Joe Rice

Infobox State Representative
name=Joe Rice


state_house=Colorado
state=Colorado
district=38th
term_start=January 10, 2007cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csljournals.nsf/(jouhse)/C74DAE3008365363872572580079AA44/$FILE/Jn10.pdf |title=House Journal - January 10, 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-08 |format=pdf |work=Colorado General Assembly]
preceded=Matt Dunn
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|05|07
place of birth=New Castle, Indiana
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Kendall
profession=
religion=Methodist
party= Democratic Party

Joe Rice (born May 7, 1967cite web |url=http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=65119 |title=Representative Joe Rice |accessdate=2008-01-11 |format=html |work=Project Vote Smart] ) is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado, an Iraq War veteran, and a former mayor of Glendale, Colorado.

Rice is a business consultant and United States Army Reservist. He was elected to the city council of Glendale, Colorado in 1994 and to the post of mayor in 1996 on a platform of developing a "resident-friendly" community in the Denver enclave. Rice was re-elected in 2000 and later resigned from the post of mayor in 2003 when called up to serve the first of three tours on active duty in Iraq. In Iraq, he has served as an advisor to the Baghdad city council and to Iraqi security forces.

Rice won election to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2006 and represents House District 38, which encompasses Greenwood Village, Bow Mar, and Littleton, Colorado as well as parts of Englewood, Centennial, Aurora, and Columbine Valley.cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district38h.html |title=State House District 38 |accessdate=2008-01-11 |format=html |work=COMaps] In the legislature, Rice has focused heavily on transportation issues; other key measures he has promoted have included the creation of a statewide cold case homicide unit and a reduction in the business personal property tax.

Biography

Personal life

Born in New Castle, Indiana, Rice earned an associates degree from New Mexico Military Institute in 1987 and a bachelor's degree in history from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1989 while an active-duty military officer. He later earned a Masters of Public Administration degree from the dn|University of Colorado] .

After being discharged from active military duty at Fort Carson, Rice settled in Glendale, Colorado in 1990.cite news |first=Justin |last=Berton |title=The Glendale T&A Party |url=http://www.westword.com/2000-01-20/news/the-glendale-t-a-party/
work=Westword |date=January 20, 2000 |accessdate=2008-01-12] Rice and his wife, Kendall, were married around 1990, and have three children — twins Harrison and Alexandria, born around 2001, and a younger son, Dalton, born in 2005.cite news |first=Joe |last=Rice |title=Candidate profile: Joe Rice
url=http://denver.yourhub.com/Littleton/Stories/News/Politics/Story~136523.aspx |work=YourHub.com |date=October 11, 2006 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] They currently live in Littleton, Colorado. Among his hobbies, Rice enjoys jogging.cite web |url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11984 |title=Joe Rice - Colorado - State House District 38 candidate (In My Own Words) |accessdate=2008-04-18 |format=html |work=RockyMountainNews.com ]

Military career

Rice enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17.cite web |url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11984&qa=1 |title=Joe Rice - Colorado - State House District 38 candidate (Biography) |accessdate=2008-01-11 |format=html |work=RockyMountainNews.com ] After two years of enlisted service, Rice spent three years on active duty as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer. His military service included duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a staff officer during UN peacekeeping operations, and as project officer for a Colorado National Guard program to provide medical care to poor civilians.cite web |url=http://www.joericecolorado.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=30 |title=Joe's Military Service |accessdate=2008-01-11 |work=Citizens for Joe Rice ]

Presently a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Rice has been called up to serve three tours of duty in Iraq — from March 2003 to May 2004, where he was a senior U.S. military advisor to the Baghdad City Council; from October 2005 to February 2006, where he advised coalition forces on interactions with Iraqi civilians; and his current tour, from October 2007 to January 2008, where, as an operations analyst, he evaluated Iraqi military and police forces.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=State Rep. Joe Rice headed for Iraq |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7005085
work=Denver Post |date=September 26, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] Rice has completed Airborne and Ranger training, and has been awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and the Bronze Star. Building upon his work in Baghdad, Rice has also helped coordinate the Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership for Sister Cities International since 2004. The partnership brought several delegations of Iraqis, including business leaders, government officials, and scholars. The most recent delegation was composed of Iraqi teenagers who lived with Colorado families.cite news |first=Nick |last=Martin |title=Iraqi youths revel in Colorado |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_6503343
work=Denver Post |date=July 31, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

