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Colorado legislature open for business

But sick economy, crumbling roads mean hard choices

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 7, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated January 7, 2009 at 4:36 p.m.

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Rep. Terrance Carroll is nominated as speaker of the house as the state legislature kicks off the 2009 session.

Darin McGregor © The Rocky

Rep. Terrance Carroll is nominated as speaker of the house as the state legislature kicks off the 2009 session.

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Terrance Carroll is sworn in as speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

Photo by Preston Gannaway © The Rocky

Terrance Carroll is sworn in as speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

Rep. Cory Gardner R-Yuma sits with his nephew Caden Kokes, 7, before the state legislature kicks off the 2009 session at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Also shown from left are Gardner's grandmothers Anne Gardner and Betty Pagel and mother Cindy Gardner.

Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky

Rep. Cory Gardner R-Yuma sits with his nephew Caden Kokes, 7, before the state legislature kicks off the 2009 session at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday Jan. 7, 2009. Also shown from left are Gardner's grandmothers Anne Gardner and Betty Pagel and mother Cindy Gardner.

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The curtain has just gone up on the Colorado legislature's 2009 session with 100 lawmakers and one governor determined to repair Colorado's crumbling highways and shore up the state's ailing economy.

But how they'll go about doing it is another matter.

The legislature's top Republican leaders Tuesday proposed mortgaging the state's assets, such as buildings, to secure immediate cash to fix roads and bridges, thus creating or saving existing jobs.

"We cannot afford to wait," said Sen. Josh Penry, of Grand Junction, the new Senate minority leader, who was flanked by his counterpart in the House, Rep. Mike May, of Parker.

Ritter dislikes plan

Gov. Bill Ritter and other Democrats said they want to work with Republicans, but rejected the idea of leveraging state buildings because the plan does not produce the revenue needed to pay back the loans.

"This would be a public version of sub-prime lending," the governor said.

Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, pointed out that the T-REX project voters approved in 1999 is being paid from current and future federal and transportation funds, but no new money.

"This is a doubling down on a credit card strategy we can't afford," Romer said. "This is just craziness."

Colorado has pressing transportation needs, but dwindling transportation dollars.

Ritter is moving forward with an omnibus plan that would involve some sort of fee increase to generate money to go especially toward the 126 structurally deficient bridges in the state. The specifics of those fees are still being discussed, as Ritter is hoping to get bipartisan support on the measure.

But Republicans are worried about increasing fees in the current economic climate.

"We should explore all of our other options before we reach into the pockets of Colorado citizens who are already feeling the pinch of this economy," May said.

Lawmakers have promised to work together to get a transportation plan in place as soon as possible, while at the same time dealing with a possible $600 million shortfall for the current budget year, which ends June 30.

Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, told the House GOP caucus Tuesday he fears that the $600 million projection is too low. He advised any lawmaker who has introduced a bill with a fiscal note, which indicates how much money it will cost to implement, to pull the bill because there's no money.

Focus on transportation

Despite the budget crunch, lawmakers are focused on helping transportation.

"It makes zero sense that transportation, our roads and bridges, are a second-class priority in our budget," Penry said.

Ritter told a crowd of more than 150 people at a City Club of Denver luncheon Tuesday that he wants to incorporate climate and land-use planning into transportation planning. He did not give details on how he would fuse the different types of planning, but said he wants to reward development that is proposed with transit in mind rather than drawn up in a way that will make residents drive an increasing number of miles to get to stores or work.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327

Legislature 2009

Starts: 10 a.m. today

Ends: The session must be over by midnight May 6, but lawmakers can end earlier.

Senate breakdown: 21 Democrats, 14 Republicans

House breakdown: 38 Democrats, 27 Republicans

Of note: Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter will deliver his State of the State address at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The Capitol online

State Web site: leg.state.co.us. The site includes informations on bills, how to contact lawmakers and has an audio link to listen to committees or floor action.

Phone: 303-866-2904

Address: 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO, 80203.

House only: Live Web-streaming at coloradochannel.net or live TV at Comcast Channel 165

Live legislative blog

* The Rocky's Lynn Bartels and Ed Sealover provide live updates from the legislative session. Go to the home page at Rocky MountainNews.com for the link.

Comments

  • January 7, 2009

    8:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    I must say the Photographers there at the Rocky are the best in the business...

    VERY nice sunrise pic of the capitol!!!

  • January 7, 2009

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HolierThanThou writes:

    Making our severance taxes comparable to other states would have helped to finance infrastructure but we voted that down.

    It's a day of joy for those who love squandering their lives away breathing poisonous fumes while minding the rear of the truck obstructing the view. That truck won't be going anywhere anytime soon thanks to the traffic jam.

    But at least the gas we'll be wasting idling in traffic is cheap for now.

  • January 7, 2009

    9:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Nobama writes:

    I'm so glad that they are back on the job, working on our economic problems. I feel better already. They are so qualified and knowledgable, I just know they will come up with some quick fixes to make things better. You know, the government, be it Federal or State, can provide solutions to all our problems if we just give them the opportunity, especially if they are dominated by Democrats. None of us has to be responsible for our own self preservation, fiscal discipline, health, education, etc. You get the picture, don't you?

