{"id":36409,"date":"2023-01-09T10:40:27","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T17:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/with-historic-control-democratic-state-lawmakers-have-gun-reform-and-climate-change-top-of-mind-this-session\/"},"modified":"2023-01-09T17:40:27","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T17:40:27","slug":"with-historic-control-democratic-state-lawmakers-have-gun-reform-and-climate-change-top-of-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/with-historic-control-democratic-state-lawmakers-have-gun-reform-and-climate-change-top-of-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"With historic control, Democratic state lawmakers have gun reform and climate change top of mind this session"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"The
The American and Colorado flags are draped under the Rotunda at the Colorado State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, awaiting the return lawmakers.<\/span>Hart Van Denburg\/CPR News<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

With the cost of living still on the rise and the state struggling to meet a host of long-term challenges, Colorado\u2019s lawmakers gather at the state Capitol on Monday to begin a new legislative session.<\/p>\n

After a surprisingly strong election showing<\/a>, Democrats now hold unprecedented majorities in both chambers. That means that much of this session\u2019s drama may come not from conflict between the two parties, but from divisions within the Democratic caucus, as well as differences between the legislature and the governor\u2019s office, where Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is beginning his second term.<\/p>\n

The legislature also welcomed a large number of freshmen Monday. In the House, 31 of the 65 representatives are new to the chamber. The incoming House Speaker Julie McCluskie said she\u2019s excited to hear the ideas they bring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for the first time in the House, we are seeing an incredible, diverse representation of the communities that exist all across this state,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m excited to see that diversity of opinion, perspective, that diversity of lived experience play out in a very constructive and productive way for our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Senate has 10 new members, and all but two of them are coming to the chamber from the House.<\/p>\n

While Democrats won\u2019t need Republican votes to get their policies through, the session is still starting off with talk of bipartisan cooperation. Sen. President Steve Fenberg said truly successful policymaking needs to involve both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think as progressives, as Democrats, if we have these big majorities and we feel that we have a mandate, I think that we also have a responsibility to deliver on that mandate in a way that\u2019s gonna be durable,\u201d said Fenberg. \u201cThe more we can bring Republicans to the table, to hear them out, to have them part of conversations, the more likely those policies, when we pass them, will stay on the books for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"State
State Senate President Stephen Fenberg speaks with Colorado Matters host Chandra Thomas Whitfield on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2003, in a House Leadership conference room. Fenberg represents the 18th district, in Boulder County.<\/span>Hart Van Denburg\/CPR News<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

On a practical level though, Republicans, who hold less than a third of seats in both chambers, will have limited options to change or derail Democratic bills.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have some sort of a battle strategy that\u2019s gonna go flying in their face,\u201d said Republican House Minority Leader Mike Lynch. \u201cBut we\u2019re gonna make sure that all aspects of those things that we don\u2019t agree with are brought to the forefront.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lynch was never expected to take on this role, and he will lead a reduced caucus that has suffered a number of recent shocks. Members are still mourning the sudden death of GOP House leader Hugh McKean<\/a> in October. Shortly afterward, a lawmaker many assumed would replace McKean, Rep. Colin Larson, lost his reelection bid.<\/p>\n

\"Republican
Republican state House Minority Leader Mike Lynch speaks with Colorado Matters Host Chandra Whitfield Thomas at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Lynch represents District 49, which includes parts of Larimer and Weld counties.<\/span>Hart Van Denburg\/CPR News<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m not excited about the way that I ended up in this position to start off,\u201d said Lynch. \u201cThat being said, I\u2019m in this position and gonna charge forward with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lynch said Republican priorities for the session include trying to rein in government spending and going further to increase penalties for the possession and distribution of fentanyl. Colorado lawmakers already tightened the existing law last year<\/a>, but many in law enforcement want the penalties to be even harsher.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat has just become a passion of mine because it\u2019s so sad that it\u2019s killing innocent kids, and I\u2019ve got kids that are in that age range,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cI lose sleep at night that my kids are gonna accidentally take the wrong thing or take anything. And so I\u2019ll continue on the fentanyl fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Democrats look to go further on guns, social issues<\/div>\n

For some Democratic state lawmakers, this session\u2019s massive majority is an opportunity to go further on issues they\u2019ve been working on for years, including abortion access, gun violence and LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n

Democrats hope to expand the scope of the state\u2019s 2019 red flag gun law<\/a>, in part by broadening who can petition a court to remove someone\u2019s firearms. Currently, that role is limited to law enforcement and close family members. Additionally, Democratic Rep. Judy Amabile of Boulder said she\u2019d like to see the state impose a mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m concerned about mental health and suicide,\u201d she said. \u201cWaiting periods have been shown to really reduce suicide<\/a>, and they also reduce homicide, and domestic violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Democratic lawmakers have passed a number of gun control measures in recent years as the party has solidified its control over state government. Those include universal background checks, a high-capacity magazine ban, mandatory reporting of lost and stolen firearms and requirements for safe firearm storage.<\/p>\n