Private sector career

From 1993 to 1995, Rice was the manager of Dismas House, a halfway house for ex-convicts. In his first legislative campaign, Rice was criticized for his association with Dismas House founder Bob Sylvester, who was found guilty in 2000 of sexually abusing inmates. The incidents for which Sylvester was tried occurred after Rice left his employment at Dismas, and Rice testified on behalf of the prosecution during Sylvester's trial.cite news |author=Staff Report |title=Blake: Roy can't give up politics |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23972_5108165,00.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=November 1, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

Between 1994 and 2003, while in the Army Reserve, Rice worked in the private sector as a customer service supervisor and trainer with MCI, JDEdwards, and Wells Fargo Bank. From 2004 to 2005, Rice worked in government relations for the Colorado Department of Transportation. At the time of his first legislative campaign in 2006, Rice also worked as a self-employed management and training consultant,cite web |url=http://www.joericecolorado.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=33 |title=About Joe |accessdate=2008-01-11 |work=Citizens for Joe Rice] and was vice president of RIGOR Engineering Corporate Services, an consulting firm specializing in engineering project management.cite web |url=http://www.rigorengineering.com/capabilities.php |title=Capabilities |accessdate=2008-04-18 |work=Rigor Engineering(SM) p]

Mayor of Glendale

In 1994, Rice was elected to the Glendale, Colorado city council, running on a platform of shifting the small Denver enclave's business base away from adult-oriented businesses and towards a more "resident-family community." He was elected mayor in 1996. During his first term, Rice proposed new regulations on erotic dancers at Glendale nightclubs, garnering strong opposition from local business owners, who formed the "Glendale Tea Party" and successfully elected three members to the city council in 1998 in response to the new regulations. Running for re-election, Rice faced opposition from Tea Party member Mike Dunafon, who promoted accusations that Rice used racial slurs and denigrated African-American and Mexican citizens.cite news |first=Justin |last=Berton |title=That Doggone Glendale |url=http://www.westword.com/2000-03-02/news/that-doggone-glendale/
work=Westword |date=March 2, 2000 |accessdate=2008-01-12] Rice was also criticized for being absent from Glendale during six months of his term as mayor, while he attended U.S. Army National Guard command school at Fort Leavenworth. However, after an election that saw record campaign spending and record turnout for Glendale, Rice defeated Dunafon and was re-elected to a second term in 2000.cite news |author=Staff Report |title=Hall of Shame |url=http://westword.com/2000-12-28/news/hall-of-shame/full
work=Westword |date=December 28, 2000 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

As mayor, Rice touted his efforts to lower city property taxes, expand city parks and open space, and open the city's first pre-school and recreation center.cite web |url=http://www.joericecolorado.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=31 |title=Joe as Mayor of Glendale |accessdate=2008-01-11 |work=Citizens for Joe Rice] He served on the executive committee of the Denver Regional Council of Governments from 1995 to 2003, as vice-chair of the Denver Metro Mayors Caucus from 2001 to 2003, and received the John V. Christensen Award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments in 2004. In 2003, Rice resigned from his post as mayor during the last year of his second term after being called up to active military duty in Iraq.

