Republican State of the State

House Assistant Republican Leader David Balmer joins with Senate Assistant Republican Leader Greg Brophy to deliver the Republican State of the State.

Gardner Slams Dems for Rosy Unemployment Figures

State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, today reacted swiftly to a news report showing two Colorado towns in energy producing regions as having the highest percentages of job losses in the country for the 3rd quarter of 2009.

The report, on MSN.com, states that Greeley, Colorado has the 9th highest job-loss rate and Grand Junction the highest rate out of the largest 281 metro cities across America. Greeley had a 2.4 % drop and Grand Junction had a 5.2 % drop in the employment rate over the third quarter of 2009.

“Governor Ritter and Majority Democrats continue to paint a rosy picture of Colorado’s unemployment rate,” Gardner said. “However, Grand Junction and Greeley have experienced some of the worst job-loss rates in the nation.”

Gardner pointed to the governor’s often-criticized oil and gas rules as being a contributor to the rise in the unemployment rate. Citing the new rules, Gardner says that many companies are choosing not to expand operations or to do business in certain areas of Colorado.

“The truth is that many companies are holding back on hiring and expansion and looking instead at more predictable and friendly regulatory environments,” Gardner said. “Democrats who deny that these rules are having an effect just need to look at the numbers in these counties.” Gardner noted that the indirect jobs associated with energy development have suffered as well.

Gardner and other Republicans warned Democrat leaders about the consequences of the rules during lengthy debate in the state House of Representatives. At the time, Gardner and industry leaders warned that overly restrictive environmental regulations and a lengthy and unpredictable permitting process would stifle industry growth. Despite those warnings, the governor moved forward and approved the rules.

“While many cities and towns across America struggle to lessen the effects of the recession, some on Colorado’s Eastern Plains and Western Slope have not been so lucky,” Gardner said. “It is shameful that these rules stay in place as Coloradans continue to lose good jobs.”

May: New Appointment Will Hurt Agriculture and Jobs

House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker, today reacted sharply to the news that House Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, appointed Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, to serve as the chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

“Rep. Fischer’s record of hostility toward agriculture and the energy industry does not bode well for Colorado’s economy and job market this year,” May said. “Important policy decisions that will impact farmers, ranchers, miners, and oil and gas workers are now in the hands of a legislator who has actively opposed each of these industries.”

Fischer’s House Bill 1230, from 2008, would have required strict emissions requirements to be placed on all diesel powered equipment. Dubbed the “Tractor Tax,” it would have required farmers to retrofit equipment with costly upgrades.

“Fischer’s tractor tax enraged the agriculture community and even threatened to put some farmers out of business,” May said. “Fortunately, this hostile proposal was defeated, but with Fischer being elevated to this new position, these types of proposals may be back.”

May also points to public statements Fischer made opposing future water storage projects in Colorado. Quoted in a December 2009 Greeley Tribune article, Fischer said that “Colorado does not need any additional water storage.”

“Without adequate water to irrigate, many of Colorado’s farms would simply dry up,” May said. “These are only a few examples demonstrating that Fischer clearly does not understand the issues important to agriculture.”

Fischer also played an important role in the approval of new oil and gas rules that have been criticized as “job-costers,” and has run legislation in the past to curb mining operations in his region.

Rep. McNulty: Union Comes to Collect

New Propaganda Puts Spotlight on Union Demands for Higher Pay and Benefits

State Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, today issued a sharp rebuke to a new missive issued by Colorado WINS, the union that bargains for Colorado state employees.

“We are in the midst of a recession and facing a massive state budget shortfall and the union is blind to it as they continue to push their Chicago-style politics,” McNulty said. “As a former civil servant myself, I know that our state employees take pride in what they do for our state, and while union bosses are busy whining and issuing politicized reports, Colorado’s state employees are going above and beyond to serve their fellow Coloradans, and I thank them for that. The real issue here is that Gov. Ritter set the stage for increased labor tensions when he granted union bosses access to state government.”

McNulty is referring to an executive order signed by Gov. Bill Ritter that granted unions access to state government employees. Touted by Ritter as an efficiency measure, Republicans at the time warned that the move would eventually result in increased costs to Colorado taxpayers.

“Colorado taxpayers are already paying the bill for increased bureaucracy in the form of higher fees and taxes and car registration fees,” McNulty said. “Now we can thank our governor for an impending union-taxpayer showdown that threatens to hurt state employees and put state services at risk.”

According to a report in the Denver Business Journal, last June, Colorado state employee union officials went before the Joint Budget Committee asking the committee members to boost wages and benefits for state employees by eliminating important economic development measures the state offers.

“It has been my experience that Colorado state employees will do whatever it takes to get the job done,” McNulty said. “Unfortunately, union bosses have placed them in a bad situation.”

Rep. May Statement on Ritter Announcement

House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker, today issued the following statement in response to Governor Bill Ritter’s announcement of his “jobs plan”:

“As we continue to grapple with the continued effects of a struggling economy, a focus on jobs is absolutely essential.

“I would suggest that if Gov. Ritter wants to get Coloradans back to work, he repeal his onerous tax and fee increases, scale back his damaging oil and gas rules, and rethink the way government does business.

“Unfortunately, the governor seems to be more focused on job training programs than proposals to get Coloradans back to work.

“It is time to take a new approach to solve our long-term problems.”

Charter School Victory Lauded

State Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, today praised a bipartisan vote to prevent an audit singling out Colorado’s charter schools. The Legislative Audit Committee voted yesterday against the proposed audit, which Republican lawmakers called a punitive overreaction to the failings of one charter school. The measure failed on a five to two vote.

“Colorado’s charter schools continue to provide an excellent educational opportunity for our children,” Rep. Lambert said. “I applaud the Audit Committee’s decision to reject Rep. Merrifield’s (D-Colorado Springs) proposal in his continued attempts to discredit these particular institutions.”

State Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, who is serving as a temporary member on the Legislative Audit Committee this week, echoed Lambert’s statement.

“This request was way over the top,” he said. “It was a misguided attempt to unfairly target and discredit Colorado's charter schools and deprive parents of their right to public school choice.”

Both legislators say Colorado charter schools have been successful in educating Colorado students and providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children.

May Statement on Latest Round of Budget Cuts

House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker, today issued the following statement in response to Governor Bill Ritter’s latest budget balancing plan:

“As we continue to grapple with measures to balance the budget, I believe that we should use this situation as an opportunity to examine meaningful government reform as opposed to using one time gimmicks and budget balancing tricks.

“I was disappointed to see that many of the governor’s proposals merely delay the inevitable.

“It is time to take a new approach to solving our long term problems.

“We invite the governor to work with us in a true bipartisan fashion to reform government.”