John Morse (Colorado legislator)
Encyclopedia
In the 2007 legislative session, Morse served on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and was Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his first term, Morse sponsored legislation to create a pilot mental health
services program for discharged combat veterans in Colorado, and to change Colorado's concealed carry
permit system for firearms.
Following the regular legislative session, Morse served on the interim legislative Health Care Task Force and was vice-chair of the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission.
In November 2007, Morse was elected by the Democratic caucus to serve on the influential Joint Budget Committee.
engineering contracts received by Sen. Abel Tapia
.
Among the legislation sponsored by Morse during the 2008 legislative session is a bill to increase drivers license fees to fund trauma care and require $5000 of trauma care to be covered in car insurance policies, and a bill to increase marriage license
fees to fund Court Appointed Special Advocate
programs.
Another of Morse's bills, to establish a database of school security practices for use by Colorado schools and create the Colorado School Safety Resource Center to help school districts with safety plans, was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.
Morse was also the Senate sponsor of successful legislation encouraging judges to consider restorative justice
as part of juvenile sentencing. He also sponsored legislation to grant public hospital
s taxing authority so that they can satisfy the federal definition of a "public hospital" and qualify for federal funding.
During the session, Morse was the lone legislator to vote in committee in favor of a proposal to require the use of paper ballot in all 2008 Colorado elections. As a member of the Joint Budget Committee, Morse was also a prominent voice supporting Democratic Party priorities in the state 2008-09 state budget, arguing in favor of increased spending on education and health care.
In July 2008, Morse publicly called for an investigation of 4th Judicial District DA John Newsome amid reports that Newsome inappropriately used taxpayer money to pay for over $500 in expenses surrounding a trip to a college football game. Newsome, who faced a challenger in the Republican primary for the district attorney's position, denied wrongdoing and alleged that Morse's accusations were "politics of personal destruction." Both the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Attorney General
's office launched investigations into Newsome's conduct.
During the 2008 election, Morse was an outspoken critic of El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink, who he accused of implementing a "12-point strategy" to disenfranchize voters including improperly interpreting rules regarding voter registration for students at Colorado College
. Balink's office denied any improper conduct.
Following the 2008 general election, Morse was nominated for the posts of Senate President Pro-Tem and Senate Assistant Majority Leader, but lost the caucus' vote for each post to Sen. Betty Boyd
and Sen. Lois Tochtrop
, respectively.
In December, Morse was named Outstanding Public Official in the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado's 2008 Advancing Equality Awards.
Morse has introduced legislation to increase vehicle registration fees by $1 to pay for rural ambulance services. and to increase survivor benefits for police and fire fighters.
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
services program for discharged combat veterans in Colorado, and to change Colorado's concealed carry
Concealed carry
Concealed carry, or CCW , refers to the practice of carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in proximity.-In Canada:...
permit system for firearms.
Following the regular legislative session, Morse served on the interim legislative Health Care Task Force and was vice-chair of the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission.
In November 2007, Morse was elected by the Democratic caucus to serve on the influential Joint Budget Committee.
2008 legislative session
In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Morse sits on the Joint Budget Committee and chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also sat on a special ethics panel investigating possible conflicts of interest for Colorado State FairColorado State Fair
Colorado State Fair is a event held annually in Pueblo, Colorado. The Fair has been a traditional since October 9, 1872. The fair was originally held by the Southern Colorado Agricultural and Industrial Association and received no cash assistance from the community or the State. It was incorporated...
engineering contracts received by Sen. Abel Tapia
Abel Tapia
Abel J. Tapia is a Democratic member of the Colorado Senate, representing the 3rd District since 2002. Previously he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997.-Biography:...
.
Among the legislation sponsored by Morse during the 2008 legislative session is a bill to increase drivers license fees to fund trauma care and require $5000 of trauma care to be covered in car insurance policies, and a bill to increase marriage license
Marriage license
A marriage license is a document issued, either by a church or state authority, authorizing a couple to marry. The procedure for obtaining a license varies between countries and has changed over time...
fees to fund Court Appointed Special Advocate
Court Appointed Special Advocate
Court Appointed Special Advocates is a national association in the United States that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children in order to provide children with a safe and healthy environment in permanent homes. The program is similar to, but is not a...
programs.
Another of Morse's bills, to establish a database of school security practices for use by Colorado schools and create the Colorado School Safety Resource Center to help school districts with safety plans, was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.
Morse was also the Senate sponsor of successful legislation encouraging judges to consider restorative justice
Restorative justice
Restorative justice is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of victims, offenders, as well as the involved community, instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender...
as part of juvenile sentencing. He also sponsored legislation to grant public hospital
Public hospital
A public hospital or government hospital is a hospital which is owned by a government and receives government funding. This type of hospital provides medical care free of charge, the cost of which is covered by the funding the hospital receives....
s taxing authority so that they can satisfy the federal definition of a "public hospital" and qualify for federal funding.
During the session, Morse was the lone legislator to vote in committee in favor of a proposal to require the use of paper ballot in all 2008 Colorado elections. As a member of the Joint Budget Committee, Morse was also a prominent voice supporting Democratic Party priorities in the state 2008-09 state budget, arguing in favor of increased spending on education and health care.
In July 2008, Morse publicly called for an investigation of 4th Judicial District DA John Newsome amid reports that Newsome inappropriately used taxpayer money to pay for over $500 in expenses surrounding a trip to a college football game. Newsome, who faced a challenger in the Republican primary for the district attorney's position, denied wrongdoing and alleged that Morse's accusations were "politics of personal destruction." Both the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado Attorney General
Colorado Attorney General
The Attorney General of the State of Colorado is the chief legal officer for the state of Colorado, and the head of the Colorado Department of Law...
's office launched investigations into Newsome's conduct.
During the 2008 election, Morse was an outspoken critic of El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink, who he accused of implementing a "12-point strategy" to disenfranchize voters including improperly interpreting rules regarding voter registration for students at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. Balink's office denied any improper conduct.
Following the 2008 general election, Morse was nominated for the posts of Senate President Pro-Tem and Senate Assistant Majority Leader, but lost the caucus' vote for each post to Sen. Betty Boyd
Betty Boyd
Elizabeth "Betty" Boyd was an American film actress in the early days of Hollywood, mostly in the silent film era of the late 1920s and into the early 1930s in B-movies.-Career:...
and Sen. Lois Tochtrop
Lois Tochtrop
Lois Tochtrop is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat, Tochtrop represents Senate District 24, which covers a large section North of Denver along the I-25 corridor, east of Westminster and east of Broomfield in Thorton, Northglen, and East...
, respectively.
In December, Morse was named Outstanding Public Official in the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado's 2008 Advancing Equality Awards.
2009 legislative session
For the 2009 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Morse was named chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.Morse has introduced legislation to increase vehicle registration fees by $1 to pay for rural ambulance services. and to increase survivor benefits for police and fire fighters.