Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Ellen Roberts

Ellen Roberts
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 12, 2011 – December 31, 2016
Preceded byBruce Whitehead
Succeeded byDon Coram
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 59th district
In office
January 2007 – January 2011
Preceded byMark Larson
Succeeded byJ. Paul Brown
Personal details
Born (1959-08-27) August 27, 1959 (age 65)
Hudson, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRick Roberts
Alma materCornell University
University of Colorado, Boulder

Ellen Stuart Roberts[1] (born August 27, 1959 [2]) is an attorney and former Republican legislator in the U.S. State of Colorado. From 2006 to 2010, Roberts served as the State Representative for House District 59. In 2010, she was elected to Senate District 6 and served until her resignation, saying that she wanted to spend more time in her home region, at the end of 2016.[3] In 2015, she was elected to serve as the President Pro-Tem for the Colorado State Senate, a position she held until her resignation.

Biography

Born in Hudson, New York,[2] Roberts was raised in Rhinebeck,[4] where she was elected class president in high school.[5] She earned a self-designed undergraduate degree in environmental policy from Cornell University[4] in 1981.[2] During college, she spent a semester as an intern in Washington DC, working for her Congressional representative and for the Republican National Committee.[5]

She moved to Colorado upon graduation[4] and worked as a ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park until 1984.[2] In 1982, Roberts married; she and her husband, Rick, have two children: Caitlin and Ben,[4] both of whom have attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.[citation needed]

After being hired by a law firm in Granby, Colorado,[4] Roberts returned to school to earn a J.D. from the University of Colorado in 1986.[2] She worked as an attorney in private practice in Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs,[5] specializing in estate, probate and business law.[6]

A resident of Durango, Colorado since 1989,[4] she joined the Southwest Colorado Bar Association in 1986[2] and served as its president,[1] and as president of the Southwest Colorado Women's Bar Association.[7] As an attorney, Roberts advocated for increased legal services for immigrants and Spanish-speakers in southwestern Colorado[8]

Roberts has focused on health care, constitutional reform, judicial, and financial issues in the state legislature, and, despite being in the minority party, has seen almost all legislation she sponsored signed into law. She has also carried legislation to strengthen private property rights surrounding oil and gas drilling, and to create a legislative youth advisory council.[citation needed]

Early career

Roberts began to re-enter politics after the death of her father in 1992, first focusing on hospice and health care issues.[5] As a member (since 1999[7]) and later chairman of the board of Mercy Regional Medical Center, she pushed for the construction of a new hospital in Durango.[4] She chaired Healthy 58, a rural health care task force,[7] and in 2001, was appointed to the Task Force to Evaluate Health Care Needs for Colorado, a commission formed by the legislature to study health-care needs in rural Colorado communities.[9]

Roberts sat on the Sixth Judicial District Nominating Commission,[10] and co-chaired the Durango Citizens Steering Committee for a New Library, a successful effort to push for a new local public library that was eventually built on the site of Mercy Medical Center, the hospital Roberts had worked to help replace.[4][11][12] She was a member of the Citizens Health Advisory Council, the High Noon Rotary Club, and sat on the boards of First National Bank[2] and the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado.[13] In 2004, she won the Durango Chamber of Commerce's Athena Award for professional women in business.[4]

Colorado House of Representatives

2006 election

In December 2004, only a month after Larson was elected to his fourth and final term in the state house, Roberts filed for a 2006 candidacy to seek his seat.[14] She announced her campaign formally in January 2005.[6] She was endorsed by Larson,[15] and won the Republican nomination unopposed.

As Representative Mark Larson neared the end of his term-limited tenure in the Colorado House of Representatives, Roberts began to work with him on learning the legislative process,[4] in preparation for seeking elected office herself.[14] She instigated a bill, introduced by Larson and eventually signed into law, to require that remains be handled in accordance with the wishes of the deceased.[16] She also lobbied the legislature, unsuccessfully, for the creation of an interim committee to study palliative care.[17][18]

During the general election campaign, Roberts emphasized her work on health care issues and her experience working with Representative Larson in the legislature,[19] and criticized the passage of constitutional amendments creating conflicting fiscal obligations.[19][20][21] Although both Roberts and her main opponent, Democrat Joe Colgan, signed a clean campaign pledge, controversy arose over advertisements run by outside sources. In particular, Roberts denounced as "misleading" and "unacceptable" a television advertisement criticizing Colgan's record as mayor of Durango. The ad, which was run by a political group associated with the Colorado Association of Home Builders,[22] was later pulled off the air.[23] Direct mail flyers sent by right-leaning outside groups during the last weeks of the campaign also misrepresented both candidates' stances on immigration, exaggerating the contrast between their positions.[24]

