Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter laid out his vision for Colorado on Thursday as the first cracks in inaugural-week bipartisan harmony began to show.
Legislative leaders characterized as “inspirational” and “ambitious” Ritter’s call for renewable-energy initiatives and a framework for long-term reform of schools, colleges, highway funding and health care. But Republicans criticized him for a lack of specifics.
“Today, Gov. Bill Ritter gave a campaign speech to the state of Colorado, rather than a State of the State address,” state GOP chairman Bob Martinez said in a statement after Ritter’s 42-minute speech to the Colorado General Assembly.
“Gov. Ritter isn’t ready for the big time, and he continues to prove it by giving Colorado meaningless fluff instead of substantive policy initiatives.”
In addition to the first round of harsh criticism of his agenda, Ritter was inadvertently upstaged by his own party.
Just hours before the 11 a.m. address, national Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean announced that Denver would host the 2008 Democratic convention.
Ritter said he was thrilled by the news, but party members acknowledged that Dean thought Ritter had given his speech Wednesday.
Ritter was greeted with drawn-out, standing applause as he entered the House chamber on his third day in office.
“Fulfilling the Colorado promise is not something we can do overnight. It is not something we can do in a single legislative session. Not even something we can do in a four-year term,” he said. “It’s a journey, and we can start our leg of that journey right here today by setting goals and measuring progress one legislative session at a time.”
Some of the most enthusiastic applause came midway through his speech, after he mentioned what everyone already knew – that Denver would host the 2008 Democratic convention.
Even Republicans, who until then had avoided even polite applause, jumped to their feet. And they stayed standing as Ritter congratulated Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who was in the chamber.
“Now, you can say you got a standing ovation during my State of the State speech,” Ritter said to the man who had considered challenging him in the Democratic primary.
And Ritter assured Republicans: “I would have mentioned this in my speech if it was the Republican National Convention because it is so important to the economy.”
But the Republicans made no secret of their disdain for Ritter’s emphasis on long-term goals, including a study of ways to overhaul transportation funding, a special commission on health care reform and a 10-year goal for cutting the school dropout rate.
“We’re starting a 120-day session, and we have to deal with Colorado’s problems today,” said House Republican leader Mike May.
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany said: “I think the goals were laudable. I didn’t hear a lot of specifics about how we get there or how we pay for them.”
Senate President Joan Fitz- Gerald applauded Ritter’s long- range plans, describing the speech as “inspirational.”
“Government is supposed to be inspiring,” she said. “… This is why most of us run for office – to have a vision.”
May said he was disturbed by the governor’s announcement that he would sign an executive order for the state to join a multistate discount prescription-drug program. Critics say it could limit Medicaid patients’ access to some drugs.
“We’ve essentially eliminated the legislative debate on that issue,” May said. “It’s a scary beginning on the health care front.”
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, meanwhile, called it “the most harmonious opening week” of any legislature that he could remember. “He dared us to dream a little. It’s distressing to hear some folks already taking some potshots.”
Staff writer Jeri Clausing can be reached at 303-954-1555 or jclausing@denverpost.com.
State of the State highlights
Gov. Bill Ritter laid out a number of long- and short-term goals.
Energy
Establish Colorado as a national leader in renewable energy.
“Private companies are knocking on our door wanting to build the biggest wind farms and solar parks in the country right here in Colorado. All we’re missing is a state government to lead, to inspire and to invest.”
Require that transmission lines can carry wind power.
Double requirement for renewable-energy production by utility companies by 2020.
Convert state vehicle fleet to hybrid or flex-fueled vehicles.
Health care
Provide health insurance to every Coloradan by 2010.
Order state departments to join discount prescription-drug buying pool.
Restore state funding for pregnancy prevention and family planning programs.
Increase child-immunization rate to 80 percent by 2008.
Transportation
Appoint panel to examine state transportation goals and funding mechanisms.
Management
Embark on a top-to-bottom performance review, called the Colorado GEM – Government Efficiency and Management.
Education
Cut school dropout rate in half within 10 years. About 30 percent of Colorado high school students don’t graduate.
Cut in half the 30 percentage- point achievement gap between poor and minority students and affluent and white students.
Double production of technical certificates and college degrees over the next 10 years.
“For many young people across Colorado, affordable colleges and universities are the only lifeline to a better future. We need to keep those institutions accessible to everyone and protect that lifeline, while also improving quality, or we risk losing everything.”
Public safety
Use drug courts and other intervention programs to cut recidivism rates.
“More than half of (Department of Corrections) inmates wind up back in prison within three years. That’s simply an unacceptable number. The costs are spiraling out of control and eating into our ability to fund education and health care.”
STAFF WRITERS JENNIFER BROWN
AND JERI CLAUSING
