votes.

Sponsored by Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, Senate Bill 98 would require high school students to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language in order to graduate from high school.  The measure is part of the GOP's legislative agenda for 2008.

"This is a call for accountability,” Mitchell said after the vote. “This bill is a prohibition on educational fraud.  If we are awarding diplomas in this state, we need to make sure students can speak English.”

Mitchell said he has spoken to parents in his Senate district who have told him of their desire to have their kids be competent in English so that they will be able to succeed in life. He also added that students need English proficiency in order to fill out a school or work application.

After raising a clenched fist in mock defiance and declaring "Solar power to the people!" on the Senate floor Thursday, Republican state Sen. Shawn Mitchell beamed as fellow lawmakers overwhelmingly approved his bill making it easier to go solar.

Mitchell, whose Senate Bill 117 would cap exorbitant permit fees charged by some cities for solar-system installations on homes and businesses, says his measure is a win-win because it lowers bureaucratic hurdles to a key renewable resource in the new energy economy.

"It's good for the economy, it's good for our energy independence, and it's good for our environment," Mitchell said moments before the vote. He also urged the Senate to embrace a bill that, “knocks down barriers by local governments and creates a fair playing field for everyone who wants to harness solar energy.”

Republican State Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, and U.S. Senator Wayne Allard met today with federal officials at the State Capitol in hopes of averting a disaster in Leadville that could cost hundreds of lives and foul the Arkansas River.

The key lawmakers sketched out a plan to drain toxic water that has pooled underground and now threatens to burst through a decaying barrier and flood parts of the historic mountain town as well as the nearby Arkansas' headwaters.

 “We need to have a real discussion today, we need an immediate fix, and a permanent solution.” Wiens said to open the meeting.

Allard echoed Wiens' demand for action. “We are all concerned, and we want a plan,” the veteran senator said.

Allard and Wiens were joined by the Lake County commissioners, and a host of federal officials representing key agencies that must play a role in planning for the emergency.

Frustrations have grown with the federal agencies involved. 

"We are angry, we’re damned angry.  We have three (federal) agencies over here— agencies I'm terming ‘The Three Stooges,’” said Lake County Commissioner Mike Hickman.

He added, “Almost four years ago we knew what the problem was, and you (the federal agencies) are still pointing fingers in every direction, the people of Leadville deserve more.”

The first line of defense against the wildfires that regularly ravage Colorado's forests and threaten Front Range homes is often the beleaguered volunteer fire department. Now, a couple of GOP lawmakers at the statehouse are planning to send in some reinforcements.

Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, and Rob Witwer, R-Genesee, are putting forth a legislative package of four bills and two resolutions in an effort to anticipate future wildfires and to bolster the work of community firefighting programs.

"My hope with these bills is not only to give the men and women of the Front Range much-needed assistance, but also to send a message that these communities have allies here at the Capitol who understand and care about creating and maintaining healthy forests," Kopp said  "We will do everything in our power to make sure areas most threatened by wildfires will be better prepared when fire season rolls around again."