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Dem lawmakers ready to battle Benson

Sen. Schwartz already cites her opposition

By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 6, 2008 at 12:32 a.m.

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CU presidential nominee Bruce Benson talks to students and the public at an open meeting Monday.

Photo by Matt Mcclain / The Rocky

CU presidential nominee Bruce Benson talks to students and the public at an open meeting Monday.

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Oilman and University of Colorado presidential candidate Bruce Benson faces an uphill battle to win credibility among Democratic legislators.

"If he were to be the president, I want him to show me that he was capable of holding that office," Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village, a former CU regent, said this week.

Schwartz said she has told Benson she opposes his nomination. She said CU is capable of attracting a "significant national talent from the academic community" for president.

The legislature does not have to confirm CU presidents; that's the job of the regents.

However, legislative opposition can make a CU president's life miserable by withholding financial support or passing laws that are seen to stifle academia.

Benson has been meeting with lawmakers since he was named sole finalist for president last week. On Monday, he met with faculty and students.

Members of the president search committee said Benson was chosen because he has been active in working on education funding for years. He has helped raise money for Denver Public Schools and CU, giving $8 million to the Boulder campus.

But Benson has also made enemies among Democrats by donating heavily to Republicans and leading conservative issue groups. He is a former GOP state chairman.

Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, said he's willing to forget all that if Benson can persuade Republicans to support education funding.

Among key proposals on the table to fund higher education is one to raise the tax on the oil and gas industry.

"As an oil-gas man, who better than Bruce Benson to convince the oil and gas industry to raise their taxes . . . and to invest that $300 million a year into making Colorado the best state in the nation for math and science and technology?" Romer said.

Benson last week did not rule out supporting such a tax, which Gov. Bill Ritter has proposed.

But Benson warned that the proposal faces a well-financed opposition campaign unless the petroleum industry is in support.

"If he (Ritter) tries to cram it down, it's going to lose," Benson said. Similar proposals have lost in other states, he said.

"I hope we can work together to make things happen," he added.

Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, noted that Benson is already working the legislature behind the scenes to find GOP votes for higher education funding.

Penry, a member of the Capital Construction Committee, said Benson last year worked the phones to persuade Republicans to support construction projects.

Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said he still resents some of the rougher campaigns Republicans have waged against Democrats using Benson's money. Buescher chairs the Joint Budget Committee, which drafts the annual state spending bill.

But, Buescher said, "I have pledged to Bruce, if he is president, I will work with him."

Buescher said he made the pledge in a conversation with Benson last week.

morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or (303)954-5209

Comments

  • February 6, 2008

    8:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    The libs are scared to death of having someone who believes in personal accountability, personal responsibility, moral behavior and hard work "infest" the liberal's incubator ... Coke U. With Benson at the helm the kiddies might be tempted to emulate the man, hence fewer "I'm a victim" libs will be hatched from the incubator. OH MY!

    Scott

  • February 6, 2008

    9:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    Are the abilities to donate personal funds, and to raise funds from wealthy cronies the prime requirements for a state university president?

  • February 7, 2008

    9:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jacka writes:

    But, Buescher said, "I have pledged to Bruce, if he is president, I will work with him."

    Buescher said he made the pledge in a conversation with Benson last week.

    Bernie Buescher is a champion of bi-partisan efforts to move Colorado forward. We can trust he will work with President's Benson, Penley, Norton et. al. to make Colorado better. Its about the kids and Bernie being in the corporate jet services and development businesses and Notre Dame grad knows the value of funding CU, CSU, UNC, HigherEd.

    I know he'll stay with Sen Penry on these critical issues.