John Morse (Colorado legislator)

Infobox State Senator
name=John Morse

---

state_senate=Colorado
state=Colorado
district=11th
term_start=January 10, 2007
preceded=
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=
place of birth=
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=
profession=
religion=
party=Democratic|

John P. Morsecite web |url=http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=65911 |title=Senator Morse |accessdate=2007-11-15 |format=html |work=Project Vote Smart] is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2006, Morse represents Senate District 11, which encompasses Manitou Springs, Colorado and eastern Colorado Springs.cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district11s.html |title=State Senate District 11 |accessdate=2007-11-15 |format=html |work=COMaps ]

Biography

Born into a military family, the eldest of ten children, Morse graduated from Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado; he earned the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts of America as a teenager. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and then the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, earning a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, while working as an emergency medical technician.cite web |url=http://www.morseforsenate.com/about.asp |title=About John |accessdate=2007-11-18 |format=html |work=John Morse for Colorado State Senate ]

After working briefly as a Certified Public Accountant, Morse began to pursue a career in public affairs, earning first an MBA from Regis University in 1984, then a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1996 and a Ph.D. in public affairs from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2001.

While pursuing advanced degrees, Morse worked for the Colorado Springs Police Department, advancing to the rank of Sergeant. After nine years in Colorado Springs, Morse joined the police staff in Fountain, Colorado, just south of Colorado Springs. In October 2002, he became acting police chief and was appointed as the permanent police chief in February 2003.cite news |author=Staff Report |title=Fountain appoints police chief |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20030212/ai_n10014061
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=12 February 2003 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ] He held the chief of police position until November 2003, just nine months later. In 2004, Morse became the President and CEO of Silver Key Senior Services, a Colorado Springs-based non-profit.

Legislative career

2006 election

First elected to the Colorado State Senate in 2006, Morse won a decisive victory in a competitive district, defeating incumbent Republican legislator Ed Jones. Although Morse had lived in Colorado Springs for over three decades, Colorado Republicans accused Morse of "carpetbagging" for moving into the district from his previous residence just outside district boundaries only a year before the 2006 election.cite news |first=Pam |last=Zubeck |title=GOP accuses Dem of carpetbagging |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060926/ai_n16805777
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=26 September 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ] Advertisements aired during the campaign accused Morse of incompetence as police chief of Fountaincite news |first=Cara |last=DeGette |title=Living Like an Eagle Scout Can be Murder |url=http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=676
work=Colorado Confidential |date=19 September 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ] , but were pulled from broadcast because of inaccuracies.cite news |first=Pam |last=Zubeck |title=DA to probe ads targeting Democratic Senate hopeful |url=http://daily.gazette.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VGhlR2F6ZXR0ZS8yMDA2LzA5LzEzI0FyMDEzMDI=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=13 September 2006 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ]

2007 legislative session

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Name=Morse
Title=Sen.
Year=2007
Bill Number 1=SB07-034
Bill Number 2=SB07-063
Bill Number 3=SB07-072
Bill Number 4=SB07-136
Bill Number 5=SB07-146
Bill Number 6=SB07-153
Bill Number 7=SB07-154
Bill Number 8=SB07-197
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/2FF2281D159DF18087257251007C51CE?Open&file=034_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/0E988AF4F386BDBA87257251007D4E5F?Open&file=063_01.pdf
Bill Link 3=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/D6CC9ED46E531ADF87257251007C761A?Open&file=072_01.pdf
Bill Link 4=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/91BC854F552ACB8A87257251007B8843?Open&file=136_enr.pdf
Bill Link 5=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/57B8CFBA1E49DA648725725D0059301C?Open&file=146_enr.pdf
Bill Link 6=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/BAEA7FCA3429C45787257266007228AD?Open&file=153_enr.pdf
Bill Link 7=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/62CF69836657965E8725726600839998?Open&file=154_enr.pdf
Bill Link 8=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/D17688F4A23EFD6C872572730064EA7C?Open&file=197_enr.pdf
Bill Title 1=Concerning clarification of residency status for the purpose of granting reciprocity to concealed weapons permits issued by states other than Colorado.
Bill Title 2=Concerning the exemption of mixed-use communities from provisions governing amendments to the declaration establishing a common interest community under the "Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act."
Bill Title 3=Concerning reimbursements to Colorado institutions of higher education for refunds made to students who are called to active duty in certain middle eastern countries, and [...] limiting the reimbursements to those refunds granted to students who are deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq.
Bill Title 4=Concerning the jurisdiction of courts to enter orders for the protection of persons.
Bill Title 5=Concerning the creation of a pilot program to provide mental health services to families of recently discharge veterans [...]
Bill Title 6=Concerning enforcement of certain orders issued by a local health officer.
Bill Title 7=Concerning the authority of a law enforcement officer under the express consent law to request a drive to take a test other than the test elected by the driver for the purpose of determining the driver's alcohol content.
Bill Title 8=Concerning the Safe-2-Tell program for persons in schools.
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Postponed indefinitely in House committee
Bill Status 3=Postponed indefinitely in House committee
Bill Status 4=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 5=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 6=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 7=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 8=Signed by Gov. Ritter

