2006 Colchester Borough Council election, Issues
A major issue at the election was the relocation of the bus station to a temporary site, while a new bus station was being built at a new shopping centre. Meanwhile, a Visual Arts Facility (VAF) was being built on the old bus station site. 6 independents stood at the election as part of a Save Our Bus Station Campaign opposing the move, with the Labour party also opposing the building of the VAF on the old bus station site. However the Conservatives said the temporary bus station site would be better than the old site.


2006 Colchester Borough Council election, Issues
Both the Liberal Democrats and Greens called for more recycling, while the Liberal Democrat and Labour parties called for action on street cleaning. The Conservatives meanwhile defending their record in power, pointing to a number of new projects being started including a planned new community stadium.


2006 Colchester Borough Council election, Election result
The Conservatives made a net gain of 2 seats to have half of the seats on the council with 30 councillors, just falling short of winning a majority. Conservative gains included defeating the Liberal Democrat group leader Colin Sykes, with the Liberal Democrats falling to 21 seats. Labour remained on 7 seats after holding the only seat they had been defending, but polled less than the Greens in a number of wards. Overall turnout at the election was 36.4%.


2006 Colgate Raiders football team
The 2006 Colgate Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Colgate University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Colgate tied for fourth in the Patriot League.


2006 Colgate Raiders football team
In its 11th season under head coach Dick Biddle, the team compiled a 4–7 record. Geoff Bean, Mike Saraceno and Jake Sulovski were the team captains.


2006 Colgate Raiders football team
The Raiders outscored opponents 246 to 243. Their 3–3 conference record tied for fourth in the seven-team Patriot League standings.


2006 Colgate Raiders football team
The team played its home games at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, New York.


2006 Colima state election
A local election was scheduled to be held in the Mexican state of Colima on Sunday, July 2, 2006. Voters will go to the polls to elect, on the local level:


2006 College Baseball All-America Team
An All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not compete together as a unit, the term is used in U.S. team sports to refer to players who are selected by members of the national media. Walter Camp selected the first All-America team in the early days of American football in 1889.


2006 College Baseball All-America Team
The NCAA recognizes four different All-America selectors for the 2006 college baseball season: the American Baseball Coaches Association (since 1947), Baseball America (since 1981), Collegiate Baseball (since 1991), and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (since 2001).


2006 College Football All-America Team
The 2006 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN, College Football News, Rivals.com, and Scout.com.


2006 College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to such a list selected by football pioneer Walter Camp in the 1890s. The NCAA officially recognizes All-Americans selected by the AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF to determine Consensus All-Americans.


2006 College Football All-America Team
Nineteen players were recognized as consensus All-Americans for 2006, 8 of them unanimously. Unanimous selections are followed by an asterisk (*)


2006 Collingwood Football Club season
This article covers the 2006 season of the Collingwood Football Club AFL team.


2006 Collingwood Football Club season, Playing List 2006
Nathan Buckley will be the 2006 captain, this being his seventh season as the skipper of the Pies. Collingwood had delisted several players last season, including Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin, and traded Richard Cole to Essendon. They had picked up several young players, including priority/first round draftees Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury in the 2005 NAB Draft. With the high number of senior players departed in 2005, both Ben Davies and David Fanning got elevated to the Senior List.


2006 Collingwood Football Club season, 2006 Fixtures
With the 2006 Commonwealth Games being hosted by Melbourne, Australia, The M.C.G. will be the main venue, dis-allowing games for AFL Football. Collingwood plays its first three games at the Telstra Dome, before being playing the traditional Anzac Day clash against Essendon in what will be the return to the MCG, as the Games will have been concluded. This is fixtured, however, the venue may not be ready for hosting an AFL match in time.


2006 Collingwood Football Club season, 2006 Fixtures
Collingwood travels 4 times, twice to Adelaide, in a 3-week period late in the season. They also travel to Perth and Sydney during the season.


2006 Cologne Centurions season
The 2006 Cologne Centurions season was the third season for the franchise in the NFL Europe League (NFLEL). The team was led by head coach David Duggan in his first year, and played its home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany. They finished the regular season in fourth place with a record of four wins and six losses.


2006 Cologne Centurions season, Honors
After the completion of the regular season, the All-NFL Europe League team was selected by the NFLEL coaching staffs, members of a media panel and fans voting online at NFLEurope.com. Overall, Cologne had four players selected. The selections were:


2006 Cologne Centurions season, Honors
Additionally, Gardent was named co-defensive MVP, sharing the award with Amsterdam Admirals' defensive tackle Tony Brown. The French, who was in his fourth season in the NFLEL and second with Cologne, became the first national player to win MVP honors after leading the league with 70 tackles.


2006 Colombian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Colombia on March 12, 2006 to elect members of the Senate and Chamber of Representatives. Presidential primaries were also held for the Liberal Party and the Alternative Democratic Pole prior to the upcoming presidential elections in May.


2006 Colombian parliamentary election, Senate
In the two-seat indigenous constituency, more blank votes were cast than votes for parties, resulting in a re-run being required. This took place with the same parties (AICO and ASI) but difference candidates.


2006 Colombian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Colombia on 28 May 2006. Álvaro Uribe was re-elected as President for another four-year term, starting on 7 August 2006. Uribe obtained 62.35% of the vote, surpassing the 50% needed to avoid a runoff against the second-placed candidate.


2006 Colombian presidential election
Following a constitutional amendment enacted by the government, this was the first occasion in over 100 years that a Colombian president was eligible for immediate re-election.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Presidential Elections
Traditionally, Colombian politics have been dominated by two major political parties: the Colombian Conservative Party and the Colombian Liberal Party. However, 2002 presidential candidate Álvaro Uribe broke with precedent by splintering from the Liberal Party and campaigning as an independent under the unrecognized party, Colombia First. Due in part to declining public support for dialogue with FARC following president Andrés Pastrana Arango's failed ceasefire agreement, Uribe gained an edge over his liberal opponent, Horacio Serpa.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Presidential Elections
Colombia is a presidential republic wherein a president is elected by absolute majority vote in one or two rounds. Although the government of Colombia is separated into legislative, judicial, and executive branches, the President of Colombia serves as both the nation's head of state and head of government (as per the American model). Before 2005 and after a congressional vote in 2015, the president is prohibited from seeking reelection; however, a constitutional reform backed by incumbent president Álvaro Uribe suspended the term limit, allowing him to run for reelection in 2006.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Paramilitary Violence and Government Collusion
Uribe's 2002 inauguration coincided with a fatal missile attack by FARC on the Casa de Nariño and surrounding Bogotá, leaving 13 dead. The president used the attack as pretext to enact a state of emergency, expanding the power of the military and establishing "special combat zones" around the country. Aside from colluding with right-wing paramilitary groups and receiving military assistance from the United States, Uribe restricted the freedom of the foreign press; in 2004, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Colombia as the second most dangerous country for the media in the world (after Algeria).


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Paramilitary Violence and Government Collusion
Starting in 2003, Uribe began extending offers of amnesty to members of the paramilitary coalition UAC in an effort to demobilize the group. His offer of short-term prison sentences for human rights violators earned rebukes from both the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. This effort for demobilization have been widely considered a failure. Despite the dissolution of the UAC, the emergence of new right wing paramilitary groups, known collectively as The Black Eagles, has resulted in the continuation of atrocities against civilians and human rights workers (including torture, rape, extortion, and murder) in what has been described as a recycling of paramilitarism.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Paramilitary Violence and Government Collusion
Cooperation between the Government of Colombia, the United States, and anti leftist paramilitaries had been occurring since 1962, primarily to combat FARC and the National Liberation Army (see Plan LAZO, Alianza Americana Anticomunista, Peasant Self-Defenders of Córdoba and Urabá, Los Pepes, and CONVIVIR). In many cases, these connections directly linked government officials to extreme paramilitary violence; in the 1997 Mapiripán Massacre dozens of civilians were mutilated by UAC paramilitaries with the cooperation of the National Army of Colombia through omission (specifically under the orders of U.S. trained Colonel Lino Sánchez). The military was also implicated in participating in and assisting paramilitaries in the 2001 Alto Naya massacre and the 2003 Betoyes Massacre, in the latter instance disguising themselves as members of the UAC.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Paramilitary Violence and Government Collusion, Colombia Parapolitics Scandal
On November 9, 2006, the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia ordered the arrest of three congressmen accused of collaborating with the UAC, with dozens more to follow (including many of Uribe's allies and his cousin Mario Uribe Escobar). To date, 37 lawmakers and 5 governors have been arrested in connection to the Colombian parapolitics scandal (dubbed "parauribismo" by Jorge Enrique Robledo of the Alternative Democratic Pole in reference to the connection between parapolismo and supporters of Uribe).


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Paramilitary Violence and Government Collusion, Plan Colombia
The original Plan Colombia was proposed by president Andrés Pastrana Arango in 1999 as a "Marshall Plan for Colombia", suggesting increased developmental investment by developed countries to offer peasants an alternative means of income to coca planting. Rather than fumigation or increased military aid, Pastrana proposed the manual eradication of crops as more effective. U.S. president Bill Clinton offered to financially support the plan, the result of which was the plan's total revision by the United States. The final version of the plan was written entirely in English (not to be translated into Spanish until months after it had taken effect).


