As we begin the new legislative session, I am busy working on drafting bills for introduction this week. I am working on bills related to regulating intra-state movers, clean air, health care, health care reform, consumer credit, and identity theft.

On the first legislative day, Speaker Romanoff and Minority Leader Stengel gave their speeches outlining their agendas for the session. We had several visitors from House District 3 join us on the floor and in the Gallery. Please let me know if you would like to come and visit me during session.

Please feel free to voice any concerns or comments to me this session. Also, here are some great resources that will help you stay in the loop this year, in addition to my newsletters.

With Ref. C, the Joint Budget Committee is going to be front and central this session. Representative Tom Plant, D-Nederland, chairman of the committee, will keep an ongoing blog of proceedings (http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/blog/tomplant). Representative Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, also a member of the JBC, will keep a blog, too (http://www.buescher.org). The goal is show accountability with Ref. C funds. The budget process can be confusing (understatement of the year) and we hope this well help.

You can always learn what we are doing on the General Assembly’s Web site: http://www.leg.state.co.us/. The site includes live streaming from the Legislature’s proceedings, bill and committee information, the day’s schedule and much more.
The terrific Majority Staff at the Capitol prepared a summary of the upcoming session I wanted to share with you:

The gavel has dropped and the 2006 General Assembly is under way. This session will be productive and we intend to keep Colorado on the right track and the spirit of bipartisanship alive.

You, the voters, sent us here to solve problems and that’s what we aim to do. Ten months from now, when you go to the polls, we’ll be held accountable for our actions this session. We consider the chance to represent our districts a great honor and we have every intention of making the tough choices and finding the right solutions to our state’s problems. These goals are attainable if we voice our differences rationally, compromise, then act with Colorado’s best interests in mind.

Last year, with Democrats in the majority for the first time in 40 years, we produced an Economic Recovery Plan to address our state’s fiscal crisis. We did this with the help of our Governor, our Republican colleagues and thousands of organizations across the state. It was a great example of the progress that can be made when we work together.

Whether or not you voted for Referendum C, we’re all accountable for its results. That’s why we intend to rebuild state services in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Our first step will be the creation of a Rainy Day Fund – and we’ll draft an annual report so taxpayers can follow every dime. Investing in health care and education are crucial to our state’s ability to field a healthy and well-educated work force in the future.

Here are some specific goals for the year:

Education

• Invest in early childhood education so it’s quality from the very beginning.
  
• Guarantee college admission for high-achieving students.
  
• Help schools find, train and retain effective principals.
  
• Offer a five-year path to a high-school diploma and an associate’s degree. This will improve community college work force programs.
  
• Create incentives to keep at-risk kids in high school and cut down on dropout rates.
  
• Keep college tuitions affordable and increase funding for need-based scholarships

Health Care

• Reduce the price of prescription drugs by pooling our purchasing power with other states. This will save us millions.
  
• Support community health centers so the emergency room is not the primary source of treatment.
  
• Drive down the cost of health insurance for small businesses so employers can provide benefits and still clear a profit.
  
• Expand access to telemedicine and use technology to help save lives.

Economy

• Repair our infrastructure. This will kick-start economic development in the state and attract businesses.
  
• Reduce our reliance on foreign oil by using our great state’s intellectual and natural resources to become a world leader in sustainable energy. This will energize our economy, protect our environment and help protect our national security.

Don’t expect us to shy away from issues like our families and businesses’ financial security, illegal immigration, fighting crime, eminent domain, transportation, public safety (cracking down on sexually violent predators and methamphetamine use) and water supplies, either.

Although our aspirations are unlimited, our means are not. The Colorado Constitution requires a balanced budget, so that’s where we begin this session and where we’ll end it. Ref. C is not a license to spend, by any means, and we’re still operating under a very lean budget. What Ref. C does give us is a five-year timeout to set new priorities and goals for state departments with funding tied to results. That’s why every action we take this year will be with efficiency and accountability on our minds. The voters deserve nothing less.

State government has the potential, and duty, to improve the lives of the people we represent – you, our constituents. Thanks for giving us the opportunity and we won’t let you down.

Government Fun Fact: The Appropriations Bill, also called the “Long Bill,” spells out how the state’s operations are to be funded each fiscal year. It received the nickname because it’s constantly being examined and tinkered with throughout the year – and also because when it’s finally completed it’s far from a quick read.
Did You Know? The price of prescription drugs in Colorado increased 11.4 percent in 2005.

Today, the Governor will give his "State of the State." I look forward to it!

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