Ritter endorses many of Owens' legislative vetoes

Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 16, 2006 at midnight

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Gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter may be a Democrat, but Friday he agreed with many legislative vetoes Republican Gov. Bill Owens imposed in recent years.

A self-described moderate, Ritter repeatedly said "I'd veto that" when presented, during a 90-minute Rocky Mountain News editorial board interview, with a dozen bills that Owens spiked.

Ritter, who has strong labor backing, said he agreed with vetoes ranging from a workers compensation bill that Owens said would hurt small contractors to bills creating licensing requirements for physical education teachers and athletic trainers.

He said he would veto legislation providing state unemployment benefits to workers engaged in a company lockout and several bills aimed at publicly exposing employers whose uninsured workers are forced to turn to public health care.

"As you travel this state, people want problem-solvers in government and they want them to do it in a rational, moderate and sort of centrist fashion," said the former Denver district attorney.

Ritter said he'd address the 770,000 uninsured Coloradans by calling all the players to the table and hammering out a state health plan.

Ritter offered a "middle ground" course on a 2005 bill to let injured workers pick their own doctor.

Ritter said he proposes giving injured workers the choice of two doctors. "And those doctors actually are competing for the business."

Ritter said he disagreed with Republican opponent Bob Beauprez's proposal to remove caps on state college tuition. Gov. Owens has steadfastly opposed letting colleges and universities charge what they deem a market-rate tuition.

"My son has friends who said that they're not going to CU and CSU because they're not able to afford it. I think that as a state we need to do all we can to devote money to higher education from Referendum C," he said, referring to the ballot measure passed last November allowing state government to keep an estimated $3.7 billion over five years rather than refund it to taxpayers.

Asked about California's law limiting greenhouse gas emissions by industry, Ritter said he'd appoint an expert to advise him before taking action.

"But I won't rule that out at all. Because if we don't address it in Colorado, we have more to lose than other states," he said, noting tourism and agriculture would wither without reliable rain and snowfall.

Ritter said he would oppose any "wholesale change" in Colorado's longstanding limits on lawsuit damages, but added that he would resist pressure from Beauprez to vow never to lift lawsuit damage caps.

Asked how he's personally voted on tax hikes, Ritter listed several measures he supported: the 1999 T-Rex $1.7 billion expansion of regional highways and light-rail; a failed 2000 measure that would have provided $50 million annually for math and science education; and last year's Referenda C and D.

The Democratic candidate opposed a 2001 initiative to fund a $50 million pilot to test a high-speed rail link to the ski country, as well as a 2000 property tax reduction for seniors.

Ritter on issues

• Global climate change: If we don't address it, we have a lot more to lose than other states. Two out of three of our biggest industries rely on precipitation.

• Funding highways vs. mass transit: Highway expansion is part of the mix, but you have to keep transit as an option.

• Deciding not to criticize Jeffco law enforcement for their delay in going inside Columbine High School: Everybody loves a critic, but what constructive role do you play as a public official.

• Proposal to term limit judges, meaning the next governor would select five of seven supreme court justices: I think it's a terrible idea. I'm voting against it.

• Gov. Bill Owens' decision to label parents of Jon Benet Ramsey "prime suspects" : I would not have handled it that way. You should be more cautious.

• Gay marriage, which he opposes: We are a generation in transition here. My father was against gay marriage, but my kids have no problem with it. The churches have a point. Marriage is sacramental. It's precious and sacred.

• Civil unions for gays, which he supports: That may be all we can and should do as a state.

• Deciding not to prosecute Denver police officers in controversial shootings: A prosecutor has to have a reasonable belief you can convict someone. There wasn't a case I saw that I could take on.

• View within police department after he criticized their tactics: I don't think I've ever had something good written about me in a (police union) newsletter.

• Opposing Beauprez's proposal to abolish gas tax and replace it with higher sales tax: The sales tax is a regressive tax. Lowering the gas tax encourages people to drive more.

• Fairness of judging teachers by CSAP scores: My wife teaches emotionally disturbed kids. They were taking the CSAP and she had kids coming directly from the psych ward.

• His opposition to allowing state colleges to make large increases in tuition: My son has friends who say they're not going to the University of Colorado because they can't afford it.

• His support for extending criminal statute of limitations for victims of child sex abuse: I have a neighbor who was a victim of priest sex abuse.

• Why he questions extending civil statute of limitations for child sex abuse: It's very difficult for an institution to defend themselves if the perpetrator is dead.

• His fear the U.S. is losing its competitive edge: There's an advantage (in science) and I think it's eroding. You have to invest in higher education.

• His support of the ballot measure to hike the minimum wage: I believe it's important. The minimum wage should be meaningful and it's not.

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