| |
Resources and Media
Colorado well served by fiscal leadership
The state gained much from the campaign efforts of key statehouse figures and active citizens. Rep. Bob Beauprez chose a quiet seat on the sidelines.
By Editorial Board, Denver Post
November 06, 2005
The battle for Referendum C was won thanks to inspired leadership from Coloradans to whom we tip our hats for pragmatism and principle.
At the top of the list is Gov. Bill Owens and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. They worked hard to craft the substance of the fiscal measures and campaigned tirelessly to protect Colorado's future. They're not exactly best buddies, but they got the job done even while incurring the wrath of partisans who can't imagine the benefits of bipartisan cooperation.
Plenty of folks behind the scenes provided the leadership Colorado needs to thrive. Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald served a pivotal role in statehouse negotiations. Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce president Joe Blake, oil executive Bruce Benson and former CSU president Al Yates rallied the business and academic communities. Sens. Ken Gordon, Norma Anderson, Jack Taylor, Steve Johnson and others walked the state to drum up support.
The TV stars were Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who dove out of an airplane to personify the state's plummeting revenues, and Hank Brown, president of the University of Colorado, who alerted voters to the risks for education if antagonists like Jon Caldara, John Andrews and Joe Stengel were to prevail.
The opposition was abetted by Washington lobbyist Grover Norquist and other out- of-state activists who were scared witless that voters would set back their efforts to inflict the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights on other states. We admired the energy put into the cause by the relentless Caldara, president of the Independence Institute, but not the distortions he brought to the debate.
The award for abdication of leadership surely goes to Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez. At the very moment these gubernatorial candidates needed to stand with Owens for a practical solution to the state's budget crisis, they scurried the other way, believing it would help them win an election or two. We can't fathom Holtzman's decision to run an ad partially paid for by his East Coast dad in the guise of issue advertising against C and D.
Congressman Beauprez made a poor calculation. Some have praised him for cleverly sidestepping the Republican mudfight, but our view is simple: He knew that Owens and Romanoff were doing the right thing and should have joined them. Instead, he opposed the measure from the safe seats on the sidelines.
The state budget is the most important item any governor must deal with. What kind of leadership can Beauprez offer voters whose interests he abandoned this fall? He should take a lesson in leadership and fiscal responsibility from Owens.
|
|
|
Homepage
Solutions That Work
Gimmicks That Don't
Resources & Media
Get Involved / Contact Us
About Us
Contribute
|
|
