Ritter follows two tracks

Mix of optimism, realism offered amid hard times

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published January 9, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated January 9, 2009 at 5:23 a.m.

Text size

Photo by Preston Gannaway / The Rocky

Senate President Peter Groff, center, introduces Gov. Bill Ritter, right, for the State of the State address at the state Capitol on Thursday. At left is House Speaker Terrance Carroll.

More Colorado Government

Map my news

Gov. Bill Ritter mixed realism with optimism in his State of the State address Thursday, saying Colorado will face hard times but still can move forward on issues like transportation and education.

The Democratic governor reiterated calls for economic-development tax credits and hospital fees, offered a rough outline of a road-funding plan and proposed new renewable-energy and education measures. He also said the recession offers a chance to address aspects of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights that some officials consider suffocating and to consider extending a five-year timeout on its restrictions.

The speech follows months of bad news about joblessness and declining tax revenues that have left Colorado with a projected $1 billion budget deficit over the next year and a half.

Ritter implored the two parties to find bipartisan cooperation to move the state forward in this time of need.

"We must not give in to partisan politics. We must not let cynicism win out over hope. We must not let fear win out over faith," the governor said as he began his third legislative session. "Future generations will look back to see if we let petty differences stand in the way of progress, if we looked past our own differences to rebuild an economy, to put people back to work, to get this state and this country moving again."

Legislators had mixed reactions.

"The governor's remarks were the perfect tenor for the time we're in," said Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver. "We have some very difficult decisions to make, but it doesn't stop us from looking at the opportunities and possibilities as well."

But Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, questioned whether Ritter may have been too optimistic in his tone. The Joint Budget Committee just received a memo that even $1 billion in transportation investment will generate just $33 million in state tax revenues, a minuscule portion of the current budget shortfall.

"I can't think of a fee that we could possibly raise enough to make a difference in the problems we have," Pommer said.

Economic development

The centerpiece of Ritter's plans is a previously announced package that would offer tax credits to companies that create at least 20 new jobs. His plan also would revive a program that helps businesses get loans to expand.

Colorado has never been able to compete against other states in terms of incentives, and even considering this new proposal has put the state back into contention for another wind-manufacturing plant to locate here, Ritter said.

However, Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, said Ritter's job-creation message ran contrary to his talk about increasing transportation or hospital fees that could cost jobs.

Transportation

Ritter did not cite specific ways to create more funding for roads. But he outlined a three-tiered plan to examine fee increases and bond sales this year, explore creative strategies like public-private partnerships in the near future and then create a long-term funding system.

House Transportation and Energy Committee Chairwoman Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, said she appreciated Ritter's support for a major transportation package. But Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, called the speech "short on specifics."

Health care

The governor repeated his recently announced plan to assess provider fees on hospitals and leverage the revenue to put more than 100,000 Coloradans on public health insurance.

Colorado Hospital Association President Steven Summer lauded the plan as a way to expand health care access and cut the number of costly uninsured patients treated at hospitals.

Renewable energy economy

Ritter said new single-family homes should be constructed with capacity for solar energy and that wind and solar projects should be built at rural schools.

The governor emphasized his continuing commitment to renewable energy as a way to help the economy.

"The New Energy Economy is a place where we must keep creating new jobs, new innovations and new opportunities," he said.

Education

Ritter pushed a plan to let high school students enroll concurrently in college and pursue degrees simultaneously.

The proposal earned bipartisan praise.

TABOR

Ritter suggested the budget crunch offers a chance to loosen the "statutory straitjacket" under which several constitutional provisions dictate spending in certain areas of the budget. Ritter said legislators need to talk also about whether to extend Referendum C, a 2005 ballot measure that removed state spending caps for five years.

Groff said it was politically courageous to put forward a topic that has been discussed behind the scenes but not pushed so openly. But Kopp said he was shocked Ritter would bring the idea up after voters rejected an amendment in November that would have altered TABOR.

Oil and gas

Ritter also drew mixed reviews for asking the legislature to finalize regulations recommended by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission that would add more protections for wildlife and the environment.

Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said it would be a "huge error" to rubber-stamp rules that could cost oil and gas workers jobs.

sealovere@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

Reaction to Ritter

* "The governor was trying to be optimistic but a realist as well. We don't have a lot of resources and we have to try to make the best of a bad situation I don't see going away any time soon."

Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison

* "Our party argued last year for a measly 1 percent to set aside. We said trouble's coming but nobody wanted to listen. The governor squashed it and here we are today in a situation we could have really been ahead of."

Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument

* "That has to be one of the most tepid responses from the governor's own party to a State of the State speech. Last year the Democrats were kind of raucous, as I remember. Maybe it's the atmosphere with the economy, but it seemed so subdued."

Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party

* "There really isn't much to clap about. It really is kind of an austerity period we are in. We live in somber times and we're going to have to be pragmatic about how we make cuts. We have some difficult issues and challenges ahead."

Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver

* "I think he is reaching out to the federal government more than my party would like. I am concerned with funding Colorado's economic growth with fees on hospitals, registrations and whatever else. And I was struck by how few Republicans he mentioned."

Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial

* "Whatever we decide to do if there are fee increases involved, we have to debate thoroughly, we have to get the buy-in of the public and the results have to be tangible."

Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, chairwoman of the House transportation committee

* "I think some of the renewable energy proposals are small ball, frankly."

Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction

* "We are pleased that health care is included among Gov. Ritter's priorities for 2009. We cannot afford to ignore the pressing health care needs of Coloradans. Those who say we should wait to improve our health care system until the economy improves ignore the fact that health care is an economic issue."

Anne Warhover, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News