Spring Break
Colo. Dems claim progress on children's issues
The Associated Press
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
DENVER - Majority Democrats say the Legislature has made significant progress in helping Colorado children during the 2008 session, which wraps up this week.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Denver Democrat, said lawmakers have delivered on the promise he made to children on the session's opening day in January.
"I said their lives would be better, and they will," Romanoff said, citing the passage of bills to improve education, health care, energy and the environment.
Senate President Peter Groff, another Denver Democrat, said children will also benefit from bills reducing the number of statewide school assessment tests and rewarding innovative schools and teachers. Republican leader Mike May of Parker countered that measures aimed at the state's booming oil and gas industry - including tighter regulation and reduced tax breaks - will mortgage children's futures.
"How is it that you help kids when you raise fees and hurt their parents?" said May, the House Minority leader. "This is a trickle-down economy, and the damage done to the parents will trickle down to the children."
Romanoff said the big successes this year included $1 billion to fix crumbling schools, money to send 25,000 more children to preschool and kindergarten, increases for higher education and a plan to streamline education from preschool through college. He said health care will be improved with legislation to hold the insurance industry accountable for improperly denying claims.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Denver Democrat, said lawmakers have delivered on the promise he made to children on the session's opening day in January.
"I said their lives would be better, and they will," Romanoff said, citing the passage of bills to improve education, health care, energy and the environment.
Senate President Peter Groff, another Denver Democrat, said children will also benefit from bills reducing the number of statewide school assessment tests and rewarding innovative schools and teachers. Republican leader Mike May of Parker countered that measures aimed at the state's booming oil and gas industry - including tighter regulation and reduced tax breaks - will mortgage children's futures.
"How is it that you help kids when you raise fees and hurt their parents?" said May, the House Minority leader. "This is a trickle-down economy, and the damage done to the parents will trickle down to the children."
Romanoff said the big successes this year included $1 billion to fix crumbling schools, money to send 25,000 more children to preschool and kindergarten, increases for higher education and a plan to streamline education from preschool through college. He said health care will be improved with legislation to hold the insurance industry accountable for improperly denying claims.
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