As Governor Bill Ritter Jr. travels the state this month on a schedule of bill signing ceremonies, it's also a season of assessment on his leadership.
He has drawn criticism in southern Colorado, for instance, for his public support of a measure that would prohibit selling state land to the U.S. Army to allow the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. The vice chair of the El Paso County Republicans, Darryl Glenn, called the bill "... a job-killer and a slap in the face to our service men and women." But private landowners in the affected area say they're grateful the governor took their side.
In other quarters, Democrat Ritter earns praise for supporting economic development measures that provide tax credits to employers for bringing jobs to Colorado, and also for reviving a defunct state program that makes it easier for small businesses to obtain loans.
His encouragement of a new surcharge on hospitals that will generate up to $1.2 billion for uninsured Coloradans through federal matching funds wins approval from those on the front lines of health care reform.
But a new law that raises vehicle registration fees to generate up to $250 million in funds for transportation projects has been denounced by Republican leaders in the legislature as regressive taxation.
Gov. Ritter has tried to maintain a balance in his stands on issues which pit business interests and labor interests against one another, and maintain the coalition of moderate business groups and progressive labor organizations that helped bring him to power three years ago.
But how well has he cemented his favorability with voters? Political pollsters say at this point, his re-election in 2010 is by no means a sure thing. His possible GOP opponent in that race could be former Congressman Scott McInniss or current Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, who would be expected to hammer the governor and Democrats for "taxing and spending." Ritter supporters say he's been a good manager in the worst economic downturn in many years.
How does it look from where you sit? Are you feeling the effect of the governor's leadership in your business or school or other setting? Let us know your thoughts and then tune to "
Colorado State of Mind" this Friday evening at 7:30, when we'll discuss it with a panel of Colorado journalists.
-Cynthia Hessin
