A GOP bill that would allow environmentally-conscious motorists to contribute money to a state-run carbon offset program-- and officially display their contribution on their cars--won bipartisan support today in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 186, part of the GOP's legislative agenda for 2008, creates the Colorado Carbon Fund special license plate for people who make donations to fund a carbon offset program.  The bill does not specify the amount neccessary to qualify.

"I'm really happy to see this bill's progress," Senate sponsor Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins said.  "It gives people a chance to show they care about the environment.  Besides, I want new plates for my car."

A Republican proposal making it illegal to sell pornography to a minor, as well as a felony to use pornography to lure minors, was killed today by ruling Democrats on a Senate committee only moments after both sides agreed on the need for the measure.

After the vote, Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee chided committee Democrats for their party-line opposition to Senate Bill 125, which the Democrats said the state could not afford.  However, the committee majority then approved an unrelated Democrat bill and paid for it out of what was ultimately the same revenue source. 

“There is an appropriate, unexpended, unaccounted for funding source,” said Sen. Steve Johnson, a Fort Collins Republican on the committee who was outraged at the failure to pass the measure.  

“I’m a little confused. We say we want to protect kids, and this bill is needed – then, we reject it,” said Johnson, who also represents the Senate GOP on the powerful Joint Budget Committee.