Reporting from Israel

Sunday, March 8, Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv --

It's about 7 pm in Israel. We landed in Tel Aviv a couple of hours ago and are waiting for our flight to Cairo. The group of about two dozen American political leaders -- some current state officeholders, some ex- like me -- gathered last night at JFK to begin the first leg of our journey. Twelve hours passed in fitful airborne sleep.

The Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowship is sponsoring us on a weeklong trip to the Middle East. We'll meet with Israeli, Egyptian and Palestinian officials. I'll post details as the week goes on.

For now, most of us are wandering the lounge in a jet-lagged nether-time. We munch on snacks that make up a meal we can't remember. The hamentoshen are especially popular.

Ben Gurion Airport is clean and new, briskly pleasant. Announcements come in Hebrew and English. Last call for flights to Bucharest ... Rome ...

It's been more than 20 years since my last and only other trip to Israel. My grandfather took my twin sister and me here while we were in college. I remember seeing a group of young soldiers in a restaurant. They must have been about our age and were completing their national service requirement. The other diners pitched in for their bill.

Half of the Rodel Fellows are Democrats; half are Republicans. The political chatter is nonstop, a stream of campaign war stories from Iowa, Arkansas, New Jersey -- dozens of races lost, won and still being plotted. But as we scan a Google Earth map of Israel on a colleague's laptop, zooming in on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, those stories seem out of place and very far away.

--posted on behalf of Andrew Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reforming - June 24, 2008 - Special Announcement

We interrupt this irregularly scheduled newsletter to bring you a special announcement:

The petitions are coming! The petitions are coming! (OK, so it’s not exactly the midnight ride of Paul Revere, but he was misquoted anyway.)

A new initiative will give us a chance to fix the fiscal mess in Colorado’s constitution. The proposal is called SAFE: Savings Account For Education.

Sen. Steve Johnson and I introduced this plan in April, backed by a bipartisan coalition of business, education and civic leaders. (Click here for a list of endorsements.)

To qualify for the November ballot, we need to collect 76,000 valid signatures – meaning 120,000, to be safe – by the beginning of August. And we need to raise enough money to wage a successful campaign.

Let me describe the problem we’re trying to solve, the solution we’re offering, and the ways in which you can help.

PROBLEM

Colorado’s constitution contains conflicting commandments: one provision reduces revenue, while another increases spending. The net effect: chronic shortfalls in health care, higher education and other “optional” programs.

Referendum C brought us some relief: a five-year time-out from the revenue limit and a permanent fix to its ratchet effect. Hundreds of thousands of Coloradans are better off as a result, including 700 individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities, who will no longer be stuck on decade-long waiting lists for vital services; 25,000 at-risk children, who will be able to attend high-quality preschool and full-day kindergarten; and 50,000 uninsured children, who will receive medical coverage. (Click here to download an annual report on Referendum C.)

Unfortunately, Referendum C’s time-out expires in 2010 – jeopardizing much of our progress.

SOLUTION

SAFE asks voters to invest future “surpluses” – revenues that exceed the constitutional limit during good economic times – in the State Education Fund. A share of these revenues would form a long-term savings account for public education.

Over time, this plan would enable the state to protect public schools from cuts without decimating other services. SAFE would also sunset the constitutional requirement to increase P-12 spending, as of 2011.

SAFE does NOT raise tax rates or touch the constitutional right to vote on taxes. (Click here to read the text of the initiative (pdf).)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here are three things you can do to support this important effort:

(1) Contribute. Good ideas don’t get far without adequate resources. Click here to donate today.

(2) Volunteer. We’ll need people to knock on doors, make phone calls and help with mailings. Click here to sign up.

(3) Circulate petitions. Click here and check “I’ll help gather petition signatures.”

Sen. Ken Gordon and I will discuss the initiative and train petitioners at two upcoming meetings: Saturday, June 28, 9 a.m., at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St., Denver; and Monday, June 30, 6 p.m., at the Red Room, 320 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. (Stay tuned for future events or email info@coloradosafe.org to schedule one of your own.)

Some advisers have cautioned us to wait – wait for the time-out to expire, wait for a crisis to arise, wait for a less-crowded ballot. But leadership is not about waiting: it’s about recognizing a problem and crafting a solution. It’s about forging consensus, not just wishing for it.

I hope you’ll join our team.

Sincerely, Andrew

Rep. Romanoff Reporting -- May 15, 2008 -- Post-Op

Is it over yet?

