For the first time in 40 years, a legislative session began and ended with Democrats controlling both houses of the legislature. Gauging the Dems' success should be measured in the context of having to work with a conservative Republican governor and GOP legislators thoroughly annoyed about having to serve under the leadership of a 38-year old boy-genius and a 4-foot something, no-nonsense brawler.
From the home office in Buena Vista, Colorado, here's my top 10 list of Democratic accomplishments during the 2005 general assembly:
10. Managing to not screw up after having been in the minority for the better part of 40 years.
9. Not letting the GOP seize control of the rhetorical agenda or paint the Dems as anti-business.
8. Making progress on reducing the costs of prescription drugs for people and health insurance for small businesses.
7. Getting away, unscathed, with using the same draconian tactics GOP majorities used against Dems in previous years.
6. Not posing for another goofy, front-page newspaper photo in a 60s vintage Corvette.
5. Making sure Norma Anderson's attempt to undermine Joan Fitz-Gerald's right to seize control of the gavel at the beginning of the session backfired like a 60s vintage Impala.
4. Keeping the Mike Miles wing of the party from taking the Democratic caucus on journey to "one-term land."
3. Voter-verified paper ballots.
2. Successfully maneuvering the Gov. to support fixing the TABOR disaster (something I never thought he would do)..
1. FINISHING THE SESSION EARLY!!!!!
The most amazing thing to me about this whole leaving early bit is that the press bought it hook line and stinker!
No one seems to think about the additional comp time, over time, etc... that the D's sprint in the last few weeks cost the voters.
If they had finished early without adding over 40 late bills and without working 14 hour days just to do it I would be impressed, as it stands, ho hum!
Furthermore, the simple fact that you are attempting to spin the anti-business issue proves that the Rs were correct. There were several stories about it and the Ds, particularly in the House were running scared.
Posted by: leavingearly | May 11, 2005 at 10:15 AM
I've got to disagree about the "anti-business" thing as well. I think the Republican's did a good job of staying on message and pushing that line, it definitely affected the House Dems.
Overall though I think it was a succesful session. The Dems were brought in to clean up the budget mess that the Republican's couldn't find the time to deal with.
"We're talking about the budget and they're talking about beastiality."
that pretty much sums it up!
Posted by: learnedhand | May 11, 2005 at 10:23 AM
Every side has their kooks, for every Welker there is a M. Carroll. We will see how "successful" the Ds really are come this November.
Posted by: leavingearly | May 11, 2005 at 10:30 AM
" for every Welker there is a M. Carroll."
I'm missing that analogy. I'm not a Morgan Carroll fan but I think you're really stretching. Care to give some examples?
Posted by: learnedhand | May 11, 2005 at 10:51 AM
To lefties, Welker is a complete right wing nut wacko. To rightwingers, M. Carroll is a compliete left wing nut wacko.
Posted by: leavingearly | May 11, 2005 at 10:55 AM
right, I understood the point you were trying to make. What I was looking for was some sort of example of Morgan Carroll saying something as kooky as what Welker said. I mean it's not just that we on the left think Welker is a right wing wacko, it's that he proved it with his men marrying horses speech. I'm asking for something similiar from M. Carroll.
Posted by: learnedhand | May 11, 2005 at 11:23 AM
Okay, instead of Welker, from a policy standpoint, how about Cerbo.
From a behavior standpoint, how about Green?
Posted by: gopone | May 11, 2005 at 12:41 PM
I think YOU are going to have to work overtime to find anything or anyone to compare with Welker...he is pretty much out there all by himself.........in la la land.
Posted by: tommix | May 11, 2005 at 12:55 PM
To leavingearly, re: the comp time and the press "buying it hook line and stinker (sic)": they didn't.
Have you ever been at the state capitol in the last two weeks of a legislative session? If you had, you would know that the House and Senate work very long hours EVERY SINGLE YEAR during those last two weeks. Legislators introduce bills right up to the last week (see: midnight gerrymander by the Rs in 2003), so nothing that happened in the last week of the 2005 session was by any measure unusual. Other than adjourning early. THAT was unusual.
(from a person who has been at the state capitol in the last two weeks of the session for the past eight years)
Posted by: Unawen | May 11, 2005 at 01:05 PM
Green is a good example, I like that one.
Posted by: learnedhand | May 11, 2005 at 01:06 PM
Unawen, so not the point. And yes, I have been there till midnight many times myself. My point was not that they worked late, but that the Ds were not consistent, since they were talking about how efficient they were while introducing late bills and working the staff to death so they could finish 2 days early and "save" taxpayers money.
All this while have the fewest bills in recent memory, doesn't sound very efficient to me.
Posted by: leavingearly | May 11, 2005 at 08:57 PM
I'm curious -- what did Green do that you are saying is analogous to Welker?
Posted by: rational man | May 13, 2005 at 08:04 AM