Opinion: A New Year’s wish for Colorado — more bipartisanship

The arrival of the New Year prompts us all to pause, take a breath, and reflect on the journey of the past twelve months. It is a time to reassess our priorities, refine our visions, and chart a course for the year ahead. In the Colorado legislature, 2023 was a rollercoaster ride, . As we step into 2024, I find myself hoping that this year can be the year of balance through bipartisanship.

I want to emphasize that even though Republicans are in the minority, we are far from invisible. Just like our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we were elected by our constituents to represent their voices and concerns. Our seat at the table should not be overlooked or underestimated. We understand that we will not always get everything we advocate for, but the very least we deserve is a fair opportunity for our ideas to be heard.

The conclusion of the regular legislative session left a bitter taste in our mouths. The majority consistently hijacked the policy making process, placing partisan goals ahead of the interests of all Coloradans. It was a moment of profound disappointment, prompting House Republicans to walk out of the chamber, unified, in protest.

This frustration continued into the brief four day special session. Despite the limited notice, following the resounding defeat of Proposition HH, Republicans diligently engaged in stakeholder input and worked to collaborate on our property tax plan with our colleagues. Yet again, to our extreme disappointment, less than four hours after the presentation, our plan, along with every Republican bill in the House, was immediately killed in committee.

The people of Colorado are suffering under the weight of high inflation. Everything costs more right now: groceries, gas, and housing. Add on top of that the increased fees imposed by the Democrats for deliveries to their house and grocery bag fees, among all of the other fees currently in place. We had a true opportunity to come together and save property taxpayers even more money during the special session.

It was a missed opportunity by the Democrats to come together and find bigger tax cuts to help our hard working Colorado families. But the issue of partisanship was not confined to those moments. It cast a long shadow over the entire legislative session. If you examine the House members’ records based on the percentage of bipartisan support for their sponsored bills, you will find that nine out of the top ten representatives belong to our caucus.

On the flip side, when you consider those with the lowest percentage of bipartisan support, the bottom ten stem solely from the majority held by Democrats. I want to make it clear that these statistics do not necessarily equate to successful legislation. However, they do point to an alarming level of partisanship.

On average, Republican state representatives enjoyed 73% bipartisan support for their bills, while our Democratic colleagues received only 40%. The value of bipartisanship lies in its role as checks and balances, guarding against the dangers of unchecked majority rule. The disinterest in partisanship is evident in Colorado’s voter registration data, with 47.4% of all active voters choosing not to affiliate with any political party.

While many of these voters may lean one way or the other, their deliberate decision not to align with any party underscores the need for balance. I urge Democrats in the majority to join us in this mission. We must remember why we were elected: to serve the people and to do the job entrusted to us. This mission transcends party lines and should be our main objective.

Bipartisanship is not a one way street; it requires the active engagement of both parties. Bipartisanship does not just mean Republicans signing on to Democrat bills but also Democrats signing on to Republican bills. By placing collaboration above partisan driven agendas, we can work together to deliver results that benefit all Coloradans.

As I traveled the state this summer and fall, talking to people across Colorado, irrespective of party affiliation, the message to me was clear: the people want a more balanced and bipartisan approach to legislation. They want a Colorado that they can afford so they can continue to live here, raise their children here, and retire here.

My New Year’s wish for 2024 is for the legislature to be a place where we put the people of Colorado above politics and work together for a brighter Colorado future for all..