 |
Welcome
EDUCATION TOWN HALL SATURDAY, MARCH 13: WHAT KIND OF STATE DO WE WANT? We all care about the future of our children, and the quality of their education is undeniably one of the most important components that will shape their future. With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to my next town hall meeting, which will focus on K-12 education. For the details, the meeting will be held this Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Chautauqua Community House Grand Assembly room, 900 Baseline Road in Boulder. Click here for maps of the Chautauqua grounds and directions. School districts across the state are struggling with budget shortfalls, and the state's budget situation is a major factor in available funding for local schools. We may be forced to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from this year's K-12 budget, and readers may click here for a recent story from Education News Colorado that gives a good overview of where we stood in February. Also, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Chris King, superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District, will be on hand Saturday as our guest speaker. King is currently wrestling with BVSD budget issues of his own, and readers may click here for a recent story from the Daily Camera with some local perspective. While funding is important, it's not the only factor in ensuring educational excellence. I am a member of the Senate Education committee, and the state has been working on educational reform efforts such as the package of proposed improvements that we put together for our federal "Race to the Top" application. Colorado was recently named a finalist in the competition, and we will discuss a number of performance-based measures during Saturday's meeting. Town hall meetings are free and open to the public, and we will set aside plenty of time for questions and comments from attendees. Please contact me if you have questions before the meeting, and I hope to see you there! COLLABORATION ON DISPLAY We had yet another lively town hall meeting on Feb. 20, and for this one, we brought representatives from several entities together in the Boulder City Council Chambers to talk about issues facing the broader community. Susan Osborne, Mayor of Boulder, started the meeting by speaking about how the state government impacts the city's operation. She said that the city isn't as affected by the state's fiscal situation to the same extent that the county government is, but she noted that local bridge conditions and the city's current diminished funding per lane-mile of roadway are of concern to the city. She also said that the city is in constant contact with the Governor's Energy Office, which assisted the city by authorizing it to sell bonds to finance its efforts to make municipal buildings more energy-efficient. The city also interacts with the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), and this relationship has led to funding or credits that helped several new housing projects in Boulder move forward. Osborne expressed concern that the state budget situation has contributed to a decline in Boulder Valley School District per-pupil funding - for the first time in decades - and that there is a possibility of eliminating some teacher positions. "All levels of government in Colorado are affected by the crisis in state government," concluded Osborne. "We're all interconnected."
Carl Castillo, policy advisor for the City of Boulder, then spoke about our collaborative efforts on Senate Bill 156, which would provide new protections for responsible owners of mobile homes and require new responsibilities on the part of mobile home park owners. Castillo explained the bill to attendees, which would increase notification periods for certain evictions and for intent to change the use of the park, along with requiring parks to maintain adequate water and sewer systems except in cases of emergency. He emphasized that mobile homes are an important source of affordable housing in Boulder. Audrey DeBarros, executive director of 36 Commuting Solutions, then spoke about her organization's efforts to improve what we once called the Boulder-Denver Turnpike. The original road was built in the 1950s, and while there are new interchanges and some additional lane improvements, US 36 has not had the major overhaul that it needs to handle modern-day traffic.
