GOV. RITTER PRAISES LAWMAKERS FOR LEADING COLORADO FORWARD THROUGH TOUGH ECONOMY

 

As the General Assembly wrapped up its 2009 legislative session, Gov. Bill Ritter today congratulated lawmakers for making significant advances in job creation, education reform, long-term budget reform, healthcare affordability and transportation funding.

 

"Despite the worst economy in 75 years, we helped create jobs, strengthen communities, protect the vulnerable and create opportunities all across the state," Gov. Ritter said. "Despite cutting nearly $1.5 billion, we delivered a balanced budget that preserves investments in education, healthcare and public safety. This session's achievements again demonstrate that our shared vision and strategy for leading Colorado forward has positioned the state to emerge from the downturn stronger than ever."

 

Click here to watch Gov. Ritter's video and Internet message recapping session highlights, which include.

 

·         Initiating the most aggressive economic-development legislation in decades by establishing incentives for companies to create jobs, providing businesses with access to credit, and strengthening job-training programs at community colleges for workers seeking to enter the New Energy Economy and other Industries of the Future.

 

·         Enacting the most significant healthcare reform in 40 years, providing coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and curbing cost-shifting – without raising taxes.

 

·         Creating the first new sustainable funding source for transportation in nearly two decades, allowing for the repair of unsafe bridges and the upkeep of aging roads and highways.

 

·         Advancing Colorado's globally recognized New Energy Economy, creating new jobs and making renewable energy and energy efficiency more affordable for all Coloradans.

 

·         Enacting another major education reform, allowing students to simultaneously earn high school and community college degrees and in the process lower the dropout rate.

 

·         Making tough choices to balance a recession-era budget while still maintaining investments in education, healthcare, public safety and other top priority services.

 

·         Helping families on the brink of losing their homes with more time to avoid foreclosure by working out equitable solutions with mortgage lenders.

 

·        Taking a big first step toward long-term budget reform by linking allocation formulas to the economy and actual economic indicators, as opposed to arbitrary figure-setting.

2009 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

 

Job Creation, Business Development and Economic Recovery

 

In 2008, business leaders called Governor Ritter's economic development package the most robust in two decades. The 2009 agenda was even more significant, further strengthening the Governor's focus on job creation, business development and economic recovery.

 

·         HB09-1001 (Rice/Heath) -- Provides tax incentives to businesses that create 20 or more jobs, giving Colorado not just a new tool in the toolbox to compete against other states for new jobs and new companies, but an entirely new tool box.

 

·         SB09-67 (Heath/Gagliardi & Marostica) – Provides small businesses with what they need the most during this economic downturn: direct access to capital.

 

·         SB09-171 (Schwartz/Todd) -- Strengthens the relationship between businesses, industry and community colleges by improving job training and re-training programs.

 

·         HB09-1276 (Ferrandino/M. Carroll) – Gives responsible homeowners and their lenders 90 days to avoid foreclosure by working with certified mortgage counselors to regain solid financial footing.

 

·         Click here for more on economic development.

 

Health Care

 

After working closely with the Colorado Hospital Association for nearly a year, Governor Ritter signed the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act into law on April 21 -- the most significant health reform in Colorado in 40 years:

 

·         HB09-1293 (Boyd & Keller/Ferrandino & Riesberg) --  Known as the Colorado Healthcare Affordability Act, provides coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and makes healthcare more affordable by reducing uncompensated care and cost-shifting, two of the leading contributors to skyrocketing healthcare costs. The bill had more than 40 co-sponsors and will cost taxpayers or businesses not one penny more.

 

·         Click here for more on health care.

 

Transportation

 

Governor Ritter made transportation funding one of his priority issues in the 2009 session. With the loss of significant federal funding, Governor Ritter developed the Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) Act, providing Colorado with the first new and sustainable funding source since 1991.

 

·         SB09-108 (Gibbs/Rice) – Known as FASTER, dedicates $250 million a year to repairing unsafe bridges and maintaining roadways all across the state, while also creating a framework for alternative financing options in the future so Colorado can build a modern transportation system statewide.

 

·         SB09-94 (Williams/ Levy) – Creates a Transit and Rail Division within the Colorado Department of Transportation to lead the further development of transit and rail statewide.

 

·         Click here for more on transportation.

 

New Energy Economy

 

Governor Ritter advanced Colorado's world-leading New Energy Economy this session, introducing legislation that will continue creating jobs, attracting new companies and making renewable energy and energy efficiency projects more affordable for everyone.

 

·         HB09-1149 (Merrifield/Carroll M.) – Requires homebuilders to offer prospective homebuyers the option of having their home pre-wired for solar or having a system installed, making it easier to finance renewable energy along with a home mortgage.

 

·         HB09-1312 (Kerr/Schwartz/Romer) – Creates a loan program to help schools pay for renewable energy projects, as well as hybrid and electric buses, so that education dollars can be spent where they belong – in the classroom.

 

·         HB09-1331 (Gagliardi/Boyd) – Updates tax credits for fuel-efficient vehicles.

 

·        SB09-51 (Carroll/Levy) – Helps home- and business-owners afford solar energy systems by providing treasury bonds to participating banks and lenders for renewable energy and efficiency projects & by enabling innovative residential financing models that can spread out expensive upfront costs over several years, similar to purchasing and financing a car.

      

·         Click here for more on the New Energy Economy.

 

Education

 

Governor Ritter continued his nationally recognized education reforms this session to reduce Colorado's high school dropout rate, close the achievement gap  and better prepare Coloradans for a 21^st century workforce. Since taking office he has directed more state investments into higher education than any other Governor in Colorado history. He reaffirmed his commitment this session by blocking a $300 million cut to colleges and universities, which would have resulted in skyrocketing tuition.

 

·         HB09-1319 (Merrifield & Massey/Williams) – Known as Colorado ASCENT (Accelerating Students through Concurrent ENrollmenT, creates the nation's first statewide dual enrollment plan that allows high school students to simultaneously earn a high school degree and a college associate's degree. This more rapidly prepares students for the workforce and will reduce the dropout rate.

 

·         SB09-163 (Hudak/Middleton) – Implements longitudinal growth (tracking a student's educational performance from year to year) for accreditation and accountability purposes.

 

·         HB09-1243 (Middleton/Bacon) – Creates the Office of Dropout Prevention and Student Re-engagement to reduce student dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

 

·         Click here for more on education.

 

State Budget and Fiscal Reform

 

Governor Ritter and lawmakers closed a $1.5 billion recession-caused budget shortfall while protecting key priorities such as education, human services and public safety. Governor Ritter also brought together a bi-partisan coalition of diverse interests to take the next step forward in addressing Colorado's out-dated and conflicting fiscal mandates.

 

·         SB09-228 (Morse/Marostica) – Increases the state's rainy day reserve fund, allows for key investments in transportation and infrastructure projects and replaces the existing 6% allocation formula with a new 5% personal income limit, which is tied to the economy so that when the economy recovers from a downturn state services can recover as well.