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State of the state

Hickenlooper’s speech combined accomplishments, limitations

Throughout the first state of the state speech of his second term, Gov. John Hickenlooper referenced Colorado’s tradition of collaborating – and maybe a little bit of fighting – to address issues of common concern. To meaningfully tackle the conflicts that vex our state, the governor emphasized the former’s effectiveness while acknowledging the latter’s presence – sometimes as a catalyst; others as a hurdle. Hickenlooper framed both the issues and the state’s achievements clearly.

Using the State Capitol rotunda’s series of murals depicting the state’s history as a touchstone for his speech, Hickenlooper highlighted the state’s multisector economic growth over the past year while also prioritizing the need for improving statewide water management, and the state’s answer to doing so: implementing the just-finished Colorado’s Water Plan.

Water was an apt metaphor for the speech, given its tendency to evoke confrontation, as well as the fact that collaboration and consensus are among the key ingredient for settling disputes, now that six-shooters are no longer an acceptable means for doing so.

The Water Plan was born of the stakeholder model that Hickenlooper frequently uses to solve problems and exemplifies how progress is best made when all voices are considered. Such an approach requires compromise and can, therefore, require those in entrenched positions to move from their starting points – not an easy task – but, as Hickenlooper pointed out on Thursday, is a proven track to action in Colorado, both in terms of solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities.

The governor reminded legislators of the state’s strengths in the entrepreneurial, high-tech and aerospace and energy industries – sectors that have fueled Colorado’s economic resurgence – and pledged to double-down past efforts at invigorating all regions of the state. His Colorado Blueprint 2.0 will compile a statewide economic vision, with special focus on lagging communities.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade will lead that effort along with an initiative to lure – through shared office space, insurance pools and other fundamentals – more members of the “creative class” to help kick-start those regions with an influx of education, media, science, engineering and arts professionals. That is creative thinking that spurs further innovation – in economic developing and in governing.

It will be needed in spades to address, finally, the enduring constitutionally ensconced fiscal challenges that even the most booming of economies cannot fix alone. Hickenlooper saved the worst news for the end of his speech, despite its unspoken presence in many of the preceding points: The spending limits that the Taxpayers Bill of Rights imposes are in conflict with the education funding requirements of Amendment 23.

Fixing this will require a considerable helping of collaboration and compromise to reach a consensus position. The various stakeholders around these hot-button topics can be polarized in countless pairings. Education, tax increases, voter initiative, state funding priorities: Each can draw strong feelings from deeply held values.

Untangling the mess will take long and likely difficult conversations, but there is precedent, model-wise. Generating the Water Plan is, to date, the most exhaustive of the state’s stakeholder processes. This next effort to address the fiscal issues could make the water process look quick and easy. But the work is essential in order to capitalize on the state’s many strengths.



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