DeBarros handed out a brochure and explained some of the recent US 36 developments, along with plans for the future. In short, a Final Environmental Impact Statement for US 36 has been signed, and "phase one" priority includes construction of a new High Occupancy Vehicle / tolled Single Occupant Vehicle lane in both directions. The $550 million project would also include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure and a commuter bikeway. However, full funding might not be available for this project in the near future. In the meantime, DeBarros told the crowd that US 36 was awarded a $10 million grant from the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, and that it might qualify for financing through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. Also, she said RTD has applied for a grant to obtain 20 BRT vehicles. There is progress on the US 36 front. I then had my chance to speak, and I started by talking about the package of budget balancing bills (House Bills 1189-1200) that I sponsored in the Senate. The bills basically would suspend several existing tax credits or exemptions, bringing about $140 million to the state's general fund that could be used to prevent cuts to education. I showed a video of a recent speech of mine from the Senate floor (coming to this Web site soon), which I believe was a passionate representation of why we needed to pass the bills. We're currently looking at cutting millions of dollars from the K-12 budget, yet we're attempting to compete economically against states and nations that place stronger priorities on education. I believe strongly that the state needs to invest in its people and its infrastructure for success in the future, and HBs 1189-1200 should help us in that respect. I took questions and comments from attendees, including one person who strongly disagreed with my positions. Others commented on special education, the rights of public river rafters, physical disabilities, public schools and private school vouchers, Amendment 23 and the mobile home bill. It was an interesting discussion, which is one of the most important purposes of holding a town hall meeting. Our next meeting will be held Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m. until noon at a location yet to be determined. The meeting will be about education, and we are working on signing up guest speakers. I hope to see you there! __________________________________________________________________________________ AN EMOTIONAL DAY It's rare when a state resolution hits home as hard as Senate Joint Resolution 10-009 did, but considering SJR-009 on Jan. 29 was part of an emotional day for me. SJR-009 honored the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Center, along with CU's School of Medicine, Cancer Center and Hospital, for contributions to the state's medical system and economy. But for me, the work of CU's medical professionals literally saved my life. After the resolution was read to the Senate on Jan. 29, I shared my story of being a cancer survivor with my colleagues. To be brief, I was told after a regularly scheduled checkup on July 15 that I had esophageal cancer. I was immediately booked for an appointment with Dr. Norio Fukami of the Anschutz Medical Center, one of only several doctors in the nation who was able to perform a revolutionary outpatient procedure. I contacted another doctor, who told me that he would recommend a surgery that would keep me in the hospital for two weeks - with a recovery time of about a year. I went with Dr. Fukami (pictured below at the left), and after successful surgery, I was able to participate in a state interim committee by the end of the week.
But while I sponsored SJR-009 and had an experience to share, Friday's story was by no means just about me. The House co-sponsors, Reps. Dianne Primavera and Mike Merrifield, are also both cancer survivors who were treated right here on the Front Range. And the story was certainly not just about legislators. According to SCR-009, about 500,000 patients per year receive service at the CU campus, with about 500,000 more served through outreach. More than 415 faculty physicians are ranked as Best Doctors in America, five are members of the National Academy of Sciences and 13 are in the Institute of Medicine. On an economic note, it is projected that a completed Anschutz campus will generate $6 billion per year in economic impact. CU licensee companies have raised nearly $339 million in grants and investment capital. Also, the campus donates about $260 million worth of health care per year to Colorado's medically indigent. We have a world-class medical center just 20 minutes from the Capitol, one that serves our residents, saves lives and bolsters our economy - yet our level of state funding for this gem ranks 77th out of 79 public medical schools in the nation. We need to do better, but for now, I'm tremendously grateful for everything it has done for me and so many other Coloradans. ____________________________________________________________________________________ TOWN HALL: WE'RE AT THE CROSSROADS On the positive side, we had a tremendous turnout for our Jan. 23 town hall meeting in Boulder. More than 60 people packed the meeting room in the Meadows Branch Library, and several dozen attendees took the opportunity to ask questions or offer comments. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to start the meeting with a great deal of good news. Our state budget situation is not favorable, and as a result of the economy and decisions we've made in Colorado, a number of our state rankings are near the bottom of national lists - including in spending for public higher education, support for the CU Medical School and funding for mental health services. Also, we might cut $260 million from our K-12 education system if we can't find alternatives. As I told the crowd, that's not indicative of the kind of state that my wife Josie and I decided to stay in, since we were near the top in a number of rankings in the 1970s. Today, we're the seventh-wealthiest state per capita, yet we consistently short-change entities that will help us invest in our economy of the future. We're doing our kids a great disservice by not properly funding the education they deserve, and by not doing what we