March is a month of considerable frustration – so close
to Spring yet the weather is still so erratic. It’s a little like that in this
year’s legislative session – we are more than half-way through with so much
work to be done, the outcome of which remains unpredictable. We are tackling the budget in the week ahead
and while I have passed 12 bills, I have at least 10 more to work on passing.
This
past week, the governor signed 3 more bills that I sponsored but, the bill
signings were tinged with our great sadness over the tragedy of Tom Clements’
murder. I was able to spend some time
with Governor Hickenlooper and shared my thoughts on how this tragedy will have
impact on his administration, the state and our Department of Corrections staff.
We were able to share with one another
our thoughts on what Tom’s loss means to us, personally. We are dealing with the immediate devastating
effects of what happened but, my longer term fear is our loss of Tom’s vision
for reform of our system. He will be greatly missed in so many ways. I plan to be present at his memorial service
on Monday to pray with and offer my condolences to his wife, Lisa, and the rest of his family and friends.
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| CSU-Pueblo Library Ribbon Cutting I'm saying, "There'll be more ribbon cuttings to come!" |
In more uplifting news, I received word this week that my
plan to bring $75 million dollars to Southern Colorado was approved!!! The Joint Budget Committee met
Wednesday to vote on capital projects to be included in the 2013 state budget,
known as the Long Bill. Having followed
the last two quarter reports, I was anticipating a surplus so I used my
position on the Capitol Development Committee (CDC) to submit a list of
priorities. That plan was approved by the CDC, to supplement the Governor’s
Office of State Planning and Budgeting recommendations. The list I submitted emphasized the need to
fund higher education projects, which had not been funded since 2008.
This $75 million dollars will fund 13 projects, including requests from CSU-Pueblo, Adams State University, Otero Junior College, and Trinidad State Junior College. I was thrilled to have bipartisan support on the Capital Development and Joint Budget Committees to provide Southern Colorado institutions much needed resources for higher education. This is certainly a benefit to our entire region. The money for CSU-Pueblo means a new academic building for the campus. The money means more construction work and much needed dollars to fuel our local economy. It feels GREAT to get a big piece of the pie for Pueblo!
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| Chef Klaus from Isle Casino Restaurant in Blackhawk |
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| MozzarAngela salad was the big WINNER |
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| CIRC gathers 120+ grassroots organizers in Pueblo |
The highlight of my weekend (other than the delicious
Sunday brunch Steve cooked) was a visit with activists and organizers with the
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC). Over 120 folks from all over the state
traveled to Pueblo this weekend for ready themselves and their communities for
immigration reform at the federal level! I was able to share some of what is
happening at the state level to get us ready for federal reform and I will
certainly be sharing with Colorado’s congressional delegation that we would all
be well served to listen closely to folks on the ground who have been
struggling through a broken (and sometimes non-existent) immigration system. I
was reminded that the time is NOW and I’m grateful to CIRC for the work they
are doing right here in Pueblo and across the state. I left their gathering
very inspired. We need one another to do the work of planting the seeds,
tending the fledgling seedlings, and reaping the harvest of justice for all!
