Under are the remarks as delivered by Gov. Jared Polis’s workplace. Word that he could make real-time modifications to among the precise language.
Welcome.
Right this moment our administration is standing on the brink between 4 years previous and 4 years to come back. We’re middle-aged! However God prepared our mid-life disaster is prior to now! I’ve a bit much less hair than 4 years in the past, however extra knowledge and expertise.
We’ve gone via lots these final 4 years, Colorado. COVID-19. Shootings. Devastating wildfires. Document inflation. Spiraling hate speech.
However Coloradans ought to know that it doesn’t matter what comes our means, I’ll proceed to battle on a regular basis to guard our state.
Colorado is exclusive, we all the time have been. We’re a state that simply this yr voted to chop the revenue tax once more whereas legalizing mushrooms.
Our state could be formed like a sq. however the political pundits can’t put us in a field, so that they label us no matter one coloration they see – purple, blue, purple. I see a harmonious rainbow of colourful opinions that make up our state of pragmatic westerners. In order we begin this new session let’s not overlook who we’re, let’s not get misplaced in zero-sum politics, and let’s deal with working collectively for good outcomes.
We’ve seen the results of divisiveness and what occurs once we retreat into silos and cease having productive conversations, and that’s simply not who we’re. With excessive partisanship grinding progress to a halt in Washington, it’s extra vital than ever to guide the Colorado means.
Meaning displaying up and coming collectively when responsibility calls. We dig in, setting apart our variations, and we get to work on the thorny points. We transfer ahead collectively, making vital choices and compromises in pursuit of REAL outcomes that enhance our lives.
None of us on this chamber are right here as a result of it’s straightforward. We’re right here as a result of we consider on this work. We consider in a greater tomorrow for our kids. A Colorado for All.
As I stand earlier than you at the moment, I’m recommitting myself and my administration to daring concepts that transfer Colorado ahead. To tackle our biggest challenges with dedication, optimism, and the voices of all Coloradans.
Collectively we’ll construct on our successes from these final 4 years, however we aren’t for one second resting on them.
Just like the Nugget’s Nikola Jokic, who received again to again MVP awards, however continues combating for that championship alongside his teammates.
Or Gandalf the Gray from the Lord of the Rings, who fought the Balrog via Moria’s underworld, serving to Frodo escape, after which returned as Gandalf the White to assist defeat Sauron’s military and provides Frodo the prospect to destroy the ring.
And like Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who created the hit present South Park after which one of the crucial profitable Broadway musicals of all time. Now they’re tackling their biggest problem of all – Casa Bonita – which we’re thrilled will likely be opening this Could. I bought a sneak peak final week. Y’all are gonna adore it.
What do these people have in widespread? Yo-kitch, Gandalf, Trey and Matt, and Colorado consider the following chapter is the very best one – and I do too. Our greatest days are but to come back.
Three years from now, in 2026, we’ll have a good time our Centennial State’s one hundred and fiftieth birthday and the USA of America will have a good time 250. The phrases we have to be taught are sesqui-centennial for Colorado and semi-quin-centennial for America.
Thanks to Senator Zenzinger and Consultant Catlin who shepherded the laws to create the America 250 – Colorado 150 Fee, guaranteeing we make the celebration one for the ages.
However actually it’s all of us who will resolve what we’re celebrating, as a result of we’re the residing heritage of this State and collectively we’re the architects of its future.
As we put together to mark this historic milestone, we should ask ourselves:
How can we be taught to pronounce sesqui-centennial and semi-quin-centennial accurately? Simply kidding.
We should always ask ourselves:
1) Who can we as Coloradans wish to be in our one hundred and fiftieth yr?
2) How can our work now and over the following few years make that Colorado potential? 3) And eventually, how can Colorado’s instance shine a vibrant mild for the nation?
In Colorado, we’ve already taken motion to guard a girl’s proper to decide on.
We’ve constructed a world-class voting system to make sure that each Coloradan could make their voice heard.
Becoming a member of us at the moment is Secretary of State Jenna Griswold, a champion for voting rights and entry. We additionally battle for each particular person’s proper to be who they’re and love who they love.
We consider in freedom of the press and freedom of speech. And we defend everybody’s proper to dwell with dignity.
In Colorado, we lead by instance, enshrining these values in all that we are saying and do. By the point America is 250, we hope for a rustic that additionally respects freedom and the private well being choices of girls, transgender Individuals, and all Individuals. We would like safe, accessible elections for each voter. And, after all, we should safe our borders and repair our inhumane, damaged immigration system.
Folks have all the time come to America in quest of freedom, security and financial alternative, usually escaping brutal oppression from authoritarian, communist dictators like Maduro in Venezuela. However we as a rustic haven’t all the time lived as much as these values. We’re doing our half in Colorado to help migrants, and a particular because of the Metropolis of Denver, Larimer County and so many nonprofits together with Organizacion Papagayo, Vive Wellness and The American Mates Service Committee, for being nice companions in guaranteeing each migrant coming to our state is handled in essentially the most humane means potential. They’re right here with us at the moment, please be part of me in thanking them.
However we’d like our federal authorities to behave. The time is now.
