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Boulder Democrat opens Colorado Legislature with warning

Hullinghorst: Ideologues will try to rob women of choice to make private medical decisions
Colorado Republican state Reps. Don Coram, left, and Patrick Neville shake hands Wednesday during opening day of the 2016 Colorado Legislature in the Capitol in Denver. Coram, R-Montrose, objected to House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, opening the session by warning the GOP to refrain from pushing social issues. “I’m a little disappointed that it appears on the first day that we’re drawing lines in the sand rather than trying to come here and negotiate and do the people’s business,” he said.

DENVER – State lawmakers returned to work on Wednesday, kicking off a legislative session in which the state budget will dominate policy talks, while social issues are expected to take a side stage.

The pomp and circumstance of opening day ceremonies offer lawmakers a chance to reconnect with colleagues, while showing off their friends and families. As Senate President Bill Cadman took roll call, tiny voices of the children of lawmakers would sometimes offer a “here” on behalf of their lawmaking parents.

In the Senate, Isaac Slade, the leader of Denver rock band The Fray, sang an uplifting version of the “National Anthem,” while over in the House, the Centaurus High School choir from Lafayette also offered songs to fill the chamber.

But with the excitement of opening day also comes an anxiety of the work ahead.

House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, wasted no time outlining her caucus’ agenda, cautioning Republicans against pushing certain social issues that stand no chance in the divided Legislature. Attacks on women’s reproductive health care will not be tolerated, Hullinghorst said.

“Ideologues and opportunists will try to impose their views on the woman who isn’t ready to have a family. They will try to rob her of the choice to make her own private medical decisions,” Hullinghorst said to lawmakers during opening remarks. “We will defeat these ideologues and opportunists.”

Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, worries that Hullinghorst may have set a combative tone for the start of the session, which he said distracts from critical work ahead, including balancing the state budget and finding money for the state’s crumbling roads and highways.

“It seemed like she brought up a lot of issues that we’re not going to come to a consensus on. Maybe she’s making a statement. I don’t know,” Brown said. “I would rather see us working together more on some things that we can absolutely come together on.”

Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, offered similar thoughts, adding: “It seemed a little defensive to me. I’m a little disappointed that it appears on the first day that we’re drawing lines in the sand rather than trying to come here and negotiate and do the people’s business.”

The first bill House Democrats introduced on Wednesday would require equal pay for women on state contracts. It would mandate that companies that compete for state contracts have written and enforced equal pay policies.

The first bill introduced in each chamber often highlights the thrust of the majority party’s agenda for the year. House Democrats say they are committed to “leveling the playing field for hard-working Coloradans.”

House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, encouraged his colleagues to put aside controversial differences for the sake of the state.

“Let us remember that while we may not always share the same political philosophies, we all share the same goal of improving Colorado and making a positive difference in our communities,” he said.

The House Republican agenda will focus largely on funding transportation, while also seeking to spare cuts to K-12 education and protecting mineral rights against attacks by those who want to ban fracking and expand local control over regulations.

Perhaps the largest fight ahead revolves around a proposal by Gov. John Hickenlooper to restructure a hospital-provider fee. The fee was established to force larger contributions from the federal government for health care costs.

The governor would like to reclassify it as an enterprise fund, thereby reducing taxpayer refunds so that more money is available in the general fund for spending. The governor’s office has proposed about $373 million in cuts to balance the budget.

Cadman and other Senate leaders, including President Pro Tempore Ellen Roberts of Durango, say restructuring the fee is a nonstarter.

“It’s a shame to me if the hospital-provider fee discussion is the sole focal point for the session because that will lead to gridlock,” Roberts said.

Last week, Cadman pointed to a nonpartisan legislative legal memo that suggested that reclassifying the fee would be unconstitutional. During his opening remarks on Wednesday, Cadman spoke often about the oath that lawmakers take to uphold the state constitution.

“This oath means a lot to me. It has meant something special every time I have taken it ... ” Cadman said. “I believe as senators and representatives, the oath is what binds us together.”

As part of the budget fight this year, Republicans are calling for cutting entitlement spending, while Democrats hope to protect programs, such as Medicaid.

For her part, Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman, D-Denver, sought to fight off perceptions that Democrats are focused only on “handouts.” She pointed to her own experiences as a foster child, whose foster parents helped her secure a loan so that she could go to college.

“Wanting everyone to have a fair opportunity to build a foundation for their dream to come true is hardly a handout ...” Guzman said. “We are not the party of handouts. Rather, we are a party that believes everyone should have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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