Last week brought an end to the 2008 legislative session, one day ahead of schedule and not a moment too soon. The past four months did not paint the prettiest picture of our parliamentary process. Yet of all the time I’ve spent at the State Capitol, this year’s session produced the most progress – particularly for children in need (see below).

But don’t take my word for it. Judge for yourself: read our legislative report, track our results by the numbers, or log on to our website. Then let me know what you think: come to one of our ...

TOWN MEETINGS

Monday, May 19, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the House District 6A Democrats, at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St. (one block south of Alameda), Denver.

Wednesday, May 21, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann, at the Four Points Sheraton, 6363 E. Hampden Ave. (east of I-25), Denver.

Both meetings are free and open to the public. Heckling sold separately.

KIDS WIN BIG

Stick 100 people in the same building for 17 weeks, and you’re bound to see an occasional disagreement. But as the dust settles on this year’s legislative session, one conclusion is clear: children came out on top.

The Second Regular Session of the 66^th General Assembly adjourned on May 6. This was the eighth year I’ve served in the legislature, the fourth in the majority, and the single best session for kids.

Forget the food fights. Focus on the facts. The bills we passed this year will help Colorado’s children:

Start school ready to learn. Brain science confirms what most parents and teachers already know: early childhood education works. Children who participate in high-quality preschool and kindergarten are less likely to lag their classmates, repeat a grade, or drop out. Yet too many families can’t afford such programs.

Lawmakers took action. We passed a balanced budget that put children first. The result: 25,000 more 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds will be able to attend preschool and full-day kindergarten.

Find a safe place to go to school. Nearly 90 percent of the school districts in Colorado report a health or safety problem in at least one of their facilities. Many school buildings across our state – especially those in rural Colorado – are literally falling down. In some classrooms, the roof is caving in; in others, the floorboards are so rotten that they can’t even hold up a desk.

Lawmakers took action. We voted to “Build Excellent Schools Today.” The BEST Act will steer up to $1 billion toward school repairs – the single largest investment in school construction in Colorado history. We also created a school safety resource center to help schools prevent, prepare for, and respond to crises.

Develop the skills to succeed. High-paying jobs in the 21^st century will demand more than a high-school diploma. Yet nearly a quarter of Colorado’s high-school students fail to graduate, and a third of those who enter college need remedial education.

Lawmakers took action. We invested in teacher training and professional development. We allowed schools and school districts more flexibility to innovate. And we adopted a new blueprint for public education – the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids – to prepare students for postsecondary work.

Compete with their counterparts around their world. A skilled workforce tops every employer’s list of priorities. Yet deep cuts in recent years have left Colorado near last place in public support for higher education.

Lawmakers took action. We added $60 million to college stipends, work-study funding, and financial aid. We dedicated tens of millions of dollars to the infrastructure of our colleges and universities. And we brought thousands of good jobs to Colorado by cutting taxes for small businesses and by investing in bioscience, renewable energy, and other homegrown industries.

Stay healthy. One out of every seven children in Colorado is uninsured. These children are more likely to go without vaccinations, to develop chronic conditions, and to use the emergency room as their primary source of care. The net effect: a lower quality of life, a greater risk of contagious disease, and higher costs for everyone else.

Lawmakers took action. We provided health coverage for 50,000 more children. We required insurers to justify their rate hikes and to honor their policies. We expanded mental-health treatment for victims of child abuse and neglect. And we increased reimbursement rates for health-care providers, so that they can continue to treat Colorado’s most vulnerable children.

It’s been more than a decade since Gov. Roy Romer vowed to make Colorado the best place in America to raise a child. The work we did this year, under the leadership of Gov. Bill Ritter and Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, brought us far closer to achieving that goal.

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting -- May 8, 2008 -- Comedy Tonight

It’s going to take me more than a day to recount (and recover from) this year’s legislative session. I’ll tackle that task in my next newsletter.

In the meantime, I invite you to join me for a town meeting. The following are all free and open to the public, mostly because nobody would be willing to pay.

Thursday, May 8, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Community Room at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 700 S. Franklin St. (enter from Gilpin St., one block east of Washington Park, at Exposition), Denver.

Monday, May 19, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the House District 6A Democrats, at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St. (one block south of Alameda), Denver.

Wednesday, May 21, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann, at the Four Points Sheraton, 6363 E. Hampden Ave. (east of I-25), Denver.

If your idea of a town meeting involves a breakfast buffet, please join Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon and me at the Downtown Democratic Forum on Friday, May 9, from 6:45 a.m. to 8 a.m., at Baur’s Ristorante, 1512 Curtis St., Denver. The cost is $13. RSVP ASAP: jmasdenver@att.net or 303-861-8050.

