Amy Stephens

Infobox State Representative
name = Amy Stephens


state_house = Colorado
state = Colorado
district = 20th
term_start = January 10, 2007
preceded = Lynn Hefley
succeeded = Incumbent
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =
place of death =
spouse = Ron
profession =
religion = Christian
party = Republican

Amy Stephens is a Colorado legislator. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, Stephens represents House District 20, which covers northern El Paso County, Colorado, including portions of Colorado Springs and the areas surrounding the United States Air Force Academy.Cite web| url=http://comaps.org/district20h.html | title=State House District 20 | accessdate=2007-11-13 | format=html | work=COMaps ] She also serves as the House Minority Caucus Chair.

Biography

Stephens attended the University of California at Los Angeles and then California State University Fullerton, earning a bachelor's degree in communications in 1980. From 1991 to 2001, she worked as a public policy and youth culture specialist for Christian ministry Focus on the Family. An abstinence-based sex education curriculum written by Stephens, "No Apologies", has been translated into over a dozen languages.cite web |url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/bio.html |title=Biography |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=AmyStephens4hd20.com ]

After leaving Focus on the Family, Stephens founded the consulting firm Fresh Ideas Communication & Consulting, assisting non-profit and faith-based organizations with communication, organization, and development issues. She has also served as a panel expert on federal grant review committees for the federal Department of Health & Human Services. Stephen is married; she and her husband, Ron, have one son, Nicholas.cite web | url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=65850 |title=Representative Stephens |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=Project Vote Smart ]

Before running for the legislature herself, Stephens was a veteran of numerous Republican campaigns, including those of Colorado Governor Bill Owens, 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome, El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams, and U.S. President George W. Bush. She has served as a member of the El Paso County Republican Committee, and as a delegate to the 1996 and 2004 Republican National Conventions. She was also appointed by Governor Owens to the Governor's Commission on the Welfare of Children.

Political career

2006 election

In 2006, Stephens ran for the legislature herself, winning a 3:1 victory over Democratic opponent Jan Hejtmanekcite web |url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/campaign2008.html |title=Campaign 2008 |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=AmyStephens4hd20.com ] in an overwhelmingly Republican district.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Wilson |title=District 20 is a GOP bastion|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060928/ai_n16804764 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=September 28 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 ] During her campaign, Stephens identified infrastructure issues, including water, as one of her major legislative concerns.cite web |url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11938&qa=1 |title=Amy Stephens - Colorado - State House District 20 candidate |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=RockyMountainNews.com ] Stephens has already begun her re-election campaign for the 2008 elections and is expected to face Hejtmanek once again, in a rematch of their 2006 race.cite news |first=Julia C. |last=Martinez |title=Should Denver put on a red light? |url=http://www.denverpost.com/martinez/ci_6439030l |work=Denver Post |date=23 July 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 ] Hejtmanek has criticized Stephens for her continued support of abstinence-only sex education and for opposing expanded adoption and non-discrimination rights for homosexuals;cite web |url=http://www.voteforjan.com/?page_id=7 |title=An Eye on Amy |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=Jan Hejtmanek for State Representative ] Stephens has denounced these bills as part of a Democratic "cultural revolution" furthering a "secular agenda."cite web |url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/UndertheDome.html |title=Capitol Update - April 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=AmyStephens4hd20.com ]

2007 legislative session

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Name=Stephens
Title=Rep.
Year=2007
Bill Number 1=HB07-1040
Bill Number 2=HB07-1109
Bill Number 3=HB07-1270
Bill Number 4=HB07-1327
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/160C2A773A7E36AE87257251007D68AF?Open&file=1040_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/99DE8CBCE660D4EC87257251007D4581?Open&file=1109_01.pdf
Bill Link 3=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/CE67B54ED3A05D718725725D005DC383?Open&file=1270_enr.pdf
Bill Link 4=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/0E91CBC8EAD8EBDB8725728B005CED13?Open&file=1327_enr.pdf
Bill Title 1=Concerning legal process for persons who are not legally present in this county, and making an appropriation in connection therewith and requiring a post-enactment review of the implementation of this act.
Bill Title 2=Concerning the use of underground water storage strategies.
Bill Title 3=Concerning a comprehensive review of the state's educational data infrastructure, and making an appropriation therefor.
Bill Title 4=Concerning the method by which a creditor that provides periodic statements to its consumers is to notify a consumer that a delinquency charge has been assessed.
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Postponed indefinitely in House committee
Bill Status 3=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 4=Signed by Gov. Ritter

In the 2007 session of the state legislature, Stephens sat on the House Judiciary Committee and was the ranking Republican on the House Business & Labor Affairs Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=2007-12-11 |format=html |work=Colorado General Assembly] Four bills introduced by Rep. Stephens were passed by the General Assembly,cite web |url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/legAgenda.html |title=Legislative Agenda |accessdate=2007-11-14 |format=html |work=AmyStephens4hd20.com ] most prominently a measure that would prohibit criminal charges against illegal immigrants from being dismissed without their deportation.cite news |author=Associated Press |title=Bill aims to stop illegal immigrants from escaping prosecution |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5559442,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=May 28 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 ] cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Casino smoking ban gets Ritter's approval |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20070602/ai_n19199589 |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=June 2 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 ] In November 2007, upon Rep. Bill Cadman's appointment to the Colorado Senate, the first-term legislator was elected to succeed him as House Minority CaucusChair.cite news |author=Associated Press |title=CGOP Elects Amy Stephens Caucus Chairwoman |url=http://cbs4denver.com/politics/local_story_314180437.html |work=cds4denver.com |date=November 10 2007 |accessdate=2007-11-14 ]

2008 legislative session

In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Stephens sits on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, and the House Judiciary Committee.cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |accessdate=2008-01-19 |format=html |work=Colorado General Assembly] Stephens sponsored a bill to tax in-room pay-per-view movies sold by hotels to fund child advocacy centers; after facing opposition from the hotel industry, Stephen asked for the bill to be killed in committee.cite news |author=Staff Report |title=Representative drops plans to tax hotel pay-per-view movies |url=http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080213_8.htm
work=Durango Herald |date=13 February 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-23 ] Stephens also sponsored a bill, passed by the General Assembly, to streamline the teaching licensure application process for military spouses,cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Monday in the General Assembly |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado_33819___article.html/health_senate.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=3 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-03 ] and sponsored another bill to provide unemployment benefits to military spouses forced to relocate out of state.cite news |first=Steven K. |last=Paulson |title=Bill eases rule on jobless pay |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/17/bill-eases-rule-on-jobless-pay/
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=17 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-17 ] She also sponsored successful legislation to require hospitals to publicly publish charges for common medical procedures.cite news |first=Michael |last=Davidson |coauthor=Ed Sealover |title=This week in the Legislature
url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/agenda_35494___article.html/legislature_week.html |work=Denver Post |date=20 April 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-22 ] cite news |first=Paula |last=Moore |title=Governor signs business bills |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/05/26/daily24.html |work=Denver Business Journal |date=28 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-06-13 ]

Stephens also led Republican opposition to the 2008 state budget, criticizing it for excessive spending.cite news |first=Joe |last=Hanel |title=State tackles budget |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080327_3.htm |work=Durango Herald |date=27 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-28 ] cite news |first=Alan |last=Gathright |title=House's OK of budget bill hailed, flailed |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/27/state-budget-clears-house-over-gop-objections/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=28 March 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-28 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/ Amy Stephens - House District 20] , campaign website
* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/House/members/Hou20.htm Legislative home page]