With the election over, the Monday-morning quarterbacking has begun. How did Colorado House Democrats “survive” the Republican wave? Has the Colorado Republican ground game finally modernized itself?
Already, there is talk about the partisan gridlock that will inevitably occur in Washington and how 2016 will be a boon year for Democratic turnout and the White House. Essentially, the talk begins with the end of the campaign cycle and finishes with the beginning of the next.
But there is something very important not being talked about. The actual challenge of governing — especially in Colorado, where there is a Democrat-controlled House and Republican- controlled Senate.
As a lawmaker in the minority between 2010 and 2012, it became abundantly clear that any Democratic agenda item — job creation, school funding, health care expansion — needed support from the other side to pass. Through collaboration, we passed an overhaul of the unemployment insurance program in Colorado that lowered premiums for those employers who did not lay off workers during the economic downturn, and put the program on track to solvency after draining the funds due to the high number of workers applying for benefits.
Fast-forward to just last session; most of my bills were co-sponsored with Republican House or Senate colleagues. In 2011, we worked successfully across the aisle and built momentum that led to the passage of many important bills. We kept that momentum even though Democrats controlled both chambers. And if past is prologue, I know it can be done again.
Working together to pass laws that were supported by both parties became more important than relying on being in the majority. Even as Democrats controlled both chambers we worked closely with Republicans to best serve our state.
The lessons learned over the course of these last four years must apply now. A balanced budget must be passed and discussions over whether or how the state spends its budget surplus must be had. Now, more than ever, we must set aside our campaign talking points and get into the details of many issues. No doubt party and political pundits will clamor to craft policies that will give one party an advantage in 2016.
But these election-type solutions are not what the people of Colorado want. And to succumb to these pressures will, at the very least, disgust and disenfranchise more voters; at most, cause the balance to tip against any proposal seen as too politically motivated.
The challenges ahead of us are nothing compared to the power that will be built behind us if we can truly garner trust and consensus amongst our colleagues and our constituents. Too often we default to campaign rhetoric when espousing the reasons for taking a position or a vote. But after nearly eight months of ads, voters are tired of 30-second justifications; and if we are to convince our constituents, Colorado, and yes, even ourselves that are positions reflect thoughtful leadership, we are going to have to dig deeper than ever before.
Voters are smart. The people of Colorado are watching and my hope is that we can make them all recognize what many here already know — that we are different. We must convince our friends and neighbors that the partisan divide that the media longs for is not nearly as deep and wide as they are portrayed … and that is a good thing.
Democratic State Rep. Dan Pabon is assistant majority leader in the Colorado House.
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