Colorado legislature disappoints in funding transportation, has some success with work force, higher ed

LOVELAND -- It's hard to grade the 2008 Colorado General Assembly when one legislator, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, says this: "The good news is that we didn't get much done. The bad news is that we didn't get much done."

That's the way State Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, assessed the recently concluded legislative session at Monday's meeting of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance.

Lundberg joined six other northern Colorado legislators for the alliance's final meeting of the legislative season Monday morning at the American Eagle Distributing in Loveland. The NCLA is the joint public policy advocacy arm of the Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland Chambers of Commerce and the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.

Sandra Hagen Solin, NCLA issues manager, told a crowd of about 50 that the group had a 75 percent success rate on measures it considered priority, in comparison with a 44 percent rate in 2007. Democrats, she said, were receptive to the group's concerns while Republicans continued support of those concerns.

Transportation funding was considered a disappointment, while workforce and higher education got a 90 percent success rate, Hagen Solin said. Health care and the fiscal structure of the state remain a concern, she added.

Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, expressed concern that neither party has come to grips with economic problems facing the state as Colorado and the nation slips into a recession. He charged that Democrats "continue to add to state spending," and are "spending more in state funds that we are putting in."

Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, countered by saying the legislature "put money where we would get the best bang for the dollar." Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, said, "I thought we had an incredible year," adding one of the highlights of the session was its commitment to renewable energy.

Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, responding to concerns from Johnson that capital spending on state buildings was funded more by bonds, said those bonds will be paid. "We certainly don't want anyone foreclosing on a state building," Marostica said.

But Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Eaton, said the legislature failed to prioritize where money should be spent and said increasing fees was not an answer.

"The state leadership has not yet recognized what is going on with the state's economy," Renfroe said.