It has been only six years since Republicans last controlled the state House of Representatives, but to them it feels like an eternity. In the 68th General Assembly, which convened Wednesday, Republicans are in charge of the House — by a mere one seat. Democrats remain in control of the state Senate. Democrats in November also retained the governor’s mansion, with brewmeister turned politician John Hickenlooper succeeding bicycling Bill Ritter. A look at what’s in and what’s out in 2011 and the people and issues to watch:
IN: Highlands Ranch (home of incoming House Speaker Frank McNulty
OUT: Stapleton (home of outgoing Speaker Terrance Carroll)
IN: Bipartisan strategies
OUT: Party vs. party
IN: DeVotchKa
OUT: Johnny Cash
IN: Bass Pro Shops
OUT: REI
IN: Microbrews
OUT: Bike shorts
IN: Framed portraits of GOP leaders on the walls
OUT: Rally banners hung with duct tape on the walls
IN: Full-strength beer
OUT: 3.2 percent beer
IN: Energy economy
OUT: “New” energy economy
IN: Tuition increases
OUT: State support for higher education
IN: Big-pharma lobbyists
OUT: Enviro do-gooders
IN: House minority chief of staff Paul Weissmann
OUT: House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann
IN: Compromise
OUT: Mandates
IN: An empty governor’s mansion
OUT: Morning bike rides from the mansion
IN: Former city editor of the Rocky Mountain News (Eric Brown) serving as Hickenlooper’s spokesman
OUT: Former city editor of The Denver Post (Evan Dreyer) serving as Ritter’s spokesman
WHOM, WHAT TO WATCH
Hickenlooper: The incoming Democrat has gotten high marks for most of his Cabinet and staff picks, but he is still largely untested in the ways of the gold dome. How involved will he be in legislation? Will he be able to walk the moderate’s tightrope to strike deals with Republicans and Democrats and between business and labor? And what is his plan to solve the state’s fiscal mess?
McNulty: Never one to shy away from partisanship, the Republican must, as House speaker, try to work with Democrats who control the Senate and governor’s office and Republicans who may want to go further to the right than he does.
House Minority Leader Sal Pace: The Pueblo Democrat was an unabashed partisan before he became head of the Democratic House caucus. He has tried to sound amenable to working with Republicans, and he has to carefully guide Dems in their minority role.
Joint Budget Committee: For the first time in nearly a decade, there is a 3-3 split on the panel — just as the state is in the throes of addressing what could be up to a $1.1 billion shortfall in the 2011-12 year. Will Republicans follow through on their years of promises to slash state spending and restore tax breaks for seniors?
Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp: A Littleton Republican and a social conservative, he may not join hands with Dems as often as McNulty.
DU Tax Study: Amid all the other goings-on around the budget, a University of Denver study on the state’s tax system is expected to come out Jan. 31. While it’s unlikely legislators will send any measures to voters based upon the study, there is a real possibility an initiative petition could be launched to change the state’s tax structure.