Legislative career

2006 election

Republican Rep. Joe Stengel was term-limited in 2006 and could not stand for re-election to the Colorado House of Representatives from House District 38; both Rice and Republican Matt Dunn sought election to Stengel's house seat.cite news |first=Bob |last=Ewegen |title=GOP fights to regain Colorado House |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_4524830
work=Denver Post |date=October 20, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12] The race was a top target for the Colorado GOP, who unsuccessfully tried to keep the seat in Republican hands during a year where Republicans lost ground both nationally and in Colorado.cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Dems find selves in rare defense mode |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_4903629,00.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=August 9, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12]

During the campaign, Rice was criticized in attack ads for his support, as mayor of Glendale, of the use of Mexican-issued "matricula consular" cards as legal forms of identification for use by immigrants.cite news |first=Fernando |last=Quintero |title=Rice rips ads saying he's 'soft' on illegals |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_5088664,00.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=October 24, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12] cite news |first=Fernando |last=Quintero |title=Mexican ID cards caught in politics |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_5097494,00.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=October 27, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12] In his campaign, Rice outlined his top legislative priorities as public safety, economic security, and quality of life.cite web |url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11984&qa=2 |title=Joe Rice - Colorado - State House District 38 candidate (Campaign Q&A) |accessdate=2008-04-18 |format=html |work=RockyMountainNews.com ] Rice was regarded by both conservative and liberal observers as a moderate Democrat,cite news |first=Peter |last=Blake |title=Blake: Can passing bad bills help GOP?
url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/opinion_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23972_5407539,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=March 10, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] cite news |first=Matt |last=Ingwalson |title=I have a moment of terror about '06
url=http://coloradolib.com/2006/09/i-have-moment-of-terror-about-06.html |work=Coloradolib |date=September 27, 2006 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] and is a member of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.cite news |first=Joe |last=Rice |title=Keys to Affordable Housing
url=http://www.coloradodlc.org/affordablehousing.htm |work=Denver Post |date=April 9, 2001 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] cite press release | title=The Hyde Park Declaration: A Statement of Principles and a Policy Agenda for the 21st Century | date=August 1, 2000 | url=http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=1926&kaid=128&subid=174 | accessdate=2008-04-18 ]

Rice was endorsed by the "Denver Post"cite news |author=Editorial Board |title=Weighing Colorado legislative candidates |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_4448950
work=Denver Post |date=October 8, 2006 |accessdate=2008-01-12] and by both union groups (including the local chapter of the teacher's union Colorado Education Association, and the Colorado Association of Public Employees, a branch of the Service Employees International Union) and business interests (including the Colorado Subcontractors Association and the state Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry). He was also endorsed by
Colorado Conservation Voters and the Colorado Medical Society.cite web |url=http://www.joericecolorado.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid= |title=Endorsements |accessdate=2008-04-18 |work=Citizens for Joe Rice ]

Rice ultimately defeated Dunn, earning 53 percent of the vote, and was sworn into office on January 10, 2007.cite news |first=April M. |last=Washington |title=Aide replacing senator |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5243388,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=December 29, 2006 |accessdate=2008-04-06 ]

