Randy Fischer
Encyclopedia
In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee.
.
Shortly after his election, Fischer identified "education, health care and renewable energy" as his top legislative priorities. During the 2007 session, Fischer sponsored legislation which would allow counties to enforce stormwater regulations.
Following the regular session, Fischer served on the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax
and federal mineral lease revenues.
In the 2008 legislative session, Fischer plans to sponsor legislation to
direct severance tax
revenue to the Colorado departments of Wildlife and Parks and Recreation. Fischer has also sponsored a bill to expand funding for the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and to create a statewide collaboratory
for water-related research. He has also introduced legislation designed to protect instream water rights for users who choose to let water flow downstream rather than be diverted, which was passed and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.
Another bill, requiring vehicle registration and emissions testing for mobile diesel equipment, including farm and construction vehicles, was opposed by farmers, contractors, and local governments, and was stripped of penalties for noncompliance in committee. In response, Fischer proposed a revised version of the legislation which would use registration fees to create a fund for replacement of polluting vehicles with cleaner vehicles.
Together with Rep. John Kefalas
and other northern Colorado legislators, Fischer has sponsored two bills to regulate uranium mining
, in response to proposed mining activity in northern Colorado
; the legislation has been opposed by mining companies. After some amendment, one of these bills, strengthening water quality requirements, passed the state legislature and was signed into law; another measure, which would have created stronger public disclosure requirements for mining operations, was killed in committee, but later revived in the state senate.
Prompted by a suggestion from a Fort Collins high school student, Fischer has floated legislation which would require teen drivers holding a learner's permit
to display a decal in the rear windows of their vehicles; the suggestion was not supported by an interim legislative committee on transportation.
. Fischer won re-election, defeating Gallup with 63 percent of the popular vote.
In response to disputes between the municipalities of Fort Collins and Timnath
, Fischer sponsored legislation regarding regional land-use planning, legislation to prevent vacant or agricultural land from being included within urban renewal authorities, and legislation to create a statewide electronics recycling program. Fischer was also a strong supporter of legislation to prohibit texting while driving
; after unsuccessfully pushing for dialing of phone numbers to be included in the texting ban, he pledged to introduced legislation to create stronger restrictions in the next legislative session.
.
Shortly after his election, Fischer identified "education, health care and renewable energy" as his top legislative priorities. During the 2007 session, Fischer sponsored legislation which would allow counties to enforce stormwater regulations.
Following the regular session, Fischer served on the legislature's interim committee on allocation of severance tax
Severance tax
Severance taxes are incurred when non-renewable natural resources are separated from a taxing jurisdiction. Industries that typically incur such taxes are oil and gas, coal, mining, and timber industries....
and federal mineral lease revenues.
2008 legislative session
In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Fischer sits on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Education Committee.In the 2008 legislative session, Fischer plans to sponsor legislation to
direct severance tax
Severance tax
Severance taxes are incurred when non-renewable natural resources are separated from a taxing jurisdiction. Industries that typically incur such taxes are oil and gas, coal, mining, and timber industries....
revenue to the Colorado departments of Wildlife and Parks and Recreation. Fischer has also sponsored a bill to expand funding for the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute and to create a statewide collaboratory
Collaboratory
A collaboratory, as defined by William Wulf in 1989, is a “center without walls, in which the nation’s researchers can perform their research without regard to physical location, interacting with colleagues, accessing instrumentation, sharing data and computational resources, [and] accessing...
for water-related research. He has also introduced legislation designed to protect instream water rights for users who choose to let water flow downstream rather than be diverted, which was passed and signed into law by Gov. Ritter.
Another bill, requiring vehicle registration and emissions testing for mobile diesel equipment, including farm and construction vehicles, was opposed by farmers, contractors, and local governments, and was stripped of penalties for noncompliance in committee. In response, Fischer proposed a revised version of the legislation which would use registration fees to create a fund for replacement of polluting vehicles with cleaner vehicles.
Together with Rep. John Kefalas
John Kefalas
John Michael Kefalas is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. An educator and lobbyist before first running for the legislature in 2004, Kefalas defeated a Republican incumbent to win election to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2006. He represents House District 52,...
and other northern Colorado legislators, Fischer has sponsored two bills to regulate uranium mining
Uranium mining
Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. The worldwide production of uranium in 2009 amounted to 50,572 tonnes, of which 27% was mined in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia are the top three producers and together account for 63% of world uranium...
, in response to proposed mining activity in northern Colorado
Uranium mining in Colorado
Uranium mining in Colorado, United States, goes back to 1872, when pitchblende ore was taken from gold mines near Central City, Colorado. The Colorado uranium industry has seen booms and busts, but continues to this day...
; the legislation has been opposed by mining companies. After some amendment, one of these bills, strengthening water quality requirements, passed the state legislature and was signed into law; another measure, which would have created stronger public disclosure requirements for mining operations, was killed in committee, but later revived in the state senate.
Prompted by a suggestion from a Fort Collins high school student, Fischer has floated legislation which would require teen drivers holding a learner's permit
Learner's permit
A driver's permit, learner's permit or learner's license, is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive, but has not yet satisfied the requirements to obtain a driver's license...
to display a decal in the rear windows of their vehicles; the suggestion was not supported by an interim legislative committee on transportation.
2008 election
Fischer announced his bid for re-election to the state legislature in January 2008. He faces a challenge from Republican Donna Gallup in the November 2008 general election. Gallup notably criticized Fischer's support of restrictions on uranium mining, accusing him of having "played on constituents’ fears." During the campaign, Fischer cited water, transportation, and higher education as top priorities for a second term in office and emphasized fiscal restraint in the state budget process. Fischer significantly outraised Gallup, including several large donations from political action committees; in mid-October, his campaign had roughly $38,000 cash on hand, and his re-election bid was endorsed by the Denver Post, the Windsor Beacon, and the Fort Collins ColoradoanFort Collins Coloradoan
The Coloradoan is a daily newspaper in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Coloradoan's website is updated throughout the day with breaking news and video coverage of community news. A portion of the paper's newsroom serves as Northern Newsroom for 9News....
. Fischer won re-election, defeating Gallup with 63 percent of the popular vote.
2009 legislative session
For the 2009 legislative session, Fischer was named to seats on the House Transportation and Energy Committee and the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, where he served as vice-chair. After winning a second term, Fischer was also elected Deputy Majority Whip by state house Democrats in an unopposed race for the leadership position.In response to disputes between the municipalities of Fort Collins and Timnath
Timnath, Colorado
The Town of Timnath is a Statutory Town located in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1882, Timnath is a small agricultural/farming community located southeast of Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately one-half mile east of the Harmony Road/Interstate 25 interchange, on a small...
, Fischer sponsored legislation regarding regional land-use planning, legislation to prevent vacant or agricultural land from being included within urban renewal authorities, and legislation to create a statewide electronics recycling program. Fischer was also a strong supporter of legislation to prohibit texting while driving
Texting while driving
Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. The practice has been viewed by many people and authorities as dangerous. It has also been ruled as the cause of some motor...
; after unsuccessfully pushing for dialing of phone numbers to be included in the texting ban, he pledged to introduced legislation to create stronger restrictions in the next legislative session.