ominoes will continue to fall due to choices made by Colorado voters on Election Day.
For example, the failure of Amendment 59 (TABOR reform) means Colorado will experience real financial pain. Inadequate funding for transportation and higher education, mandated spending (Amendment 23) for K-12, and the absence of a robust rainy day fund will hurt us during this economic downturn.
In 1992, voters approved the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which reduced the amount of tax money that Colorado could keep in good years. Because the law does not adjust for rising productivity, additional revenue from year to year (when the population is stable) cannot be effectively taxed. In 2005, Coloradans were persuaded to grant state government a reprieve (until 2010) and the right to spend all the taxes and fees the state receives, but continued to require a vote to increase taxes. In January, the Colorado legislature will be forced to grapple with the consequences of 59’s failure.
The worst time to deal with the impacts of recession is in the midst of one. There will be little appetite to raise taxes or increase fees. Equally disturbing is the likelihood of increased demand for government (i.e., social services, scholarships, and health care) during these tough economic times.
The departures of state Sen. Ken Gordon, and Reps. Andrew Romanoff, Bernie Buescher and Alice Madden leave a leadership void. The decision by Mesa and Grand county voters to reject Buescher, slated to become the next speaker of the Colorado House, will hurt. This Grand Junction native, a smart, well-educated lawyer/businessman, brought Western pragmatism and intelligence to his tenure at the Capitol. (As an aside, he’d make a great president for Colorado State University, or a savvy new chief of staff for the governor should he wish to replace Jim Carpenter.)
The less certain domino revolves around speculation that Sen. Ken Salazar may be asked to serve as President-elect Barack Obama’s secretary of the Interior. There is no better choice. If Salazar is selected, Gov. Bill Ritter will appoint his replacement. Among the top choices are Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and soon-to-be-departing Speaker of the House Romanoff.
Romanoff, who is about to be honored with Governing Magazine’s prestigious Public Official of the Year award, has the leadership skills, backbone and work ethic to succeed in that position. Republican state Sen. Steve Johnson says Romanoff “really is an exceptional leader, and he always puts the interests of the state ahead of his own interests and those of his party,” Substitute the word “country” for “state” and you will know why Andrew could fill Salazar’s shoes in the U.S. Senate.
Though Hickenlooper would undoubtedly welcome the promotion, his temperament may not be suited to the legislative role. In addition, his untimely departure — not two years into his second term — begs for a stronger bench.
While I am sometimes cranky about Hicklooper’s job at the helm, his intelligence, good humor and optimism make him more qualified than anyone else who may want to see the next mayor of Denver in the mirror every morning.
Finally, the governor will appoint Colorado’s next secretary of state. For this job, he must find the person who is most committed to and knowledgeable about holding reliable, transparent elections. Period. There should be no other agenda.
Here’s hoping Ritter uses his turn at the domino tiles strategically.
Susan Barnes-Gelt (sbg13@ ) served on the Denver City Council and worked for Mayor Federico Peña. She is a consultant to local architectural and development companies.