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.cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/Senate/members/Sen11.htm |title=Senator John Morse |accessdate=2007-11-18 |format=html |work=Colorado General Assembly] During his first term, Morse sponsored legislation to create a pilot mental health services program for discharged combat veterans in Coloradocite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Mental health bill for vets' families advances |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20070406/ai_n18995614
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=6 April 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ] , and to change Colorado's concealed carry permit system for firearms.cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Boyle |title=Legislators consider changes to concealed weapons permit laws |url=http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070126/NEWS/101260090
work=Greeley Tribune |date=26 January 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ] .

Following the regular legislative session, Morse served on the interim legislative Health Care Task Forcecite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07HealthCareTFSched.htm |title=Health Care Task Force |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council ] and was vice-chair of the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission.cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07FPPAsched.htm |title=Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council ]

In November 2007, Morse was elected by the Democratic caucus to serve on the influential Joint Budget Committee.cite news |first=Alan |last=Gaithright |title=Groff achieves milestone; Dems appoint him Senate prez |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/15/groff-achieves-milestone-dems-appoint-him-senate-p/
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=15 November 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-18 ]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the General Assembly, Morse sits on the Joint Budget Committee and chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/SenCommWp?OpenView&Start=1 |title=Senate Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-02-06 |work=Colorado General Assembly] He also sat on a special ethics panel investigating possible conflicts of interest for Colorado State Fair engineering contracts received by Sen. Abel Tapia.cite news |first=Tim |last=Hoover |title=Fair work goes to ethics panel |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8906016 |work=Denver Post |date=11 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-13 ]

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 trauma care to be covered in car insurance policies,cite news |first=Michael |last=Davidson |coauthors=Ed Sealover |title=Legislature: The week ahead |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/bill_34782___article.html/gordon_senate.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=30 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-30 ] cite news |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Senate backs health, auto bill |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/30/senate-backs-health-auto-bill/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-30 ] and a bill to increase marriage license fees to fund Court Appointed Special Advocate programs.cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Proposal would raise marriage fee
url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/fee_35318___article.html/marriage_proposal.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=16 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-16 ]

Another of Morse's bills, to establish a database of school security practices for use by Colorado schoolscite news |author=Staff Reports |title=This week in the Legislature |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/committee_32205___article.html/create_children.html
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=21 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-23 ] cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |coauthors=Michael Davidson |title=Assembly Glance: February 6, 2008 |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/bill_32851___article.html/house_committee.html
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=7 February 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-08 ] 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.cite news |author=Staff Reports |title=Ritter signs two school safety laws |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/13/ritter-signs-two-school-safety-laws/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=13 May 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-14 ]

Morse was also the Senate sponsor of successful legislation encouraging judges to consider restorative justice as part of juvenile sentencing.cite news |first=Pierette J. |last=Shields |title=Law may expand justice programs |url=http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=7738 |work=Longmont Times-Call |date=4 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-10 ] He also sponsored legislation to grant public hospitals taxing authority so that they can satisfy the federal definition of a "public hospital" and qualify for federal funding.cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Tax bill gets support |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/bill_35501___article.html/gets_support.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=20 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-22 ]

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.cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Paper ballots officially dead |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/20/paper-ballots-officially-dead/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=20 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-30 ] cite news |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Lawmakers formally kill paper ballot bill, clear way for e-voting |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8637907 |work=Denver Post |date=20 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-30 ] 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.cite news |author=Associated Press |title=Divided Senate backs $17.6B budget |url=http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080403/NEWS/572919266 |work=Summit Daily News |date=3 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-11 ] cite news |first=Ben |last=Marter |title=Democrats balance, pass budget |url=http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/2863/2/ |work=Cherry Creek News |date=3 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-11 ]

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.cite news |first=Dennis |last=Huspeni |title=CBI will investigate allegations against DA Newsome |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/newsome_38243___article.html/allegations_cbi.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=15 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-07 ] cite news |first=Dennis |last=Huspeni |title=Ritter tells Suthers to look into Newsome spending |url=http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080512/NEWS/713619109 |work=Greeley Tribune |date=28 July 2008 |accessdate=2008-08-08 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/sen11.htm John Morse profile, Colorado General Assembly]
* [http://www.morseforsenate.com/ John Morse for Colorado State Senate] - campaign site