2006 Colombian presidential election, Background, Corruption and Freedom
In 2006, Freedom House upgraded Colombia's political rights and civil liberties ratings from 4 to 3, due to improving citizen security, increasing freedom of the press, and declining perceptions of government corruption. Despite this, the rise of press lawsuits as an alternative form of intimidation has been cited as a threat to free journalism in the country.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent)
Álvaro Uribe was notable for his hardline stance against leftist insurgent groups, initially advocating against any concessions and negotiations with groups such as FARC, and for greater military action, and economic and infrastructure development. His actions successfully weakened and fought back the leftist rebel groups, decreasing their territory and scope of control as well as removing their ability to govern great areas of land and even some urban areas. He controversially had negotiated agreements and passed laws granting amnesty to demobilized paramilitary groups, and was referred to by some opponents as "authoritarian." However, his ability to improve the security and economic situation of the country made him overall popular.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Political Career and Allegations
Having earned a law degree from Universidad de Antioquia and a postgraduate degree in Management and Administration from Harvard university, Uribe became a civil servant by the age of 24. He was appointed Secretary General of the Labor Ministry by 1977–8. Afterwards Uribe lead the Civil Aviation Ministry from 1980–2, and was elected to be the mayor and later a city council member of Medellin from 1982–6. He was elected Senator from 1986–1990, under which he won the Star Senator, Senator with the Best Programs and Best Senator awards.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Political Career and Allegations
From 1995-7 Uribe was elected governor of Antioquia. During his tenure, he developed a method of civil participation called the Community State. His actions led to around a third of government jobs and official vehicle use to be cut, the funding allocated instead to educating 103,000 new students. Uribe's decisions lead to 939 km of new roads to be paved, as well as existing highways to be repaired. Kidnappings dropped 60% under his tenure. From 1998–1999, Uribe was an associate professor at Oxford University. Up until this point, Uribe ran and served as elected officials under the Liberal Party.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Political Career and Allegations
The books The Lord of Shadows by Newsweek journalist, Joseph Contreras, and The Horsemen of Cocaine, by Fernando Garavito and Fabio Castillo, accuse Uribe of having granted known drug traffickers licences to fly when working in the Civil Aviation Ministry. The United States State Department in a 1991 report referred to Uribe as "Pablo Escobar’s close friend" as well as linked Uribe's father, Alberto Uribe to drug trafficking groups and paramilitaries. Alberto, Álvero's father was a known friend of Pablo Escobar and mafia boss Fabio Ochoa.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Political Career and Allegations
In 1983, Alberto was assassinated by FARC rebels at his estate, after which Alvaro sold off the property and dedicated himself to politics. However, Mary Beth Long, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics, in a 2004 opinion letter to the New York Times claimed that allegations of links between Alvaro and the Medellin drug cartel or Pablo Escobar from 1991 were never substantiated.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Political Career and Allegations
As governor of Antioquia, Uribe held known contacts with the paramilitary group the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), the goal of which was fighting leftist insurgents. His Community State plan involved arming and involving civilians in efforts against rebel groups, a strategy largely credited with drastically reducing kidnapping rates. At the same time, the national program CONVIVIR, which Uribe supported and enacted in his state, gained controversy for creating anti-insurgency defense forces from known past paramilitaries who had committed atrocities against civilians. Several groups under CONVIVIR would become illegal paramilitary "self-defense" forces.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
Uribe was elected the presidency on the first round in 2002, the first presidential candidate in Colombia's history to do so. Uribe campaigned on a platform of providing no concessions to insurgents and heavier use of military force. He ran as an independent, separating himself from the Liberal Party due to their support for peace negotiations with FARC. This was a turn away from his predecessor's (Andres Pastrana) strategy, which had negotiated a peace deal that had allowed for a demilitarized zone the leftist FARC rebels had used for hiding hostages, drug trafficking and planning military campaigns in the rest of the country.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
Immediately upon becoming president Uribe decreed a state of emergency, allowing him to restrict the foreign press and issued special decrees, as well as granting the military license to restrict civilian movement and conduct searches without warrant in 27 districts called "special combat zones." The Constitutional Court would judge these actions to be unconstitutional the next year. Also upon inauguration, Uribe and the AUC (the right wing paramilitary group) declared an indefinite truce conditioned on 10,000 troops being demobilized and 1,500 members weapons being handed over.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
In 2003, Uribe granted amnesty to paramilitaries that laid down their weapons, meaning those guilty of atrocities would be allowed lessened jail times or payment of reparations instead of imprisonment, provoking 850 members of a right wing paramilitary group responsible for bloody massacres lay down their arms. A public referendum voted against Uribe's plan to freeze government spending to pay for the anti-guerrilla, anti-corruption, and government efficiency efforts, but the referendum held to allow this votes against his attempts.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
In 2004, Uribe announced a $7 billion—dollar initiative called "Phase II" aimed at fighting crime, insurgents and paramilitary groups as well as strengthening institutions, invigorating the economy, and building infrastructure. Retreating from his hardline stance against right-wing paramilitaries by attempting, Uribe attempted to integrate the AUC into the political system, even after revelations of paramilitary infiltration into the government surface. At this point, 3000 paramilitary troops are demobilized, but the United States, opposition leaders, and Human Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, criticize Uribe's bargaining strategy and amnesty. Critics also condemn the growing deficit due to the intensified military actions as well as the power of the paramilitary groups in the country. In December, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional reform allowing for presidents to be reelected.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
Running up to the election, due to increased human rights efforts, the military received the highest approval ratings in the country. By this point, the National Liberation Army (ELN), a leftist insurgent group, was almost entirely defeated, the FARC was weakened and limited to smaller territory outside of urban areas. The economy was growing and drug crop cultivation was dropping. However, the Justice and Peace Law, aimed at demobilization and peace, sparked great controversy.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), First Term As President
Opponents criticized that the law did not require past militants confess and cooperate with authorities, authorities were not given enough time to investigate crimes, and that paramilitary groups would not be fully dismantled. Furthermore, the "Democratic Security" strategy had involved the military engaging in controversial strategies, such as mass-capturing individuals in territories run by militias. Nonetheless, Uribe finished his first term with around 70% approval rating.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Positions
Uribe supported the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, and wanted to create more such agreements with the European Union and Central America as well as attract more direct investment from the rest of the world. He supported further expanding state control to increase national security, trust in the police, and prosecution of crimes. He wished to subsidize and allocate land to those displaced by conflict. Despite not supporting gay marriage, he supported their right to social security benefits and inheritance.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Álvaro Uribe Vélez (Incumbent), Positions
Uribe was a lifelong member of the Liberal Party—even participating in the Liberal Youth and the Liberal militants before his political career began—until 2002 election when he split from the party due to its support of peace talks with the FARC. In this election, Uribe had the support of the Conservative Party (which had supported him and not run its own candidate in 2002 as well). The parties Radical Change, Team Wings Colombia, Citizen Convergence, Democratic Colombia and Colombia Viva also supported Uribe.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Political Career and Philosophy
Carlos Gaviria Díaz was a Harvard educated lawyer and professor of 30 years from University of Antioquia, where he earned his doctorate, a senator from 2002-2006 and the first president of the Constitutional Court.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Political Career and Philosophy
Gaviria started his career in 1961 as a judge and professor, focusing on human rights. In 1980, he was the vice-president of the Regional Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Antioquia. In 1989, Gaviria returned from a two-year exile in Argentina caused by the assassination of human rights advocates on his committee. He served a magistrate of the Constitutional Court in 1993, becoming president of the court in 1996, where he distinguished himself for his focus on human rights. His judicial decisions helped to decriminalize individuals possessing drugs up to a single dosage.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Political Career and Philosophy
When his term ended in 2001, he joined the Social and Political Front (a group of parties including the Communist Party, Trade Unionists and the Patriotic Union), of which he was elected as the sole senator by proportional representation rules. As a senator he opposed Uribe's attempts to allow for re-election. Eventually he helped create the Alternative Democratic Pole, which successfully joined many of the leftist and liberal parties under one group.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Political Career and Philosophy
Gaviria's political philosophy centered on the autonomy, dignity, and individual freedoms of citizens, so long as one's choiced did not interfere with others’. A consequence of this philosophy was the belief that poverty and lack of public debate prevented individuals from truly being able to govern their lives and prevented Colombia from being a true democracy.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
As senator and throughout the campaign, Gaviria promoted redistribution policies that lead to more material equality, and fairer treatment of marginalized groups such as LGBT, indigenous, female, and Afro-Colombians. He advocated for peace initiatives that worked through strengthening employment, cultural development, and education as well as through negotiated peace talks with rebel groups. In congress he fought president Uribe on tax reform, re-election, and policies seen as redistributive to the rich.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
Several controversies arose between Gaviria and Uribe during the campaign. First is the release of a report that Gaviria had the largest pension of any government official. Many facts underlying in this claim were proven to be incorrect, mainly that Gaviria did not receive a pension being an acting senator, that the program alleged to give him this pension was also not the pension program he would be under as a former magistrate and that the peso amount his pension would be does not align with the claim from the report.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
Gaviria and the Alternative Democratic Pole accused Uribe of releasing false and purposefully malicious information to attack him, calling the allegations "actions of a dirty war" by Uribe's campaign. Later, Uribe called Gaviria a "communist in disguise"  who will hand Colombia to the FARC, leading Gaviria to denounce these words and strategy of campaigning. Gaviria unapologetically called himself a pure liberal and claimed he will not change his positions of negotiating peace with the FARC as well as decriminalizing abortion, gay marriage, and possession of a personal dose of drugs.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
Amid these controversies, American academics, journalists and foreign policy experts, including Noam Chomsky signed a letter to president Uribe asking him to denounce the AUC's assassination threats to Gaviria as well as apologize for calling Gaviria a communist in disguise, claiming that the Colombian government was failing to provide necessary guarantees (such as safety) to candidates.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
He campaigned on the jointed issues in the slogan "Construyamos democracia, no más desigualdad" ("Let’s build democracy, no more inequality") His emphasis on peace meant not only an end to the civil conflicts but further than that the development of an economy, culture, and societal structure that fully allowed for lasting peace and democracy.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Campaigning and Positions
Not supporting the FTA because he claimed it benefits United States interests over Colombia (for example by allowing US subsidies of agricultural products) and hurt the Colombian education and health sectors of the economy, Gaviria instead focused his economic ideas on developing national industry by supporting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives and community groups, and developing the internal market.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Horacio Serpa Uribe, Political career
Horacio Serpa Uribe was elected to the House in 1974 as a Liberal, having been in many judicial and local political positions since 1966. As a congressman, he co-founded the Autonomous Liberal Left Front (FILA) and became the top party authority in the Magdalena Medio region. As a representative he served as the president of the Commission of Accusations.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Horacio Serpa Uribe, Political career
