Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

DENVER - Governor Bill Owens has appointed State Treasurer Mike Coffman to chair the Governor's Task Force on Welfare Reform. Prior to his election as treasurer in 1998, Coffman served in the state senate where he sponsored the welfare reform legislation which created the Colorado Works program.

"Mike was the driving force behind welfare reform in Colorado when he carried the Colorado Works legislation as a state senator in 1997," said Gov. Owens. "He traveled the state developing the new program and continues to stay on top of the issue. His experience and knowledge make him the logical choice to head my task force."

"My goal is to improve upon the gains that Colorado has already made with welfare reform in moving recipients into the workforce," said Coffman. "I want to make sure our program is both compassionate to the poor and fair to the taxpayers."

Governor Owens charged task force members with assessing the first two years of Colorado Works and to recommend proposals to improve its overall effectiveness. "Our objective is to evaluate what is working well and what needs to be changed or improved," said Coffman.

The Governor's Task Force on Welfare Reform will include county human services directors, elected officials and nonprofit service providers from throughout the state. Many of the task force members assisted Coffman with the drafting of the Colorado Works legislation in 1996 and worked on its implementation in 1997. The vice chair will be Steffanie Clothier from Catholic Charities' All Families Deserve A Chance Coalition.

The first scheduled meeting will be December 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the State Capitol.

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