need to attract educators to our schools. So, we're at the crossroads in Colorado. On one hand, we could choose to turn toward properly investing in education and infrastructure. On the other hand, we could completely gut our ability to provide services by passing the 2010 ballot measures of Proposition 101, Amendment 60 and Amendment 61. I favor the former. We discussed the work of our 2009 Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission, which voted to support five bills for the 2010 session. The bills would a) begin the process of unraveling our constitutional fiscal untanglement, b) authorize Colorado's first comprehensive tax study since 1958, c) help state agencies save money by allowing public-private partnerships with nonprofits, d) grant institutions of higher education forms of operational flexibility, and e) set standards for our Budget Stabilization (rainy day) Fund. Also, attendees came to the meeting prepared to talk about other issues, including proposed regulations on the medical marijuana industry, the current difficulty of obtaining loans, setting up a system for regular state constitutional review, the candidacy of John Hickenlooper for governor, the national political climate, whether homelessness would become a bigger issue in state government and the impact of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on corporate campaign contributions. It was an energetic two-hour session, and it was definitely interesting to hear what my constituents had in mind. Our next town hall meeting will be on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. until noon, in the Boulder City Council Chambers at 1777 Broadway. I hope to see you there! __________________________________________________________________________________ NEW YEAR BEGINS, FIRST TOWN HALL JAN. 23 It's time for business. Our 2010 legislative session begins this Wednesday, Jan. 13, with many issues and challenges facing the General Assembly and the people of Colorado. The big issue, of course, is the state budget - and we simply can't expect great news on that front this year. For illustration, Gov. Ritter submitted a FY 2010-11 budget proposal in November 2009 that closed a $1 billion shortfall in the state's general fund. Still, we plan to do everything we can to minimize the difficulties and plan for a better future. We will introduce bills this year pertaining to job creation and job training. The federal stimulus program will help us prevent cuts in certain key areas. We will keep our focus on improving our educational system, through funding and maintaining high standards. We will keep an eye on opportunities for economic development and on attracting new businesses. Those who are interested can check the General Assembly Web site, www.leg.state.co.us, on or after Jan. 13 to read our proposed bills. Also, I'll provide information about the bills that I am sponsoring on this Web site during the session. But one way or another, we'll have a lot to talk about at our first town hall meeting of 2010. It will be held Saturday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. until noon, at the Meadows Branch of the Boulder Public Library, 4800 Baseline Road in Boulder. I'll speak about some of our most pressing issues and new legislation, and we'll leave plenty of time for questions and comments from my constituents. Our town hall meetings are free and open to the public, and they're a great way for us to get to know each other. I hope to see you at the meeting, and please feel free to contact me during the session. All the best, Rollie NEW: 2010 NEWSLETTER, "THE HEATH UPDATE" Just click here to read my 2010 newsletter. There is so much going on in 2010 that it was actually tough to narrow it down to eight pages, but the letter includes lots of hyperlinks so you can read much more about the key issues of the coming year. ____________________________________________________________________________________ FISCAL STAMP OF APPROVAL After spending the summer and fall studying Colorado's fiscal landscape, the state's Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission wrapped up its series of 11 meetings on Nov. 4. We gave our approval to five bills during our final meeting as a commission, and the bills will be formally introduced in the General Assembly for consideration after the 2010 legislative session begins on Jan. 13. I was chosen to chair the commission, which was both rewarding and demanding. On top of holding 11 eight-hour hearings that included a great deal of testimony and deliberation, we also received hundreds of pages of information from state officials and Colorado citizens. Interested readers may click here to access the draft text of the bills we approved, along with many of the documents we worked with during the commission process and final reports. Here are some very brief descriptions of the bills we approved. The bills will be given formal bill numbers after they are introduced, and General Assembly members will be able to propose amendments as the bills move through the 2010 legislative process. RESOLUTION D: Fiscal Policy Constitutional Commission. In short, many observers believe provisions found in areas of Colorado's constitution, including but not limited to TABOR, Amendment 23 and the Gallagher Amendment, create budgetary problems such as the lack of flexibility to adequately fund certain departments or to deal with new problems. However, it takes a vote of the people to amend the constitution, and the state's "single subject" rule prohibits ballot measures that deal with more than one subject. Resolution D, if the General Assembly approves it, would refer a ballot measure to the voters in 2010 asking them to approve the formation of a Fiscal Policy Constitutional Commission. The new commission, if voters approve, would be made up of citizens appointed by the Governor, legislative leadership and the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court. The commission would then be authorized to submit a ballot measure on fiscal policy for the 2012 election, or multiple measures, with a temporary exemption from the single-subject rule. I will sponsor this bill in the Senate, and I'm looking forward to it, since fiscal constitutional reform has been a passion of mine for many years.