Elected to Senate in 1986 also under the Liberal Party. From 1988–1996, he was appointed to positions Procurator and Minister of Government under president Virgilio Barco, co-president of the National Constituent Assembly, peace negotiator in eventually failed talks with the EPL, and Co-President of the National Constituent Assembly under president César Gaviria, as well as Minister of Government under president Ernesto Samper. In this last position, he transformed the Ministry of Government into the Ministry of the Interior. He had served on both Barco and Samper's campaigns. Sometimes between these positions he would be elected and serve as senator.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Horacio Serpa Uribe, Political career
In the "Process 8,000" scandal in which it was revealed Samper's allies paid money to the Cali Cartel to support his election, Serpa was one of Samper's staunchest defender, claiming the president had no knowledge of the incidents. He convinced the senate not to indict Samper, and was not indicted for any crimes himself.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Horacio Serpa Uribe, Political career
In 1998, he ran for president and won the Liberal Party's nomination. Despite a movement of academics and journalists against him, he won the first round, though lost the second to conservative Andres Pastrana, a candidate many in the liberal party supported to distance themselves from the previous scandal. In 2002, he ran for president again and despite leading in the polls, he lost when Uribe won in the first round. Uribe named him ambassador to the OAS, which he served as from 2002–2004. In 2005, he became the Vice President of the Socialist International. In 2005, he attempted to unify the Liberal Party against allowing re-election by supporting Cesar Gaviria as director of the party, and he once again was nominated by the party as the Liberal presidential candidate.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Horacio Serpa Uribe, Positions
Serpa did not support the FTA, as well as made clear his support of minority rights. He committed to creating a humanitarian agreement with rebels to reunite families and communities, as well as did not support Uribe's extradition of rebels and paramilitary officers in the middle negotiating with the government. He claimed that the figures stating the number of reintegrated paramilitary officers are exaggerated and promised if the economic conditions continue to improve he would double the minimum wage by the end of his term.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Antanas Mockus Sivickas
Having earned a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy and been Lector of the National University, Antanas Mockus Sivickas became mayor of Bogotá, for two nonconsecutive terms. Mockus is notable for privatizing the Telecommunications Company of Bogotá, prohibiting the use of gunpowder, and repeatedly working to change the culture through symbolic acts. As mayor, he gained much notoriety and publicity for the symbolic acts he took to change society and behavior, such as making a commercial of him taking a shower and turning off the water when using soap during a drought.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Antanas Mockus Sivickas
In two months water usage dropped 14%, and eventually dropped 40%. He created a voluntary tax at a rate 10% higher, which 63 thousand people willingly paid. To peacefully address the unpopularity of the city's chaotic streets, he walked the streets in a costume and a cape as the hero "Supercitizen", handed citizens thumbs-up and thumbs-down cards for them to display in response to the behavior of those around them, and trained originally 20 but eventually 420 mimes to follow and mock pedestrians who did not follow traffic rules.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Antanas Mockus Sivickas
Mockus emphasizes respect for human rights, development of democracy and most of all the protection and respect for the constitution as what should unite Colombians the most. He argued that taxes could distribute wealth more fairly, that the state should be present in all territories and help ensure compliance and respect for the law as well as be able to function in providing necessary services. He argued income taxes should increase to pay for an increase in funding for education and culture.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Other Candidates
Enrique Parejo González advocated for reducing corruption, arguing that it was the root of many of Colombia's other issues, as well as poverty. He advocated for peace dialogues as well as tough sentences, and no impunity for those responsible for atrocities.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Other Candidates
Álvaro Leyva Durán is a former congressman, senator and Minister of Mines and Energy. He campaigned on ending the war with the FARC through a negotiated peace settlement.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Candidates, Other Candidates
Carlos Arturo Rincón Barreto received the fewest votes, less than one fifth of a percent.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues
Major subjects debated during the election included the extradition and demilitarization of private military groups, drugs and crime, corruption, refugees, the economy, and the reelection itself. As the incumbent president, Uribe was a dissident liberal with an independent, anti-guerrilla, anti-crime, pro-U.S. platform that appealed to Conservatives and a significant number of traditionally liberal voters. This split the Liberal party and, according to Freedom House, led to a shift in party politics away from the typical Conservative-Liberal dichotomy as Congress re-aligned respectively as essentially pro- and anti-Uribe forces. Critics of Uribe claimed he neglected social policies. Despite criticism, polls predicted Uribe's reelection.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues
Former President (and head of the Liberal party) Cesar Gaviria's daughter Liliana Gaviria was murdered on 27 April 2005, leading to an increase of security forces in Bogota and throughout the country. FARC guerrillas did not aim to disrupt the elections and instead called on Colombians to vote against Uribe. All candidates prioritized lowering unemployment rates (around 13% at the time). In his first term, Uribe proposed a free trade agreement with the United States, which other candidates strongly opposed. The Library of Congress credits Uribe's export-oriented growth strategy, efforts to reduce public debt, and strict budgets for economic growth.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues
Colombia continued to be a dangerous country for journalists, especially those who reported on corruption or drug trafficking. In October, the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) reported that press-lawsuits were used as a form of intimidation more often in 2005. The prosecutors range from public servants and private parties to government ministers and retired military officers. Press organizations attributed the decline in homicide rates during 2005 to an increase in journalists practicing self-censorship. Colombia has an internally displaced population of 3.6 million (mostly marginalized poor, indigenous and Afro-Colombian), their homes taken over by paramilitary troops. Paramilitary groups, often linked to the police, are also guilty of murdering street children and drug addicts under the guise of "social cleansing." Colombia is similarly dangerous for trade union activists, also the target of labor-repressive practices by paramilitary groups.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues, Re-election Campaign
Owing to judicial reform and improvements in citizen security (increasing domestic military presence, declining homicide and kidnapping rates)  as well as the economy (declining unemployment, lower public deficit), President Alvaro Uribe Velez retained his popularity before and during the 2006 election. Prior to the election, Uribe campaigned for Colombia's Constitutional Court to overturn the single-term limit and allow him to run for reelection. The campaign for reelection was marked by scandal when in October, 2005 members of the Constitutional Court publicly accused each other of accepting bribes to vote in Uribe's favor. Despite efforts from opposition claiming that eight years in office would allow the president to gain too much power, the Court declared it "as reasonable within the Constitution the legislative act allowing the re-election of the president of the republic." The Court upheld its verdict in November.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues, Re-election Campaign
Another election law implemented this year established a 2% electoral threshold requirement in legislative elections for a political party (indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups are exempt) to maintain its legal status, as well as only allowing parties to offer only one list of candidates per office.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues, Paramilitary Demobilization
A major subject of debated during the election was the issue of paramilitary demobilization. The government had been successfully demilitarizing troops associated with the AUC, and in 2005 adopted a "Justice and Peace Law." Human rights groups pressured the government that year, cautioning that the process of demilitarization would come to an end if promises about extradition and other issues were not upheld. The Justice and Peace Law grants light sentences of eight years to former paramilitary who agree to compensate victims, reveal all past crimes, and aid the government to dismantle paramilitary political and trafficking networks.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues, Paramilitary Demobilization
Opponents of the Justice and Peace Law maintained that the law encouraged impunity by allowing a maximum sentence of only 8 years. Amnesty International claimed that the process of demilitarization "opens the way for their recycling & as security guards, civilian police and informants." The law only allowed 60 days for the individual to be investigated by Colombia's already overtaxed legal system. Opponents say that they are not required to collaborate with the government or tell the full truth to get the light sentence, proponents countered with the fact that the law does not apply to drug-related offenders.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Issues, Paramilitary Demobilization
26,000 paramilitary troops working for the AUC were demobilized under the Uribe administration by 2006. Preliminary peace meetings were successfully negotiated with the ELN, but none with the FARC, who wanted to swap prisoners for hostages, regularly extort payments from businesses, and are involved with drug trafficking. The FARC and the government continued the guerrilla warfare in 2006, the FARC targeting civilians and local-level politicians.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Results
Uribe was elected to his second term of the presidency with 62.35% of the vote, this time backed in addition to the Colombia First party by the new Partida de la U, Partido Conservador, Cambio Radical, Alas Equipo Colombia, Convergencia Ciudadana, Colombia Democratica, and Colombia Viva. He won the majority of the vote in 32 out of 34 provinces, including 6 wins with more than 70% of the regional vote (Antioquia, Casanare, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, and Risaralda). Carlos Gaviria Díaz came second, with 22.03% of the total vote, and won regionally in 2 out of 34 provinces (Narino and La Guajira). Horacio Serpa came in third place, with 11.84% of the total vote, and no regional wins.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath
The continuation of Uribe's Democratic Security policy led to further movement against the ELN and the FARC, including new anti-terrorist and anti-drug trafficking laws, increasing the power of the police. In 2008, Uribe was able to negotiate the release of Ingrid Betancourt, a high-profile politician who was held as one of many hostages by the FARC. Strongly backed and supported financially by the US, the policy continued to combat Colombia's leftist Paramilitary groups. The project and its success led to Uribe receiving the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for his efforts in this regard.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Parapolitical scandal
Events shortly after the 2006 elections marked the beginning of a years-long process of addressing apparent paramilitary connections in government. In November 2006, a document was discovered connecting various members of Uribe's coalition ("uribistas") and the paramilitary group AUC, involving negotiations for votes and support. This document, the Ralito Agreement, was signed in a 2001 meeting by representatives of Paramilitary groups, and by 18 current and future politicians, who promised in it to "work toward a new Colombia" and thus secure power for the Paramilitaries.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Parapolitical scandal
The resulting Colombian Parapolitics Scandal led to the investigation and arrest of many members of congress, including the former senator and cousin to the president (at the time) Mario Uribe. With this, despite demobilizing more than 30,000 paramilitary troops and eliciting a peace agreement with some of Colombia's various paramilitary groups through his first term as president,  Uribe came under suspicion because of his cousin's ties to these events. He insisted, however, that he was not tied to these groups.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Corruption scandals
Following the 2006 election, Congresswoman Yidis Medina revealed that she had taken bribes in exchange for her vote in favor of the 2004 measure to extend term limits. This event prompted the arrest of Medina, as well as the investigation of other lawmakers, such as Sabas Pretelt De La Vega, and Diego Palacio Betancourt. It is commonly referred to as the Yidispolitics scandal.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Changes to term limits
In 2015, 10 years after the limit on the number of terms served by a president was increased from one to two, congress voted to decrease it back to one. The first vote took place during Uribe's first presidential term (involving the bribing of Congresswoman Yidis Medina), allowing him to be the first of Colombia's presidents in more than 100 years to run for re-election.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Changes to term limits
His successor (and former defense minister), Juan Manuel Santos, was also able to run and be elected for a second term in 2014, However Santos (in his second term at the time) backed the change, to go into effect once he leaves office. Ex-president Uribe, now a Senator with the Democratic Center party, objected to the reinstatement of the limit, but was outvoted.