Have a great day!

Sincerely, Andrew

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting – April 30, 2008 – Lightning Round

Are we there yet?

WRAPPING UP

With one week left in the life of the 66th General Assembly – we’re scheduled to adjourn on May 7 – I’d like to give you the last word.

Please join me on Thursday, May 8, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Community Room at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 700 S. Franklin St., Denver (enter from Gilpin St., one block east of Washington Park, at Exposition). I’ll recap the legislative session, entertain job offers, and field your questions.

The following events are also free and open to the public:

Saturday, May 3 – Reps. Gwyn Green, Andy Kerr, and Ken Summers and Sen. Betty Boyd will discuss the legislative session from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m at the Belmar Public Library, 555 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood.

Saturday, May 3 – Reps. Dianne Primavera and Alice Madden will discuss the legislative session from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road, Broomfield.

Monday, May 5 – Rep. Morgan Carroll will host a coffee from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at East Steamers Coffee House, 360 S. Chambers Rd, Aurora.

Friday, May 9 – Rep. Joe Rice will host his monthly second Friday happy hour from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cool River Cafe, 8000 E. Belleview Ave, Greenwood Village.

REBUILDING SCHOOLS

We’re just one step away from “Building Excellent Schools Today.” The BEST Act, House Bill 1335, would allow the state to leverage a share of the proceeds from school trust lands to repair crumbling schools and build new facilities. Our $1 billion plan would mark the single most significant investment in school construction in Colorado history.

HB 1335 passed the House by a vote of 63-1 and the Senate by a vote of 29-5. (I take back almost everything I said about the other chamber.) The bill now heads to the governor’s desk.

PROTECTING CHILDREN

Too many children who suffer abuse or neglect do not get the help they need, especially at an early age. One recent study showed that only one-quarter of the children in the child welfare system who faced depression or other mental-health problems actually received care.

House Bill 1391 would establish a pilot program in at least three counties or regions over the next three years, providing mental-health screenings, evaluation and treatment to the victims of child abuse or neglect. HB 1391 cleared the House by a vote of 61-4. The bill now awaits a vote in the Senate.

FREEING TEACHERS

Colorado’s teachers would find it easier to transfer between Denver and other school districts, without losing their retirement benefits. House Bill 1403 would authorize the Public Employees’ Retirement Association to enter into merger negotiations with Denver Public Schools and its retirement system.

DPS, the DPS Retirement System, and PERA have all endorsed this proposal. HB 1403 passed the House by a vote of 63-2 and now awaits a vote on the Senate floor.

SCHOOL SAVINGS

Colorado’s constitution contains conflicting commandments, requiring the legislature simultaneously to slow down revenues and speed up spending. The result is a budget that too often shortchanges core services and leaves the state with inadequate reserves.

After months of quiet negotiations, a bipartisan coalition has produced a solution. Sens. Steve Johnson and Ken Gordon, Reps. Ellen Roberts, Stella Garza-Hicks and Paul Weissmann, and I are sponsoring House Concurrent Resolution 1014.

The plan is called SAFE: Savings Account For Education. The ballot measure asks voters to deposit revenues that exceed the TABOR limit in the State Education Fund, shield a share of those revenues in a rainy-day account, and repeal the automatic spending increases in Amendment 23.

HCR 1014 preserves the right of the people to approve or reject tax increases. The referendum would not raise tax rates, nor would it touch the refunds Coloradans get when they overpay their taxes.

Attorney General John Suthers and Treasurer Cary Kennedy led a long line of witnesses on Tuesday testifying in favor of HCR 1014. Among the plan’s other supporters: Lieutenant Governor Barbara O’Brien, the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Association of School Executives, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, the Colorado Contractors Association, the Colorado Nonprofit Association, the Arc of Colorado, the Bell Policy Center, Colorado AARP, and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute.

Many of Colorado’s higher-education leaders – including University of Colorado President Bruce Benson, University of Northern Colorado President Kay Norton, Metropolitan State College of Denver President Stephen Jordan, former University of Denver Chancellor Dan Ritchie, Colorado Community College and Occupational Education System President Nancy McCallin, and Front Range Community College President Karen Reinertson – have also endorsed the proposal. Colorado Concern, representing some of the state’s most prominent business leaders, backs the idea as well.

As a proposed constitutional amendment, HCR 1014 needs the support of two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate to reach the ballot. A plan is also underway to initiate the measure.