We’re joined at the moment by Representatives Neguse and Crow, in addition to our two latest Representatives Pettersen and Caraveo. Thanks all for taking these Colorado values to Washington D.C.
Colorado may also help form our nation’s quest to change into a extra good union by setting the tempo of progress, combating for liberty, and delivering on our guarantees.
So, when Colorado is 150 years previous, who can we wish to be?
I’m certain many people have been requested that dreaded query, “the place do you see your self in 5 years?” I usually ask it once I’m interviewing individuals for jobs. It may be a tricky query, however with regards to the way forward for our state, it’s additionally a robust query.
Let’s begin with housing.
Many Coloradans are struggling to discover a place the place they will afford to dwell. Many extra are being compelled out of their neighborhoods with no hope of ever residing near the place they work. This implies extra site visitors, misplaced money and time spent on lengthy commutes, extra air air pollution, and better financial and workforce challenges.
This isn’t only a native drawback. Since points like transportation, water, power, and extra inherently cross jurisdictional boundaries, it turns into a statewide drawback that impacts all of us.
We want an strategy that creates extra housing now, protects Colorado’s assets and reduces sprawl. It’s clear that the actions of 1 jurisdiction influence others, particularly with regards to housing, the environment, transportation methods, roads and transit, water and sewer infrastructure, and certainly our financial prosperity and progress.
Frankly, Coloradans see it that means too and it’s why we’re all right here at the moment. The individuals of Colorado count on us to ship to make housing extra reasonably priced.
And if we don’t act now, we’ll quickly face the purpose of no return.
Simply look West. In California, a long time of poor planning has led to interruptions of consuming water and electrical energy for whole cities and cities, common dwelling costs over 1,000,000 {dollars} in main cities, and 16-lane freeways with bumper to bumper site visitors.
We’re not California, we’re Colorado.
And I refuse to allow us to make those self same errors.
When Colorado is 150 years previous, we’d like our state to have extra housing for each Colorado finances, near the place jobs are.
You understand the final time Colorado made main land use modifications was in 1974 — earlier than I, and most of you, have been born! We have been a special state then. Over the past half century, housing costs have elevated roughly 4 instances the speed of revenue. Meaning a home at the moment prices over 4 instances as a lot in comparison with at the moment’s revenue ranges than 60 years in the past, placing the dream of homeownership out of vary for too many Coloradans. This has bought to cease. We have to convey our land use coverage into the twenty first century and put together ourselves for achievement these subsequent 150 years.
We want extra housing now. It’s easy provide and demand.
These aren’t new concepts. Actually the Good E-book affords comparable city planning recommendation in Isaiah 54:2-3
Make your tent greater, stretch them out and make them wider, don’t maintain again. Make the ropes longer and stakes stronger, as a result of you’ll unfold out to the correct and to the left, and your youngsters will dwell once more in cities that have been as soon as deserted.
Allow us to heed the phrases of Isaiah in our instances. It’s time to legalize extra housing decisions for each Coloradan and provides householders extra freedom, revitalize our cities and cities, whereas defending the character of our state.
Colorado generally is a place the place individuals dwell the place they wish to dwell – near their jobs, their children’ faculties and environment friendly, low-cost transit. We will save Coloradans cash on housing and we are able to do it whereas assembly our local weather objectives!
Constructing good, environment friendly housing statewide, particularly in city communities and job facilities, received’t simply scale back prices, it would save power, preserve our water, and defend the lands and wildlife which might be so vital to our Colorado lifestyle.
It is going to additionally help our imaginative and prescient for public transit, which is to create lower-cost methods to journey that provides Coloradans extra decisions and results in extra breathable air and fewer site visitors.
Collectively we have now laid the muse for a statewide street and transit system that meets the wants of Coloradans. First, with investments from the historic Senate Invoice 260, after which with the creation of the Entrance Vary Rail District, which is scheduled to ship a draft service plan by 2024. Thanks to President Fenberg, Senator Winter and Senator Zenzinger, on your management on these payments. Over the following few years we’ll proceed working towards that imaginative and prescient, and I’m asking CDOT to work with native transit companions to establish and take the following steps in the direction of higher decrease price transit choices.
Extra housing now could be for individuals, for planet, and for prosperity. It’s for individuals who want a roof over their head and who wish to acknowledge the dream of dwelling possession and wealth constructing. It’s for the planet to cut back our emissions and preserve water. And it’s for our prosperity as a state to make sure that companies can rent individuals to energy our economic system.
Let me be clear – Housing coverage is local weather coverage.
Housing coverage is financial coverage.
Housing coverage is transportation coverage.
Housing Coverage is water coverage.
Housing coverage is public well being and fairness coverage.
It impacts EVERY a part of our lives, which is why it’s so crucial that we get this proper. We want everybody to come back to the desk and work towards an actual answer.
Now I do know this received’t be straightforward. Nothing value combating for ever is. However in Colorado, we don’t draw back from robust challenges; we roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Since 2019 we have now invested billions of {dollars} into housing. We created the primary ever devoted funding supply for reasonably priced housing and put American Rescue Plan Act {dollars} towards initiatives across the state. Now, voters have handed Prop 123 to dedicate lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} within the coming years. However we are able to’t simply purchase our means out of this, we have now to interrupt down authorities obstacles, increase personal property rights, and scale back rules to truly assemble extra housing choices at a decrease price so all Coloradans can thrive.
