DENVER – Colorado Republicans took control of the Senate on Wednesday for the first time in a decade.
Sen. Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs became president, with Sen. Ellen Roberts of Durango serving as president pro tempore.
“We want to rebuild trust with the citizens of Colorado, and we want to lead,” Roberts told The Durango Herald shortly after being elected president pro tempore. “The change in the chamber this year, this was not an accident.”
Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, who serves now as minority leader after an unfavorable election season for Democrats, graciously handed the majority over to Sen. Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs.
She placed an oversized “dazzle gavel” in the hands of Cadman. The bedazzled gavel lightened the mood as Democrats watched Republicans knock them out of power in the Senate.
Cadman quickly called on his colleagues to work together. In an effort to show unity, Cadman lit a candle for his late mother. He then invited Democratic Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver, who is gay, to light a candle for his late partner Dave Misner.
Steadman said the institution of the Legislature is based on “respect, civility and trust,” adding that lawmakers should “live for the present and plan for the future.
“Our time here is so brief – there is more to learn than we could even imagine,” Cadman said. “There is no end to the learning curve.”
He said Republicans will focus this year on school performance, including reforming testing and evaluations. Cadman also pointed to workforce development, suggesting that training could be applied to students not attending college.
The GOP placed a spotlight on regulatory reform, as well, suggesting that they would like to roll back mandates on businesses. Cadman likened it to Walmart rolling back prices.
“They don’t do it to be charitable. They do it to be more competitive in a global marketplace,” Cadman said. “Rolling back costly, useless regulations will make us more competitive.”
Lawmakers this year also may have to deal with refunds constitutionally mandated under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in times of budget surpluses. Republicans and Democrats have said that any ballot initiative allowing the state to keep the money should come from voters, not referred by the Legislature.
Cadman made it clear that his caucus would like to see that money returned to voters.
“There are already a lot of discussions happening about the surplus. Frankly, I think these talks are moot,” he said. “The people of Colorado made that decision for us. The people of Colorado made that decision for themselves.”
Carroll defended her party’s agenda in the majority over the last several years, pointing out that under Democratic control, Colorado climbed out of a deep economic downturn.
“We felt the struggles of Coloradans. We listened. We responded,” Carroll said.
She said her party will place a focus on the middle class this year – assisting displaced workers, addressing long-term unemployment, developing rural economies, promoting job training, building retirement security, and easing student, credit and child care debt.
“What’s right, what’s just, is an economy that works for everyone, not just a few at the top,” Carroll said.
Democrats said they also will work on education, continuing to restore funding after an estimated $1 billion in cuts, and joining an effort to ease extensive school-testing requirements.
“Education is the great liberator, and it is the foundation of our freedom as Americans,” Carroll said.
“We can tackle the needs of Colorado families every day we are here,” she said. “They are who I represent, and they are who you represent. We will find common ground in solving problems and continuing to move Colorado forward.”