BEGGING YOUR PARDON

I’ve read nearly all of the messages I’ve received this year, but I can no longer promise to reply before the end of the session (sorry, Mom!). If you have a scheduling request or any other urgent inquiry, please email travis.gasper@state.co.us.

In the meantime, thank you for your patience. Now I know how I’ll be spending my summer ...

Sincerely, Andrew

P.S.: I am suspending my Tuesday office hours in May. Please find the will to carry on.

Rep. Romanoff Reporting – March 25, 2008 – Out Like a Llama

Long time, no see.

Unless, of course, you’ve been watching www.coloradochannel.net ... or Animal Planet.

WHAT GOES UP

With a little more than one third of this year’s legislative session left, the real heavy lifting begins. The “Long Bill” – all 615 pages of it – landed on Monday.

House Bill 1375 spells out state expenditures for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, which begins on July 1. You can find both a narrative summary and the entire bill online.

The House split into separate Democratic and Republican caucuses before taking up formal consideration of the budget on Wednesday and a final vote on Thursday. The Long Bill then goes to the Senate, which will undoubtedly (if unsuccessfully) attempt to improve upon the work of the House. A conference committee, consisting of the members of the Joint Budget Committee, will reconcile the differences between the House and the Senate. A final vote on the budget will come in April.

Among the highlights:

-- The provision of health-care coverage for an additional 50,000 low-income children.
-- A $30 million boost in support services for Coloradans with developmental disabilities.

-- A 10 percent increase in financial aid and work-study funding for college students.

-- A $2 million incentive program in the Governor’s Energy Office to help consumers afford photovoltaic and solar thermal systems.

In the six largest departments, HB 1375 provides for the following increases in General Fund appropriations: 5 percent for K-12 Education; 4.7 percent for Health Care Policy and Financing (chiefly Medicaid and the Children’s Health Plan); 8.6 percent for Higher Education; 5.6 percent for Human Services (including child welfare, mental health, drug and alcohol treatment, and youth corrections); 8.3 percent for Corrections; and 9.6 percent for Judicial.

Where does all this money come from, and where does it go? Colorado Treasurer Cary Kennedy has prepared a State Taxpayer Accountability Report; click here to read the latest version.

MUST COME DOWN

The budget debate comes at a precarious time. “The national economy appears to be heading into another recession, if it is not already in one,” our economics staff concluded last week. “While a slowdown in the state’s economy is anticipated, Colorado will outperform the nation as the state has ongoing benefits from the energy sector, a recovery in the advanced technology sector, international tourism caused by a weaker dollar, and a softer landing in the housing sector.”

The new five-year revenue forecast is 1.3 percent lower than the December 2007 estimate. The result: a drop in funding for capital construction and transportation projects. You can read the forecast here.

BETTER YET

Colorado is one step closer to fixing many of its crumbling classrooms. House Bill 1335 cleared the House earlier this month by a vote of 63-1.

The “Building Excellent Schools Today” (BEST) Act would leverage up to $1 billion to repair and rebuild schools across the state. Nearly half of Colorado’s 178 school districts in Colorado cannot raise enough money to put up a single new building. The health and safety needs in these districts would get top priority under HB 1335.

The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The hearing will take place in Senate Committee Room 354, once the Senate completes its morning floor work, and well before its afternoon nap.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE

My colleagues and I want to know what you think. Here are some upcoming opportunities to tell us; all are free and open to the public:

Saturday, March 29 – Rep. Jim Riesberg will host a town meeting on Creative Support for People with Developmental Disabilities from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Envision, 1050 37th St., Evans.

Saturday, March 29 – Rep. Judy Solano and I will host a town meeting on the topic of health care from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Adams 12 Five-Star School Administration Building, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton.

Saturday, March 29 – Rep. Christine Scanlan will host a town meeting on aging baby boomers and long-term health care options from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Vail Town Hall, 75 South Frontage Rd., Vail.

Monday, March 31 – Rep. Alice Borodkin, Treasurer Cary Kennedy and I will host a town meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 3509 S. Glencoe St., Denver.

Friday, April 4 – Rep. Mary Hodge and Sen. Stephanie Takis will host a town meeting from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Firestation #2, 3100 Peoria St., Aurora.

Friday, April 4 – Rep. Nancy Todd will host a coffee from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at Panera, 12293 East Iliff Ave., Aurora.

Saturday, April 5 – Reps. Gwyn Green, Andy Kerr, and Ken Summers and Sen. Betty Boyd will host their monthly Lakewood town meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Belmar Public Library, 255 Allison Pkwy., Lakewood.