We took a primary step to interrupt down these obstacles and help native innovation with Home Invoice 1271. I wish to thank Speaker McCluskie, Consultant Jodeh, and Senator Gonzales for his or her efforts on this invoice.
One of many grants from that invoice went to help the Metropolis of Greeley, which utilized funding to encourage several types of housing, together with properties with a smaller footprint, choices for accent dwelling items, manufactured properties, micro properties and extra. They’re additionally creating extra dwelling possession alternatives in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Right this moment we’re joined by Metropolis Supervisor Raymond Lee and his staff, thanks on your work.
We’re seeing this type of native innovation and management in different elements of the state, as properly.
Summit County and the City of Breckenridge are constructing a brand new 52 unit workforce condominium advanced close to Downtown Breckenridge to make it simpler for staff to discover a place to dwell in their very own neighborhood.
Initiatives like this sometimes take 18-24 months simply to get accredited, however because of Summit County donating the land and the management of native officers, this one bought the greenlight after simply six months, resulting in 52 new properties years forward of schedule and thousands and thousands of {dollars} in financial savings.
From Breckenridge we’re joined by Mayor Eric Mamula, members of the City Council, and Senior Planner Laurie Finest. From Summit County we’re joined by Commissioners Tamara Pogue, Elizabeth Lawrence, and Joshua Blanchard, and Housing Director Jason Dietz.
Please be part of me in welcoming all of them at the moment.
However the innovation and financial savings don’t finish there.
As a result of Summit County is partnering with modular dwelling firm Fading West out of Buena Vista, they’re saving roughly 20% on development prices and months of development time. In case you can consider it, Fading West can construct a house in roughly 18 working days, in comparison with a couple of yr for historically constructed properties. I had the prospect to go to their manufacturing unit in November, and it’s so thrilling to see this innovation at work.
Right this moment we’re joined by Fading West CEO Charlie Chupp and Vice President of Gross sales and Strategic Partnerships Eric Schaefer. They and different modular and prefabricated dwelling corporations are dedicated to constructing extra housing alternatives faster and at a decrease price. Please be part of me in thanking them for his or her cost-saving improvements.
However hear, the fact is that initiatives like these are the exception, not the rule.
The extra widespread state of affairs is that housing initiatives are rejected or mired in years of purple tape – including prices and time.
I’m right here asking you to assist me defend the Colorado we love, so Coloradans can keep of their communities and dwell close to the place they work, defend our open area, and scale back site visitors. Let’s be certain Colorado stays Colorado.
Which means that we’d like extra versatile zoning to permit extra housing, streamlined rules that lower via purple tape, expedited approval processes for initiatives like modular housing, sustainable improvement, and extra constructing in transit oriented communities.
After all, we additionally acknowledge that the state have to be a contributing associate on this work, so we’re aggressively making parcels of state-owned land out there for housing. One instance is the Dowd Junction challenge in Vail Valley, the place we’re planning to construct 80 items of workforce housing on state land. My finances consists of funding for different governments and public land homeowners like counties, faculty districts, cities, and transportation districts to proactively associate with the personal sector to construct extra housing, and I name on all of them to affix our efforts.
We additionally wish to proceed our work to cut back property taxes for Coloradans.
Final yr we saved Coloradans greater than $700 million via historic property tax reduction for householders and companies, whereas defending funding for faculties because of the work of Senator Hansen and Consultant Weissman. However residential values grew greater than 26% during the last two years, rather more than most individuals’s incomes went up throughout the identical interval. If we don’t act, property taxes will go up by lots of, even hundreds, of {dollars}. We have to forestall these steep will increase by taking decisive motion.
We should additionally work collectively to go a long-term property tax reduction bundle that reduces residential and industrial property taxes and creates a long-term mechanism to guard householders from being priced out of their properties, whereas defending faculty funding. It will make Colorado extra aggressive and extra reasonably priced.
I’m proud that this yr, Colorado is the primary state within the nation the place each home-owner can defer paying a few of these will increase of their property taxes till their property is offered. Nobody ought to lose their dwelling just because its worth, and subsequently property taxes, went up. I wish to thank our state treasurer, Dave Younger, for his tireless work to assist property homeowners and I anticipate finding alternatives to increase deferrals to avoid wasting individuals cash on property taxes.
We also needs to make the senior homestead tax exemption transportable. Our seniors ought to have the ability to downsize with out having to pay greater property taxes, liberating up their bigger previous properties for youthful, rising households.
A extra simply tax system that promotes prosperity for all is a ardour I share with lots of you on this chamber. Whereas we don’t all the time agree on the trail, I do know all of us wish to save Coloradans cash!
It’s no secret that I, and most economists, despise the revenue tax. I used to be proud to have supported two profitable revenue tax cuts on the poll and since I took workplace our revenue tax charge has gone from 4.63% to 4.44%, serving to produce robust financial progress and low unemployment. We have now labored collectively to shut particular curiosity tax loopholes to pay for the revenue tax lower and supplied even better tax reduction to Colorado households, seniors and small companies. Final yr we additionally labored collectively to ship each tax filer $750 practically a yr forward of schedule, offering actual inflation reduction simply when individuals wanted it most! Collectively, we are able to and will do extra.
