Governor sells some, but not GOP

Alan Gathright and April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 12, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter won kudos all around Thursday for identifying the state's most pressing problems.

But critics, especially Republicans, said that what's missing are details on his plans to solve them.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker: "We don't disagree that there are problems - it's how we fix them. We heard more of the same: 'I'm going to study this; we'll have a commission for that.' Our hope is that somewhere, at the end of that commission, the answer isn't just more government."

May worries that Ritter's solutions to health care will mean more mandates for employers and consumers, and May dislikes Ritter's decision to join a multistate drug-purchasing pool.

"I think it's a scary beginning. If the government will mandate what drugs you can and can't buy for your particular illness, then hopefully we don't start venturing into (when)they will mandate what doctor you can have."

Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs: McElhany wonders what Ritter meant when he said illegal immigration "remains a problem."

"I think we made some modest gains during the special session last summer, and we would hate to see Colorado retreat from those modest gains."

Carrie Gordon Earll, Focus on the Family: Earll wants more details on Ritter's plan to restore state funding for family-planning programs.

"The voters of Colorado voted that no public funding would go to abortion. My assumption is he may be talking about restoring Planned Parenthood funding, and if so, we'd have concerns about that. Because we're not sure if you can adequately separate their abortion business from their family-planning business."

Kate Horle, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: "We're thrilled (about Ritter's plan to restore family-planning funding.) Gov. Ritter really recognizes that the best way to reduce abortion is by reducing the unintended pregnancy rate. And the best way to reduce unintended pregnancies is to ensure that women have access to family planning."

Tamra Ward, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce: Ward sees a "great synergy" between Ritter's goals and the chamber's push to build renewable energy, bioscience and other key industries. On health care, "We'll want to make sure that while they look at the access issue, they also look at the cost and quality. When we talk to our business members, one of their No. 1 issues is always the cost of health care insurance. But they desperately want to provide it to their employees."

Ritter's commitment to boosting the state's transportation system and serving as Colorado's economic development czar "is music to our ears."

Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver: Carroll praised Ritter's call for prison reform and an examination of Colorado's cash-strapped justice system. "It's time to reform the entire justice system so we don't have a revolving door in our prisons."

Also: "It's gratifying to finally have a governor who echoes the themes important to all Coloradans and not just a small, ideological minority."

Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial: Spence said Ritter did a good job outlining his agenda but fell short on solutions to tough issues facing the state.

"It seems like we're going to study and re-study everything, from transportation, health care, education and job creation. My side of the aisle has an action-oriented agenda."

Will Coyn, director of Environment Colorado: Coyn said it's the environmentalists' time in the sun at the Capitol after years of hitting a brick wall built by former Gov. Bill Owens.

"(Ritter's) vision to create renewable energy initiatives is now a reality. It's the beginning of a long transition for renewable energy and other environmental initiatives that are now moving from the fringes to the forefront."

Craig Cox, head of the renewable energy trade group, Interwest Energy Alliance: Cox praised Ritter's championing of Colorado as the nation's future capital of alternative energy.

"If Ritter's goals come to pass, companies in the wind and solar energy industry will be able to invest at least $1 billion in private money, mostly in Colorado's rural areas."

Greg Schnacke, Colorado Oil and Gas Association: "He's obviously got a strong interest in renewable energy development, and he recognizes the importance of the traditional energy industries in the state."

Bob Martinez, Colorado Republican Party chairman: "Governor Ritter isn't ready for the big time, and he continues to prove it by giving Colorado meaningless fluff instead of substantive policy initiatives.

"The governor's failure to propose anything more than a study of Colorado's problems worries me that the answers are all going to come from his liberal special interest and labor union friends."

Two views of Ritter's speech

Lynn Johnson is a political consultant and member of the Ritter transition team on human services issues. The Jefferson County Republican served in Gov. Bill Owens' administration.

• Best joke: Ritter did not jest with legislators as we've seen in the past, but dealt with long-term visions for Colorado's future. But the audience enjoyed his comment about Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper receiving a standing ovation during his State of the State address.

• How well did he stress his main points: The governor used this opportunity to inspire, motivate and promote his "Colorado Promise." The governor's main points around renewable energy, affordable health care, education, corrections and transportation are extremely ambitious, and he made it clear they will not be easily or quickly attainable.

• Surprises: Gov. Ritter mentioned, several times, his intent to build on the many economic, education and transportation initiatives begun during the Owens administration.

• What he missed: Immigration was a big issue throughout the campaign, and I was surprised we didn't hear more about immigration reform efforts in the speech.

• Anything else: I was encouraged by the common thread running throughout the speech regarding the needs of rural Colorado, and his understanding of the value of education to make a difference in the economy, welfare reform and the quality of life for Coloradans.

Eric Sondermann is an independent political analyst and unaffiliated voter from Denver. At the age of 19, he worked in former Gov. Dick Lamm's administration.

Best joke: It wasn't really a joke but he had a good self-deprecating line as to how his kids questioned his ability to analyze the "state of the state" when he had been governor for only two days.

How well he stressed his main points: He filled the room; looked plenty gubernatorial; set a strong thematic tone and nonpartisan benchmark; and then hit a handful of specific priorities, including some partisan red meat.

Surprises: While he couldn't ignore it, and while he handled it with grace and a touch of humor, his announcement of the Democratic National Convention coming to Denver certainly stole some of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's thunder.

What he missed: He barely missed the record he set in his inaugural speech two days prior for the number of mentions of his "Colorado Promise" in a single bit of oratory.

Anything else: I flashed back to 2005 and the obsession of some leading Democrats to find somebody/anybody else to run for governor. And I was again struck by the unpredictability of politics - and the importance of tenacity and good fortune. And I couldn't help but notice that the television camera had a way of finding - and liking - Democrat Cary Kennedy, the new state treasurer.

Viewpoints from around the Capitol

"We don't disagree that there are problems - it's how we fix them. We heard more of the same."

House Minority Leader Mike May R-Parker

"I think we made some modest gains during the special session last summer, and we would hate to see Colorado retreat from those modest gains."

Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs

"The voters of Colorado voted that no public funding would go to abortion."

Carrie Gordon Earll Focus on the Family

"We're thrilled (about Ritter's plan to restore family-planning funding.)"

Kate Horle Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

"It's time to reform the entire justice system so we

don't have a revolving door in our prisons."

Rep. Terrance Carroll D-Denver