Saturday, April 5 – Reps. Randy Fischer and John Kefalas and Sen. Bob Bacon will host a town meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Fort Collins Coloradoan Community Room, 1300 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins.

Saturday, April 5 – Rep. Dianne Primavera will host a community conversation on health care from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Broomfield Community Center, 280 Lamar St., Broomfield, in the Lakeshore #3 room.

Saturday, April 5 – Rep. Christine Scanlan and I will host two town meetings: from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. at French Press is 34295 Highway 6 #C-1-B, Edwards, and from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Pug Ryans, 104 Village Pl., Dillon.

Monday, April 7 – Rep. Morgan Carroll will host “Coffee with Carroll” from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at East Steamers Coffee House, 360 S. Chambers Rd., Aurora.

Monday, April 7 – Rep. Joe Rice will host his monthly coffee from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, 6840 S. University Blvd., Centennial.

As always, my office will be open on Tuesdays, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in Room 246. Have a great week!

Sincerely, Andrew

PS: I’m working hard to respond to as many messages as possible, but I’m still running behind. For a scheduling request or a speedier reply, please email travis.gasper@state.co.us. He’s much swifter.

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting – February 18, 2008 – Still Flapping

Now I know I’m getting old.

I stopped by Hill Middle School on caucus night. Three girls ran up to me in the hallway. “You’re Andrew Romanoff!” said one. “Can we have your autograph?” asked another.

Since I don’t get usually get a lot of groupies, I asked, “Why?” The third student smiled brightly and explained, “We get extra credit for our history class.”

RATIONAL EXUBERANCE

Economic development – especially efforts to help Colorado’s homegrown industries – represents one of the legislature’s top priorities. This week should bring good news on that front. Several key pieces of legislation are expected to move forward with bipartisan support:

House Bill 1001 would increase the state’s investment in bioscience research and development. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Riesberg and Sen. Bob Bacon, passed the House Finance Committee and is scheduled for a Feb. 22 hearing in House Appropriations.

House Bill 1183 would provide financial incentives for employers who create jobs, particularly in rural Colorado. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Hodge and Sen. Jennifer Veiga, passed the House last week and is scheduled for a Feb. 25 hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology.

House Bill 1225 would free an estimated 30,000 entrepreneurs from the business personal property tax, by raising the exemption threshold from $2,500 to $7,000. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Joe Rice and Bernie Buescher and Sens. Suzanne Williams and Steve Ward, is scheduled for a Feb. 19 hearing in the House Finance Committee.

House Bill 1261 aims to boost airplane sales by eliminating the “fly-away tax.” The bill, sponsored by Rep. Buescher and Sen. Bacon, is scheduled for a Feb. 19 hearing in the House Finance Committee.

A fifth proposal, which would simplify the corporate income-tax structure, should be ready for introduction later this week.

HOME SWEET HOME

In 2007, the Denver metropolitan area ranked ninth in the nation in foreclosures. Several upcoming meetings will target the topic:

Wednesday, Feb. 20 – with Rep. Mark Ferrandino, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the SouthWest Improvement Council, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd., Denver. Click here for more details.

Saturday, Feb. 23 – with Rep. Judy Solano, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Adams 12 Five-Star School Administration Building, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton. Click here for more details.

Saturday, March 1 – with Rep. Sara Gagliardi, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Susan Duncan YMCA, 14705 W. 64th Ave., Arvada. Click here for more details.

Wednesday, March 19 – with Rep. Dianne Primavera, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Rd., Broomfield. Click here for more details.

THE BEST OFFENSE

House Minority Leader Mike May and I held a joint press conference last week, updating the Capitol press corps on the progress we’d made in the first quarter of the legislative session. The corps was uniformly unimpressed.

“Recent embarrassing episodes involving House members prompted legislative leaders to assure the public Monday they’re still focused on doing their jobs,” sniffed the Colorado Springs Gazette. “But they also acknowledged that scandals have made headlines since the session began Jan. 9.” Yes, wilting under the pressure, Rep. May and I conceded that we had (gasp!) read a newspaper.

The Gazette then proceeded to devote 133 words to a recitation of the “scandals” – and exactly 35 to the substance of the press conference itself. Readers interested in what the newspaper off-handedly described as “several energy-related measures,” “a bipartisan bill to streamline recertification of voting machines,” or any other actual legislative work would have to look elsewhere.

