This week’s blog title is the name of a great Janis Joplin song. I was listening to it earlier and some of the lyrics really capture my second legislative year:  Well, I'm gonna try yeah, just a little bit harder… I ain't gonna lose the chance…

Alejandra, 8th grader who testified in support of ASSET

The ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Today) Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation I’m trying harder at in these weeks. ASSET will not cost taxpayers a dime and, in fact, it stands to raise millions of dollars in additional tuition revenue for our financially-strapped colleges and universities. This legislation will serve as a key piece of Colorado’s economic recovery plan.  The bill passed in the Senate Education Committee hearing this last Thursday and is expected to come to the Senate floor for a full vote this next week. The Denver Post is in full support. When ASSET passes the Senate (I’m hopeful), it then goes to the House Education Committee. That’s where it failed last year. But there are some interesting developments to keep an eye out for: On Tuesday, at the Denver Hispanic Chamber Legislative Breakfast, Rep.Tom Massey (a Republican who chairs the House Education Committee) publicly announced his support for ASSET. Last year he voted against it and it failed so, hope is renewed this year.  Check out my Facebook page where I’ll be posting about ASSET as it’s heard on the Senate floor this week.

The Committees I serve on (Judiciary, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy, Appropriations, and Finance) have been busy since the beginning of the session meeting with various State Departments and Directors. Most committees have begun to hear bills. I enjoy Committee work because it gives us the chance to delve deeper into legislation and understand how it affects our lives. This is where Colorado residents from all over the state come to testify in support of or in opposition to various bills. It’s democracy in action – an opportunity to be heard and hear about the impact of the legislation we are deciding. Please let me know if there’s a piece of legislation where you’re interested in adding your voice. I’d also invite you to visit the Capitol and I’m happy to show you around. For folks who are interested in the legislative process but aren’t planning a trip to Denver, I invite you to attend an upcoming town hall or community coffee.  I’m hosting a community coffee on Saturday, February 4, and a Town Hall on February 18. There is one other way for Pueblo people to have a voice at the Capitol: I collect up names of folks who have particular expertise or interest in bills I’m working on. For example, when I’m working on a healthcare bill, I reach out to Dr. Anne Courtright and I’m a Senate sponsor for a piece of legislation involving pawn shops so Mark Duran (a Pueblo police officer who covers pawn shops in his beat) is reading the bill with me and sharing his perspective. If you’re interested in adding your name to the “Pueblo Perspectives” list to review and offer feedback about potential legislation, contact me at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nursing Students from Regis University

I did get a visit from some nursing students and an instructor from Regis University: Beldine Ndalo, Deanna Wolfe, Valerie Beascochea, and Rebecca Lane. Valerie is a constituent from Pueblo West and there’s nothing like getting a visit from someone from home. It was great timing, we were able to spend almost an hour together. We talked about state government, legislative processes, and we connected around how the unique perspective of women is so valuable in forming public policy.  I hope they got as much out of the visit as I did.

Thanks for reading my reflections.

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ASSET, SMART Government, State Fair woes, and another “trip” to the Governor’s Mansion…

Hot Issues:

LEGISLATION is the hottest issue and my first Bill for the 2012 legislative session has been introduced. It will be in the heard in the Senate Education Committee on Thursday afternoon!  I’m thrilled that my first bill is a revenue generator for institutions of higher education. The Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) bill creates a third category of tuition called standard-rate tuition. For students to be eligible for this rate a student will have to attend three or more years of high school in Colorado and graduate or obtain a GED. The students will have to apply to and be accepted at a CO institution of higher ed. ASSET students will not be eligible for any state or federal financial aid. This means that no CO taxpayer dollars will go toward this program. Instead, the colleges and universities in our state will see increased revenue from additional students attending our schools. Generating revenue for higher education is critical in a time when many of our colleges and universities have had to raise tuition costs. We can talk together more about this bill and others in upcoming Community Coffees and Town Halls. As I talk to people about Colorado ASSET SB15, I’m still telling them that it has always been the right thing to do and now, it is the economically smart thing to do!