2006 Colombian presidential election, Aftermath, Uribe's career
Uribe continued to actively participate in politics on a local level after maxing out his time spent as president. He acted as a mentor of sorts to his successor at the presidency, Juan Manuel Santos. However, this bond was broken upon Santos' assumption of the presidency, and the discovery of various political disagreements. Uribe continued to run for offices such as governorships and mayoral positions, representing various conservative political parties in his endeavors. He was unsuccessful in winning these, however. He eventually began an anti-Santos movement, which he called the Democratic Center Party. Finally, as a representative of the Democratic Center Party, he was able to win a position as a Senator in 2014.


2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament
The 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament was held at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina from May 24 through May 28. The event determined the champion of the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2006 season. Fifth-seeded UNC Wilmington won the tournament for the second time and earned the CAA's automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.


2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament
Entering the event, former member East Carolina had won the most championships, with seven. Among active members, Old Dominion and VCU led with three titles while George Mason had won twice and UNC Wilmington and William & Mary had each won once.


2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament, Format and seeding
The top six teams from the CAA's round-robin regular season qualified for the tournament. Teams were seeded by conference winning percentage. They played a double-elimination tournament.


2006 Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament, All-Tournament Team, Most Valuable Player
Chris Hatcher was named Tournament Most Valuable Player. Hatcher was a catcher for UNC Wilmington.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20
Amendment 20 was an amendment to state statutes, submitted for referendum in the 2000 general elections in the U.S. state of Colorado. The amendment was adopted by 54% of participating voters. Under the law, patients may possess up to 2 ounces of medicinal marijuana and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants (three flowering plants) at a time. Patients who are caught with more than this in their possession may argue "affirmative defense of medical necessity" but are not protected under state law with the rights of those who stay within the guidelines set forth by the state. [ 4 ]


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Background
In the years immediately leading up to the Amendment's adoption there was a newfound interest in medical marijuana research. Between 1996 and 2000 eight states approved some form of medical marijuana use. Advocates and opponents both pointed to scientific evidence to make their case. The director of the white house office National Drug Control policy sought clear answers and so they asked a non-governmental body the Institute of Medicine to reviewed the medical data. After eighteen months and considering more than five hundred scientific papers the IOM found that there was remarkable consensus for the potential of cannabinoid based drugs for medical use and almost no data about any proven benefits.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Implementation
Ten years after the popular adoption of the referendum and the press is already calling it marijuana country. As of April 20, 2010 Denver has two hundred fifty medical marijuana dispensaries in operation and Boulder had one hundred. More than sixty thousand patients held red cards with a six-month waiting list to be added to the growing registry. Experts estimated there may be as many as 100,000 patients in the system.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Implementation
For a patient to access the system they need to get a "doctor's recommendation", which differs from a prescription. This recommendation can be had for about one hundred fifty dollars and may consist of a five to 10-minute conversation. The state recognized recommendation, called a "red card" due to its red color, can be used at any marijuana dispensary in the state; though naming a single marijuana dispensary as a patient's "caregiver' often affords the patient discounts on medicine.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Text of referendum
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution authorizing the medical use of marijuana for persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions, and, in connection therewith, establishing an affirmative defense to Colorado criminal laws for patients and their primary care-givers relating to the medical use of marijuana; establishing exceptions to Colorado criminal laws for patients and primary care-givers in lawful possession of a registry identification card for medical marijuana use and for physicians who advise patients or provide them with written documentation as to such medical marijuana use; defining "debilitating medical condition" and authorizing the state health agency to approve other medical conditions or treatments as debilitating medical conditions; requiring preservation of seized property interests that had been possessed, owned, or used in connection with a claimed medical use of marijuana and limiting forfeiture of such interests; establishing and maintaining a confidential state registry of patients receiving an identification card for the medical use of marijuana and defining eligibility for receipt of such a card and placement on the registry; restricting access to information in the registry; establishing procedures for issuance of an identification card; authorizing fees to cover administrative costs associated with the registry; specifying the form and amount of marijuana a patient may possess and restrictions on its use; setting forth additional requirements for the medical use of marijuana by patients less than eighteen years old; directing enactment of implementing legislation and criminal penalties for certain offenses; requiring the state health agency designated by the governor to make application forms available to residents of Colorado for inclusion on the registry; limiting a health insurer's liability on claims relating to the medical use of marijuana; and providing that no employer must accommodate medical use of marijuana in the workplace?