In addition to her Democratic opponent, Roberts faced unaffiliated write-in candidate Christopher Navage. Navage withdrew from the race in October 2006 and endorsed Colgan.[25] Roberts significantly outraised her opponents, donating over $8,000 to her own campaign,[26][27][28] and ultimately winning the November 2006 general election with 52 percent of the vote.[29]

2007 legislative session

In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Roberts was a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee, the Joint Legal Services Committee, and the House Judiciary Committee.[30]

Roberts was one of the most successful Republican legislators at passing legislation through the Democrat-controlled legislature,[31] and has been identified by media reports and commentators as a "standout" legislator[32][33] and a potential candidate for higher office.[34] She also organized bowling outings for legislators during her first year in the legislature.[35]

Roberts carried legislation which revised Colorado's surface rights laws, requiring oil and gas companies to minimize the impacts of drilling.[36][37] The bill was weakened by lobbying from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association,[38] but represented a breadth of reform that had failed to pass in previous legislative sessions.[31]

During her first legislative session, Roberts also sponsored bills to revise the process by which special health care districts are created[39] and to expand eligibility for Korean War special license plates;[40] she cosponsored legislation to fund study of a methane seep in southwestern Colorado.[41]

Her only unsuccessful bill was a measure to tighten the rules under which cigar bars could claim exemptions from Colorado's indoor smoking ban.[42] After being killed in committee, the measure was revived in the Colorado Senate by Democrats, but was again unsuccessful.[43][44]

Following the 2007 session, Roberts was named by House Republican leadership to the newly formed Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission.[45] In November 2007, she was named a Legislator of Merit by the Colorado Behavioral Health Council.[46] She joined with other Republicans to criticize an executive order issued by Governor Bill Ritter allowing collective bargaining with government employee unions as a betrayal of Ritter's promise of bipartisan cooperation on major issues.[47]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Roberts sat on the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. [48] She introduced eight bills during the session, all of which were passed by the legislature.[49]

During the 2008 legislative session, Roberts introduced a bill, drafted and lobbied for by Colorado students,[50] to create a legislative youth advisory council.[51][52] The bill stalled in the legislature until its minimal cost was approved by the House Appropriations Committee,[53] after which it cleared both the House and Senate,[54] and Governor Bill Ritter signed it into law.[55] She was later appointed by Minority Leader Mike May to be one of the legislative members of the council.[56]

Roberts introduced a bill which would grant advanced practice nurses power to sign off on additional medical forms, in response to shortages of doctors in portions of rural Colorado,[57] a measure which garnered support from both nurses' and doctors' associations.[58] In March, she backed a proposal to require that insurance companies offer low-cost health care benefit packages for Coloradoans, as part of a "public-private" plan towards achieving universal coverage.[59]

Roberts was the sponsor of a legislative resolution urging the Federal Communications Commission to support including southwestern Colorado, including portions of her district, within the Denver media market,[60] a resolution she introduced again in 2010.[61]

Before the session began, Roberts had expressed interest in sponsoring legislation to revise the process by which the Colorado Constitution is amended through ballot measures, proposing that supermajority popular votes be required to enact amendments.[62] She proposed extending the public hearing process as a means of providing additional input on ballot measures,[63] and, in February 2008, was appointed to a six-member legislative panel tasked with developing recommendations for constitutional reform.[64] She was ultimately a cosponsor of the panel's proposal to create distinctions in the petition process between constitutional and statutory amendments,;[65] the proposal which was referred by the legislature to voters [49] and appeared on the November 2008 Colorado ballot as Referendum O.[66] Roberts campaigned in support of Referendum O during the fall campaign.[67]

Roberts was one of a few Republicans to back a measure to reform spending requirements in Colorado's state constitution. The proposal, which would have diverted excess revenues under TABOR to K-12 education, was regarded as a sweeping revision to competing constitutional mandates;[68][69] it was not passed by the General Assembly,[49] but was advanced as a citizens' initiative.[70]

2008 election

Roberts was nominated by the Republican Party for a second term in the state house; she faced no challengers either in the Republican primary or in the general election.[71][72]

