Colorado Public Radio: There’s a bit of an unspoken rhythm to the Colorado legislature: after lawmakers gavel in and get through all the big speeches and bill introductions, things get pretty quiet for a bit, before the session ramps up to full speed.
It’s not that nothing is happening at the Capitol. It’s that lawmakers spend the first week — or more — in what are called SMART Act hearings, sitting through presentations from all the various state departments and agencies their committees oversee.
The hearings are an effort to make government more accountable and transparent, but they take up precious time during the limited legislative session, and although most lawmakers in both parties say they support the overall effort, their views are more mixed when it comes to whether the hearings are effective, and they have plenty of ideas on how to improve the process.
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