Talking about fiscal issues during our Oct. 24 town hall meeting at the Boulder Chautauqua BILL B: Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund. Members of the commission and of the public often remarked that the state needs a larger "rainy day" fund to help us get through inevitable recessions of the future. Bill B would create a new budget stabilization reserve fund, and the state would begin to increase the size of the fund by at least one-half of one percent of general fund expenditures yearly after FY 2011-12, until FY 2016-17. In FY 2017-18 and beyond, Bill B states that the fund balance would be the lesser of 15 percent or the previous year's balance requirement plus one percent. RESOLUTION E: Comprehensive Tax Study. The state has not done a comprehensive study of its tax policy since 1958. This resolution would authorize the University of Denver to perform a nonpartisan, comprehensive tax study, which would include considerations of whether changes in tax policy or laws might be advisable. This study would be funded by private-sector contributions. BILL A: Higher Education Flexibility. We received a great deal of testimony from state higher education leaders during commission hearings, other meetings and in conversations. In a nutshell, many suggested that institutions of higher education could operate with greater efficiencies if they weren't bound to certain state requirements in areas such as enrollment criteria, capital construction, financial aid or outside hiring practices. A 29-page draft of Bill A is currently available on the aforementioned Web site, and it includes provisions that would address higher education flexibility, but this draft is likely to undergo revisions. BILL C: Expand Public-Private Initiatives. This bill would authorize state agencies to enter into public-private partnerships with nonprofit organizations, with goals of long-term efficiencies and cost savings in mind. While I am incredibly pleased with the work our commission did and the bills we approved, attaining true long-term fiscal stability will require a sustained effort. I believe that fiscal stability will be a common theme during the 2010 session, which will give legislators and citizens alike an opportunity to search for additional solutions to one of the most pressing problems facing the State of Colorado at this time. My thanks go out to all participants in the commission process, and please contact me or my office if you have questions or fiscal stability ideas. AUDIO: I did an interview with Dan Drayer of Colorado Public Radio about the Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission on Nov. 6. To listen, go to the Web site www.kcfr.org, click the "Colorado Matters" link at the top of the page, and enter the name "Rollie Heath" in the search box. __________________________________________________________________________________ LEGISLATION BRINGS RESULTS It was quite rewarding to carry legislation during my first session as a senator, but it's even better to learn that a bill we passed in 2009 has had a positive impact. On Sept. 25, Governor Ritter and others held a ceremony in Aurora to highlight the early successes of Senate Bill 09-067, a bill that has created new access to capital for Colorado businesses. The bill revived the Colorado Credit Reserve (CCR) Program, which existed from 1996-2006 but was ended in 2006 due to lack of funding. The CCR program received $2.5 million in renewed funding through SB-067, and the Colorado Finance and Housing Administration (CHFA) estimates that the $2.5 million will leverage $50 million in private sector investment. The Sept. 25 ceremony was held at the new home of Desert Ceramics, one of the first 23 businesses to be approved for new CCR loans. According to Desert Ceramics owner Bill Dean (pictured with Gov. Ritter below), the loan helped his business move to its new location, and will allow his company to purchase the new equipment that is needed to grow his sales volume.
Here is a complete list of the first 23 businesses to receive CCR loans:
Rep. Sara Gagliardi and former Rep. Don Marostica carried SB-067 in the House, and I was the prime Senate sponsor. The bill was part of a package of bills that members of the interim Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth introduced during the 2009 legislative session, and 18 of those bills were signed into law during or after the session.
"One of the best things we can do to re-energize Colorado's economy is to give small businesses the tools they need to succeed," said Ritter. "These first 23 loans are just the beginning for the Colorado Credit Reserve Program. Ultimately, the program will leverage nearly $50 million in capital for hundreds of small businesses so they can grow and create new jobs throughout Colorado." AUDIO: Click here to listen to Gov. Ritter's remarks from the Sept. 25 ceremony. ________________________________________________________________________________________ FISCAL STABILITY COMMISSION IN FULL SWING We've held six eight-hour meetings of our state Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission since hearings began on July 8, and we have gone through such a great deal of information that it's nearly impossible to condense it into a short Web entry.