Unwilling to be upstaged by its upstream neighbor, the Pueblo Chieftain used two articles – and more than 700 words – to recap the session’s “low points,” relegating the content of our press conference to a single sentence. Chieftain readers scarcely needed a recap, as the newspaper had already published half a dozen articles on the antics of one member.

Some of this year’s low points, involving the censure of one member and the resignation of another, were serious indeed. We handled these matters as swiftly and as thoroughly as possible. But – the press coverage notwithstanding – these incidents did not impede the General Assembly’s progress on public policy.

TOWN & COFFEE

Fortunately, there’s another way to learn what’s happening in the state legislature. And no, I’m not making another shameless plug for our new TV show, “Colorado Open House”; there's no shame in logging on to www.coloradochannel.net.

The best way to stay in touch with your representatives is to talk to us in person. Here’s meeting with you, kid:

Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Rep. Dianne Primavera and Sen. Brandon Shaffer will discuss long-term health care options from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Erie Public Library, 625 Pierce St., Erie. Click here for more details.

Thursday, Feb. 21 – Rep. Morgan Carroll will sponsor a town meeting on transportation from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Community College of Aurora, 16000 East CentreTech Pkwy., Aurora. Sign up for Rep. Carroll’s newsletter here.

Friday, Feb. 22 – Rep. Mary Hodge and Sen. Stephanie Takis will host a community conversation from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at Firestation #2, 3100 Peoria St., Aurora.

Saturday, Feb. 23 – Rep. Anne McGihon will host a “Coffee Chat” from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Mile High Coffee, 871 Englewood Pkwy., Englewood. Click here for more details.

Saturday, Feb. 23 – Reps. Randy Fischer and John Kefalas will host a public forum from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in the Coloradoan Community Room, 1300 Riverside Ave, Fort Collins.

Saturday, Feb. 23 – Rep. Jeanne Labuda will hold a town meeting on the election process from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Bear Valley Library, 5171 W. Dartmouth Ave., Denver. Click here for more details.

And because I wouldn’t know what to do with myself without an audience, I’ll be speaking at a couple of events this weekend, too:

The District 6A Democrats will hold their monthly meeting on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St., Denver.

The Douglas County Democrats apparently lost a bet and asked me to address their annual dinner. The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at The Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria (at Lincoln), Parker. Which begs the question, “What do you get when you put a lame duck and a drove of donkeys in a wildlife museum?” Post your answer here (and please remember – it’s a family newsletter).

Have a great week!

Sincerely, Andrew

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting – February 5, 2008 – Tuesday Stupor

I’m hanging on every chad.

CATCHING UP

With one month down and three to go, the legislative session is in full swing. Here are two chances for you to catch up:

On Thursday, Feb. 7, Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon and I will host a town meeting. (That’s one day after Ken’s 58th birthday, in case you’re counting.) The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Temple Emanuel, 101 Grape St., Denver.

On Saturday, Feb. 9, I’ll be speaking to the Aurora Democratic Forum, at the Apple Creek Restaurant, 10600 E. Iliff Ave. (Iliff and Havana). Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m.; the program, at 9 a.m.

And as always, you’re welcome to drop by my Capitol office (Room 246) any Tuesday between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. For scheduling questions or more information, please email travis.gasper@state.co.us.

POWERING UP

Our new-energy economy would get a boost from three bills making their way through the House this week:

House Bill 1160, sponsored by Rep. Judy Solano (D-Brighton), would require utility companies to compensate customers who produce more energy than they consume. HB 1160 passed the House on a preliminary vote.

House Bill 1107, sponsored by Rep. Claire Levy (D-Boulder), would direct cooperative electric associations and municipal utilities to invest in conservation and energy-efficiency programs. HB 1107 cleared the House Transportation and Energy Committee and now goes to the House Appropriations Committee.

Another renewable-energy proposal is scheduled for a Feb. 7 hearing in the House Transportation and Energy Committee. Rep. Solano’s House Bill 1164 would encourage utilities to exceed minimum renewable-resource standards and promote large-scale solar power.

WEIGHING IN

The blue ribbons are coming home to roost. Wait – block that metaphor!

Under Senate Bill 06-208, Democratic and Republican legislative leaders teamed with Governor Owens (and later Governor Ritter) to form a bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commision for Health Care Reform. We instructed the commission’s 27 members to find ways to expand health-care coverage and decrease health-care costs. The commissioners delivered their final report last week. Lawmakers will now set out to analyze and act on their recommendations.

Last year, Governor Ritter asked a Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel to develop funding options for Colorado’s transportation system. The panel delivered its recommendations in November and a formal report in January. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, the panel will brief the House and Senate Transportation Committees. The hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. in House Committee Room 0107.