Roberts stood against some fellow Republicans by opposing Amendment 52, a ballot measure on the November ballot that would reallocate some severance tax revenue from water projects to transportation.[73] She also backed Republican presidential candidate John McCain and spoke before McCain at an October rally in Durango, Colorado.[74]

Following her re-election, Roberts was nominated for the post of House Minority Caucus Chair, but lost the caucus' vote for the post to Rep. Amy Stephens.[75] After losing the vote, Roberts publicly lamented the lack of rural representation in legislative leadership[76] and alleged that Republican lawmakers were threatened with primaries if they voted for her leadership bid.[77][78][79]

2009 legislative session

For the 2009 legislative session, Roberts was appointed to the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, where she was the ranking Republican member.[80] Roberts was also named to a Republican task force charged with making recommendations on resolving the state's projected budget shortfall.[81] In 2009, Roberts also sat on the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and co-chaired the Colorado Youth Advisory Council.[82]

During the 2009 session, Roberts sponsored several bills relating to juvenile criminal offenders, including legislation to allow more juveniles to have their criminal records expunged, and to allow young adults to serve sentences within the Youth Offender System instead of correctional facilities.[83][84][85] Roberts also sponsored legislation to make minor adjustment to the statutes concerning the Colorado Youth Advisory Council,[83] legislation to create a regional self-insurance plan within the San Luis Valley,[86][87] and legislation revising statutes surrounding end-of-life care.[88]

2010 legislative session

Following the 2009 legislative session, Roberts sat on an interim committee dealing with hospice and palliative care issues, and carried legislation originating from that committee during the 2010 session,[89] including two bills that clarified policies surrounding end-of-life care and advance directives.[90] Other legislation that Roberts carried in 2010 included a bill to allow voluntary income tax contributions to support 2-1-1 services,[91] and she fought against cuts to the Native American tuition waiver program at Fort Lewis College.[92][93] Roberts was one of only three Republican House members to vote in support of Colorado's 2010 budget,[94] after successfully sponsoring an amendment that removed restrictions on Fort Lewis College's ability to set its own out-of-state tuition rates.[95][96]

Roberts had planned to introduce legislation to place a one-year moratorium on new Colorado health insurance mandates with independent Rep. Kathleen Curry,[97] as part of a proposal to overhaul the states insurance mandate commission.[98] However, they announced at the start of the session that their proposal would not include an immediate moratorium on insurance mandates,[99][100] and the legislation was killed on its first hearing in a House committee.[101][102] Roberts also withdrew one of her proposals to continue a pilot program for training of Certified Nursing Assistants, on account of its cost.[103] Roberts also sponsored a contentious piece of legislation with general election opponent Sen. Bruce Whitehead, negotiated by Governor Ritter's office, to require utilities to convert some Front Range coal-fired power plants to natural gas.[104][105][106]

Colorado Senate

2010 Election

In June 2009, Roberts announced her intention to seek the Colorado State Senate seat held by term-limited Democratic Sen. Jim Isgar in the 2010 legislative elections, Senate District 6.[82][107] After Isgar resigned from the legislature in July 2009 to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office in Colorado,[108][109] Democrats appointed civil engineer Bruce Whitehead to the seat; Whitehead declared his intention to run for a full term in 2010, setting up a race that Colorado Republicans viewed as one of their best opportunities to pick up a seat in the Democrat-controlled legislature.[110]

Roberts' 2010 campaign for the Senate seat also faced a challenge in the Republican primary from former Norwood, Colorado town marshal Dean Boehler, who campaigns as a self-described "true conservative;"[111] Boehler received 67 percent of delegate votes at the Republican district assembly to Roberts' 33, earning him the top spot on the August primary ballot.[112] Roberts won the primary race with 54% of the vote and went on to win the general election with 61% of the vote.[113]

2011 Legislative Session

As state senator, Roberts served on several committees, including the Health and Human Services, Judiciary, and Legislative Legal Services Committees and also acted as ranking Republican on the Senate Local Government Committee. She served on two interim committees, the Water Resources Review Committee and the Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Implementation Review Committee until the end of the 2012 legislative session.[citation needed]

In addition to her responsibilities at the Colorado legislature, Roberts was appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Federal Deficit Reduction Task Force and, in August 2011, was elected to NCSL's executive committee. She is the only Colorado legislator to serve on either of these committees.[citation needed]