 Still, I believe it's one of the most important tasks that the state will undertake this year, since we're literally seeking ways to create the best fiscal structure possible for our state, and I'd like to make sure that my constituents have a chance to follow what's going on.
I intend to post as much information as is practical about the Commission during the coming weeks and months, but for the time being, you can find quite a bit of literature online. Just click here to access many of the documents that we've been working from, along with our schedules and agendas. Or, you may visit the "Sen. Heath in the News" page of this Web site to read several recent stories from the press. Every story we currently have listed that is dated July 5, 2009 or later is about the work of the Commission.
Also, there are still opportunities for the public to observe what we do or get involved. We are scheduled to hold public meetings until at least November 5, and people with quality fiscal ideas can send them to me via the contact information listed in the "Contact Sen. Heath" page of this Web site.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
NEW COMMISSION STARTS JULY 8
In today's rough economy, reports of fiscal difficulties have been common in Colorado and other states. In response, the Colorado General Assembly authorized the formation of an interim Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission, and our first meetings will be held on July 8 and 9. I will chair the diverse and bipartisan 16-person commission, and members were appointed by Democratic and Republican legislative leadership. Committee legislators include:
Our charge will be to study all matters relating to the fiscal stability of the state, and to develop a strategic plan for long-term stability. This will be a worthy challenge, and for an introductory idea of what will be on the table, here is a condensed list of discussion topics and presentations for our first meetings:
For an interesting nine-page report that details what we're up against, read "Colorado's State Budget Tsunami" at http://www.du.edu/economicfuture/documents/BudgetTsunami.pdf. Our public meetings will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in House Committee Room 0112 at the Capitol. While our summer and fall schedule could change, we have scheduled future meetings for July 28 and 29, August 19 and 20, September 8 and 9, October 14 and 15, and November 4 and 5.
LAST BATCH OF BILLS Governor Bill Ritter had until June 5 to sign bills from the 2009 session into law, and he signed five bills that I was the prime Senate sponsor of during the week of June 1-5. When he signed SB-285 into law on June 4, it meant that all 17 of my bills that were introduced in the Senate this session had been signed into law. SB-285 was a concurrent enrollment bill that will allow students to enroll in career and technical education courses at institutions of higher education, while they're still in high school. The bill will allow young adults to earn a degree sooner than if they had waited until after high school to begin, which means they will enter the workforce with qualifications sooner as well. Gov. Ritter noted during the signing ceremony that SB-285 will help certain students gain the skills necessary to work in the New Energy Economy, and that the bill enhances Colorado's ability to provide educational opportunities for all. I couldn't agree more. Many of the state's young adults won't attend a four-year university or college, but completing a career/technical program can help those who aren't bound for a university forge a successful career. On June 2, Gov. Ritter signed SB-076 and HB-1310. The former will set up a fund to update Colorado's antiquated information technology (IT) system for unemployment benefits. HB-1310 will create an office of employee misclassification, which will investigate complaints of employers misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid expenses. Gov. Ritter signed HBs 1035 and 1349 on June 1. The former will make limited sales and use tax rebates available to qualifying clean technology or medical companies, which will give companies an incentive to continue doing business in Colorado. HB-1349 will allow qualifying employees who were involuntarily terminated from employment between Sept. 1, 2008 and Feb. 16, 2009, a period in which to select continuation of their health insurance through COBRA or state coverage. We set a goal before the session of building or protecting Colorado's workforce and economy, and I believe many of the bills that I sponsored were consistent with that goal. Please visit the "Rollie's Bills" section of this Web site for a complete listing of my 2009 bills, and please be assured that we're already working on ideas for 2010. _____________________________________________________________________________________
BILLS BECOMING LAW The 2009 legislative session ended on May 6, but Governor Bill Ritter still must decide whether to sign or veto a number of bills from the session. As of May 26, eight bills that I was the prime Senate sponsor of have been signed into law, and I had the chance to attend several enjoyable bill signing ceremonies during the last week of the session. HB-1001: PART OF ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEM More than 100 people gathered in front of the Denver World Trade Center, on the 16th Street Mall, for a May 4 signing ceremony. Gov. Ritter signed House Bill 1001, sponsored by Rep. Joe Rice and me, and Senate Bill 171, sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz along with Reps. Nancy Todd and Val Vigil.