  • January 7, 2009

    10:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Willy writes:

    Why don't we give them each a telephone and a computer set up with Webex and have them work from home. We could save all of that gas and their expense money, plus we could rent out the capitol building for private parties to generate more revenue.

  • January 7, 2009

    10:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LoneTreeLady75 writes:

    Willy, I like your thinking :oP

  • January 7, 2009

    10:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    Willy,
    I like that idea. we actually then could use some of the Rooms for Historical significance. Like showcasing what works and what does not.
    TABOR would be a good example of what does NOT work.
    Doug Bruce, Bill Owens, George Bush and D!ck Cheney wax sculptures the public could kick, and spit on...

  • January 7, 2009

    10:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Elwood writes:

    Hang on to your wallets folks, the theives are back in session working on how to find loopholes in the current laws to grab more of your money to fund their pet projects.

    First way to cut the budget is to eliminate the per diem for our legislaters and give them a 10% salary reduction. Ought to be good for a million dollars or so.

  • January 7, 2009

    10:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    Ryecatcher
    Nobama makes a good point. We've been trading away rights and letting go personal responsibilities for decades. Too few pay too much a share of the federal and state revenues. Most Americans pay nothing but enjoy the benefits. We've given government way too much power. We see legislative bodies meeting every year adding to, rather than solving our fiscal problems. Courts have usurped most of the decision-making abilities of the legislative. Democrats support these unfortunate trends, just as long as their clientele doesn't have to pay for it. What we have now are some astounding per capita numbers in a falling income environment. We need smart people like you coming up with solutions, not falling back on old hackneyed thinking. So, you know the massive problem we're facing, what are your solutions?

  • January 7, 2009

    10:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Nobama writes:

    Wow! I like this "hopi" guy a lot. I've been avoiding any followup dialogue on this forum, after my initial posts, cause it only riles up the Liberal Support Group. And you cannot have a rationale discussion if you promote Conservative positions. All you get are personal insults and emotional rants in response, to wit the reply from "ryecatcher". I "hopi" you keep up the good fight. You are another voice in the wilderness, and we need that. I'll be back another time, another topic, but will not engage with the daily Liberal Support Group.

  • January 7, 2009

    11:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DifferentPerspective writes:

    Well, what officially accepted lies and officially unacknowledged facts will be the basis of this session?

  • January 7, 2009

    12:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    justright writes:

    The Ritter thinks sooooo highly of the the state assets that they are the equivelent of the sub-prime assets? I didn't realize the capital is worth nothing. The peoples assets have no value in the govs own words. What an embarressment.

    Let me translate the word "fee"; higher taxes, less take home money, stick it to the little guy, medium size guy and the big guy.

    Repubs should just stay home or go to their other job. The Dems have had for two years large majorities and continue to have large majorities. They control everything! This is their mess. They made it. They expanded the state goverment beyond what the revenues would support during the "good times".

    To think after two years of running the state the only thing passed is the ability to buy whiskey on Sunday.

  • January 7, 2009

    12:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    badbob writes:

    Willy, do you think we can get more work out of them working out of sight at home than we get from them working at the capitol?

  • January 7, 2009

    1:13 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Willy writes:

    They can work in their jammies and fluffy slippers without being bothered to lunch and drink with those lobbyist rascals.

    I rarely see them accomplish anything the way it is.

  • January 7, 2009

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AC writes:

    Nobama writes: "And you cannot have a rationale discussion if you promote Conservative positions."

    <chuckle> I couldn't have said it any better. Do you get the irony in your statement? Probably not.

    And justright: Ritter compared the Republicans' plan to mortgage the golden dome to the subprime crisis NOT because the buildings have no value -- they do -- but because like typical Republicans, they don't offer a payment plan for it. You want some NY banker to own the capital and our parks? Can you go into a bank and mortgage your house if you tell the bank you don't have a job and no income to pay the mortgage?

    That's the kind of thinking, from Bush on down, that has dug the hole we're in. Credit card government courtesy of Republicans.

  • January 7, 2009

    1:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Slimjim_800 writes:

    The other thing about leveraging state buildings is that it sounds to me like its increasing government debt and that would have to be voted on by the taxpayers. Government officials should not be trying to circumvent TABOR on some technicality when the intent of the bill is quite clear.

  • January 7, 2009

    2:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Macita183 writes:

    Perhaps to help with budget cuts they could exclude floral arrangements from all sessions, like the one seen in the one of the pictures. Just a thought if you want to talk about cutting funding to things you might want to get rid of the flowers so people actually take you seriously.

  • January 7, 2009

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    farsidefan writes:

    Good job Rocky ! I believe that is Andrew Romanoff's picture on the front page of your website.
    For years, the governor's budget has been accepted by the leadership of the prospective houses. They thank the governor, basically throw it in the trash and wait for the JBC budget to show up. Everything else is theater.
    Why would anyone want to be governor when the most powerful position under the dome is the Chair of the JBC ?
    Unfortunately, the chair is chosen by the majority party. It is not good when the gov is of the same party. Not as much debate on the budget.
    This happened under Owens and will happen under Ritter.
    Still, the JBC budget is much closer to the real thing.