I sponsored legislation this year enabling counties to work together to create “energy smart” districts. It will save local governments money and provide loans to support energy conservation projects. It is good policy.
At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter if we are Republican or Democrat. Voters want to know their legislators do their jobs, drafting good bills that help make lives better. That’s why we are here — and sometimes we forget.
In the General Assembly, a legislator must cast more than 1,000 votes during the 120-day session. The issues are complex and the solutions often elusive. Each member brings unique life experiences to each vote. It’s natural to turn to Sen. Dan Gibbs, a wildlife firefighter, on questions relating to forest safety. The same is true for Sen. Lois Tochtrop, a registered nurse, in matters of health care.
However, there is another dynamic constantly at play. Legislators are political people. It’s the nature of our system. But it becomes a problem when politics plays a primary role over policy. Too often the votes under the dome reflect partisanship over people.
After the Colorado Senate debated the “smart district” bill on the Senate floor, Denver Post reporter Lynn Bartels wrote on The Spot blog: “A recording of the vote makes it sound as if the ‘no’ votes came like dominoes But watching the vote was another matter, as it often is. Lawmakers in the Senate frequently look to see how their caucus members are voting before raising a hand. Senate Democrats do this just as much as Republicans Some of the Republicans waited for hands in the air before raising theirs to vote no.”
The bill passed 24-10, with four Republicans voting for the bill. But the 10 senators who voted against the bill voted against jobs, local businesses and consumers. I believe they voted that way not because they are against jobs or local businesses. They voted that way because they were playing the partisan game that too often takes over our actions at the Capitol. Those senators voted against a bill their Republican colleague considered one of the best bills of the session.
Our votes in the Capitol should reflect the people we are here to serve. I understand Colorado is a very diverse state and we all have different constituencies in our districts, but we should be voting for them, not against the other political party just because they are on “the other side.” We should be voting for good ideas, not basing our votes on the political affiliation of the bill sponsor. We should be voting for policy that serves Colorado, and not be engaged in political gamesmanship.
When there is conflict between a colleague’s expertise you trust and a political position advanced by your caucus, the choice can be difficult. However, we asked for the job and we need to make decisions. Nowhere will this be more evident than in the deep cuts in spending that we will make in next year’s budget.
There have been times this session when I’ve voted against my caucus’ position. There are times I voted against colleagues with more experience than me. I voted that way because it best represented my constituents. I voted that way because it was the vote I believed in.
Democratic state Sen. Gail Schwartz represents Snowmass.
