Gov. Ritter calls for New Colorado Partnership
Last week, I issued the call for a New Colorado Partnership that will strengthen collaboration among state government, businesses and schools as we seek smarter, better and more efficient ways of succeeding in what's now a new economic reality for all of us.
As I said at the end of a speech to hundreds of Colorado Rotary members, My goal is for state government to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each of you, making the same kind of changes and improvements you are making, to ensure we all succeed together. Today, together, we have a real opportunity to build a sustainable economic future, to invent a new future for our children and our grandchildren. That is the meaning of the Colorado Promise and of a New Colorado Partnership.
Below is the complete text of that speech, and you can click here to listen (http://www.colorado.gov/go
Thank you, Michael, for that very kind introduction. Thank you Colorado Rotarians for inviting me to once again spend some time with you.
I'd like to start this afternoon by presenting two certificates of appreciation to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of Colorado for their partnership to help eradicate polio around the world.
The certificates say, Partnerships between two great organizations demonstrate what can be accomplished when people of goodwill work together to make everyone's life better. The citizens of Colorado who serve as members of Rotary clubs are an example of Service Above Self in both their local and global service.
Dr. Orenstein, would you accept this certificate on behalf of the Foundation, and Michael would you accept this certificate on behalf of Colorado Rotary Clubs?
I have also proclaimed October 24 as Colorado Polio Eradication Day.
Thanks to all of you for your service.
Three years ago, I ran for governor because I wanted to serve the people of this state... because we weren't achieving Colorado's full promise in key areas like energy, economic-development, education and healthcare.
The state needed a course-correction, and for the past three years, we've been transforming this state. This sounds like Obama, "we are the best country around help me change it." Colorado was in excellent shape before he decided to change it. And we're doing it in a way that's connected, comprehensive and collaborative.
We're improving our education system, because we need to give our kids a better shot at succeeding in the toughest economy since the Great Depression.
We're making Colorado a global leader in the New Energy Economy (and destroying a $23 billion a year gas industry), because our economy, our national security and our climate demand it.
And we're working night and day to support the business community, to attract new companies and create new jobs, because that's the only way we'll get out of this recession. They have raised taxes and fees $1 billion dollars a year. Just how business friendly is that?
When I joined you here a year ago, the global economy was just beginning its downhill slide. We all know how far that slide has taken us. Those of you who manage your family finances, your retirement accounts and your business's P&L statements know.
As Governor, I know too. The Legislature and I have closed budget shortfalls of $1.8 billion over the past year, with another $240 million cut coming next week and even more in the months ahead.
We've reduced spending by 10 percent, eliminated 300 positions (but had hired 4000 new ones in the previous two years) and put employees on unpaid furlough days. Tough decisions, but necessary in order to keep the budget balanced... necessary in order to maintain essential services, to protect the safety net and maintain investments in education, the economy and our infrastructure.
And this isn't some temporary hiccup. We're living in a new economic reality, where flat is the new up, or at least the new normal. This sounds too much like Jimmy Carter. We can't be any better so we will just have to be satisfied with mediocre. This is a long-lasting correction, a massive shift. Only in the eyes of a liberal.
But it's also an opportunity -- to be bold, to adapt, to become more efficient, to find new ways to succeed - to create a New Colorado Partnership that does a better job linking government with business and education and other institutions.
Because the only way we'll get through this is by working together and understanding how this is all connected.
A better education system means smarter students. And that means a more skilled and competitive workforce. And that means a healthier economy, more prosperous businesses, and the absolute best quality of life in the country.
We had this vision and this strategy back in 2007 about education and economic development and the New Energy Economy.
Times were good then. This is a different time, but it's still a good strategy. In fact, it's an even better strategy.
This is our chance to keep building on that strategy ... to educate our kids for modern, sustainable jobs in sustainable industries. This is how we get to a place as a state and a country with a more dependable, reliable and secure economic future.
That's why I'm focused on developing modern industries of the future.
The New Energy Economy is probably the best example, but so are aerospace, the biosciences and technology.
A lot of people think the New Energy Economy is just about renewable energy and going green.
That's part of it. But it's also about creating jobs, responsibly developing Colorado-produced natural gas, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. And it's working. As long as the economy is stagnant there will be little need for new energy supplies. That is what they want.
We're growing an entire ecosystem... creating an environment that fosters R&D, encourages new technologies and results in thousands of new jobs.
We've become a national leader, establishing a model that every state in the country can follow, that even the federal government is following - sometimes shamelessly.
This same ecosystem approach is true in our bioscience sector too... where researchers in Colorado may someday find the cure for cancer... where hundreds of companies are employing tens of thousands of scientists.
For this New Colorado Partnership to succeed, government must strengthen its ties to businesses. Government can't do everything. But especially in tough times like this, government can do a lot.
And we are.
We've done more on business-development in the last three legislative sessions than was done in the last three decades.
We cut taxes for 30,000 small businesses and overhauled the tax structure for big businesses.
We revived the Colorado Credit Reserve Program, which is providing family-owned businesses with the one thing they need the most in this tough economy: access to capital.
And we established a tax credit for companies that add new jobs - an incentive that's already recruited new companies like DaVita from California and RePower from Oregon.
But the best thing we can do for business is improve our education system.
Over the past few years, we've launched revolutionary changes ...
We've expanded pre-school and full-day kindergarten for thousands of kids.
We're transforming content and assessment standards to ensure kids have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a global economy.
We're providing better support for classroom teachers... and we are going to eliminate the CSAP test as we know it.
Because of these reforms, Colorado is well-positioned to secure a federal Race to the Top grant. Those funds will allow us to continue the reforms we've begun.
When you put all of this together, what we've got is a strategy for success and a reason for optimism.
Colorado's September unemployment numbers came out yesterday. Our rate fell 0.3 percent, to 7 percent, compared with 9.8 percent nationally. We are almost 3 full points below the national average.
Forbes.com and CNBC both rank Colorado as one of the top states in which to do business.
Many experts believe our diverse economy and small-business backbone will drive Colorado out of the recession faster and stronger than most other states.
So let me wrap up with this: We have an incredible opportunity to transform government into a more effective partner for every business, every school district and every college in Colorado.
It will require a new way of thinking, a new commitment to making government a more nimble and more entrepreneurial partner ... a new commitment to making government less expensive, more efficient and more innovative.
Your businesses and your families have had to make tough choices to survive this past year, and you're creating new directions and new pathways in order to succeed.
My goal is for Colorado government to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each of you, making the same kind of changes and improvements you are making, to ensure we all succeed together.
Today, together, we have a real opportunity to build a sustainable economic future, to invent a new future for our children and our grandchildren.
That is the meaning of the Colorado Promise and of a New Colorado Partnership.
Thank You.
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