2012 Legislative Session

Senator Roberts proposed legislation at the start of session regarding the surety bond required for towing carriers in rural areas. SB12-049 would have lowered the surety bond from $50,000 to $10,000 for local entities. The bill was assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee, but was postponed indefinitely after it was introduced. However, after the bill was killed, public upheaval caused Roberts to introduce a new bill, this time in the House, which resolved the same issue. HB12-1347 passed the second time around with a resounding 98–1 vote.[citation needed]

Senator Roberts was appointed to the National Conference of State Legislatures Budgets and Revenue Committee. In addition, she was re-elected to the executive committee for NCSL.[114] Senator Roberts was also awarded the Legislator of the Year Award for the 2012 legislative session by the Economic Development Council of Colorado.[citation needed]

During the 2012 legislative session, Roberts was award a handful of awards: 2012 Champion of Conservation Award from the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, the 2012 Pinnacle Award from the Colorado Farm Bureau, the 2012 Common Sense in the Courtroom Award from the Colorado Civil Justice League, and the 2012 Green Colorado Legislator of the Year Award. She was also honored to win the 2012 Legislator of the Year Award from the Colorado Economic Development Council.[citation needed]

Due to the wild fires in the state of Colorado in 2012, Senator Roberts was elected as chairwoman of the bipartisan Lower North Fork Fire Commission, which convened during the interim and which proposed four pieces of legislation to address the threat of wildfire risk and damage in Colorado.[citation needed]

2013 Legislative Session

Roberts was appointed to serve on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.[citation needed]

2015 Legislative Session

As state senator, Senator Roberts served on several committees. She served as Vice Chair of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee as well as Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Senator Roberts also served on the Committee Legal Services, Water Resources Review Committee, Joint Judiciary Committee and the Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.[citation needed] She resigned at the end of 2016.

