LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:

The ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow) Bill which would have provided unsubsidized in-state tuition for undocumented students was heard in the House Education Committee on Monday. I was hopeful that, when presented with the facts, House members would support opportunity for our kids and a stronger economy for all of us. Unfortunately, the facts did not prevail and the bill was struck down by a 7-6 vote – all Democrats voted for the bill and all Republicans against. I am still brought to tears when I think of the star students who are being left behind because the legislature has failed them, yet again.  One of the most moving post-vote statements came from the Politically Active Ztudents (PAZ) at Metro State College “SB 126 did not pass today, and we did not fail, we are moving forward constantly, that's what we do....stopping at nothing to create positive change and justice in our communities...” Despite my deep disappointment, I will persist in my belief that people CAN do the right thing.

SB 235 – Third Party Air Quality Modelers – This Bill creates a process to expedite the air permitting process in the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment. Their Air Pollution Control Division is facing a backlog and this bill addresses that issue by empowering the Division to contract with external air modelers. The ability to do this provides the flexibility necessary to get those permit applications moving along.  I presented this bill before the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Energy Committee. The testimony I lined up included Public Health Dept. staff, a lobbyist for Pueblo’s own Evraz Steel, and the Executive Director of an environmental non-profit. Pam, from the environmental group, stated in her testimony that it was the first time in 6 years that she and the Evraz lobbyist had ever testified on the same side of a bill. Needless to say, the bill passed out of committee unanimously!  The next step was to move it through Appropriations (where it also passed unanimously) and then on to the Senate floor.  On Friday, it passed the Senate floor and now it’s off to the House. Three days through the Senate, almost certainly a record! I am the Senate prime sponsor and Reps. Pace and Swerdfeger are the House co-sponsors so your Pueblo contingent is doing you proud!

I LOVE PUEBLO! 

It was a crazy, busy weekend and I loved every minute of it. On Friday night, Steve and I attended the Blue Tie Gala - the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Annual Fundraiser. This year was their 25th anniversary. Pueblo’s Child Advocacy Center was one of the very first in the nation.  Interestingly enough, I’ve been voting on a bill in the Senate that increases the court surcharges that generate some revenue for the 15 Advocacy Centers in Colorado. Saturday morning found us bright and early at the Riverwalk for the March of Dimes Walk. Michelle Randall-Garcia and Councilman Leroy Garcia organized a group of us to walk and raise money for the March of Dimes in honor of their son Xan. Xan was born premature and the March of Dimes provided great support to their family.  Proceeds from the walk will go to other Pueblo families and I was proud to be there as a part of Team Xan. We walked around the Riverwalk three times but, this wasn’t my first March of Dimes Walk. Back in the day, I would participate – when the walk was 21 miles!  Last night, we celebrated with the folks at the Weisbrod Aircraft Museum. It was their 20th Annual Moonlight Ball but, instead of dancing we were checking out all the recently restored planes. They have two hangars and the dinner/dance was held in one and a volunteer, Joe, gave us a tour of the other. Even wearing a dress, I climbed in the cockpit of one of the old Colorado Air Guard planes. I did get a little over-enthusiastic while trying to take Steve’s picture with the hot air balloon basket and tripped over a sign and fell to the ground.  Another case of the clumsies!  Our tour guide was so good to us - the museum is managed and maintained entirely by volunteers, primarily military veterans. We had a wonderful time. As soon as I finish preparing for this week’s bills, I plan to get over to an Optimist Club event. They’re hosting a Wine Tasting and I hope they don’t figure out that I can’t tell the difference between a $7 bottle of wine and a $700 bottle.  Maybe I’ll learn something but, really, I’m just looking forward to spending some time with Pueblo folks before heading back to Denver.

Happy May Day!