In our COMMITTEE MEETINGS this week, we spent a great amount of dealing with the outcomes of a bill passed in 2010 – the State Measurements for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Bill. It began to be implemented in 2011 and it changes the way that our state government creates our budgets. State Departments are providing their strategic plan for implementation and the info we gather will impact how we operate in the future. We are aiming to make it easier for the average person to understand where our money comes from and what programs it provides. On our end, we as legislators can better evaluate how taxpayer dollars are spent. The provisions of the SMART Government Bill are being put to work and I’m excited that we now have a process to ensure that government can be more responsive by tying actual performance to funding. It also ensures that government is more transparent by requiring annual reports on each department’s progress be made available and written in plain language. It’s an exciting time to be a part of state government and it all translates to greater efficiency and better service for all residents of this great state.

THE STATE FAIR has been another hot issue and in a whole week of 7am meetings, it’s good to have one that involves meeting with folks from Pueblo. The Colorado State Fair staff and board members came and presented to the State Audit Committee last Wednesday. Chris Wiseman, General Manager, shared a 2011 study by the Incentis Group. The annual operation of the State Fair brings $34,000,000 to our state. This 34 million dollars is equivalent to 374 fulltime jobs! According to the study, the Fair’s 11-day fiscal impact is $4,535,091 with $1,697,048 to our state economy, $1,904,000 to our municipal economy, and $934,034 to the county of Pueblo. Like many of you, I have an appreciation for the tremendous value the Fair adds to our community and the state. There were 10,306 entries at this years’ Fair with 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) from around the state. What a showcase of our rich rural and agricultural culture!  An average of 500,000 people visit the Fair each year with Fiesta Day being one of the most well-attended days. You can be sure there were many concerns about how to address the Fair’s deficit and a more aggressive solicitation of donations and corporate sponsors are among the strategies the Fair will pursue to fill the budgetary hole. Prices for admission and ride tickets rose last year and there are no plans to hike them again this year.

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Last year, you may remember my blog post where I talked about my first time to visit the Governor’s Mansion. If you read it, you’ll remember that it was a disaster – a bunch of staff and legislators were invited to the mansion for corned beef and cabbage and I had a bad case of the clumsies and spilled my whole glass of soda on my green dress then caused someone to drop her full plate of food on the floor. I said then that I shouldn’t have been allowed to return and I should have heeded my own advice. Walking in to the Governor’s legislative reception on Thursday, I slipped at the outside entrance and fell to the ground. Boom! Luckily, I was not injured and was able to pick myself up and carry on with the evening. My only regret: Why didn’t I pull down one (or all) of the Republican legislators who were walking in with me? I can promise you, Pueblo, in all other things I am making a MUCH better impression!

Save the DATES: DON’T FORGET – we have a Community Coffee coming up on Saturday, February 4, at the CPC/CO WINS office (304 S. Union Ave.) in Pueblo at 10am. A Town Hall will be held on Saturday, February 18, at the Public Library (100 E. Abriendo) at 10am. Please plan to attend!

Week one of the State Legislature and we’re off and running. Now that I’ve experienced one year of being a State Senator, I have a better understanding of what it takes to do well by Pueblo and District 3 constituents. Colorado’s legislative session runs 120 days. That means I am in Denver every week and all week from January to May. I rent a place there during those months and come home to Pueblo on the weekends. I spend between 10-12 hours a day at the Capitol with weekends dedicated to town halls, community coffees and events to communicate with the people I represent. From June through December, I am in Denver an average of 3 times a month, sometimes for one day and sometimes for a few days. I’m also out touring state facilities and I’m on a few year-round committees that require travel and meetings. I look for opportunities to attend conferences that are relevant to the committees I serve on and that help me to be a better advocate for Pueblo and Southern Colorado. This past December, I was invited to be a part of a legislative delegation that traveled to Israel. All that being said, I was surprised to learn this job is classified as part-time because it doesn’t feel like that to me. 

Being back at the Capitol for the legislative session means a more regular schedule, albeit demanding, just like the kinds of jobs many of you do. It was good to be back to see colleagues and friends I worked with last year, I still share an office (#339) with Gail Schwartz, and I miss Pueblo and my my dog, Rosie, and my husband, Steve, every day (not necessarily in that order). I certainly walked in this year with a better idea of what to expect and ready to do the job to which I was elected.

 The Governor’s State of the State address garnered a standing ovation from most in the room when he stated his support for the passage of civil unions legislation. Yeah! Given his commitment to education and economic development, I had hoped that he might throw a bone to the ASSET Bill. ASSET is a bill I championed last year and it passed the Senate only to fail in the House Education Committee. ASSET provides a separate tuition rate for undocumented students who have attended a state high school for three or more years and wish to attend a state university or college and there are a few modifications this year. It’s called SB15 and I’ll be talking about and answering your questions about SB15 and other legislation in town halls and community meetings over the next month.