References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, Ellen (October 14, 2001). "Testing our ideals". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 15, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Representative Roberts". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2007-12-27.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Alderton, Stephanie. Don Coram will replace Ellen Roberts in Colorado Senate Archived 2017-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. The Durango Herald, January 7, 2017. Viewed: 2017-01-13.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Peel, John (February 16, 2004). "Forks in the road led Ellen Roberts to Athena Award". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on March 25, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  5. ^ a b c d Munro, Thomas (October 15, 2006). "Roberts had early dreams for office". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  6. ^ a b Rodebaugh, Dale (January 16, 2005). "Roberts announces House bid". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  7. ^ a b c Editorial Board (October 17, 2006). "Ellen Roberts: Choose proven ability for state representative". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  8. ^ Trujillo, Shirena (August 22, 2001). "Immigration lawyers absent in Southwest Colorado". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  9. ^ Santon, June (July 25, 2001). "State task force on health care to meet in Durango Sept. 5". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  10. ^ Greenhill, Jim (May 24, 2002). "Last-minute compromise a reprieve for Durango courts". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  11. ^ Staff Report (September 6, 2002). "Toward a new library". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  12. ^ Butler, Ann (June 20, 2007). "150 show for library groundbreaking". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  13. ^ Staff Report (October 7, 2001). "Rural health care to be topic of two meetings in September". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 15, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  14. ^ a b Rodebaugh, Dale (December 5, 2004). "Local lawyer files for state candidacy". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  15. ^ Alderman, Jesse Harlan (August 19, 2005). "Joe Colgan considering run for House". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  16. ^ Ashby, Charles (April 24, 2003). "Owens signs final-wishes bill". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 13, 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  17. ^ Butler, Ann (January 23, 2002). "Politics and laughter join at Bighorn Center". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on February 5, 2002. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  18. ^ Larson, Mark (April 28, 2002). "Resolution on palliative care was not approved this session". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  19. ^ a b Slothower, Chuck (September 21, 2006). "Candidates debate starts election season". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  20. ^ Munro, Thomas (June 1, 2006). "Candidates begin quest for House seat". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  21. ^ Munro, Thomas (July 11, 2006). "House candidates voice their views". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  22. ^ Slothower, Chuck (October 6, 2006). "Roberts renounces Colgan ad". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  23. ^ Slothower, Chuck (October 12, 2006). "Builders agree to pull anti-Colgan ads". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  24. ^ Munro, Thomas (October 31, 2006). "Candidates' immigration views similar". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  25. ^ Staff Report (October 20, 2006). "Navage withdraws from House race". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  26. ^ Munro, Thomas (June 23, 2006). "GOP House candidate leads money chase". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  27. ^ Slothower, Chuck (October 5, 2006). "State House candidate criticizes ad". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on October 11, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  28. ^ Munro, Thomas (October 26, 2006). "Isgar and Roberts lead in cash dash". The Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-27. [dead link]
  29. ^ Munro, Thomas (November 8, 2006). "Roberts owns House". The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
  30. ^ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  31. ^ a b Hanel, Joe (May 7, 2007). "Victories plentiful for Isgar, Roberts". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  32. ^ Bartels, Lynn (May 14, 2007). "Capitol newcomers showed no hesitation in getting in the game". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  33. ^ Ewegen, Bob (December 28, 2007). "Republicans hitch their 2010 wagon to five rising stars". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  34. ^ Andrews, John (April 5, 2008). "Hope springs eternal for GOP in 2010". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  35. ^ Bartels, Lynn (February 20, 2008). "Citizen legislator, February 20". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  36. ^ Hanel, Joe (May 30, 2007). "Ritter signs oil and gas reform bills". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  37. ^ Clausing, Jeri (March 1, 2007). "Change in air for drillers". Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  38. ^ Hanel, Joe (May 16, 2007). "Oil, gas leader 'counts days' to job's end". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  39. ^ Hanel, Joe (February 2, 2007). "Measure would simplify elections for health district". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  40. ^ Staff Report (April 10, 2007). "Ritter approves Roberts' license bill". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  41. ^ Hanel, Joe (May 4, 2007). "Lawmakers OK health, methane-study bills". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  42. ^ Hanel, Joe (May 2, 2007). "Lawmakers vote down cigar-bar bill". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  43. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 28, 2007). "Roberts' cigar-bar bill is still smokin'". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on May 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  44. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 19, 2007). "Senate panel tightens smoking ban". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  45. ^ Staff Report (June 24, 2007). "House leader names Roberts to commission". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  46. ^ Butler, Ann (November 10, 2007). "Remember those serving for Veterans Day". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  47. ^ Hanel, Joe (November 8, 2007). "Roberts criticizes Ritter's move to recognize unions". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  48. ^ "House Committees of Reference". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  49. ^ a b c Hanel, Joe (May 10, 2008). "Region's lawmakers see results". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  50. ^ Hanel, Joe (January 19, 2008). "New bills in the Legislature". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  51. ^ Roberts, Ellen (October 7, 2007). "Youths need voice at Legislature". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  52. ^ Hanel, Joe (October 1, 2007). "Roberts seeks voice for youth". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  53. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 5, 2008). "Youth Council bill receives money". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  54. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 30, 2008). "Youth council bill clears Senate". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  55. ^ Hanel, Joe (May 30, 2008). "Youth-written advisory bill becomes law". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  56. ^ "Ellen Roberts Continues Effort To Keep Youth Involved" (Press release). Colorado House Republican Caucus. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  57. ^ Hanel, Joe (January 22, 2008). "Bill expands nurses' duties". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  58. ^ Hanel, Joe (January 29, 2008). "Doctors and nurses compromise on bill". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  59. ^ Hanel, Joe (March 29, 2008). "Capitol unveils health effort". Cortez Journal. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  60. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 4, 2008). "Lawmakers push for Denver TV". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  61. ^ Benjamin, Shane (4 April 2010). "Television argument rages on". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  62. ^ Roberts, Ellen (November 4, 2007). "S.W. Colorado students get a taste of legislation writing". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-31. [dead link]
