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Legislature opens with focus on schools, jobs

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Contributed by: Emily Arell on 1/15/2008

Jobs, schools, healthcare - those are the priorities for the Legislative session outlined Jan. 9 by Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff in his opening day speech. Jan. 9 marked the beginning of the 2nd regular session of the 66th Colorado General Assembly. It will be Speaker Romanoff's last session in the House of Representatives.

Although the occasion was huge, Speaker Romanoff decided to keep the focus small; tiny, in fact.

His opening remarks focused on nine-day-old Wyatt J. Sheets, one of Colorado's newest residents. Wyatt was born just after midnight on New Year's Day in Glenwood Springs, although his family lives in Colorado Springs. Speaker Romanoff illustrated how the policy choices the General Assembly makes today will affect baby Wyatt and his generation.

"The quality of Wyatt's life depends on the decisions we make here, in this chamber this year," said Speaker Romanoff. "We're not Wyatt's parents; nobody can take their place. But we can make it easier for Wyatt to thrive."

Speaker Romanoff highlighted the House's three legislative priorities: education, health care and economic development, or as he called it, "energizing the economy."

On education, Speaker Romanoff outlined plans to guarantee Wyatt and his peers "a Smart Start, a top-flight teacher, and a safe school." He vowed to expand access to preschool and kindergarten.

Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) echoed the Speaker's support for improving Colorado's education. "We're going to make our education system better by recruiting, rewarding, and retaining the best teachers in the country."

The Speaker also pledged to fight for his Building Excellent Schools Today - or BEST - plan, which will make as much as $1 billion available to help repair and rebuild crumbling schools across the state, with no new fees or taxes.

"Now it's a little too soon to ask Wyatt - or any newborn - what he wants to be when he grows up," quipped Speaker Romanoff. "But here's one thing we do know. What he earns depends on what he learns. Where a child comes from shouldn't determine how far he can go."

On health care, the Speaker discussed various legislative plans making health insurance more accessible, affordable and usable. Speaker Romanoff emphasized plans to make coverage available to more children in Colorado; to reduce administrative costs by streamlining and standardizing insurance documents; and to reward prevention and personal responsibility.

"Fortunately, Wyatt's parents have health insurance," continued Romanoff. "Unfortunately, one out of every six Coloradoans is still uninsured. And families who are insured spend almost $1,000 annually to subsidize other Coloradoans who are not."

Lastly, Speaker Romanoff discussed how developing the renewable energy economy and promoting environmental stewardship were critical for Colorado's future generations.

"We don't have to savage the economy in order to salvage the environment," said Romanoff. "We just need to find smarter ways to sustain both."

The Speaker highlighted ambitious plans to "energize the economy." By helping homeowners and small businesses afford the upfront costs of installing solar panels, by allowing rural electric co-op customers the chance to generate their own power, and by opening the market to large-scale solar projects, the Speaker demonstrated how Colorado will continue its role as a leader in achieving energy independence.

Following the speech, Representative Gwyn Green (D-Golden) shared "In 2008, I will work every day with three goals in mind: to help you and your kids have access to quality, affordable healthcare, to make sure our children get the education they need to meet their potential, and to help Colorado attract the best high-paying jobs that the 21st century has to offer."

Emily Arell is the Deputy Director of Communications for the Colorado House Majority.

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