Governor Ritter also convened a P-20 Education Coordinating Council last year. Its ongoing mission: “ensuring that a seamless education system from pre-school to graduate school is preparing our young people for the demands of the 21st century.” Among the council’s many recommendations: an increase in the number of school counselors. On Wednesday, Feb. 13, the Colorado School Counselors Association will address the House and Senate Education Committees. The hearing will begin at 7:30 a.m. in House Committee Room 0112.

Both the transportation and the education presentations, like all committee hearings, can be heard through the legislature’s live audio feed.

MOVING UP

The Democratic members of the House elected Rep. Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) as our new Assistant Majority Leader on Tuesday. Rep. Carroll was appointed to the House in 2003 and elected in 2004 and 2006. He has chaired the House Judiciary Committee since 2005.

Terrance and I went to law school together. He’s now a lawyer; I just play one on TV.

TUNING IN

The results are in: “Colorado Open House” is a hit! More than one-third of the respondents in last week’s poll said they had watched our show on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 165 and/or www.coloradochannel.net.

The early reviews have been mixed: “This is like putting a camera in a sausage factory,” said one critic. “We’re all familiar with the end product. It’s interesting, if a little unpleasant, to see just how they go about making it.”

To find out what’s on our schedule, click on the House calendar. Our website also has a video archive of past floor shows and live audio from legislative committees and the not-ready-for-prime-time Senate.

Have a great week!

Sincerely, Andrew

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting -- Jan 28, 2008 -- Moving On

I’m glad it’s Monday.

A GRIM WEEK

Last week began on a solemn note, as the House and Senate passed a resolution marking what would have been the 79^th birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We paused to contemplate how much Dr. King accomplished in his brief life – and how much of his dream remains unfulfilled, 40 years after his death. (Click here to read my remarks.)

The week ended with a memorial tribute to Colorado State Trooper Zach Templeton. Trooper Templeton was struck by a pickup truck on I-76, while he was assisting a driver. He died on Oct. 12, at the age of 27. His family, friends and colleagues joined us in a heartbreaking ceremony. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them.

In between these sad occasions, the legislature’s work proceeded as usual. Representatives introduced 19 new bills and acted on dozens of others – involving education, health care and economic development, among other issues.

Thursday was an unhappy exception. The House censured one of its members – a decision that consumed far more time in the media than in the chamber. The discussion took 20 minutes and resulted in a vote of 62-1.

COLORADO OPEN HOUSE

On a brighter note, “Colorado Open House” completed its first full week of programming. Live, uninterrupted coverage of the House of Representatives is available both on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 165 and at www.coloradochannel.net (a terrific new website).

Did you watch? Do you plan to? Do you really have a headache? Click here to take part in our online poll.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform will deliver its final report this week to a special joint session of the House and Senate Health and Human Services Committees. The hearing will take place on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 1:30 p.m., in the Old Supreme Court Chamber (on the second floor of the Capitol, north side). You can listen to live audio by clicking here.

Some of the other highlights on this week’s calendar appear below. House committee rooms (HCR) are in the basement of the State Capitol; Senate committee rooms (SCR) are on the third floor. The Legislative Services Building is located just south of the Capitol, on the southeast corner of 14th and Sherman. “Upon recess” refers to the time, typically around 10 a.m., at which the House concludes its morning floor work.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1:30 p.m., HCR 0109. The House Transportation and Energy Committee will consider six bills. House Bill 1160 would require utility companies to give their customers credit for generating their own electricity.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 7:30 a.m., HCR 0107. The House and Senate Natural Resources Committees will receive a briefing on draft rules by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 8:00 a.m., SCR 356. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will brief the House and Senate State Affairs Committees.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, upon recess, HCR 0112. The House Judiciary Committee will consider six bills. House Bill 1119 would direct the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to study and recommend ways to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the justice system.

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 1:30 p.m., LSB, Room A. The House Finance Committee will consider six bills. House Bill 1001 would help Colorado’s bioscientists bring their products to market, by expanding a grant program initiated in 2007.

Thursday, Jan. 31, 1:30 p.m., HCR 0112. The Department of Higher Education will brief the House and Senate Education Committees.

STAY IN TOUCH

What’s on your mind? Please let me know:

Send an email. I read each of the messages I receive, but it takes me a while to respond. (I’m working on that with my therapist.) If you have a scheduling question or some other specific request, please email travis.gasper@state.co.us.