I don’t count on that we are able to totally get rid of the revenue tax by our one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, however let’s proceed to make progress. With wholesome finances surpluses from our robust economic system, we should always additional scale back the revenue tax charge for everyone whereas doubling down on reduction for working households with insurance policies like increasing the earned revenue tax credit score. We have now the instruments to avoid wasting individuals cash. It’s what the voters despatched us right here to do.
Making our state extra reasonably priced and creating extra housing now could be actually one of the crucial efficient methods to cut back homelessness. We proceed in search of proposals from native governments to make the most of the $200 Million that this legislature invested final yr to cut back homelessness. Thanks to Representatives Woodrow and Valdez, and Senators Gonzales, Hansen, Fields, and Coleman on your work securing that transformational funding. There are a lot of approaches which have labored in different states, and we hope to see these confirmed fashions replicated right here.
That is going to be lots of work, and it’s going to take all of us on this chamber to get it accomplished. We’re right here to resolve the large issues, and the price of housing tops that record.
That is what Coloradans are calling for, and it’s as much as us to take motion to guard our shared future.
Simply as the way forward for our state is tied to housing, it’s additionally tied to water.
Water is life in Colorado and the west, it’s so simple as that. However we’re at a crossroads.
Elevated demand, continual and excessive drought, conflicts with different states, and devastating local weather occasions are threatening this crucial lifesource – and we’ve all seen the impacts.
Wildfires have destroyed lots of of hundreds of acres, and devastated whole communities.
Farmers and ranchers throughout the state concern that Colorado received’t have the water assets to maintain the following era of agricultural jobs.
When Colorado is 150, I need our state to have the water assets essential for our farms, communities, and industries to thrive, and the instruments in place to guard our state’s waterways and defend our rights.
Your work round housing will actually go an extended strategy to defend water – our most valuable useful resource. However we should additionally proceed investing in water initiatives across the state.
We don’t wish to see a single greenback left on the desk.
For each greenback the state invested in Water Plan grants final yr, we bought 4 {dollars} again. Within the final fiscal yr, we awarded greater than $23 million in grants that supported practically $100 million in initiatives, and we’re hoping to as soon as once more place Colorado to punch above our weight and pull down main investments from the federal authorities.
This consists of funding for water infrastructure and water high quality initiatives just like the Arkansas Valley Conduit. This challenge has been years within the making, and the mixture of state and federal funding will assist get it off the bottom, delivering clear consuming water to dozens of communities all through Southern Colorado.
These {dollars} additionally translate to restoration of crucial streams and waterways, better entry to water for our producers and ranchers, and water safety for our communities.
However a very powerful factor we are able to do for water safety is defend our waterways and rights. Hotter, drier circumstances have strained our assets in a time when demand continues to develop. Our rivers and streams aren’t simply life sources for Colorado, however for the complete American West. We should proceed to battle for our rights and cleared the path to a sustainable future.
The street forward will likely be paved with challenges, however we aren’t leaving something to probability. We’re gearing up, and bringing within the experience we have to defend what’s ours.
That is about water, however it’s additionally about our future, our livelihoods, and the very basis of who we’re as Coloradans.
The identical goes for our strategy to local weather.
We have now already secured greater than 80% renewable power by 2030. By the point Colorado is 150 years previous, we sit up for having a transparent path to 100% renewable power by 2040.
And from there, we’ll work to make progress in the direction of our statewide local weather objectives.
Our work round housing and extra sustainable improvement is a critically vital a part of this progress.
However we additionally stay centered on investing in clear transportation, accelerating using renewables, lowering oil and gasoline emissions, and holding polluters accountable.
And I’m proud to suggest $120 million yearly in new, clear power tax credit.
With this tax reduction and incentives, we are able to enhance our air high quality, speed up innovation, and make extra speedy progress in the direction of our objectives, whereas saving individuals cash on the pump and on their utility payments, and growing entry to scrub, low-cost transportation choices.
We’ve made lots of progress on electrical autos, with 10% of autos offered now electrical – making us fifth within the nation, and these tax credit will assist us proceed pushing towards extra zero emission vehicles and vehicles sooner fairly than later.
This builds on the work of the legislature to increase the Earned Revenue Tax Credit score and Colorado’s Little one Tax Credit score, placing extra money again into the pockets of Coloradans. Thanks to Representatives Emily Sirota and Mike Weissman, Senator Chris Hansen and Majority Chief Dominick Moreno for bringing these payments throughout the end line.
We’re additionally centered on continued improvement of fresh power applied sciences of the longer term like geothermal and hydrogen.
As Chair of the bipartisan Western Governors Affiliation I’m championing geothermal power via our ”Warmth Beneath our Toes” initiative. And I’m excited that my finances request gives funding for Colorado Mesa College to increase campus-wide geothermal methods, with a aim to change into the primary college in America to be totally powered by geothermal.
And underneath the management of Will Toor on the Vitality Workplace, our administration can be main a multi-state consortium with Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico to realize further federal funding as a hydrogen hub.