2007 legislative session

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Title=Rep.
Name=Rice
Year=2007
Bill Number 1=HB07-1148
Bill Number 2=HB07-1049
Bill Number 3=HB07-1263
Bill Number 4=HB07-1272
Bill Number 5=HB07-1274
Bill Number 6=HB07-1275
Bill Number 7=HB07-1285
Bill Number 8=HB07-1325
Bill Number 9=HB07-1351
Bill Number 10=HB07-1352
Bill Number 11=HB07-1364
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/4C98B13DD790ABD487257251007C7A02?Open&file=1148_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/38FDFEA2DFC15AE487257251007C7B6B?Open&file=1149_enr.pdf
Bill Link 3=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/E00A556F3622E3D98725726600035689?Open&file=1263_enr.pdf
Bill Link 4=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/73A939CE161F4A06872572640063E022?Open&file=1272_enr.pdf
Bill Link 5=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/4FCFFDFB6E2BCB3E872572640063DFC1?Open&file=1274_enr.pdf
Bill Link 6=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/66AFE33CC80A0F968725726600035628?Open&file=1275_enr.pdf
Bill Link 7=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/2790020C3185849487257274006CF988?Open&file=1285_enr.pdf
Bill Link 8=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/C3F243AFA4FFDBC1872572800073B7C9?Open&file=1325_ren.pdf
Bill Link 9=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/15EAD79E136C61AF8725729E0076DBA8?Open&file=1351_enr.pdf
Bill Link 10=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/0D2567930037B265872572990075601C?Open&file=1352_enr.pdf
Bill Link 11=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/406E9EA97B84E860872572AB007E6924?Open&file=1364_enr.pdf
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 3=Signed by Gov. Ritter
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=Passed house; Postponed indefinitely in Senate committee
Bill Status 9=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 10=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 11=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Title 1=Concerning a process to allow the registrations of multiple vehicles with common ownership to expire simultaneously.
Bill Title 2=Concerning voting by citizens residing overseas [...]
Bill Title 3=Concerning authority for the division of criminal justice to charge a fee for training [...]
Bill Title 4=Concerning [...] creating a cold case team in the Colorado Bureau of Investigation [...]
Bill Title 5=Concerning the creation of a commission for the visually impaired [...]
Bill Title 6=Concerning authorization for the Colorado National Guard [...] to receive property forfeited to the federal government.
Bill Title 7=Concerning the method for determining the timeliness of matters filed [..] under the "Colorado Employment Security Act."
Bill Title 8=Concerning an increase in the property tax exemption for business personal property [...]
Bill Title 9=Concerning the authority of a metropolitan district to provide specified business services.
Bill Title 10=Concerning the issuance of special license plates to members of the United States Armed Forces [...]
Bill Title 11=Concerning the authority of the Commissioner of Insurance to promulgate rules regarding life insurance for military personnel. In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Rice was vice-chairman of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and a member of the House Transportation and Energy 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]

During the 2007 legislative session, Rice sponsored 16 pieces of legislation, including 11 as the primary sponsor in the House of Representatives. Among the most prominent of his bills was a measure to set up a cold case unit within the Colorado Bureau of Investigationcite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Cold-case pursuits vs. death penalty |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_6126073
work=Denver Post |date=June 13, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] to investigate Colorado's 1200 unsolved homicides.cite news |author=Staff Report |title=Under the dome, 2/22 |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5277303
work=Denver Post |date=February 21, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] After passage, Gov. Ritter signed the bill into law. Rice also pursued legislation to cut taxes for businesses by raising the personal property tax exemption.cite news |first=Will |last=Shanley |title=Small firms' tax cut on tap |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_5429443
work=Denver Post |date=March 14, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] After having passed the state house unanimously, the measure died in a Senate committee.

Rice worked with fellow military officer and state senator Steve Ward on several pieces of legislation during his first term in the legislature. Rice sponsored legislation to allow military personnel serving overseas to apply for absentee ballots electronically; Ward was the Senate sponsor.cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Veterans support absentee ballot bill
url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/Feb/07/veterans-support-absentee-ballot-bill/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=February 7, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] Following the 2007 session, Rice and Ward called for Colorado to divest state pension funds from companies doing business in Iran.cite news |first=April M. |last=Washington |title=2 legislators want pension funds to cut ties to Iran
url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/12/2-legislators-want-pension-funds-to-cut-ties-to/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=December 12, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ]

Rice was a key player during House debate on a resolution critical of the ongoing War in Iraq; he supported amendments to the resolution to remove specific criticism of the 2007 troop surge, but supported the final compromise version, which called for eventual withdrawal from Iraq and passed on a party-line vote.cite news |author=Associated Press |title=House opposes Iraq surge
url=http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_5601932 |work=Denver Post |date=April 5, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] cite news |first=Alan |last=Gathright |title=House opposes Iraq surge
url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/apr/06/house-passes-war-resolution/?printer=1/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=April 6, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ]