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Opinions, Support
Groups in favor of Amendment 44 include , a group favoring the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana much in the same manner as alcohol., the state Libertarian Party, and the US Marijuana Party, among others.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Opinions, Support
Supporters argue that the War on Drugs has failed, resulting in the empowerment of organized crime, and that a new more effective policy is needed. It is argued that legalizing small amounts of marijuana would free law enforcement resources to deal with more serious offenses. Some supporters also consider marijuana to be less harmful then other types of illegal narcotics, alcoholic beverages or tobacco use.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Opinions, Opposition
Groups opposing Amendment 44 include Guarding Our Children Against Marijuana (GOCAM), Drug Watch Colorado, and Students Against Marijuana, among others.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Opinions, Opposition
Opponents argue that marijuana serves as a gateway drug to other types of illegal narcotics, and that legalization of marijuana would increase other types of drug use and make the state a magnet for addicts; however, there is no evidence marijuana is a gateway drug. It is argued that as with alcohol, sobriety is the only safe alternative, and existing drug laws should be enforced. Opponents also state that the costs of enforcement are minimal compared to the costs of drug addiction and treatment, as well as the fact that legalization at the state level would not affect federal laws and international treaties concerning marijuana.


2006 Colorado Amendment 20, Opinions, Opposition
Some employees of the Drug Enforcement Administration were reported to have been financing opposition to Amendment 44, a move which generated significant controversy.


2006 Colorado Amendment 38
Amendment 38 was  a measure on the 2006 ballot in Colorado. If passed, it would have amended the Colorado Constitution. It would have extend the petition process to all levels of state government to expand citizens' ability to propose changes to state laws and local ordinances or resolutions.


2006 Colorado Amendment 38
Amendment 38 would have made the process of getting an initiative on to a state or local ballot significantly easier. It would have expanded the ability of citizens to propose new laws, and limits government’s ability to change or repeal measures that voters have decided.


2006 Colorado Amendment 38
Ballot measure proponents would have been able to write their own descriptions of the measure for the state’s Blue Book of ballot measure information. Currently the nonpartisan Legislative Council staff writes these descriptions.


2006 Colorado Amendment 38
Under Amendment 38, any elected official or government employee who makes a public statement regarding any ballot measure would be subject to fines of $3,000 or more.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
Amendment 41 is a citizen initiative adopted by Colorado voters in the 2006 general election. Amendment 41 has three main sections.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
Amendment 41's "gift ban" places new restrictions on gifts, broadly defined, given to Colorado state and local elected officials and employees in executive and legislative branches. Such persons are prohibited from receiving gifts with value exceeding $53 per year, subject to an adjustment for inflation. Gifts from lobbyists are banned regardless of amount. There are several exceptions to the gift ban, including an exception for gifts given between personal friends and relatives on special occasions and another for travel paid for by non-profits that receive less than 5% of their revenue from corporate donations or by other state or local governments.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
Amendment 41's "anti-revolving door" provision prohibits statewide elected officeholders from lobbying certain state elected officials for pay for two years after leaving office.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
Finally, Amendment 41 creates the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission. Four members of the Commission are appointed by the State House, State Senate, Governor and the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The fifth member must be an official or employee of a local government and is selected by the other four members. Members serve staggered four-year terms and receive no salary. No more than two Commissioners may be members of the same political party.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
The Ethics Commission issues advisory opinions and letter rulings to covered individuals or others asking whether a proposed course of conduct would violate Amendment 41 or any other ethical standard of conduct or reporting requirement. The Ethics Commission is also required to investigate and hold a hearing on all non-frivolous complaints alleging violations of the gift ban, the anti-revolving door provision, or any other standard of conduct or reporting requirement in state law.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41
The Ethics Commission was originally placed in the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration. In June 2010, it was moved to the Judicial Branch.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
The state legislature, in the same legislation stating its interpretation of the initiative, asked the Colorado Supreme Court to resolve the dispute over the constitutionality of this implementing legislation, but it declined to act.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
A state trial court of general jurisdiction in Denver, Colorado issued a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of Amendment 41 on U.S. constitutional grounds in 2007. The state court in this case issued a preliminary injunction banning enforcement of the gift ban on First Amendment grounds during the pendency of the litigation. On appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court, the preliminary injunction was then vacated on February 25, 2008, on the grounds that the suit was not ripe prior to the organization of the independent ethics commission, without reaching the merits of the constitutionality of Amendment 41 .


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
In 2008, then-Secretary of State Mike Coffman filed suit in Denver District Court against the Ethics Commission, attempting to block an inquiry into whether he permitted employees in his office to run outside private businesses using government data. After the Commission found that he was not aware of such activities, the legal challenge was dropped.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
In 2008, Colorado Ethics Watch filed suit in Denver District Court against the Ethics Commission for failing to make documents regarding advisory opinion requests, letter ruling requests and non-frivolous complaints available for inspection under the Colorado Open Records Act. The case resulted in an order requiring documents to be made public and an award of attorneys' fees.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
In 2009, The Colorado Independent filed suit in Denver District Court against the Ethics Commission for violating Colorado's Open Meetings Law by deciding the complaint against Mike Coffman behind closed doors. The case resulted in an order for production of executive session tapes and an award of attorneys' fees.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
After these two legal losses, the Ethics Commission took steps to improve its compliance with Colorado's transparency laws.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Legal reactions
In 2013, Secretary of State Scott Gessler filed suit against the Ethics Commission, arguing that Amendment 41 is impermissibly vague and that the Commission's hearing process violates due process. The case has not been decided.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Proposed constitutional amendments
Amendment 41 supporters proposed a clarifying citizen initiative aimed at the November 2007 ballot, which escapes a usual ban on non-fiscal citizen initiatives at odd numbered elections by including a tax on lobbyists to finance the implementation of Amendment 41. But, this proposal was invalidated by the body that oversees the initiative process in Colorado for failing to state a single subject, and did not make it onto the ballot as a result.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Proposed constitutional amendments
No ballot issues to interpret Amendment 41 will be placed before Colorado voters in 2008. The Colorado General Assembly did not propose any referenda to do so, and no citizen initiated ballot issues were proposed and had titles approved in time to be included on the November 2008 ballot.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Complaints and Penalties
The Ethics Commission has handled fewer complaints than opponents of Amendment 41 feared, and even fewer have found any violation or imposed any penalty.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Complaints and Penalties
In 2009, the Ethics Commission fined a state employee $400 for operating an outside business that conflicted with his state job.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Complaints and Penalties
In 2011, the Ethics Commission fined the Public Trustees Association of Colorado just under $3000 for gift ban violations.


2006 Colorado Amendment 41, Complaints and Penalties
On June 13, 2013, the Ethics Commission ruled unanimously that Secretary of State Scott Gessler violated the state discretionary fund statute by using public money to attend the Republican National Lawyers Conference in 2012. It also ruled 4-1 that Gessler violated the discretionary fund statute and state Fiscal Rules by requesting and receiving a fiscal-year end sweep of remaining discretionary account funds as personal income. The Commission voted to fine Gessler approximately $1600.


2006 Colorado Amendment 42
Amendment 42 was a ballot initiative, adopted by Colorado voters in November 2006, that amended Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution to impose a minimum wage of $6.85 per hour, to be adjusted annually for inflation after 2007. The amendment was approved by 53.3% of voters.


2006 Colorado Amendment 42
The minimum wage in Colorado at the time of the election was $5.15 per hour.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43
Colorado Amendment 43 was a referendum approved by the voters in 2006 that added a new section to Article II of the Colorado Constitution to define marriage in Colorado as only a union between one man and one woman. It passed with 56% of the vote.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Background
On November 3, 1992, Colorado voters approved Amendment 2, which added language to the state constitution that prohibited the state and all of its subdivisions from allowing "homosexual, lesbian or bisexual orientation, conduct, practices or relationships" to provide the basis for any "claim any minority status, quota preferences, protected status or claim of discrimination." In 1994, the Colorado Supreme Court found the amendment unconstitutional. In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Romer v. Evans that the amendment, because it "allows discrimination against homosexuals and prevents the state from protecting them", was "motivated by animus towards homosexuals" and violated their rights under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Drafting
The amendment was drafted by Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton and her husband, former U.S. Attorney Michael J. Norton. Lieutenant Governor Norton explained "If we really don't take a stand now, it's really a matter of time before we lose the uniqueness of marriage. If we lose the uniqueness of marriage, we lose a fundamental building block of society."


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Content
The amendment provided that the only marriages recognized under the state constitution would be between a man and a woman whether licensed and celebrated as provided by law or established by common law by a couple who live together and hold themselves out publicly as husband and wife.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Content
At the time the amendment was adopted, the benefits of marriage in Colorado included collecting benefits such as pensions, life insurance, and workers' compensation without being designated as a beneficiary; jointly incurring and being held liable for debts; making medical treatment decisions for each other; protection from discrimination based on marital status in areas such as employment and housing; filing income taxes jointly; and ending a marriage and distributing property through a legal process.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Campaign
Groups in favor of Amendment 43 contended that it would preserve the commonly accepted and historical definition of marriage and that the marriage of a man and woman provides an optimal environment for creating, nurturing, and protecting children and preserving families. They also aimed to prevent the state courts from expanding the definition of marriage to same-sex couples.