These efforts will assist us capitalize on these untapped assets, shut the 20% hole to attain 100% renewable power by 2040, scale back emissions, clear our air, and do our half on local weather. They might additionally assist us forestall the form of spikes in utility payments that Coloradans are experiencing resulting from excessive prices of pure gasoline.
The Texas storm in 2021 confirmed us simply how weak we’re to commodity worth swings, and the Suncor shutdown has accomplished the identical.
I’m dedicated to doing every little thing in my energy to alleviate the impacts of the short-term Suncor catastrophe on Coloradans and their households who’re already battling inflation and excessive prices. I’ve already lifted regulatory burdens round trucking hours, truck weight limits, and directed businesses to ease-up on pipeline transporting necessities in the course of the Suncor shutdown. My administration has additionally been working to safe outdoors provide to attenuate disruption.
However the one long-term answer is to proceed pursuing low-cost, dependable, renewable power. We merely should finish our reliance on expensive fossil fuels, enhance power safety, and save individuals cash.
For this reason the Electrical car and ebike tax credit I’m proposing are so vital, and why we’ve focussed on growing entry to electrical autos and transit choices since day one. This tax reduction amplifies the work of the Entrance Vary Rail District, free bus fare months, and the necessity for better transit choices.
I sit up for working with the Common Meeting to make Colorado a spot the place geothermal, hydrogen, and carbon seize applied sciences can and can succeed.
Whereas we do our half to enhance air high quality and scale back air pollution, we’re additionally getting ready our state for the warmer, drier local weather that we’re experiencing.
Since 2019, Colorado has supported response efforts for greater than 2,000 wildfires, together with the three largest in historical past AND essentially the most devastating. It was only some weeks in the past that we marked the one-year anniversary of the Marshall Hearth in Boulder County, a reminder that the specter of wildfire is not seasonal. It’s yr spherical, and we must be prepared.
Colorado has invested in among the handiest hearth prevention and response measures on the market – from our state’s first Firehawk helicopter to forest restoration and different confirmed mitigation efforts. I wish to thank President Fenberg and the Joint Price range Committee for main the way in which on these assets.
However we all know there’s extra work forward.
We should proceed strengthening our aerial capabilities, supporting our skilled and volunteer firefighters, and getting ready for a warmer, drier local weather.
We should additionally increase our hearth prevention efforts, together with constructing hearth protection in communities which might be in danger, and elevating the work of the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Motion Program.
Getting this proper is crucial for the well being of our communities and the way forward for our state.
However it’s not about simply the well being of the environment, it’s additionally the well being of our individuals. Sadly, after housing bills, healthcare prices are among the highest that households face.
Too many Coloradans are compelled to decide on between the care they desperately want, paying their hire or mortgage, or placing meals on the desk.
Our personal Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera is aware of this story all too properly.
Dianne was identified with breast most cancers, and instructed she had 5 years to dwell. With two younger daughters to lift, her life was turned the other way up and he or she was compelled to wrestle with the questions that many different Coloradans have confronted.
Can I help my household and pay for my remedies? Will this devastate us financially? Will I be there for my youngsters?
We’re proud to say that Dianne didn’t simply survive, she has thrived. She devoted her profession to public service – serving as a legislator and in state authorities – and at the moment she’s the very best Lt. Governor within the nation and the top of our Workplace of Saving Folks Cash on Well being Care. Please be part of me in recognizing our Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera!
Collectively we’ve diminished prices for well being care protection via Reinsurance, the Colorado Choice, Omni Salud, and expanded Medicaid and CHIP. Simply final week we discovered that greater than 34,000 individuals have enrolled in Colorado Choice plans, saving Coloradans Hundreds of thousands of {dollars} and surpassing authentic estimates for enrollment.
We’ve saved individuals cash by capping insulin prices, by passing pharma rebates on to customers, and growing hospital transparency.
We’ve additionally taken the primary steps to repair our behavioral well being care system with the creation of the Behavioral Well being Administration and funding of American Rescue Plan Act funding.
However we have now much more work to do. The US spends way more on healthcare than our friends world wide, and our outcomes are not any higher.
In the meantime, Coloradans nonetheless pay among the highest prices for healthcare, significantly hospital care. Sadly, we’re among the many prime 10 states for hospital price, worth and revenue. Let’s change that.
Our work to avoid wasting individuals cash on healthcare is extra pressing than ever earlier than, and we should go away no stone unturned.
After we flip 150, I need Colorado to be a state the place everybody can get the care they want simply and affordably.
First, we have now to proceed saving individuals cash on their prescriptions.
Prescription drug prices nonetheless take up an excessive amount of of an individual’s month-to-month bills, with prices rising sooner than inflation. In 2021, practically 10% of Coloradans have been unable to fill a prescription due to price.
With us at the moment is Karisa, a kind 1 Diabetic. Because of our work to cap insulin prices – the primary laws of its sort within the nation – she not has to decide on between shopping for groceries and the insulin she wants. She described that invoice as “saving her life” and we’re so grateful to have her right here at the moment. Please be part of me in welcoming Karisa!
Karisa’s not alone. Due to that laws, each diabetic in Colorado can get their insulin at an reasonably priced worth. I do know that is private to lots of you, and I wish to thank Senator Roberts and Senator Priola on your unbelievable work.