Last year, in anticipation of the Supreme Court\u2019s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the legislature passed a bill to cement legal abortion in state law. Now, the lead sponsor of that legislation, Democratic Rep. Meg Froelich, wants to go further.<\/p>\n

Froelich said lawmakers are looking at codifying Governor Polis\u2019 executive order that aims to protect Colorado abortion providers from lawsuits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure that our providers are protected in terms of their privacy and in terms of their scope of practice and their licensure and any out-of-state actions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

With the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs ruling also raising fears about the future of the federal right to same-sex marriage<\/a>, some Democrats believe it\u2019s time for the state to speak clearly on that issue as well.<\/p>\n

While they are not currently in effect, Colorado has both a law \u2013 passed in 2000 \u2013 and a constitutional amendment \u2013 approved by voters in 2006 \u2013 that ban same-sex marriage.<\/p>\n

Democratic Sen. Jessie Danielson believes it\u2019s time for the state to officially erase the 2000 law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe legislature has an obligation to do away with that ban to show the communities that we care about (them), that we\u2019re gonna stand up and protect them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Repealing the amendment would be trickier. It takes support from two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers to put a constitutional change on the ballot.<\/p>\n

Republicans at the Capitol are expected to oppose any Democratic measures on guns and abortion, but will not have the votes to stop Democrats from enacting the legislation.<\/p>\n

Gov. Jared Polis also wants Democrats to take on housing affordability<\/a> by encouraging denser, transit-connected development. And the legislature may take new steps to address two big challenges brought by the warming climate: drought<\/a> and wildfires<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One idea being floated is to create a state-run insurance program to serve homeowners in fire-prone areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are already hearing about homeowners that can\u2019t get insurance policies, or if they can get it, it\u2019s essentially not attainable,\u201d Fenberg said. \u201cWe are looking at a policy that potentially could provide sort of an insurer of last resort. It\u2019s not gonna be a direct competitor (to private plans) \u2026 This is a policy that, if you can\u2019t get it elsewhere or it doesn\u2019t make sense to go elsewhere, that it could be available to you as a homeowner.\u201d<\/p>\n

After years of surpluses, a tighter budget outlook<\/div>\n

The only thing lawmakers are legally required to accomplish in their 120-day session is the passage of a balanced budget. Over the past few years, a massive influx of federal COVID relief money has made that an easier prospect. But the legislature\u2019s budget committee expects to have some tough conversations as it works to finalize the spending package that will take effect July 1.<\/p>\n

Even though the economy is still growing and unemployment remains low, a year of high inflation and ongoing uncertainty have business leaders and state economists<\/a> worried about the looming potential for a recession.<\/p>\n

That has some lawmakers arguing it\u2019s time to put a lid on state spending, ahead of any potential drop in revenues. Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer believes the state needs to cut back, just like regular families.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re having to make cuts around that kitchen table, deciding what they\u2019re going to do,\u201d said Kirkmeyer, who was appointed to the Joint Budget Committee after losing her bid for the 8th Congressional District<\/a>. \u201cWe should be doing the same thing in state government and we\u2019re not. So I\u2019ll be focusing on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gov. Polis also has called on the legislature to work on a \u201clong-term tax relief package\u201d<\/a> for property taxes, including $200 million to slow the rise of property tax bills this year.<\/p>\n

Even with fiscal warning signs on the horizon, Speaker McCluskie, who chaired the budget committee last year, is hopeful lawmakers can find a way to put more money into education.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am strongly committed to fully funding public education in this state, and we currently are not,\u201d she said, noting that the state has used a tool called the \u201cbudget stabilization factor\u201d to legally underfund education since the Great Recession. \u201c(It) has taken money away from our public schools for more than a decade, and it is time that we erase the budget stabilization factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, she said the larger concern is that restrictions on state spending in the Taxpayers Bill of Rights currently prevent Colorado from keeping all of the tax money it brings in, instead requiring the state to send out refunds in strong revenue years.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hope is in this year and next that we will continue our conversations around fiscal reform,\u201d McCluskie said. \u201cI really do believe that we can continue to have conversations with our constituents and our voters and help craft a responsible amount of fiscal reform that addresses the needs of our public schools as well as our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

CPR\u2019s Andrew Kenney contributed to this reporting.<\/p>\n

To read more stories from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colorado move further to the left on social and environmental issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36410,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[394,663,1030,781,1126,1304,4023],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-36409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-colorado-legislature","tag-democratic-party","tag-environment","tag-environmental-politics","tag-politics-general","tag-republican-party","tag-social-issues-general"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36409"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=36409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}