May 17, 2002

From The Governor's Office...
Colorado Governor Bill Owens' e-Newsletter

Owens Achieves Landmark Transportation Plan

Making good on his commitment to build a 21st century transportation system for Colorado, Gov. Bill Owens has crafted legislation that will invest more than $15 billion in Colorado's highway system over the next 20 years.  

This will fund projects throughout the state - without raising taxes. 

In a column in the Denver Post, Owens said, "This is the most significant commitment to transportation in Colorado history, and puts our state on the right road for prosperity in the 21st century."  He added, "By making transportation the priority it deserves to be, we're building a brighter and more prosperous future for Colorado."

Under the terms of the bipartisan plan, $11.2 billion in General Funds will be added to transportation funding over the next two decades. An additional $4 billion will be generated through the use of tolling authority at newly built facilities and additional public-private partnerships to build roads.

This legislation completely addresses the state's estimated $14.7 billion transportation shortfall.

In addition, Owens said citizens will have the opportunity to use an initiative process to increase - or decrease - the sales tax devoted to the Denver-area Regional Transportation District (RTD).

"The power to decide the level of funding for mass transit in the RTD area will rest where it should -- with the voters and taxpayers in the Denver region," he said.

In his State of the State message in January, the Governor said it was time for Colorado to "stop balancing the budget on the back of transportation" - the perennial practice of shortchanging transportation while funding other state programs.

"Tonight we have given transportation an equal seat at the budget table, which is a victory for every citizen of Colorado," he said when the agreement was reached.

Governor Offers Tribute to Colorado Patriot

Governor Owens offered tributes to Colorado National Guard soldier Sergeant Daniel Romero at his funeral and other related events, saluting the Louisville soldier's patriotism and commitment to duty.  Romero died while on combat duty in Afghanistan.

"Today," Owens said at Romero's crowded funeral, "we understand in clear and very stark terms what the price of freedom is.  Much has been demanded from the Romero family, whose pain and grief our nation shares."

Owens said Sergeant Romero "joins a long and honorable line of patriots stretching back more than two centuries who have died in defense of liberty."  He was "a source of pride for his unit, the Colorado National Guard, and for our country."

Special forces from the Colorado National Guard have seen action in Afghanistan during the United States' war on terror.  Owens honored the commitment these troops make.  "We ask them to go to distant lands, to places some probably never even knew existed."

Romero is the Colorado National Guard's only combat fatality from the Afghan campaign.  

Scores Rise in Challenged Schools

Citing the strong growth in reading scores at low-rated schools, Governor Owens said the most recent data from the state's school accountability reports show that "Colorado's education reforms are moving in the right direction for Colorado's children."

On the 2002 Third Grade Reading Assessment, 14 of the 20 schools that showed the greatest percentage improvement were rated "low" or "unsatisfactory" on the 2000-01 school accountability reports.  An average of 68 percent of the students at these 14 schools come from low-income households.

"It is clear to me that we are making the kind of focused progress, particularly in our troubled schools, that our children, parents, teachers and taxpayers deserve," Owens said.  "While some claim that schools in poor communities, with high minority populations, couldn't meet our challenge to improve, these teachers and communities know better."

Owens cited the specific example of Sierra Grande Elementary School in Costilla County, a school with 80 percent of its students eligible for free and reduced price lunch and initially rated "low" in the state accountability reports.  Since 1998, the school growth in the "advanced" and "proficient" categories in the third-grade reading test has jumped 80 percent.

"Sierra Grande Elementary is showing exactly the kind of improvement for its students that we envisioned when we designed Colorado's accountability system," the Governor said.  "They are a school on the move that's showing how well our system of standards and accountability can work in poor communities."

He added that the latest results underscore that Colorado's standards and accountability system -- which U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige has called "the envy of the nation" -- is producing positive results.

Owens Assesses Legislative Session

The Governor is proud to have achieved several successes during the legislative session, which ended last week.  Most notable is the transportation agreement, detailed above.  

Legislators also approved other items on the Governor's agenda, including two bills to fight methamphetamine labs. Two other bills improve access to health care -- one which increases access for children of low-income women to health care, and the other which is a "good first step" toward making health care coverage affordable for employers and employees.

But Owens was disappointed that more was not accomplished.  Defeated items included a measure to protect children from Internet pornography and violence on school computers, and tougher penalties for arson during a drought.  Both ultimately fell victim to partisan opposition in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Please see the Governor's column on the budget and legislative session, as printed in the Denver Post.

Governor Addresses World Business Leaders

In the keynote address to a Denver gathering of world business leaders, Governor Owens highlighted Colorado's frontier history, and its present-day status as a center for international trade, and a frontier for promising high-technology industries.

"The spirit of the Old West isn’t sealed under glass in a museum.   It’s not a dusty relic you find in an antique shop," Owens said.  "This can-do spirit of risk-taking, innovation and optimism is very much alive.  It’s a New West in the United States, where the trails are made of fiber optics and the pioneers are building a new, digital frontier."

Owens also remarked upon steps he's taken to make Colorado the best business climate in the United States, particularly a business tax structure that rewards investment and innovation.  

Owens Visits Southwest Colorado

Governor Owens visited several cities and towns in southwestern Colorado Monday.  At each stop, he proclaimed the location of each town meeting "State Capital for an Hour."

One of the official proclamations recognized the southwestern Colorado municipality of Dove Creek for its history and culture.  "Dove Creek is the Pinto Bean capital of the world, and home of the Anasazi bean... is the county seat of Dolores County, and is in the middle of six national parks and monuments."  Dove Creek was designated "State Capital for an Hour" during the Governor's visit.

The Governor's visits on May 13th included Telluride, Pagosa Springs, Dove Creek and Cortez, all located in southwestern Colorado.  

Photos:

Governor Owens talks with an AP American Government class at Telluride High School 

Owens answering questions from residents at a town meeting in Dove Creek

Governor Presents a national award for excellence to the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team

Governor Owens signs a proclamation making Pagosa Springs "State Capital for an Hour"