Jobs and Economic Prosperity

Here’s a snapshot of my 2009 legislative agenda concerning Prosperity and Job Growth:

Ahead of the 2009 legislative session, I articulated a pro-economic growth and recovery agenda, preferring a bottom-up (prosperity is built by individuals and entrepreneurs, not governments) road to recovery versus a top-down (politicians spending other people’s money and usually over regulate) scheme.

I sponsored or supported legislation in each of the following key economic recovery areas:

Reducing the tax burden on Colorado businesses

My effort to cut out an essentially obsolete government program concerning workers compensation fees paid by businesses will save Colorado businesses (and consumers, who ultimately pay all of the taxes) a minimum of $13 million per year (SB 09-037). My aim was to provide an infusion of cash back into the economy in hopes of making it easier for employers to keep more of their workers on the payroll.

I sponsored legislation that provides a business personal property tax moratorium on new businesses trying to get started in this challenging economic environment. Eligible new enterprises include those removing beetle killed trees from high risk fire areas and converting them into commercially viable products (SB 09-016), as well as those converting landfill materials into clean electricity or those erecting solar arrays atop reclaimed landfills (HB 09-1268).

Regulatory Reform

Ronald Reagan once quipped that, “Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

It seems that most well-intentioned regulatory schemes evolve over a period of time into bigger, costlier, more out-of-touch bureaucracies. These are almost always in need of reforms in ways that benefit the businesses and consumers involved, since business practices and consumer habits change over time.

I fought against (the 10% part of) the Governor’s new oil and gas rules and regulations that will cost Colorado jobs and make it more difficult for oil and gas producers to help Colorado move toward energy independence (HB 09-1292).

I supported amendments to the rules which both added stronger waterway protections and eased some of the most onerous restrictions on production. I also sponsored legislation that would have streamlined the regulatory environment oil and gas producers operate in by putting all the regulators under one roof (inside of the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission) rather than under two roofs as it is now (HB09-1255). Since wind and solar power both require natural gas generated electricity as a back up, it makes no sense to advocate for only wind and solar power, to the detriment of natural gas production.

I was also pleased to sponsor bills streamlining the regulation of truck drivers (HB09-1244) and tow truck operators (HB09-1279) which will save both types of businesses time will add to their bottom lines.

Accelerating Colorado energy production

I believe in making America energy independent. And I believe in using all forms of energy available to us and that we can do this by protecting our state’s land, air and waterways.

To help meet Colorado's growing demand for energy, I sponsored a bill to advance the development of hydro and solar power. The bill also streamlined the process of getting a nuclear plant sited in Colorado (upon the request of a local community) and even provided incentives for Geo Plasma Gasification operations to come in and convert municipal landfill materials into clean electricity (HB09-1268).

I sponsored legislation that streamlined the process of permitting clean coal operations (HB09-1098) and a bill that would have created an oil shale task force (HB09-1231) that was to make policy recommendations to the General Assembly.

Making government spending more transparent

It’s time for governments at all level to make more use of readily available electronic and internet-based technologies in order to make spending more transparent. We should give all taxpayers the ability to look over our shoulders and see what is happening with their money.

I sponsored a bill that will put Colorado’s checkbook register online (HB09-1288). With a few mouse clicks, anyone in Colorado (or with a web connection!) will be able to see exactly how taxpayer money is being spent. I also co-sponsored bills that do the same thing for school districts (SB09-57) and special districts (SB09-87).