Visit me at the Capitol. I hold open-office hours every Tuesday, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in Room 246.

Attend a town meeting. Speaking of which ...

UPCOMING EVENTS

I’ll discuss the legislative session at two upcoming events. Both are free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Rep. Jim Riesberg and I will host a town meeting in the Evans City Council Chambers, 1100 17^th St., Evans.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sen. Ken Gordon and I will host a town meeting at Temple Emanuel, 101 Grape St., Denver.

One other note: The Autism Society of Colorado is sponsoring an auction on Friday, Feb. 1, beginning at 7 p.m., at Red & Jerry’s, 1840 W. Oxford Ave., Englewood. My dog Zorro is one of the auction items. You don’t get to keep him; he’s just hoping to fetch a high price for a good cause.

Have a great week!

Sincerely, Andrew

--posted on behalf of Speaker Romanoff

Rep. Romanoff Reporting – January 18, 2008 – Sound Off

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

DAY 1

The Colorado House of Representatives convened on Jan. 9, without our friend and colleague, Rep. Joe Rice.

Lt. Col. Rice is serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. His wife Kendall, seven-year-old twins Alexandria and Harrison, and two-year-old son Dalton led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. (I tried to hand the microphone to Dalton, but he treated it like a lollipop.) The children’s presence – and their father’s absence – made our day-to-day concerns seem less pressing and our ceremonies, more somber. Rep. Rice expects to be back in civilian clothes on Jan. 28. We’re praying for his safe return.

The legislature’s opening day gave me a fifth – and final – chance to address my colleagues, or at least those who feigned attention. I focused my remarks on education, health care, the economy and the environment. You can read my speech, as well as House Minority Leader Mike May’s, by clicking here.

The Senate elected Peter Groff to its top post, making him that chamber’s first African-American president. The thunderous reception he received was a credit not only his historic achievement but also to the wide respect in which he is held on both sides of the aisle. You can click here to read both Sen. Groff’s remarks and Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany’s.

10 DOWN, 110 TO GO

The Colorado Constitution allows the legislature to meet in regular session for 120 days. For the last three years, we’ve succeeded in completing our work ahead of schedule, saving taxpayers $14,000 a day in the process. Nearly 300 bills have already been introduced in the House and Senate – half of the likely total. To search bills by number, committee, subject or sponsor, click here. I encourage you to visit the Capitol: come watch our debates, meet with your representatives, testify on legislation. Log on to our homepage – www.leg.state.co.us – to find a list of legislators and daily calendars for the House and the Senate. (To learn who represents you, go to www.vote-smart.org.)

CHANNEL 165

If you can’t make it to the Capitol in person, you can follow the action from the comfort of your own couch. Beginning Jan. 21, www.coloradochannel.net will carry live and archived streaming video of House floor proceedings – a program we’re calling “Colorado Open House.” Comcast Digital Cable customers can find the show on Channel 165, right between a shopping channel and FEARnet (insert your punchline here).

To listen to a live audio feed of House and Senate floor action and committee deliberations, click here.

WEEK 3

The House will convene at 1 p.m. on Monday, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We’ll consider House Joint Resolution 1005, commemorating Dr. King’s birthday.

Here are some of the other issues on next week’s agenda. (Senate committee rooms are on the third floor of the Capitol; House committee rooms are, sadly, in the basement.)

Election Reform. House Bill 1155 would allow the Secretary of State to recertify voting systems under certain conditions – and without relaxing existing standards. The bill passed the House on a voice vote Friday and is scheduled for a final vote Monday.

The use of some electronic machines is required by federal law, but the legislature and the governor are nearing agreement on a plan to use paper ballots at precinct polling places for the 2008 elections. The Secretary of State will brief the House and Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committees at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Senate Committee Room 356.

Homeland Security. Colorado’s Homeland Security Coordinator, Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, will brief a joint session of the House Local Government and State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committees, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, in House Committee Room 0112.

TUESDAYS @ 2

In response to popular demand (OK, that may be a bit strong – how about “in the absence of popular resistance”), I’ve resumed my weekly office hours.

Please drop by Room 246 (on the second floor of the Capitol, in the southwest corner) any Tuesday, between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, please call 303-866-2346.

JAN. 22 & JAN. 26

I’ll be discussing the 2008 session at two upcoming meetings. The first will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22. This meeting, hosted by the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association, will be held at the Daniels Fund, 101 Monroe St., Denver.

The second meeting, hosted by the District 6A Democrats, will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26. This meeting will take place at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St., Denver.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely, Andrew