Battles over an ethics measure and a controversial labor union bill have overshadowed significant achievements on health care and renewable energy, Democratic House leaders say.

And many of those bills are passing with bipartisan support, said Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver.

"I hope people say that this is the renewable energy session," he said.

Romanoff and Majority Leader Alice Madden, of Boulder, gave their perspective Thursday on how the first quarter of the 120-day session has gone.

• Fewer bills have been introduced this year than any year this decade, and the House is ahead of schedule on acting on those bills.

• Lawmakers were warned up front that bills with big price tags weren't going anywhere. Most, but not all, lawmakers, held off on introducing those measures.

This is the third straight year that Democrats have controlled both chambers of the legislature, but the first time a Democratic governor is on the first floor to back them up.

Madden and Romanoff talked about the enormous political shift in the building since they took office in 2001. Democrats carried renewable energy bills that were quickly killed by a Republican-majority.

"I think a lot of folks have gotten religion around renewable energy this year," Romanoff said.

Both Madden and Romanoff downplayed the Democratic-backed labor union bill that Gov. Bill Ritter vetoed in a shocker last Friday.

"This bill will have zero effect on our agenda," Madden said. "We didn't campaign on that."

After the veto, Romanoff announced he would create a business-labor council to advise lawmakers on issues from economic development and other issues.

He said Thursday he's had dozens of applications and expects to appoint about 12 or so people next week.

"People are hungry to work together," Romanoff said.

The goal, he and Madden said, is to find "real people" rather than just lobbyists for each side.

"We need people who don't have such a political agenda," Madden said.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327