Gov. John Hickenlooper kicked off his second State of the State address Thursday by paying homage to John B. Stetson.
The Pennsylvanian came to Colorado during the gold rush and, frustrated by rain soaking his hat, fashioned a virtually waterproof one from beaver fur. The “Boss of the Plains” hat gave birth to a profitable business and a product that has become the symbol of a region — if not the nation.
In optimistic tones that are part of the Hickenlooper brand, the governor urged us to follow that lead.
“Our vision for Colorado includes successfully branding the state as a place that embraces entrepreneurship, supports a strong business climate, creates jobs, educates its kids, supports working families and protects an unparalleled quality of life.”
Whether it’s pushing for innovation or cooperation among lawmakers, we appreciate the governor’s leadership — in both word and deed.
To achieve his vision will not be easy. It will take entrepreneurial ideas that help us tackle old problems in new ways.
For his part, the governor pointed to small steps that show he is staying true to his pledge to create a government that is “effective” and “efficient” (he throws “elegant” into the mix, but we’ll believe that one when we see it). He highlighted steps the administration is taking to spur innovation through public- and private-sector collaboration and efforts to reduce red tape and cut waste and inefficiency in government.
Hickenlooper also pointed to recent accomplishments that will be building blocks to achieve the larger vision, including two new Fortune 500 companies calling the state home and the success of the first-ever USA Pro Cycling challenge, which — much like the idea for Colorado to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games — can be a powerful vehicle to showcase our state to the world.
Now is the time for lawmakers to do their part.
We support Hickenlooper’s call for them to come together to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples, lay the groundwork for the reform of antiquated state personnel rules, and put greater energy into early childhood education.
While it won’t be easy or cheap, we are also pleased to hear the governor’s call to rebuild the beleaguered Colorado benefits management computer system, which has been a money-sucking mistake from inception.
He is also calling for privatizing Pinnacol Assurance, the state-chartered workers’ compensation insurance firm. That’s a heavier lift, and we await a task force report to see whether it can be done in a way that balances the needs of policyholders with state needs for money to invest in economic development and college scholarships.
Finally, given the significant budgetary challenges confronting the state in education, health care and transportation, we are eager to see how the “TBD Colorado” civic engagement process that the governor mentioned develops.
We’re going to need new and bold ideas in this century. That effort could produce yours as one that makes a difference — just like John B. Stetson’s.
So the next time you see a cowboy hat, don’t think of it as simply a relic of the past. Think of it as a reminder of what Colorado has always been home to, and needs more of: problem-solvers.
