GOV. RITTER, LT. GOV. O'BRIEN AND TREASURER KENNEDY ON TODAY'S COURT RULING

Gov. Bill Ritter, Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy delivered the following remarks at today's news conference regarding the Colorado Supreme Court's 6-1 decision in Mesa County Board of Commissioners vs. State of Colorado:

 

Gov. Ritter:

 

"As you know, the Colorado Supreme Court today ruled in the state's favor in what has become known as the 'mill levy' case. But the real winners today are Colorado's children, Colorado's families and Colorado's schools.

 

"There are a few people who deserve special recognition today, because they've been fighting this fight and fighting on behalf of Colorado's children for years: Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy.

 

"I also want to acknowledge a few lawmakers: former Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, former Speaker Andrew Romanoff, former Sens. Sue Windels and Norma Anderson, Rep. Jack Pommer, and former Rep. and current Secretary of State Bernie Buescher.

 

"We took up this fight two years ago because it was the right thing to do for the right reasons. Voters in 174 of 178 school districts had previously said 'yes' to adequately funding their schools, to keeping local dollars in their local schools.

 

"All we were doing was giving voice and respecting the will of the voters, and today's court ruling re-affirms that voters knew what they were doing in every one of those elections.

 

"This wasn't something we created out of whole cloth. This was an idea that had been debated for years. It was supported in 2004 by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and by a broad, bipartisan coalition all around the state.

 

"Again, the real winners are students, because today's ruling means we can send more children to quality pre-school and full-day kindergarten. It means we can keep working toward reducing dropout rates and closing achievement gaps. It means we can send more students to college so they can compete and succeed in today's 21^st century global economy.

 

"And it means we don't have to make even deeper cuts to the General Fund in areas like higher education, health care and human services.

 

"It means we can keep leading Colorado forward."

 

Lt. Gov. O'Brien:

 

"This is a great day for Colorado's students. This decision means we can continue on our path toward full-day kindergarten and pre-school for at-risk kids. We had to stand with local communities to provide quality education for every child in Colorado.

 

"This was a tremendous example of leadership by Gov. Ritter and Treasurer Kennedy on behalf of our local communities. This ruling shows that we can do great things when state leaders, nonprofits and local leaders work together and seize the moment."

 

Treasurer Kennedy

 

"For years, Colorado's schools have struggled to find adequate funding resources. Today is a wonderful victory that will allow us to provide long-term, sustainable local support for our schools. It's also a victory for local voters who have said they want to invest in their local schools."

 

Statement of support from Great Education Colorado:

 

"As a statewide, grassroots, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving Colorado's investment in public education, Great Education Colorado is gratified by the Supreme Court reaffirmation of the public's right to say 'yes' to improved funding of public schools.

 

"We are also deeply grateful to state leaders – especially Governor Bill Ritter and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy – who understand the importance of public education and respected the decision of voters in 174 school districts who chose to support their local schools. Their leadership will have a lasting impact on public school and higher education students for decades to come.

 

"Parents, public school supporters, children and voters have much to cheer in today's ruling."