2006 Colorado Amendment 43, Campaign
Groups opposed to the amendment argued that it was inappropriate to add the definition of marriage to the constitution's Bill of Rights, which defines individual rights. They also argued the amendment was itself an unconstitutional form of discrimination, and redundant in that same-sex marriage was already prohibited by both state and federal statute.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44
Amendment 44 was a proposed amendment to the state statutes submitted for referendum in the 2006 general elections in the U.S. state of Colorado. The amendment proposed the legalization of the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana for any person twenty-one years of age and over, as long as marijuana use does not occur in public. The measure was eventually defeated at the polls by 60–40 percent.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Background
Amendment 44 was placed on the ballot in August, after the group Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) obtained over 129,000 petition signatures through a largely grassroots organization. Only 68,000 were required by the Secretary of State.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Background
Existing Colorado law classifies possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as a Class 2 petty offense punishable by a fine of $100. If passed, Amendment 44 would decriminalize possession of one ounce or less by adults 21 years of age and over by removing any fine or penalty; although, it would have no effect on the cultivation, transfer, or sale of marijuana.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Controversy over Colorado Blue Book
One issue under contention is how the amendment might be interpreted with regard to transferral of marijuana to minors over 15 years of age. The "Blue Book" voter information pamphlet, a comprehensive guide to ballot measures distributed to voters, states "transferring up to one ounce of marijuana to another individual 15 years of age or older as long as there is no compensation" would be decriminalized under Amendment 44. Others, including the amendment's supporters, claim this interpretation is false, and such transferral to minors would continue to be illegal, as it falls under the category of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a felony offense under existing law.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Opinions, Support
Groups in favor of Amendment 44 include Sensible Colorado, a group favoring the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana much in the same manner as alcohol., the state Libertarian Party, and the US Marijuana Party, among others.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Opinions, Support
Supporters argue that the War on Drugs has failed, resulting in the empowerment of organized crime, and that a new more effective policy is needed. It is argued that legalizing small amounts of marijuana would free law enforcement resources to deal with more serious offenses. Some supporters also consider marijuana to be less harmful then other types of illegal narcotics, alcoholic beverages or tobacco use.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Opinions, Opposition
Groups opposing Amendment 44 include Guarding Our Children Against Marijuana (GOCAM), Drug Watch Colorado, and Students Against Marijuana, among others.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Opinions, Opposition
Opponents argue that marijuana serves as a gateway drug to other types of illegal narcotics, and that legalization of marijuana would increase other types of drug use and make the state a magnet for addicts; however, there is no evidence marijuana is a gateway drug. It is argued that as with alcohol, sobriety is the only safe alternative, and existing drug laws should be enforced. Opponents also state that the costs of enforcement are minimal compared to the costs of drug addiction and treatment, as well as the fact that legalization at the state level would not affect federal laws and international treaties concerning marijuana.


2006 Colorado Amendment 44, Opinions, Opposition
Some employees of the Drug Enforcement Administration were reported to have been financing opposition to Amendment 44, a move which generated significant controversy.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The previous year's team won the Big 12 North Conference. That marked the fourth Big 12 North championship for Colorado in the past five years. The team has its 23rd new head coach Dan Hawkins. The Sporting News gave out the only A+ to Colorado in the category of coaching hire. The Buffaloes will play their home games in Folsom Field.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team
They finished the season 2–10 (2–6 in the Big 12 Conference) and had some major disappointments. Mason Crosby did not perform as well as last season (19 for 27) and the Hawkins era didn't start as many had expected with his success at Boise State. The offense appeared to struggle to learn the new system and early quarterback uncertainty did not allow the team to have consistency. The defense performed excellently at times and was good overall, but without the offense producing points, Colorado would lose, though many games were close.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
With a new head coach, a new offensive system and the loss of several key players such as Joel Klatt (QB), Joe Klopfenstein (TE), Quinn Sypniewski (TE), Lawrence Vickers (TB) and John Torp (P), Colorado faced some challenges to hang on to their Big 12 North Title. (Jeremy Bloom, listed in the 2006 NFL Draft as being from Colorado had not played football for Colorado since the 2004 season and thus is not a loss for this year)


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
Colorado did not appear in any of the Top 25 pre-season rankings (#26 in Collegefootballnews.com), and was selected to finish third in the Big 12 North with 2 selections to finish first in the Big 12 North.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
Colorado played their first Division I-AA opponent ever, Montana State, on September 2. Colorado was one of the last 9 Division I-A schools, at the time, to have never played a Division I-AA or Division II school. The California Golden Bears also lost that status in 2006. The remaining seven teams were the (Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, UCLA Bruins and Washington Huskies).


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
Tyrone Henderson and Gerett Burl, starters in the 2005–06 season, were permanently released from the team prior to fall practice. Both were in CU's top 5 tacklers for last season, having started 25 games between them.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
James Cox was named the starting quarterback to replace Klatt on August 20. Despite having missed most of spring practice with a broken thumb, Coach Hawkins picked the senior over juniors Brian White and Bernard Jackson saying his seniority wasn't a factor and he simply wanted the best players on the field. With one year left of eligibility, Cox has seen playing time the previous 3 seasons behind Klatt, with two starts to his credit: the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl and in 2004 against Iowa State. In the 14 games he has played in prior to the 2006 season, his stats are 42 of 79 attempts for 423 yards with 3 interception and 2 Touchdowns passing and 37 yards rushing in 20 attempts with 1 TD (5 sacks for 28 yards).


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season
The captains for 2006 were Mason Crosby, Brian Daniels and Thaddaeus Washington.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Pre-season, Pre-season awards
See for full information on pre-season awards. Note: Only first team All-American or All-Conference listed.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Roster
In addition there can be as many as 60 players not in the depth chart/practice squad.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Montana State
Colorado's season began against Division I-AA opponent Montana State on September 2. Colorado needed to add an opponent with the schedule increase to a 12-game regular season and could not find another I-A opponent. Montana State was ranked No. 19 in the I-AA Pre-season Poll. MSU finished 7–4 in the 2005 season. Starting off with this soft opponent will allow the Buffaloes to gage how the players have adopted the new system. However, Colorado has played Montana State 3 times with the last time in 1927. MSU leads the series 2–1–0 with the series tied (1–1) in Boulder. Although the schools have not played football against each other in 8 decades, they are rivals in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association competing weekly.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Montana State
Prior to this game, Colorado has won its last 20 season openers when it scores first, 4–14–1 when its opponent scores first in season openers and 73–38–5 in the 116-year history. In Boulder season openers, Colorado is 53–18–1 and 36–17 in Folsom Field. Dan Hawkins is 7–3 in season openers at the Division I-A level. Colorado coaches are 9–12–1 in their first game as head coach. The last coach to win his premiere was Rick Neuheisel, and before that was in 1932.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Montana State
Colorado paid US$275,000 to Montana State for the game which showed Colorado had not yet figured out the new system. James Cox went 8–22 for 110 yards passing and Colorado had 106 yards rushing. The defense held two goal line stances to allow only field goals but the offense could not produce the needed points late in the game. Despite this limited success on defense, Freshman CB Cha'pelle Brown consistently failed to defend against the pass and Senior safety J. J. Billingsley missed too many tackles. Mason Crosby missed a 63-yard field goal that was well short. This loss extended the losing streak to 5 games.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Montana State
For detailed information on the game stats see footnote and play-by-play summary see