I am putting a lot of time and effort into training and orientation for the legislative interns who will help me serve District 3. Interns are generally students who pursue course credit and volunteer their time to meeting our legislative and constituent service objectives. If you call my office (303 866-4878) please be sure to introduce yourself to one of our fine interns who are vital to keeping us organized and on track. Look for others to be present at upcoming town halls and community coffees.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS start in February:

Community Coffees are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month at the CPC/CO WINS office (304 S. Union) at 10am.

Town Halls are scheduled for the third Saturday of every month at the Rawlings Library at 10am.

It’s been a heck of a year – let’s get after the next one! Hope to see you in person at one of the town halls or coffees.

Bills Passed: The legislative session adjourned on Wednesday, May 11th. As I share with you my thoughts about my first session, I want to be sure to share the fact that I was able to pass nine pieces of legislation and already, three of my bills have been signed into law.  I’ve requested that the Governor travel here to Pueblo in the coming months to sign into law a few others. On Thursday, June 2nd, I will host a community coffee at 7:00 am at the 5th & Main Espresso Bar to review this legislative session and let folks know what was achieved and what it all means for Pueblo. I hope you’ll join me. 

Lessons Learned or Affirmed:  I learned and relearned a number of lessons as I served in the Colorado Senate. Here are just a few: 

The last hours of the legislative session.

· Importance of Feedback – I learned how important it is to hear from people in Pueblo while I’m working on state legislation at the Capitol. Every weekend, I was so grateful to hear from constituents.  I think it is possible for legislators to get caught up in the politics of being at the Capitol and lose sight of what is most important to the average person living in a neighborhood in a district. I tried in every conversation with a lobbyist, with every bit of testimony I heard, and with every vote I took to think about the impact on average families in Pueblo.  I never want to get away from what Pueblo’s needs are and I want to seize on our every opportunity – I can only do that by ensuring that I am present with and listening to YOU, my constituents. I am grateful for all the times when you caught me in the aisle of the hardware store, or while I was loading my cart with groceries, or out walking my dog, or at one of the 10+ town halls or community coffees I sponsored. I value your feedback and I hope to continue to build the kind of trust necessary for folks to be able to feel comfortable offering their thoughts and concerns.  

Pueblo's legislative delegation proclaiming a resolution at the Medal of Honor ceremony.

So Much to Celebrate:  On Wednesday evening, May 11th when the gavel was pounded and the words “Sine Die” (Adjourned Indefinitely) were proclaimed, the 68th (and my first ever) Legislative Session came to a ceremonious end.  All of the folks who work at the Capitol - maintenance workers, non-partisan legislative staff, aides, lobbyists, and legislators - went out for a night on the town.  We had a big ol’ party to let off steam, say a temporary farewell to one another, and celebrate our successes.  I was eager to stay out until midnight because May 12th is my birthday!   On that day, and in the days since, I celebrate that I learned a great deal, made an impact for Pueblo and our state, made solid friendships that I will continue to value and rely on. I am grateful that I finished my first session still glad and honored to be able to serve as the Senator from District 3. I’d be lying if I didn’t also admit that I’m celebrating the fact that I am able to return to Pueblo and the people I love. Denver is nice but, Pueblo is home! 

"I'm baaaaaaack!!!"

Where to Go from Here:  There is SO MUCH WORK still to be done!!!  People may think I can take a long break and rest and relax but, I’ll keep working! I was named to the state-wide Water Resource Committee - we will be meeting regularly between now and the end of the year. I will prepare for and attend a number of national conferences for state legislators like, the Western Regional Women’s Conference, the Nat’l Conference of State Legislators, the Colorado Municipal League Conference, and the Colorado Conference on Poverty.  I am committed to traveling the state a bit to do some research for the committees I serve on – Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy; Judiciary; Finance; and Appropriations.  I will begin work on legislation for the 2010 session and I will be hosting events for residents of Pueblo County to come share feedback and ideas. If I get some time to do personal things, I’ll work on my yard, garden a bit, and start an exercise program to get in better shape!  I have been invited to speak at a number of events around town and around the state – if you have any suggestions about where I should be, let me know.  Lastly, I’m gonna try and keep up this BLOG so I can stay in touch and let folks know what’s going on. I hope to see you around!