HB-1001 will allow companies that create at least 20 new jobs in Colorado, or five new jobs located in rural enterprise zones, to apply to the Colorado Economic Development Commission for a tax credit. The commission will only grant the credit if the jobs would not have been created in Colorado without the credit, and the jobs must pay at least 110 percent of the average wage in the county where the jobs are located. I supported the bill because of its potential to grow the workforce in Colorado. The tax credit will help us compete with other states that are able to offer incentives to companies looking for a place to do business. Also, keeping people employed bolsters local economies by allowing them to spend money at local businesses, which in turn generates tax revenues for local governments. Sen. Schwartz, who shares an office with me at the Capitol, chaired the 2008-09 Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth that I was a member of. Both HB-1001 and SB-171 were part of the 24-bill package that came out of the committee, which was formed to help Colorado weather the current economic tough times. Ritter acknowledged our job creation efforts at the ceremony. "The two bills I signed today marked a key step toward our long-term vision of creating a modern, knowledge-based economic ecosystem in Colorado," said Ritter. "They reflect the hard work that legislators, business leaders and economic development groups statewide devoted to making job creation and economic development Job One during this legislative session." METRO MASTERS, WITH A MASCOT The signing ceremony at the Capitol on May 5 had an educational theme. Gov. Ritter signed HB-1295, which will allow Metropolitan State College to offer master's degrees, along with HB-1240, which will create the state's first official Teacher of the Year program.
I was the Senate sponsor of HB-1295, while Reps. Nancy Todd and Tom Massey were the House sponsors. Metro State President Steve Jordan said the bill will allow Metro to offer affordable graduate degree programs, which will be especially beneficial to first-generation residents and lower-income students. Ritter said the bill will help Metro attract faculty members and better prepare students for the workforce of the 21st century.
The ceremony had a light-hearted feel to it, especially since Metro's mascot "Rowdy the Roadrunner" attended in full costume. But the bill itself should have serious impacts, since Metro serves significant numbers of working students, people of color and students from financially disadvantaged families. HB-1295 will expand opportunities for these students and provide more options for them to advance their education. OTHER BILL SIGNINGS Gov. Ritter signed Senate Bill 067 on May 7, during the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce "State of the State" luncheon. Reps. Don Marostica and Sara Gagliardi were the House sponsors with me on SB-067, which creates a Colorado Credit Reserve Program that will provide access to capital for qualifying businesses. Again, we anticipate that this bill will have a positive impact on Colorado's workforce, since the availability of loans should help businesses hire or at least retain employees. Ritter signed SB-031, a bill that will authorize grants for businesses and research institutions involved in clean technology development, on May 4. He also signed HB-1151, which will streamline the school building inspection process, on the same day. He signed HB-1085, which will update Colorado's laws for mortgage loan originators, on May 21. I was the prime Senate sponsor for all three bills. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PASSING THE TORCH
It's special to be honored for an individual accomplishment, but it's vastly better to know that younger generations will carry positive traits into the future. That's why it was so wonderful for the Heath family to receive the Torch of Liberty Award from the Mountain States Office of the Anti-Defamation League on April 29, 2009. The award is given to families that are able to "pass the torch" of community service and leadership from one generation to the next. The ADL honored my wife Josie and me, along with our children Kristin, Joel and Stratton, during a ceremony at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. According to the ADL, "Both of them (Rollie and Josie) have been civically engaged on a local and statewide basis and have been actively involved in philanthropy. All of their children have worked on their parents' campaigns for public office and continue to be philanthropically involved in the communities where they live."
The ADL also honored the Pena and Sterling families on April 29. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper spoke, and we knew many of the hundreds of people who attended the ceremony as friends and associates. The ceremony also included the showing of a touching video that chronicled the civic efforts of the three families that were honored. Our daughter Kristin (pictured below) gave a wonderful speech.