Rice was also the house sponsor of legislation introduced in the Colorado State Senate to make driving without a seat belt a primary offense;cite news |first=April M. |last=Washington |title=Seat-belt crackdown sought |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5322556,00.html
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=February 2, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] the measure narrowly failed in the House despite Rice's objections during a heated debate that defeating the bill would "kill kids."cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=House kills seat belt bill after fiery debate
url=http://www.gazette.com/onset?id=21185&template=article.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=April 13, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ] cite news |first=Alan |last=Gathright |title=Effort to stiffen seat-belt law dies again
url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5480896,00.html |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=April 12, 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 ]

For his voting record during the 2007 legislative session, Rice earned a 4% rating from the fiscally conservative Colorado Union of Taxpayerscite web |url=http://www.coloradotaxpayer.org/New/CUT-Brochure-2007.pdf |title=CUT Rates the Colorado Leigslature - Sixty-seventh General Assembly, 2007 Report |accessdate=2008-04-18 |work=Colorado Union of Taxpayers ] and a 100% rating from the environmentally-oriented Colorado Conservation Voters;cite web |url=http://www.coloradoconservationvoters.org/documents/Scorecard07_002.pdf |title=Colorado Legislative Conservation Scorecard 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-18 |work=Colorado Conservation Voters ] both ratings placed him at opposite end of the Democratic caucus from average Republican ratings.

Following the regular session, Rice served on the legislature's Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commissioncite 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 ] and the interim Transportation Legislation Review Committee.cite web |url=http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/2007/comsched/07TLRCSched.htm |title=Transportation Legislation Review Committee 2007 |accessdate=2008-04-27 |work=Colorado Legislative Council ]

2008 legislative session

At the start of the 2008 legislature year, Rice was still in Iraq on his third tour of duty. His absence was acknowledged by lawmakers during their opening speeches,cite news |first=Colleen |last=Slevin |title=Peter Groff elected first black president of Colorado Senate |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7922659
work=Denver Post |date=January 9, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-12] his seat was decorated with yellow ribbons, and his children were invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance on the first day of the session.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Curtain rises on 2008 legislature |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7926208
work=Denver Post |date=January 10, 2008 |accessdate=2008-01-12] During his time in Iraq, Rice met with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, and Congressional candidate Jared Polis during their trips to the country,cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Ritter trip to Iraq a secret |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7704988
work=Denver Post |date=December 13, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] cite news |first=Anne C. |last=Mulkern |title=Perlmutter heading to Iraq |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7581932
work=Denver Post |date=November 28, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Polis takes to Web with observations on journey to Iraq |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/22/polis-takes-to-web-with-observations-on-journey/
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=November 22, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] and also met with U.S. Marine and Colorado state senator Steve Ward, who was stationed in Iraq at the same time.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Littleton legislator heads to Iraq for 3rd tour of duty as Army officer |url=http://www.denverpost.com//ci_7252953
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=October 31, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-12] Rice returned to the legislature on January 28, 2008, and was received with a standing ovation during the morning roll call.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Rice cheered on House return |url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8100810
work=Denver Post |date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-15] cite news |first=Todd |last=Hartman |title=Legislator saw progress, but . . . |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/29/lt-col-rice-back-house/
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=January 29, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-15]

