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New faces, new roles

State’s elected officials head to D.C. with more Dems than Republicans for the first time since ’81-’82 term

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 3, 2007 at midnight

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WASHINGTON - Inside the U.S. Senate clerk's office sits a leather-bound ledger in which lawmakers have scribbled their thoughts for more than a century.

First-term Sen. Ken Salazar left his mark on those pages last year. After he was tapped to make the traditional re-enactment of George Washington's 1796 Farewell Address, he sat down to write his reflections on Washington's legacy.

"I think today he would warn us that excessive partisanship is weakening our nation's government, and would ask our nation's leaders to embark on a new era of civility," he wrote.

Soon, Salazar and four fellow Colorado Democrats will get to show whether civility and bipartisanship are more than inspiring words on paper.

Congress reconvenes on Thursday. As Democrats charge back to the top of Capitol Hill, they're still talking about bipartisanship. But they're also promising a bold change of direction on the Iraq war, health care, energy policy, budget deficits, immigration and other issues.

Right off the bat, Coloradans will be at the center of many of those debates.

In the forefront on stem cells, Iraq, immigration

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, will be thrust back into a national spotlight as she tries to build a veto-proof majority for her legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research.

In 2006, she won majority passage but didn't have enough votes to reverse the president's first-ever veto.

"We're picking up votes every day," DeGette said. "We'll get closer this time. Whether we can overcome the 50-vote shortfall, I don't know."

Democrats are expected to use their new-found control of the House Armed Services Committee to challenge the president's strategy on Iraq. As a committee member, Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, will have a bigger platform for questioning the war, which he opposed from the beginning.

"Wise men and women acknowledge mistakes," Udall said recently. "I think countries are no different. I think we ought to acknowledge we've made mistakes and ask for a new start."

Early in 2007, Salazar expects to play a key role as Democrats revive a White House-backed guest-worker plan that was blocked by House Republicans last summer.

Salazar called the recent immigration raids at Swift & Co. plants nationwide, including Greeley, a "clarion call" for comprehensive immigration reform.

Meanwhile, his brother, Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, will be in an interesting position entering his second term. That's because he's part of the "Blue Dog Coalition," a group of centrist-leaning Democrats who could provide the key swing votes on the most closely contested issues.

For the first time since the 1981-82 session, Colorado is sending more Democrats than Republicans to Congress. That could mean new, more defensive roles, for Republicans who have spent most of their time in the majority during the past decade.

For example, instead of leading a charge for a congressional crackdown on illegal immigration, Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, might have to whip up opposition to block a revived guest-worker proposal.

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, are unlikely to see Democrats bring up their proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Still, they can focus on their priorities through committee assignments, like Allard's seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee or Musgrave's subcommittee chairmanship overseeing small-business issues.

Past shadows, future campaigns loom large

The new year brings two new faces to the state delegation: Democrat Ed Perlmutter, who replaces departing Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez, and Republican Doug Lamborn, who replaces Republican fixture Rep. Joel Hefley.

Hefley had represented Colorado Springs for 20 years, and Lamborn will have to pick up his mantle defending the district's military bases.

Hefley's departure also means a new, symbolic role for Allard, who becomes the longest-serving member of Colorado's delegation. One big question is how long Allard intends to hold that unofficial title.

Within days, Allard is expected to announce whether he will honor his long-standing term-limits pledge and retire after 2008 or run for a third term to spare his party from having to defend an open seat.

Besides political ramifications, Allard has to weigh the value of his seniority. Even though he will be in the Senate minority in 2007, he still is the only Coloradan on the appropriations committee, putting him in a key spot to bring home the bacon.

Democrats' most likely Senate candidate is Udall, who has said he'll make an announcement "at the appropriate time." Still, an Allard retirement announcement could touch off the same sort of political stampede that followed then-Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's abrupt retirement decision in 2004.

So far, Allard has kept people guessing, although he said Republicans should expect a tough contest whether he runs or not. "I've always faced tough races before," Allard said. "I'm used to being an underdog."

Senators', representatives' to-do list

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland

• Decide whether to seek re-election.

• Defend Colorado's funding needs on Appropriations Committee.

• Take bipartisan, peacemaking role as the new longest-serving member of state's delegation.

Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver

• Help revive comprehensive immigration reform and guest-worker plan.

• Learn the ropes of powerful Senate Finance Committee.

• Remember bipartisan mantra when tackling Iraq, energy, health care and deficits.

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver

• Seek veto-proof majority to expand embryonic stem-cell research.

• Gird for higher profile on Democrat-run investigations subcommittee.

• Revive patient-protection and wilderness bills that stalled under Republicans.

Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs

• Decide whether to run for U.S. Senate.

• Push Colorado space programs through new subcommittee chairmanship.

• Play bigger role on Iraq policy on House Armed Services Committee.

Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa

• Learn to capitalize on status as one of the centrist Democrats who could decide close votes.

• Step up oversight of veterans issues, particularly for troops returning from Iraq.

• Defend rural constituents in pending farm bill.

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan

• Focus on local concerns as Democrats shelve marriage amendment.

• Defend rural constituents in the new farm bill.

• Use subcommittee seat to advance issues for small businesses.

Rep.-elect Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs

• Track military issues critical to Colorado Springs area.

• Learn to work with Democrats on bipartisan causes.

• Make peace with Rep. Joel Hefley, who didn't endorse him.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton

• Decide whether to run for the White House, Senate or House in 2008.

• Try to block Democrats from reviving White House-backed guest-worker plan.

• Find new cities, celebrities or world religions to use as sparring partners.

Rep.-elect Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden

• Help DeGette whip up votes for embryonic stem-cell research.

• Master arcane procedural rules, but don't step on toes of veteran lawmakers.

• Learn the ropes on Financial Services Committee.