There may be extra we are able to and should do.
By saving individuals cash on their prescriptions, we are able to forestall the rationing of medicine that results in worse well being outcomes and in the end greater healthcare prices.
That’s why, along with our efforts to import lower-cost medicine from Canada, we’ll be working to construct on the work of Senator Gonzales, Senator Jaquez Lewis, and Consultant Kennedy to strengthen the Prescription Drug Affordability Board so we are able to proceed making progress to avoid wasting individuals cash on life saving drugs. Like our prescription drug rebate laws final yr, we will even proceed to carry middlemen accountable for chopping the price of prescribed drugs so employers can go financial savings to customers and scale back premiums.
However this is only one piece of the puzzle.
We have now labored with the healthcare business in good religion to decrease prices, however not all of them have held up their finish of the discount.
Some well being insurers proceed to revenue from Coloradans whereas administrative prices, unrelated to affected person care, proceed hovering. Insurers have to step it up for decrease prices and higher outcomes.
Equally, some giant hospital methods are making document earnings, paying zero taxes, and sitting on monumental reserves whereas overcharging prospects. In the meantime, they’re consolidating suppliers, which drives up prices and leaves fewer choices for Coloradans.
It’s time that we maintain them accountable.
At first, meaning cease overcharging sufferers.
It additionally implies that nonprofit hospitals should work with their communities to dwell as much as that promise, offering advantages like psychological well being, maternity care, healthcare workforce progress, and help for social determinants of well being like housing and meals.
We should always construct on and strengthen Consultant Kennedy and Senator Winter’s nice work to trace these assets and make sure that nonprofit hospitals truly use neighborhood profit {dollars} for neighborhood profit.
We will and will help the good work of Reinsurance, created by Speaker McCluskie and Senator Wealthy, to ship much more financial savings to customers via decrease insurance coverage premiums.
After healthcare and housing, training is one other massive price for a lot of Coloradans. Entry to a top quality training is a elementary proper and important for our financial prosperity.
At 150, I wish to see an training system that prepares each little one, and learners of all ages, for achievement.
It begins in early childhood.
Because of Consultant McLachlan, Senator Bridges and Senator Fields, free, full-day kindergarten saves households hundreds of {dollars} yearly.
And due to Consultant Sirota, Senator Buckner, President Fenberg, so many others, and naturally, the individuals of Colorado, free preschool – launching this fall – will save households at the very least $6,000 per yr and provides our kids the absolute best begin in life.
This can be a monumental achievement and at the moment is the primary day households can apply to enroll their youngsters. I’m so excited to share that greater than 4,300 Colorado households have already began making use of.
Right this moment we’re joined by Shar Portillo, a instructor at Strasburg Elementary, and her three youngsters Elias a kindergartener, Ethran a preschooler, and Tyler, who will begin preschool this fall!
Earlier at the moment, the household stuffed out Tyler’s preschool utility making them one of many very first to enroll! Thanks Shar, Elias, Ethren, and Tyler for being right here with us at the moment.
And to the remainder of you on the market, inform your folks with three-year-olds to go to upk.Colorado.gov at the moment. I’ll take a second so you possibly can textual content your folks with three-year-olds proper now.
We wish to help extra households just like the Portillos with much more hours of free preschool. I’m calling for the legislature to refer a poll measure that may enable Colorado to make the most of extra Prop EE funds for preschool, simply because the legislature did on a bipartisan foundation for extra marijuana funds in 2015. This might give voters the selection to help extra providers for extra youngsters, and assist lower-income households enroll their little one in full-day preschool.
And for K12 learners, I’m proposing in my supplemental and finances modification bundle at the moment that we elevate per pupil funding by a further $925 – or a further 20,000 {dollars} for Colorado lecture rooms yearly – constructing on final yr’s historic elevate made potential by Senator Zenzinger, Senator Lundeen, Speaker McCluskie and Consultant McLachlan.
Districts can use these funds to extend pay, just like the Lake County College District that raised instructor pay by 16% in only one yr with a serious bump for workers like bus drivers, para professionals and others. Or how Colorado’s two largest faculty districts are beginning their lecturers at simply over $50,000 per yr. These new funds can even help smaller class sizes, revive extracurriculars, or fund psychological well being help for our college students.
And at the moment, I’m proud to submit a proposal to purchase down the Price range Stabilization Issue to its lowest stage ever and set our state on a path to lastly get rid of it altogether throughout my second time period, fulfilling our state’s dedication to our faculties.
The previous few years have been robust for our K12 learners and educators, and people challenges are mirrored in take a look at scores, significantly math.
To assist enhance achievement, we’re proposing new investments in high-quality math curricula and coaching to make sure that our educators have the help they should assist all of our college students thrive. And we’re growing our dedication to high-quality earlier than and after faculty programming – saving mother and father hundreds of {dollars}.
This can be a key a part of serving to college students graduate with the talents they should succeed. One other key element is growing the variety of college students who graduate with greater than a diploma.
In Colorado, roughly 53% of highschool graduates earn school credit score in highschool, saving them an estimated $53 million on tuition prices annually. However that quantity can and needs to be a lot greater.