(Photo courtesy of Christina Jackson, CJackson Photography) But perhaps the most impressive story of the night came from young James Lozano of Greeley. About a year ago, he witnessed a black friend of his being racially harassed. He attempted to end the confrontation, and got sucker-punched for his effort. After coming to, he needed 50 stiches around his right eye. Lozano eventually saw news reports of "No Place for Hate" programs being launched, in which people organize projects that encourage diversity and respect on campuses. He worked with the ADL to get a program started at Greeley West, and the school is hoping to earn certification as a "No Place for Hate" campus in 2009. We all walked out of the event feeling more empowered to make a difference, and I remain incredibly proud of my wife and family. There is nothing more important than community service and making sure you pass that lesson onto the next generation.
A SPRINT TO THE FINISH It's crunch time at the Capitol. There are less than two weeks left in the 2009 legislative session, and we're working on as many bills as we can every day in efforts to get our work completed on or before May 6. Personally, I am the prime Senate sponsor of 18 bills that have been introduced in 2009. As of April 23, 15 of my bills have passed at least one chamber of the General Assembly - the Senate, the House, or both. The other three were just introduced in mid-April, and they are moving through the committee process. Here's a quick update on my bills that have passed through at least one chamber. Senate Bill 031 would provide grants for research institutions and businesses in the clean energy field. It has passed both the Senate and House, the Senate President and Speaker of the House have signed it, and it has been sent to Gov. Bill Ritter for his approval. Senate Bill 067 would create a Colorado Credit Reserve Program to provide loans to qualifying businesses. It has passed the Senate and House. Senate Bill 076 would allocate money into a fund to update the state's unemployment insurance information technology systems. It has passed the Senate and advanced to the House Appropriations committee. Senate Bill 150 would give a perfected purchase-money lien priority over a conflicting lien for a motor vehicle. It has passed the Senate and House, the President and Speaker have signed it, and it has been sent to Gov. Ritter. Senate Bill 178 would extend the period for which people are eligible to keep job-attached unemployment status. It has passed the Senate and advanced to House Appropriations. Senate Bill 234 would direct a committee to make recommendations regarding enterprise zone boundaries and tax credits. It has passed the Senate. Senate Bill 248 would allow contractors for public works projects valued at more than $500 million to provide a letter of credit, or other form of surety, to the government agency. it has passed the Senate and advanced to the House floor.
House Bill 1001 would establish a tax credit for qualifying companies that create at least 20 jobs, or five in rural enterprise zones. It has passed the House and Senate, the President and Speaker have signed it, and it has been sent to Gov. Ritter. House Bill 1035 would establish a sales tax credit for qualifying firms, including those in the clean tech field. It has passed the House and advanced to Senate Appropriations. House Bill 1052 will require companies and individuals that sell donated goods for a profit to clearly label collection bins, stating that items will be sold for a profit. Gov. Ritter signed the bill into law on March 24. House Bill 1085 would bring Colorado's mortgage loan originator laws in line with federal regulations. It has passed the House and advanced to the Senate floor. House Bill 1132 would prohibit disseminating indecent material to minors using modern tools, such as text messaging, that are not currently listed in our statutes. It has passed the House and advanced to Senate Appropriations. House Bill 1151 would streamline our system of school building inspections, by placing the responsibility for inspections in one department. It has passed the House and Senate, although the House is considering Senate amendments. House Bill 1295 would allow Metro State to offer master's degree programs. It has passed the House and Senate. House Bill 1310 would regulate employee misclassification, such as when an employer misclassifies an employee as an independent contractor to avoid expenses. It has passed the House and advanced to Senate Appropriations. It's impossible to say how many of my 18 bills will become law, but they're all still alive at this point. I feel good about their chances of earning Gov. Ritter's signature. For more information about the bills, visit the "Rollie's Bills" section of this Web site, or visit the Web site www.leg.state.co.us. Also, if you have comments or suggestions about the bills that are still being debated, now is the time to speak. Visit the "Contact Sen. Heath" section of this site for our contact information. |
 |