Two of the Governor’s three appointees to the state Parks and Wildlife Commission won Senate approval, but not without a fight.

And the third — acknowledged as the author of the state’s wolf restoration ballot measure — withdrew his nomination, but not without complaining to the commission about how he was treated in the confirmation process.

The Senate confirmed John “Jack” Murphy of Denver to represent outdoor recreation and parks on a 23-11 vote on March 12.

But the nomination of Jessica Beaulieu was much closer, a 19-15 vote, and opponents hoped they had the votes to reject the appointment. Sources told this reporter the governor brought in additional lobbyists to turn some of those last-minute “no” votes to “yes.”

Four Democrats voted with 11 Republicans (one was absent) to reject Beaulieu’s appointment.

Beaulieu was also appointed to represent parks and recreation, despite never owning a State parks pass and admitting she had visited only a handful of the State’s 42 parks, all in the Denver area, prior to her appointment. She also admitted to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last month she had no connections to outdoor recreation interests, instead asking the Department of Natural Resources who she should be talking to. 

She should have had that experience prior to her appointment, not after, said Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Summit County, one of the four “no” votes from the committee on her confirmation. Beaulieu’s appointment went to the Senate with an unfavorable recommendation.

The third appointee was Gary Skiba, a wildlife biologist who withdrew his appointment several days before the Senate vote. He was appointed as a representative of sportspersons — hunters and anglers — although also admitting he had no ties to hunting or fishing interests.

His appointment was opposed by a coalition of hunting, angling and outdoor recreation groups.

Fees from hunting and fishing licenses cover 55 percent of the budget of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

All three have ties to animal rights organizations. Beaulieu volunteers at an animal sanctuary that includes on its honorary board Marlon Reis, Polis’ husband.

All were appointed by Governor Jared Polis last July. 

In a March 13 letter to the commission, Skiba said he felt he had been “stabbed in the back” during the confirmation hearing “by the very people I have been working hard to represent.”

He claimed people told lies about him, including that he supported an alternative wolf management plan designed by Wild Earth Guardians and that people on an advisory group tied to the reintroduction sent a letter to the ag committee “with that lie at its heart.”

He also claimed he was treated rudely and disrespectfully in the confirmation hearing, including from hunting and angling groups. 

“I’ll be turning my energies toward supporting the scientific and ecologically based management of Colorado’s wildlife in a changing world,” he said.

The March revenue forecast that determines the final numbers that will make up the 2024-25 State budget came out on Friday, and budget writers say they will focus on priorities such as K-12 education and higher education, and not worry themselves about the millions of dollars being sought by lawmakers for new programs.

The budget forecasts presented by the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting and economists with the Legislature Council differed on what will be available for the JBC as they finish the budget bill. The Governor’s economists believe lawmakers have about $200 million in discretionary money to spend on new programs, but the legislature’s economists were more pessimistic, estimating the State could be $266 million in the red unless lawmakers are willing to reduce the State’s rainy day fund or make other decisions to cut spending elsewhere.

The Joint Budget Committee has a deadline of March 25 to introduce the State budget, although that could be pushed back because of the snowstorm last week as well as other delays.

Lawmakers have sent bills worth more than $500 million to the House and Senate appropriations committees through the end of February. 

Once the State budget is completed and sent to lawmakers, the bill usually includes a pot of money set aside to cover the bills still working through the legislative process. 

The Governor’s Nov. 1 budget submittal recommended a set aside of just $15 million. 

Once the budget bill is completed, the appropriations committees will get to work to decide how they will spend that money. 

House lawmakers approved two gun control bills in the past week.

House Bill 1174 would change the requirements for getting and renewing a concealed weapons permit. Under the measure, which won House approval on a 43-16 vote on March 11, new permits would require an eight-hour class from a state-verified instructor, including a live-fire exercise of 50 rounds. 

The law requires those classes to be done in person, beginning July 1, 2025 and with a list of what’s required in those courses, such as safe storage of firearms and child safety, instruction on federal and State laws on purchase as well as State laws on the use of deadly force and de-escalation techniques. The classes must be at least eight hours, although an amendment does not require the class to be all in one day, an amendment offered by Representative Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, a firearms instructor.

A refresher class must include at least two hours of instruction, including the live-fire exercise and written exam.

The bill now moves on to the State Senate.

The House Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 1348 on a 7-3 party-line vote last week. The measure requires firearms to be locked up when in a motor vehicle, which can be in a lockbox or in the vehicle’s trunk.

Witnesses in opposition testified it would take too long for someone to obtain their weapon when needed if it were locked up. 

But supporters pointed out there have been hundreds of guns stolen from vehicles.

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said more than 1,000 guns were stolen from vehicles between 2022 and early 2024. Guns stolen from vehicles totaled nearly 600 in 2022 and 2023, she said.

That may have included two firearms belonging to Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, whose truck was broken into in the State Capitol parking lot last year.

The bill moves on to the full House for debate.

Three other firearms-related bills scheduled for hearings last week were postponed due to the weather. That included a measure banning carrying firearms, even with concealed weapons permits, from a long list of “sensitive” places.

This week, the House Judiciary Committee will take another look at a bill to ban so-called “assault weapons.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, is her second attempt. Last year’s measure was killed by the judiciary committee, based largely on an expected veto from the Governor.