Let’s make sure that each scholar has entry to career-connected studying whereas they’re in highschool and let’s reward these faculties which might be doing extra to assist their college students succeed within the workforce and in life! Whether or not it’s twin and concurrent enrollment, profession and technical training, work-based studying and apprenticeship, and even receiving an business certification or affiliate’s diploma.
However we don’t need the innovation to finish at commencement, we wish to create extra coaching pathways to assist Coloradans form their very own success.
Luke Skywalker wasn’t born understanding the methods of the pressure, he was skilled underneath the steerage of Jedi Grasp Yoda.
“Two out there jobs for each unemployed particular person, Colorado has.”
That’s proper, we have now two out there jobs for each unemployed particular person at the moment in Colorado. Colorado may not want greater than a small council of Jedis, however there are various different industries the place we’d like plenty of expertise!
At 150, I need each Coloradan to have entry to the talents wanted to get a good-paying job that helps them and their households, and a workforce that meets the wants of our companies to energy our mighty financial engine of progress.
That is another excuse why our work on housing is so vital. Coloradans have to have the ability to afford to dwell in our communities the place they will earn a superb residing and firms should have the ability to discover the employees they should thrive.
We’ve already made historic investments in Colorado’s workforce. We’re creating regional coaching alternatives, supporting our native workforce facilities, growing incapacity employment alternatives, and adopting skills-based hiring practices and apprenticeship alternatives.
I wish to thank among the legislators who labored on these crucial payments, together with Speaker McCluskie, Senator Wealthy, Senator Lundeen and Senator Bridges.
Final yr we created Care Ahead Colorado, which makes it fully free for Colorado college students to pursue careers in well being care at any neighborhood or technical schools, and guess what, demand and enrollment elevated. However we wish to transcend simply healthcare and into different areas the place we’re experiencing shortages.
I’m proposing we increase Care Ahead Colorado to incorporate free coaching for different in-demand fields in the private and non-private sector like development, firefighting, legislation enforcement, nursing, and early childhood training.
As well as, we all know that the variety of Coloradans pursuing postsecondary training or coaching proper out of highschool has been declining.
To handle this problem, I’m proposing a brand new scholarship for graduating highschool seniors within the class of 2024 who pursue postsecondary training, coaching, or certifications.
The truth is that at the moment’s economic system calls for entry to fast ability acquisition, whether or not that could be a one, two or 4 yr diploma, skilled coaching, an apprenticeship, or on-the job coaching. We’re going to jumpstart entry to coaching to assist extra Coloradans be profession prepared, earn extra, and energy our economic system
This work have to be accomplished in collaboration with all of these concerned – from training, to labor and unions, to coaching suppliers, and naturally the enterprise neighborhood.
We additionally wish to proceed investing within the hardworking state workers that drive Colorado ahead, who plow our interstates, workers our state hospital in Pueblo, handle our prisons and extra. Our state staff deserve our respect, truthful, aggressive wages, and good advantages. I wish to thank Colorado WINS for his or her partnership.
Collectively, we negotiated a compensation bundle that – if funded by this legislature – will guarantee we are able to appeal to and retain the easiest expertise for Colorado’s state authorities.
I sit up for working with all of you to help the way forward for our workforce and economic system, and collectively, possibly we may also help extra Coloradans not simply aspirationally reply the query “the place do you see your self 5 years from now,” however truly obtain their profession objectives.
As we take into consideration our future, we even have to consider how we are able to make Colorado a safer place to dwell.
Each particular person deserves a protected dwelling and a protected neighborhood, and in three years I need Colorado to be closing in on our aim of changing into one of many prime ten most secure states.
Proper now, Colorado falls in the midst of the pack on crime charges, however that’s not adequate. We will and we should do higher.
I wish to commend our legislators who helped go final yr’s public security bundle particularly Senator Janet Buckner, Consultant Valdez, Consultant Ricks, Consultant Bacon, and so many others. From investments in recruitment and retention for native legislation enforcement to bodily enhancements in our communities and help for confirmed crime prevention methods – this bipartisan collaboration is already starting to have an effect.
Because of this work, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Workplace, like many others, acquired a grant that may help new and present officers, making their communities safer for everybody. Right this moment we’re joined by Sheriff Tyler Brown, who truly got here straight to the Capitol from a swearing in ceremony for brand new officers who have been recruited with help from the funding that you simply handed final yr.
Be part of me in welcoming Sheriff Tyler Brown and thanking him for all his unbelievable work!
We’re additionally joined by Summit County Sheriff Jaime Fitzsimons, Estes Park Chief of Police David Hayes, Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller, Chief of Auraria Campus Police Mike Phibbs, and Chief Matt Packard of the Colorado of the State Patrol.
Thanks for the dedication of all of our women and men in blue for maintaining our communities protected!
Equally vital is the work of our neighborhood organizations who’re serving to children obtain future success.
Because of laws handed final yr with the management of Consultant Daugherty, Consultant Gonzales Gutierrez, Senator Coleman and Senator Hinrichsen, Boys and Women Golf equipment in Colorado acquired funding to launch a pilot throughout 21 membership websites in 15 counties to supply significant enrichment alternatives outdoors of college to assist youth attain their full potential and keep away from coming into the justice system.
