I interviewed Representative Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) and Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) about the upcoming legislative session starting this week, Wednesday, January 9, 2007.
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): both of these men are smart, articulate, and dedicated advocates for their constituents. They answered the questions and did not run from legitimate questions about their positions. Sadly, none of those qualities is going to result in more hugs on the House floor...
Koombyah: both legislators agreed that approximately 95% of all legislation anticipated this session will have bi-partisan support.
Battlelines: as predicted, the hot topics this session will labor, education, health care, and how to pay for it all.
LABOR
Rep. McNulty left little doubt that Governor Ritter's November 3, 2007 Executive Order formally recognizing unions in state government for the first time and allowing union representatives to negotiate with department heads over "issues of mutual concern" would be a front-burner issues for Republican lawmakers. Legislation will be offered by the GOP to ensure that state government employees cannot strike, a concern raised by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in his November 29, 2007 formal opinion.
TAXES
Last year's law passed by the Legislature permitting the state to prevent the regularly scheduled decrease in property taxes for most of Colorado continues to inflame GOP passions. Rep. McNulty, echoing the position taken by Republicans since the law was signed into effect, stated the move was a "tax increase" that the Colorado Constitution mandates goes to the voters for final approval, not the legislature. Speaker Romanoff countered that voters in all but 3 school districts in Colorado already voted in compliance with the Colorado Constitution to permit the type of property-tax provision signed into law by Governor Ritter.
EDUCATION
For Speaker Romanoff, an issue of concern this session is providing the tax resources necessary to provide for the improvement of many of the oldest and most poorly maintained school buildings in the state. He specifically cited an elementary school he toured in Pueblo.
For Rep. McNulty, an important legislative goal this session is to provide mandated state standards for education, such as 4 years of mathematics in high school, but allow individual school districts to determine how to best meet those standards.
ENVIRONMENT
We didn't really discuss it. I presume both legislators want to save trees by authoring and amending less laws this session. Then agan...I doubt it.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
