Colorado has made its biggest revisions in four decades to how state employees are paid, hired and fired.
    
Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Tuesday that he certified the voter-approved reforms first suggested by his office almost a year ago. The changes include revised pay standards to be more like the private sector.
    
The changes required voter approval because Colorado is one of five states with employee protections in the state constitution. The personnel changes were favored by members of both parties and didn't spark opposition from the largest union of state employees.
    
Hickenlooper also certified a voter-approved measure to encourage Colorado's congressional delegation to support a U.S. constitutional amendment to limit campaign contributions and spending.
    
Hickenlooper issued his proclamation on the best-known ballot measure, recreational marijuana legalization, three weeks ago.