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
The 2006 Rocky Mountain Showdown took place on September 9 at a neutral site, Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. Colorado State University finished 6–6 in 2005. It was the 78th meeting, with the Buffaloes leading the series 57–18–2. The last ten games the Buffaloes won 7–3. They last played each other in 2005. The last four games were decided by 18 points total.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
The game was broadcast on CSTV. Colorado could have lost out on US$400,000 from the Big 12 Conference since the game may not have met the classification of being nationally televised due to the limited market of CSTV. Big 12 pays its members if a televised game reaches 42 million homes. CSTV is available in 54 million homes, but only has 15–20 million subscribers. If the game meets the mark with last-minute deals with other networks, CSU is guaranteed $50,000 of the money in the contract. Failing to meet the number will not only cause the loss of money, but may affect future contracts and the future of the Rocky Mountain Showdown. On Thursday before the game, the Colorado Buffaloes announced that OLN would simulcast the show, increasing the coverage of the game.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
In a surprise, Bernard Jackson got the start at quarterback (QB) instead of Cox. Cox saw limited action throughout the game. Jackson scored on a 3-yard touchdown (TD) run on a naked bootleg play to open the game and Colorado State answered later in the first quarter with their own QB, Caleb Hanie, scoring a 5-yard TD on an option play. Mason Crosby kicked a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter but the Rams then scored another TD with a 6-yard pass to TE Kory Sperry. The Buffaloes mis-managed the clock at the end of the first half and failed to get Crosby a chance at an approximately 52-yard field goal.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
Crosby missed a 61-yard field goal to wind up the opening drive for the Buffaloes in the second half (he had made it when the play initially went but it was whistled dead because Colorado State had taken a timeout – it would have been the longest of his career). Colorado State's Jason Smith missed a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Colorado failed to answer the Rams in the second half. The defense played quite well, recording many sacks and limiting the Rams. The missed field goal and missed chance at a field goal along with a near perfect performance by Hanie proved costly to the Buffaloes.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Colorado State
Following the game, Brian White told Hawkins he was quitting the team. He intended to transfer to another school where he can receive more playing time. Tight end Patrick Devenny may move to the QB position to fill the hole for the season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Arizona State
This was the first meeting between the two schools. Arizona State went 7–5 in 2005. The game was broadcast on TBS. Colorado's only score came on a fumble recovery deep in Arizona State territory. Colorado failed to move the ball effectively and had fumble problems throughout the game. This marks the seventh straight loss (including last season) for Colorado, which they haven't done since 1980. Jackson remained as the starting quarterback.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Georgia
This was the first meeting between the two schools. Georgia went 10–3 in 2005. The two teams are scheduled to play each other again in 2010. CU Quarterback Cox missed the game due to the death of his father. Coach Hawkins son, true freshman Cody Hawkins, was the backup to Jackson and redshirt freshman Patrick Devenny, who converted from quarterback to tight end this fall, was the emergency backup. Georgia was 3–0 and ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll and No. 7 in the Coaches Poll coming into the game. This was the first game against a SEC opponent for Colorado since 1980. Colorado has not lost 8 straight games since the 1962–63 seasons. Ralphie is also making the trip with an ESPN producer and cameraman documenting the trip to appear on College GameDay Saturday.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Georgia
The game was televised as part of the SEC syndicated package produced by Lincoln Financial Sports and was also picked up locally in the Denver/Boulder market on KTVD My20 (Comcast's Channel 3 in Denver area), KRDO-TV (Colorado Springs) and KJCT-TV (Grand Junction) also picked up the broadcasts for their markets.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Colorado lead for the entire game until Georgia backup quarterback Cox (no relation to James) came in the 4th quarter and threw two touchdown passes, the second with 41 seconds left in the game to pull out the Buffaloes upset hopes. Colorado center Mark Fenton suffered a broken fibula during the second quarter of the game. He will miss most or all of the rest of this season. Bryce MacMartin is the replacement.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Missouri
This game signaled the start of conference play for the Buffaloes. University of Missouri went 7–5 in 2005. This was the 71st meeting between the two with Missouri leading the series 36–31–3 coming into the game. However, Colorado has taken 7 of the last 10 games. They played each other in 2005 where Missouri went 7–5 that season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Missouri was 4–0 coming into this game and was ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Harris Poll. Colorado was in its longest losing streak since the Eddie Crowder era and had not been 0–4 to start the season since 1986. Both defenses were excelling: Missouri, ranked fifth nationally against the run in allowing 43.8 yards per game and had limited its opponents to 1.59 yards per carry; Colorado was ranked 16th, as opponents had averaged 75.3 yards per game and just 2.26 yards per attempt.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Baylor
The Big 12 South's Baylor came to Boulder for the 14th match-up between the schools and Colorado's Homecoming game. They last played in 2003, and Colorado led the series 8–5 and Colorado had also won 7 of the last 10 games. Baylor went 5–6 in 2005.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Baylor
Baylor won in 3 overtimes, kicking a field goal in the 3rd OT while the Buffaloes' Jackson threw an interception to end the game. This ties the Colorado record for consecutive losses (10) which last happened in the 1963 to 1964 seasons. This was Baylor's second Big 12 Conference road win ever.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Texas Tech
Texas Tech played Colorado during Family Weekend at CU. This was only the 8th meeting between the schools with Texas Tech leading the series 4–3–0 coming into the game. The schools last met in 2003. Texas Tech went 9–3 last season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Texas Tech
Buffalo fans stormed the field after Colorado's win over Texas Tech. Dan Hawkins' first victory at Colorado and the Buffaloes first of the 2006 season ending the losing streak tying the Colorado record of 10 straight. The defense shut down Tech's passing game with three interceptions and holding them to 6 points when their per game average was 31.7 going into the game. The offense started performing to their capabilities producing a 119 yard rusher in Hugh Charles which is the most that Tech has given up this season. Crosby also performed well kicking 3 field goals, including a 56-yard field goal which is the second longest in NCAA Division I this season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Texas Tech
Crosby and sophomore free safety Ryan Walters were named Big 12 Players of the Week for their performance in the game. Walters caught two interceptions, the first of his career, both on third down in CU territory.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
This was the most difficult opponent in 2006 for the Buffaloes, since Oklahoma had been selected No. 1 in four preseason polls. The main threat, Adrian Peterson on his run for the Heisman Trophy, was injured the previous week. Oklahoma had a disappointing 2005 going 8–4. This was the 57th meeting with Oklahoma dominating the series 38–16–2, but Colorado has taken 5 of the last 10 (5–4–1). They last played each other in 2004. Oklahoma is ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and AP Poll going into this game.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
Colorado managed to hold Oklahoma close for most of the game. Crosby kept Colorado's scoring streak alive (208 straight games) for the 6th time in his career. But in the end, Colorado's woes on offense continues while the defense kept the game respectable.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Kansas
This was the 66th match-up between the schools, with Colorado leading 41–21–3 and 8–2 in the last 10. They last played in 2005. Kansas went 7–5 last season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Kansas
Mason Crosby had an excellent day kicking and providing the only scoring going 3 for 3 on field goals including 26, 32 and 37 yards putting Colorado up 9–0 at halftime. James Cox broke his right thumb in the second quarter making Patrick Devenny the QB backup. Colorado may go winless on the road for the first time since 1984 since their only game left on the road is against ranked Nebraska. Kansas started a new quarterback for the second half that proved to be the difference in the game. Freshman Todd Reesing came in and rallied Kansas throwing for 2 touchdowns and running for another to beat Colorado.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Kansas State also has a new head coach, Ron Prince, this season. They went 5–6 last season. This was the 62nd match-up between the teams with Colorado in the lead 43–17–1, but they have split the last 10 games (5–5). They last played in 2005.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Despite having the two longest running plays of the season, Colorado failed to rally to meet Kansas State.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Iowa State went 7–5 in 2005. This was the 60th match-up between the schools and Colorado is dominating 46–13–1 in the series and 8–2 in the last ten (prior to this game). They last played in 2005.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Colorado got its second win of the season. Iowa State's head coach Dan McCarney announced the week before the game he was resigning his position. Crosby went 4–5 in field goals and 3–3 in PATs. This was the last home game of the season and the last home game for Colorado's seniors. Jackson had a career performance day throwing for 200 yards, including 2 TDs and running for another 69 yard TD. However, Hawkins stated that Jackson has no guarantee of being the starting QB next season.


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Game summaries, Nebraska
This was the 65th meeting between the teams with Nebraska clearly in control of the series 45–17–2 and 7–3 in the last 10. Nebraska went 8–4 last season and beat Colorado 30–3 in part of the tailspin of Colorado of the 2005 season. Colorado failed to prevent just its third 10-loss season in 117 years of intercollegiate football (going 1–10 in 1980 and 1984) as well as to end a 13-game losing streak to ranked teams. Nebraska had already captured the Big 12 North Division title and a bowl game yet to be determined. Colorado won’t be going to a bowl for just the fifth time since 1984, and this is just school’s fourth losing season in that time frame (1997, 2000, 2003 and 2006).