These providers will attain hundreds of youngsters throughout our state. Right this moment we’re joined by the 2022 Youth of the 12 months Winner, Ameya Garcia, her mother and father, and Boys & Women Membership leaders from across the state, together with Govt Director Kaycee Headrick. Please be part of me in thanking them for all their work!
To construct on this work, I’m proposing a further bundle that may present much more assets for native legislation enforcement officers and neighborhood organizations doing work on the bottom.
This funding will even assist us crack down on auto theft with stronger instruments like know-how to assist us find and return stolen autos, an auto-theft process pressure, and better help for District Attorneys in communities with excessive charges of auto theft to assist them efficiently prosecute the criminals accountable. Final fall I known as on the Fee on Prison and Juvenile Justice to get robust on auto theft sentencing, and simply final week the Fee’s Sentencing Activity Power moved that suggestion ahead overwhelmingly. I sit up for seeing the Common Meeting take up this vital suggestion.
This is a matter that has affected a few of you on this room and so lots of our fellow Coloradans, and I sit up for working with all of you to seek out an efficient answer.
We’re additionally investing in confirmed crime prevention methods; increasing the capability of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; and enhancing faculty security by serving to our faculties make essential safety enhancements, increasing menace evaluation coaching, and making a one-stop store to assist faculties and oldsters get the assets they want.
I wish to acknowledge a devoted associate in our efforts to make Colorado safer, Lawyer Common Phil Weiser.
Partnership with our native leaders can be crucial to creating Colorado safer, and I wish to thank Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who’s represented at the moment by Appearing Mayor Laura Aldrete, for his or her management.
These mayors of the three largest cities in our state – Republican and Democratic – have helped establish instruments to efficiently battle crime of their communities and collectively we wish the state to step up and be a extra constructive associate on this work. I be part of their latest bipartisan name to motion together with: better penalties for automobile theft, deterring illegal weapon possession by felons, and cracking down on ghost weapons, that are fully untraceable and more and more getting used to hold out violent crimes.
Within the session forward, let’s take motion on these and different priorities, persevering with our bipartisan work to make our state safer.
The horrific capturing at Membership Q is one in every of too many examples of how a criminal offense can inflict ache and concern on a complete neighborhood.
I wish to take a second to recollect those that have been misplaced that evening:
● Daniel Aston
● Kelly Loving
● Ashley Paugh (PAW)
● Derrick Rump
● Raymond Inexperienced Vance
I additionally wish to acknowledge an act of heroism and two heroes right here with us at the moment.
These people have been within the membership that evening. After the shooter entered and started firing, they introduced them to the bottom, stopped them, and, in so doing, saved many, many lives.
Please be part of me in thanking Colorado hero Richard Fierro, his spouse Jessica and daughter Kassy who was injured within the capturing – and Colorado hero Thomas James, for his or her unbelievable actions that day.
We should always all the time try to be taught from our experiences and as we transfer ahead, we should always strengthen Colorado’s Excessive Danger Safety Order legislation to forestall those that are a threat to themselves or others from getting their fingers on a gun. This laws has been used lots of of instances efficiently, however we are able to do extra to unfold consciousness and ensure it’s used when the state of affairs requires it.
Proper now, family members and native legislation enforcement have the power to pursue an excessive threat safety order. However why not increase this to incorporate further petitioners, like District Attorneys?
I sit up for exploring widespread sense options with all of you.
Collectively, we’ll proceed working to make our communities safer for everybody, and 4 years from now, we’ll all have one thing to have a good time in being one of many most secure states within the nation.
James Baldwin mentioned “There may be by no means time sooner or later wherein we’ll work out our salvation. The problem is within the second; the time is all the time now.”
So I ask once more, who can we wish to be when our nice state reaches our one hundred and fiftieth birthday?
I need us to be a state the place each particular person can discover a dwelling of their finances for hire or for buy, the place our water assets are protected and help the wants of our communities and economic system. A state the place we’ve secured 100% renewable power by 2040, and each Coloradan can get the training and abilities to succeed. I need us to be one of many 10 most secure states within the nation. And I need healthcare, and every little thing in our state, to be extra reasonably priced for everybody.
I need our state, and our nation, to be a beacon of hope and freedom for all – regardless of your gender, ethnicity, age, race, skill, who you’re keen on or who you might be. A Colorado for All.
That is what Coloradans need too, and it’s as much as us to ship. If we are able to do this, we may have secured our future for the following 150 years and be an instance for the remainder of the nation to comply with at 250. To place issues in perspective that’s barely 1 / 4 Methusalah’s time on earth of 969 years, and fewer than one tenth the lifetime of Colorado’s oldest 2510 year-old Bristlecone Pine.
That is the longer term we deserve, so let’s make it occur.
Only a few weeks in the past, we celebrated the start of a brand new yr.
As a substitute of resolutions, some individuals select a single phrase to information them within the yr forward. If I had to decide on a phrase for Colorado, I’d choose “limitless”, as a result of I actually consider that if we work collectively, what we are able to do is limitless, and the instance we are able to set for the remainder of the nation and the world is past measure.
Right this moment in 2023, the State of our state is undeniably robust, however we all know it may be even stronger, for our potential is actually limitless.
God bless you all, God bless Colorado, and God bless the USA of America.
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