Now the dust can settle. Now things can get back to normal (whatever “normal” is). Now Gov. John Hickenlooper will decide the fate of a plethora of bills passed by the state Legislature before they went home. All in all, political pundits are calling this recently adjourned session to be “non-productive” to “average.” I would call it “most disappointing.”
Once again, the partisan mentality at the Gold Dome caused our elected legislators to fail in passing some key legislation. I, for one, am glad there will be new leadership in both the House and Senate next year, regardless of how this November’s election turns out. Both Bill Cadman, Republican Senate president, and Democrat Speaker of the House Dixie Lee Hullinghorst, are term-limited.
Bad partisan maneuver
First and foremost, Bill Cadman and the Republican-controlled Senate prevented the infusion of $700 million for the upcoming year’s state budget based on their personal philosophies and agendas. In part, the funds would have included $50 million for additional critical highway and roadwork, $40 million additional funds for K-12 public schools and $49.5 million additional funds for higher education.
These extra funds were not based on any tax increase. What was required was to simply authorize moving state hospital provider fees from the state’s general fund to a separate enterprise fund. It has been done before with college tuition funds and the Republican attorney general had opined that it was legit to do. So, how many miles of state highways could the additional funds have paved, or how many chuckholes could have been filled? How could the additional K-12 school funds have played a role in improving the classroom teacher-student ratio, or increasing the number of electronic tablets that grade school students could have utilized? And what about the added higher education funds that could have helped dilute the hefty tuition fees required by our state colleges and universities?
Let the voters decide
Next, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives torpedoed a $3.5 billion bond package for transportation improvements, which would have been sent to the voters for the “final say.” Again, this proposal was not based on a tax increase. What is wrong with letting Colorado voters decide how to fund highway improvements? Who is being served with such legislative maneuvers? It is not the people.
With less capital dollars to spread around, our state highway system and bridges are gradually crumbling. The longer the legislature and governor wait to address this increasing time bomb, the harder it will be to put a meaningful “dent” in the deteriorating highways et al.
Presidential primary denied
We the people were denied the opportunity to participate in a presidential primary election starting in 2020. Blame that one on the Republican-controlled Senate. I can understand the side issue of whether to allow unaffiliated registered voters to vote in a party primary. However, a decision to authorize a presidential primary election seems quite simple to me. Why not allow Coloradoans the same opportunity which most states afford their taxpayers/residents/voters?
Condo unit construction not resolved
Next is the failure for the fourth year in a row to produce a workable solution to the construction defects law involving condominium developments. Do our elected legislators know how to practice the art of compromise? Again, that partisan mentality blocked progress.
Condominium developments provide an opportunity for younger families and lower-income families and individuals to own their own home. Workforce housing opportunities other than rental apartments are dependent on condo unit developments, and individual cities will have to come to grips with solving the construction defects issue. Partisanship is not the best way to create legislation where uniformity is an important consideration.
Developments like Westminster’s new “Downtown” at the former Westminster Mall site are predicated on an important condominium component in the land use mix and injecting workforce housing opportunities. To date, the Westminster City Council has stumbled over this issue, and thus no condo projects are under consideration. This needs to be resolved. Some leadership needs to be exercised for the best interests of the people and for the ultimate success of the new Downtown.
Beer and wine legislation is a mess
While there are more examples of the failed recent session, I will leave you with the hurry-up piece of legislation even the governor cannot understand. It is the battle over the sale of full-strength beer and wine in grocery stores and major discount retailers. The bill, which was produced at the 11 hour (for real) before sine die, is a mess. It is an attempt to protect the mom-and-pop liquor stores across Colorado while giving the “big boys” like Walmart, King Soopers and Target a limited number (20) of new liquor licenses over 20 years. This bill needs the governor’s veto.