Infobox Colorado Legislation
Title=Rep.
Name=Rice
Year=2008
Bill Number 1=HB08-1045
Bill Number 2=HB08-1225
Bill Number 3=HB08-1249
Bill Number 4=HB08-1252
Bill Number 5=HB08-1358
Bill Number 6=HB08-1413
Bill Link 1=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/987CA2D7FBE0D600872573940062B182?Open&file=1045_enr.pdf
Bill Link 2=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/C06C0A64F185D86F872573680053EFD7?Open&file=1225_enr.pdf
Bill Link 3=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/6B0AA59282A2E4B7872573940062B1A0?Open&file=1249_enr.pdf
Bill Link 4=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/676553E59D3DACB9872573680054EED8?Open&file=1252_enr.pdf
Bill Link 5=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/8B4A1B58FDB545C0872573680053EFFB?Open&file=1358_enr.pdf
Bill Link 6=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/F9FA79E443FA361C872573D1006E268C?Open&file=1413_01.pdf
Bill Status 1=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 2=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 3=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 4=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 5=Signed by Gov. Ritter
Bill Status 6=Postponed indefinitely in House committee
Bill Title 1=Concerning limitations on special license plates that evidence the registration of motor vehicles.
Bill Title 2=Concerning an increase in the property tax exemption for business personal property.
Bill Title 3=Concerning the emergency telephone services charge.
Bill Title 4=Concerning tuition assistance for a member of the Colorado National Guard enrolled in a program in homeland security.
Bill Title 5=Concerning sales tax relating to a group of parents and teachers of public school students.
Bill Title 6=Concerning a reduction in taxation of fully depreciated business personal property.In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Rice sits on the House Transportation and Energy Committee, and is vice-chairman of the House Business Affairs and Labor 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] During the session, Rice has explored introducing legislation to increase vehicle registration fees in order boost transportation funding,cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Ritter urges increased road funding |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/transportation_32580___article.html/ritter_year.html
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=January 31, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-15] and plans on introducing legislation to make aggravated rape of a child under 12 a capital crime, eligible for the death penalty.cite news |first=Chris |last=Barge |title=Execution for child rape? |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/19/bill-adds-child-rape-to-capital-crime-list/
work=Rocky Mountain News |date=February 19, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-23 ] Rice also introduced legislation to exempt some school fundraisers from sales tax,cite news |first=Jenel |last=Stelton-Holtmeier |title=Bake-sale tax under fire |url=http://origin.denverpost.com/news/ci_8513924
work=Denver Post |date=March 9, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ] a measure which he placed on hold pending consideration of a broader measure by Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg.cite news |first=K.C. |last=Mason |title=Bake sale bill alive at Capitol |url=http://www.journal-advocate.com/articles/2008/04/11/news/local_news/local2.txt |work=Sterling Journal-Advocate |date=April 11, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-11 ]

Rice re-introduced a bill that had passed the House but failed in the Senate the previous year to raise the business personal property tax exemption, after the measure was endorsed by Gov. Ritter as part of his economic development platform.cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Small businesses may get tax relief |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/tax_33338___article.html/bill_businesses.html
work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=February 19, 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-23 ] The legislation, which raised the exemption from $2,500 to $7,000, was ultimately passed by the legislature and signed into law.cite press release |title=New Laws To Benefit Businesses and Consumers - Aug. 5 |date=July 31, 2008 |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/07/new-laws-to-benefit-businesses-and-consumers---aug-5.html |accessdate=2008-08-09 ]

Rice also hoped to sponsor legislation supported by Ritter to raise vehicle registration fees in order to fund road and bridge repairs, but failed to find a suitable cosponsor for the bill.cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Brown |title=Governor drops car-fee hot potato |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_8454308
work=Denver Post |date=March 5, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] Late in the session, though, Rice signed on as House sponsor on a measure to raise registration and rental fees to create trust funds for transportation;cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Leib |title=Bridge plan ups car tags $25 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9050949 |work=Denver Post |date=April 25, 2008 |accessdate=2008-04-25 ] the measure was later dropped in favor of a bipartisan study committee between legislative sessions.cite news |first=Jeffrey |last=Leib |title=Car fees killed at Capitol |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9131881 |work=Denver Post |date=May 2, 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-02 ]

In March 2008, Rice received the Bridge Builders Award from the Colorado Contractors Association for his work on transportation issues.cite press release | title=Rep. Rice Receives a Bridge Builder Award | publisher=Colorado House Democrats | date=March 6, 2008 | url=http://cohousedems.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/rep-rice-receiv.html | accessdate=2008-03-02 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.votejoerice.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/hou38.htm Colorado General Assembly profile]
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=80563 2006] campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.Org
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=65119 Project Vote Smart profile]
* [http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11984&qa=1 Rocky Mountain News profile]