  63. ^ Hanel, Joe (January 19, 2008). "Roberts in middle of constitution talk". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
  64. ^ Hanel, Joe (February 13, 2008). "Roberts works on reforming state constitution". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  65. ^ Hanel, Joe (March 7, 2008). "Roberts backs reform effort". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-03-07. [dead link]
  66. ^ Hanel, Joe (July 1, 2008). "Roberts' effort on ballot as Referendum O". Durango Herald. Retrieved 2008-08-05. [dead link]
  67. ^ Saccone, Mike (4 September 2008). "Club 20's annual fall meeting boasts full schedule of debates". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  68. ^ Boyle, Rebecca (April 19, 2007). "Constitutional Crusaders aim to tackle Colorado's requirements". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2008-04-19.[permanent dead link]
  69. ^ Hanel, Joe (April 18, 2007). "Roberts backs proposal to change TABOR". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  70. ^ Hanel, Joe (July 1, 2008). "Campaign starts to halt amendments". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  71. ^ Holteen, Ted (March 2, 2008). "Local Republicans shift focus". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  72. ^ Holteen, Ted (April 30, 2008). "Local primary lacks choices". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  73. ^ Hartman, Todd (23 October 2008). "GOP heavyweights come out against Amendment 52". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  74. ^ McWilliams, Carole (27 October 2008). "McCain visit delights local Republicans". Pine River Times. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  75. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy (6 November 2008). "Full list of 2009 Statehouse leadership positions". PolitickerCO.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  76. ^ Roberts, Ellen (9 November 2008). "Caucus was a stinging experience". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  77. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy (10 November 2008). "Roberts claims primary threat was made over minority caucus chair race". PolitickerCO.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  78. ^ Luning, Ernest (11 November 2008). "Roberts bristles at GOP caucus 'pricks,' cites primary threats". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  79. ^ Jorgensen, Leslie (14 November 2008). "Rumors fly in House leadership vote". Colorado Statesman. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  80. ^ "House Republican Committee Assignments Announced" (Press release). Colorado House Democrats. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  81. ^ Schroyer, John (6 January 2009). "Republicans push plan for fixing bridges". Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  82. ^ a b Andrews, Garrett (5 June 2009). "Roberts to seek Senate seat". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  83. ^ a b Hanel, Joe (29 December 2008). "Roberts will focus on justice, health care during legislative session". Cortez Journal. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  84. ^ Sealover, Ed (2 February 2009). "Young offenders get a break". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  85. ^ Marcus, Peter (5 March 2009). "Flexibility sought with youth offenders". Denver Daily News. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  86. ^ Isgar, Jim (22 March 2009). "Dim forecast means more tough cuts". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  87. ^ Roberts, Ellen (26 April 2009). "Rush is on to wrap up legislation". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  88. ^ Roberts, Ellen (3 May 2009). "Session ending with lingering budget concerns". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  89. ^ Roberts, Ellen (8 November 2009). "Lawmakers can learn from council". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  90. ^ Roberts, Ellen (28 February 2010). "Bills addressing end-of-life care advance to Senate". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  91. ^ Roberts, Ellen (4 October 2009). "Information gathering begins". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  92. ^ Roberts, Ellen (17 January 2010). "FLC should not take unfair cuts". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  93. ^ Hanel, Joe (23 January 2010). "FLC fight bruises feelings at Capitol". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  94. ^ Hanel, Joe (2 April 2010). "State employees taking furlough day". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  95. ^ Goodland, Marianne (2 April 2010). "House approves $20 billion budget". Colorado Statesman. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  96. ^ Hanel, Joe (9 April 2010). "Fort Lewis College supporters stand up to budget panel". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  97. ^ Mook, Bob (11 December 2009). "Bill proposed to curtail health insurance mandates". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  98. ^ Hanel, Joe (10 January 2010). "Before election, the next session". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  99. ^ Redding, Katie (31 December 2009). "Insurance industry pushing measure to stall maternity bill". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  100. ^ Redding, Katie (12 January 2010). "Curry, Roberts plan to delay mandate moratorium". Colorado Independent. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  101. ^ Mook, Bob (5 February 2010). ""Timeout" Proposal Dies; What Next?". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  102. ^ Hanel, Joe (5 February 2010). "Party-line vote kills Roberts' measure". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  103. ^ Roberts, Ellen (7 March 2010). "Certified nurse aide bill dead but goal remains". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  104. ^ Proctor, Cathy (16 March 2010). "Bill to cut coal power in Colorado has widespread backing". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  105. ^ Hanel, Joe (17 March 2010). "Rivals Roberts, Whitehead join forces on bill". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  106. ^ Hanel, Joe (1 April 2010). "Senate passes power measure". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  107. ^ Heidelberg, Katharhynn (5 June 2009). "Roberts announces senate bid". Montrose Press. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  108. ^ Hanel, Joe (1 July 2009). "Sen. Isgar to take new USDA post". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  109. ^ Luning, Ernest (30 June 2009). "Isgar creates Senate vacancy with appointment to USDA rural post". Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  110. ^ Sealover, Ed (10 August 2009). "Whitehead named to Colorado Senate". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  111. ^ Heidelberg, Katharhynn (10 April 2009). "Former marshal makes Senate bid, seeks support of Rep. delegates". Montrose Daily Press. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  112. ^ Slothower, Chuch (18 April 2009). "Norwood man to face Roberts in August primary". Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  113. ^ "Ellen Roberts bests Bruce Whitehead". Durango Herald. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  114. ^ "Senator Roberts Appointed to NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee". Colorado Senate News. Retrieved 2012-09-27.