A year of bipartisan accomplishments

We accomplished a lot this year – our bipartisan success happened, because we communicated, compromised and collectively decided how to best address our problems.

Affordable and attainable housing, one of Colorado’s most urgent issues, made headway. We ran several bills protecting our supply of homes while also protecting renters. We asked some local governments to allow granny flats.

We addressed urban density: one bill encourages local governments to build housing near transit centers, so people can easily get to work. Another limited the number of parking spots, leaving room for more housing.

The long-awaited property tax bill passed with little trouble, with both Republican and Democrat prime sponsors. It caps future spikes, and cuts rates for both commercial and residential properties. Some sponsors demanded the tax cuts could not affect schools, and others required TABOR refunds could not be touched. Both sides got their way.

Our public schools did very well this year. One bill paid off the budget stabilization factor, raising per-pupil dollars and giving a one-time stipend to rural schools. The best news is that it ended reliance on an antiquated and outdated 30-year formula; the second bill created a new formula. This time, money goes to identified student populations, such as English language learners, and low income, special ed and rural students.

Colorado will pay districts a base salary, then add to it according to the student population. Rural schools will now get extra funding on top of that, meaning we will be able to hire more teachers and pay them better. Rural schools have been left out of the budget process for 30 years; we are now finally involved.

In other education news, some low-income families will get free college tuition for two years of school, giving students the boost they need to pursue careers and future education.

We did a lot for water, funding dozens of conservation and storage projects, banning non-essential public turf and passing a huge bill addressing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling removing protection for Colorado waters. We created a permitting program for the dredge-and-fill activities impacting those waters. 

And, we referred a measure allowing revenue from sports betting above the $29M cap to be used for the Colorado Water Project. You will vote on that.

Another bill passed will cut child poverty in half by offering refundable tax credits to low-income families with children under 5. This helps take care of our youngest residents, giving their parents the breathing room to work full time.

Environmental advocates joined forces with the oil and gas industry to address air quality and safety; it is the first time in many years both sides sat down together.

Transportation was a popular topic, and commuter rail along the Front Range and into some mountain areas drew interest. Getting people off the roads will be efficient and clean.

Bipartisan work was key to our success. We didn’t always agree, but we tried to compromise as often as possible. When we take the “I” out of legislating, we can get a lot done. Not everyone joined in, and not everyone was happy, but we are headed in the right direction.

I am proud of our success. We did it.

– Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango