Every governor pledges to help business and improve education, but when Gov. John Hickenlooper did so in his State of the State speech, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle gushed.
The words aren’t new, but the Democratic governor is, and the magic that transformed him into a brewmeister who came out of nowhere to win Denver’s mayoral race in 2003 could be just as potent under the gold dome if his first days on the job are any indication.
How else to explain the reactions of House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument, and Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, to his speech Thursday.
“Gov. Hickenlooper reiterated the core principles we as Democrats are committed to,” Pace said.
Stephens said the speech was “fabulous” because Hickenlooper is a former businessman “who gets it, who gets that you have to make cuts.”
“It’s not all government, government, government,” she said.
Hickenlooper set the tone when he opened his speech by holding off with the introductions of dignitaries or praise for Colorado’s beauty.
“Certainly, this is not my first time at the deficit rodeo,” he said, and launched into a story about efforts to save the historic Cheyenne Hotel in Colorado Springs and turn it into Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.
He mentioned subcontractors, electricians and investors, even the “sprinkler guy,” using business nouns to emphasize the importance of working together to solve problems.
“We have to deal with a $1 billion shortfall. We have to cut red tape. We have to create new jobs,” Hickenlooper told the 48 Republican lawmakers and 52 Democrat lawmakers.
He never mentioned party affiliation, either his or that of “my friends across the aisle,” as previous governors have said when referring to the opposite party.
He never threatened to use his veto pen.
When Hickenlooper talked about trying to figure out the impact of legislation on businesses, Republican Rep. David Balmer of Centennial jumped from his chair and cheered.
But Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, was more critical.
He pointed to Hickenlooper’s frequent references to the “kitchen table” in both the State of the State and inaugural speeches.
That’s where, Hickenlooper said, families sit and make difficult choices about how to pay their bills in tough times.
“I think the kitchen-table discussion has replaced the blue-ribbon panel for how we punt problems we do not have answers for,” Brophy said, referring to outgoing Gov. Bill Ritter’s penchant for appointing such commissions to study issues.
“I get the sense that no one really knows how they are going to balance the budget — or they’re unwilling to say out loud what has to be done,” Brophy said.
But generally there is optimism about what can be achieved before the legislature adjourns on May 11.
“Hickenlooper put everything in the context of the private sector,” said Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder. “That gives people a level of comfort that he is going to take a completely different approach to his job as governor and get it done.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
