A legislative session billed as odd, bland and boring by a number of political veterans is half over, but some of the fiercest battles - over the budget, for instance - have yet to be fought.

The biggest fight of all could happen Wednesday, when a Senate committee debates a Democratic resolution on the Iraq war that Republicans say will undermine the morale of the troops and divide the legislature just as it begins work on the state and school budgets.

Sunday marked the start of the second half of the session, which must end by May 9.

"It's been an odd session, quiet," said House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

A number of regulars believe the passage of Amendment 41 - which banned gifts to lawmakers and ended the long-standing practice of legislative breakfasts and lunches - has made the Capitol less fun.

Late last week legislative leaders delivered assessments of the session so far. Their remarks bore a striking resemblance to midway evaluations in previous years:

The majority party boasted it has made incredible progress on issues that Coloradans care about.

The minority party wrung its hands, lamenting the damage done by the other side of the aisle.

What is different this session is that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter replaced Republican Gov. Bill Owens on Jan. 9.

Ritter played a key role in the first bit of legislative drama: House Bill 1072. What Democrats thought was a routine labor union bill blew up. Businesses condemned it. Senate Republicans filibustered it.

Ritter unexpectedly vetoed it, to the delight - and dismay - of Republicans. The GOP had hoped for hefty donations from business interests if Ritter signed the measure.

"The union bill was a watershed," crowed Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield.

"The labor bill was just one day in a 120-day session," countered Senate President Pro Tem Peter Groff, D-Denver, noting that previous governors have vetoed their own party's bills.

Democratic leaders in the legislature touted the gains they have made in education, health care, renewable energy and other topics.

Groff said Democrats also are on the road to cracking down on mortgage fraud and foreclosure issues crippling the state.

But Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, said he's not sure what Democrats have achieved since they took control of the legislature in a shocker in 2004.

Stay tuned for the second half.

Halftime

Each year the Colorado Legislature must begin no later than the second Wednesday in January and must end 120 days later. Sunday marked the start of the second half of the session. Here's a look at life under the Gold Dome so far:

REGIME CHANGE

After the 2006 election, Democrats remain in control of the House and the Senate, but the biggest change is on what's known as "the first floor."

When Gov. Bill Ritter was sworn into office Jan. 9 - succeeding Republican Bill Owens - it marked the first time since 1962 that Democrats have controlled the Capitol.

THE 'VOW' FACTOR

"Fulfilling the Colorado Promise is not something we can do overnight, not something we can do in a single legislative session, not even something we can do in a four-year term. It's a journey."

Ritter, in his first state of the state speech, on Jan. 11.

"That wasn't in the Colorado Promise."

Republicans, every time Democrats propose something they don't like

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS

585 Number of bills lawmakers had introduced last year by midpoint.

564 Number of bills that lawmakers have introduced so far this year.

CHIPS AHOY!

A Brighton lawmaker killed her own bill to ban forced microchip implantation in humans after it became the butt of jokes and editorial criticism, but it turns out 17 other states were considering such legislation.

Rep. Mary Hodge, a Democrat, carried it at the request of the Adams County library director, who feared forced microchipping could be used in the federal government's war on terror.

THE UNION LABEL

Candidate Ritter told union members on the campaign trail that he would support legislation getting rid of a decades-old a provision requiring a workplace to hold a second, supermajority election before it becomes a union shop.

But Governor Ritter vetoed the bill after it unexpectedly blew up and business fiercely fought it.

Senate Republicans led a filibuster against House Bill 1072. They knew they didn't have the votes to overturn it, but they wanted to draw attention to the fight:

8 hours the filibuster lasted; pizza was brought in as the hours passed

73 amendments offered by Republicans, down from the 300 they drafted

PIZZA IMPAIRED?

epublicans crowed about their role in defeating HB 1072, but what they don't mention is they mistakenly tried to kill their own lawmaker's bill in the process.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, got up to talk about why the bill was bad. It turned out the Senate at the time was debating another measure, by Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton.

FEELING THE LOVE

The controversial bills and the splits between Republicans and Democrats get plenty of ink, but much of the work the legislature has done so far is bi-partisan. Just look at some votes in the House:

Issue   Vote

Rainy Day fund   64-1

Generic drugs   57-7

Education assessments   62-0

NO SOUP FOR YOU

An ethics ban that voters approved last fall means no more freebies for lawmakers, turning the Capitol cafeteria into the new hot meeting place.

Lawmakers are divided over how to implement Amendment 41. The battle is coming in Part II of the session.

JARED'S LAW

"Amendment 41 was poorly worded. And I deeply regret that, and that its poor wording gave the lobbyists a chance to spread fear."

Jared Polis,the millionare Democrat who helped put the measure on the ballot

"Will there still be toilet paper on the Capitol premises?"

Rep. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, after learning the legislature was canceling free legislative breakfasts because of Amendment 41

TAXI!

Normally there's a long line of cabs parked at Denver International Airport, waiting to whisk travelers away. Not March 1.

That's because hundreds of cabbies, many of them African immigrants, showed up at the Capitol to testify on a bill that would lift restrictions of new cab companies.

THE BUCK STOPPED . . . THERE

Former Gov. Bill Owens left for the private sector, but controversial bonuses and vacation and sick leave payouts paid to his top appointees kept his name in the news.

$7,051 Largest bonus given, to Owens' chief of staff, Bob Lee.

CHAMPAGNE, ANYONE?

"If you introduce this, I'm going to come uncorked. Dear God, have you talked to these soldiers' parents? They feel these resolutions are undermining their effort in the war."

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, warning Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, against introducing a resolution opposing any troop buildup in Iraq

March 1 Date resolution was introduced

2020 VISION

By 2020, the governor's goal is to have state utilities generate 20 percent of their electricity from sun, wind, plants and animal waste. That measure, House Bill 1281, is one of about a dozen bills aimed at turning Colorado into the green energy capital of the nation.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327

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