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News Release
January 14, 2010
COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL
A New Year (and decade), brings new opportunities. That is the sentiment Jefferson County House Democrats espoused as the 2010 legislative session began this week. Though the year will bring a shortfall of $600 million in the state budget, Representatives Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada), Debbie Benefield (D-Arvada), Max Tyler (D-Lakewood), Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood), and Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge) are hopeful that this year they will be able to continue to pass innovative policies meant to help steer the state toward recovery by creating jobs and preserving vital state services.
With the steady hand of Democratic leadership, Colorado is emerging from this recession faster than other states and is continuing on a path to economic recovery. Our unemployment rate is three points lower than the national average with nearly 3,000 jobs created in the last year alone. All of this, while Colorado experienced the fourth highest population growth in the nation last year.
House Democrats remain committed to focusing on what matters to Coloradans, protecting as many services as possible in the face of tough budget realities.
“The legislative agenda for the upcoming session is innovative, bold, and ambitious. We will work to balance the budget so that core services like education, public safety and human services are preserved, while stimulating economic growth and supporting small businesses,” said Rep. Gagliardi.
Rep. Tyler will be a leader in the visionary energy goals planned for this year. He has already introduced House Bill 1001, which seeks to accelerate the renewable energy standards, or the amount of power utility companies are required to generate from “green” sources, to 30 percent by 2020.
Rep. Tyler stated that, “Colorado has already taken steps to be a green energy leader for the country, and this bill furthers that motive. This bill will also create new jobs in the growing ‘green collar’ sector.”
“The House plans to shape policy around the principle that Colorado government must be living within its means. And even though balancing our budget and continuing to provide essential services is tough, we are committed to getting Colorado back on track in a fiscally responsible way,” said Rep. Benefield. “We will move Colorado in the right direction and make 2010 a productive year.”
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