2006 Colorado Buffaloes football team, Statistics, Team
* – Includes game at neutral site Invesco Field in Denver, CO where Colorado State was the home team.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards
The Holiday Blizzards were major storms occurring in two segments during the last two weeks of December 2006 in the Denver, Colorado area. The blizzards occurred within a week of each other. A subsequent storm, smaller in scope, struck the area less than week after the second blizzard, further hampering removal efforts and travel in the region. The blizzard covered homes.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Colorado Holiday Blizzard I
The Holiday Blizzard I was an intense blizzard that covered the Colorado Front Range, the Colorado Eastern Plains and surrounding states. It began on December 20, 2006 with a powerful blizzard which crippled the region, forcing the closures of Interstate Highways 25, 76 and 70, as well as U.S. Routes 36 and 85. The city of Denver was shut down, the US Mail was undeliverable, and a statewide disaster was declared. Many grocery stores, department retailers and other service providing institutions were shut down or severely limited in the diversity of their supplies.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Colorado Holiday Blizzard I, Snowfall
It was estimated that drifts in some areas of Denver reached up to 5 feet (1.5 m), with an average depth of about 3 feet (0.91 m). By most estimates, it was the 4th largest storm in state recorded history, (though some readings place it at 6th), and the largest state blizzard since March 2003.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Colorado Holiday Blizzard II
The Holiday Blizzard II was another intense snow storm. The storm killed 100 people. This storm was arguably more intense than the first, but hit a much less populated region. The storm struck Colorado on December 28 and December 29. Coming so soon after the first blizzard and forecast to be another major storm, the approach of this storm prompted runs on grocery stores, hardware stores (for snow shovels, snow blowers and generators, among other items) as residents prepared to be snowed in for a second time. Due to the previous heavy snowfalls and lack of snow removal on many residential streets (still nearly impassable from the first storm) were unmanageable.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Colorado Holiday Blizzard II, Snowfall
The second blizzard to hit Colorado followed a nearly identical path, with nearly identical conditions. However, this storm slipped south and hit the Southeastern Colorado Plains, Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles with severe wind and snow conditions. The snowfall totals from this storm were in addition to the snow that had fallen just a week previously.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Impact, Effects on travel
This blizzard closed the Denver International Airport (DEN) at 2:45PM MST on the same day, stranding upwards of 40,000 at the airport. Due to DIA's remote location, many people were forced to spend the night inside the airport, sleeping on cots or the floor. As Denver is a major hub for United Airlines, an estimated 100,000 people were affected by the closure. The airport reopened 22 December at 12:00PM MST having been closed for a record 45 hours.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Impact, Effects on travel
Greyhound buses canceled all routes into, out of, and through Denver due to the storm.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Impact, Deaths
The blizzard caused four confirmed deaths in Colorado, including one former CSU professor and a University of Colorado undergraduate student. Over two dozen deaths were reported in the Colorado, Kansas and the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles as a result of these storms. Along the plains, between 10,000 and 15,000 cows were found dead due to the cold and severe weather conditions.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Regional effects
Holiday Blizzard I was focused mainly on the Colorado Front Range, resulting in far smaller snow totals for the mountain ski resorts.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Regional effects
Holiday Blizzard II hit the Colorado Front Range almost as hard as the first storm, however, this storm moved south and east, burying the Southeastern Colorado Plains with 3' of snow, with snowdrifts topping 10' in some places.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Regional effects, Denver
The first blizzard began early on Wednesday December 20, 2006, as a storm blew through the eastern plains of Colorado spilling as much as two feet of snow up and down Interstate-25, from Fort Collins to Pueblo. The entire state was mired in drifts of snow up to 8 feet (2.4 m) high and, at some locations, even higher drifts existed. Downtown Denver, in particular, experienced severe economic hardships as a result since so many paths were not clear for potential customers, but it was the same throughout many places.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Regional effects, Denver
Denver International Airport, the tenth busiest airport in the world and one of the busiest places in Colorado, rarely closes for weather, but was forced to shut down operations for a record 45 hours. Doing so in the midst of Christmas traveling, the closing affected travel across the United States. Hundreds of flights were canceled, and many upset travelers were stranded in the DIA terminals, and even though the plows were used to maximize clearing the runways, thousands of travelers were forced to extend their stay at DIA. Many roads throughout the state were impassable, schools and other community functions were canceled immediately, and the general public of Colorado was snowed in.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Regional effects, Albuquerque
The storm also pounded Albuquerque with over 26 inches of snow in less than two days.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Relief efforts
After Holiday Blizzard II the Colorado National Guard was sent to the Southeastern Colorado Plains in an attempt to access small towns isolated by heavy snowdrifts. Hay drops were instituted to feed thousands of stranded, starving cattle. Guardsmen in small helicopters were sent to break ice on water tanks for the cattle to drink.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, Relief efforts
On January 5, 2007, Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo) and Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo) introduced legislation that would give aid to the state, counties, cities, as well as residents and livestock owners who suffered blizzard-related losses in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The bill would declare the heaviest hit regions as "major disaster areas" and provide those hardest hit with FEMA and other federal aid.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, After the storms
The Holiday Blizzards were followed by an additional storm bearing more than a foot of snow on January 4–5, bringing the snowfall total for 16 days to more than 80 inches (2.0 m) in some areas. Denver itself received over 30 inches (0.76 m) of snow and over 55 inches (1.4 m) total for the season.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, After the storms
On January 4, 2007, United Airlines announced more than $40 million in losses from the storms' effects on holiday travel.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, After the storms
Concerns about potential cattle losses prompted Colorado to airlift hay to the hardest hit areas, including the use of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the Colorado National Guard and a C-130 from the Wyoming National Guard. Losses in a similar storm in 1997 resulted in over 27,000 cattle fatalities with an economic loss of $27 million. Final losses were estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 cattle in Colorado. Overall, National Guard units, including ones from Wyoming and Oklahoma, dropped feed to an estimated 345,000 cattle stranded by ten foot drifts.


2006 Colorado Holiday Blizzards, After the storms
Following the storms, Denver and its surrounding cities struggled to move tons of snow. The cost for snow removal in December  2006 alone was $2.8 million and for the period January to March 2007 the cost was $10.2 million. Many of the side streets in Denver remained covered in snow which turned to thick ice due to continued residential traffic. According to the Denver Department of Public Works, snow and ice removal efforts continued until March 26, 2007. Overall, Denver experienced the second longest period of consecutive days of snow cover, from December 21, 2006 through February 19, 2007. Once the snow melted, the city was faced with filling over 50,000 potholes that resulted from the extreme temperatures and moisture.


2006 Colorado Mammoth season
The Colorado Mammoth are a lacrosse team based in Denver, Colorado playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2006 season was the 20th in franchise history and 4th as the Mammoth.


2006 Colorado Mammoth season
The Mammoth finished 2nd in the West with a 10-6 record, but beat both Calgary and Arizona in one-goal games to make it to the Championship game against the Buffalo Bandits. The Bandits, however, were no match for the Mammoth, who took the game 16-9, making lacrosse legend Gary Gait an NLL champion in his first season as head coach.


2006 Colorado Mammoth season, Regular season, Conference standings
x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games PlayedW: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowedDifferential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game


2006 Colorado Mammoth season, Player stats, Runners (Top 10)
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; LB = Loose Balls; PIM = Penalty Minutes


2006 Colorado Mammoth season, Player stats, Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; MIN = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average


2006 Colorado Referendum E
Referendum E was a 2006 referendum in Colorado to reduce property taxes for qualified disabled veterans by exempting a portion of the value of their home from property taxation. Voters approved the referendum 78% to 22%. A qualified disabled veteran would have a service-connected disability with a 100 percent permanent disability rating. It was approved by the electorate and became Article X Section 3.5 of the state constitution. Subsequent enabling legislation in 2007  removed military disability retirements as a recognized eligibility, leaving only disability ratings of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. No similar provision has been made for survivors of active duty military who die in the line of duty.


2006 Colorado Referendum E
In its administration of the program by Colorado's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' ratings for Total Disability for Permanent Unemployability (TDIU) are disallowed from the exemption although "permanent, total and service-connected" as per Article X Section 3.5 and thus apparently eligible.


2006 Colorado Referendum E
House Bill 14-1205 provided for survivors of disabled veterans to receive the property tax exemption if the veteran was in receipt of the exemption at time of death. As of 2014 approximately 3814 Colorado residents received the exemption, funds for which are provided each county by the state.


2006 Colorado Referendum F
Colorado Referendum F was a referendum held in Colorado, United States, in 2006, and proposed to change the requirements for recalling elected officials, allowing the state legislature to relax deadlines for protesting recall petitions. The effect of this measure will be to make it more difficult to recall an elected state official.


2006 Colorado Referendum G
Referendum G was a 2006 Colorado ballot measure. It removed provisions, dates, and references to obsolete laws from three sections of the state Constitution. The laws removed regarded militia duty dating back to the post-Civil War era, the consolidation of the Denver Public School District which has already occurred, and references to gender and past dates in the Old-Age Pension Fund.


2006 Colorado Referendum H
Referendum H was a 2006 Colorado referendum to bar businesses from claiming a state income tax business deduction for wages paid to workers who were known at the time of hiring to be undocumented immigrants. It passed and it affected employees hired on and after January 1, 2008.


2006 Colorado Referendum H, Arguments
Arguments for:It targets the employment of unauthorized aliens, which is the root cause of illegal immigration. It reduces the financial advantage a business gains from paying lower wages to people illegally in the country.


2006 Colorado Referendum H, Arguments
Arguments against:It will have little or no effect on illegal immigration because it increases taxes only if a business voluntarily discloses its paid wages to unauthorized aliens. Illegal immigration is a national issue and the responsibility of the federal government.


2006 Colorado Referendum I
Colorado Referendum I was a proposed law that would have established domestic partnerships in the U.S. state of Colorado. The bill was passed by the Colorado General Assembly and was submitted to popular referendum during general elections on November 7, 2006.


2006 Colorado Referendum I
Upon voter approval, Referendum I establishes legal domestic partnerships in the state of Colorado. Additionally, it specifies eligibility requirements, definitions, procedures, rights, responsibilities, and means for terminating domestic partnerships.


2006 Colorado Referendum I
BALLOT TITLE:


2006 Colorado Referendum I
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado revised statutes to authorize domestic partnerships, and, in connection therewith, enacting the "Colorado Domestic Partnership Benefits and Responsibilities Act" to extend to same-sex couples in a domestic partnership the benefits, protections, and responsibilities that are granted by Colorado law to spouses, providing the conditions under which a license for a domestic partnership may be issued and the criteria under which a domestic partnership may be dissolved, making provisions for implementation of the act, and providing that a domestic partnership is not a marriage, which consists of the union of one man and one woman?