GOP Bus Tour Takes Nothern Colorado, Fast Food Joint By Storm

Face The State Staff Report

Leading Republican lawmakers kicked off a statewide “Save, Don’t Spend!” themed road trip Thursday morning, spreading a message of fiscal responsibility and transparency.

FTS Staff Photo

Crammed in a RV with laptops in tow, state Reps. Cory Gardner and Amy Stephens and Sen. Mike Kopp began the tour in Denver, stopping along the way to pick up Rep. Kevin Lundberg at a Berthoud I-25 on-ramp. The shoestring entourage, assembled to reach out to northern Colorado voters, skillfully navigated the camper through a Wendy's drive through window for lunch.

But despite the laughs on the road, the group was broadcasting a very serious message: spending and taxes in Colorado are out of control. Stephens criticized Democrat Gov. Bill Ritter for paying back the special interests that got him elected, while simultaneously rebuffing Republican efforts to establish a rainy day fund. She took the opportunity to reiterate that last year, under Ritter, the budget was $1.2 billion more than it had ever been before.

“While most of us are tightening our belts this budget hit the buffet,” Gardner said.

Between stops in Fort Collins, Greeley and Thornton, the foursome blogged about the journey, talked policy and discussed what they hope to accomplish during the next legislative session.

As Gardner, Stephens, Kopp and Lundberg made their way around the state, GOP candidates greeted them along the way, echoing their concerns and taking the opportunity to address constituents. About a dozen people showed up at each stop, and they all wanted to know how the Republicans were going to fix Colorado’s budget.

Katie Witt, challenging Sen. Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, to represent the state Senate District 17, said that if elected, she would do her part by foregoing the $30,000 salary state lawmakers are paid and serving her first year in the legislature for free. She also backed the proposed efficiency audit that would evaluate all state programs.

Participating candidates and legislators unanimously supported greater transparency in government spending. “We’re going to put the state budget online and in a format that normal people can understand,” said Kopp, who added that when Missouri put its state budget online, 6 million people took a look in the first year. “Transparency makes a lot of lawmakers bristle, but that’s what we want. You, the taxpayer, should be able to look under the hood.”

Ritter’s mill levy tax increase was also a hot topic. The day’s first stop was in Larimer County where Ritter’s tax hike would end up costing residents $49 million. The 2007 School Finance Act, which allows for the increased property tax rates, was declared unconstitutional by the Denver District Court. Ritter's appeal of the decision is now pending before the Colorado Supreme Court. Republicans vowed to oppose any tax hike not approved by a vote of the people.

The tour helped energize the campaigns, especially those in competitive districts. Among them was Bob McCluskey, candidate for House District 52 in Fort Collins. He is up against Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, who unsuccessfully ran against McCluskey in 2004 but came back to beat him in 2006. This seat has seen a lot of back and forth and is one of the most divided in Colorado. “People have really started looking at the candidates more than the party,” McCluskey said, adding that he hopes his record on the economy will land him back in the General Assembly.

Scott Helman, running for House District 50, said the “Save! Don’t Spend” mantra will resonate well with Weld County voters, where a rainy day fund is already in place. Helman is running against incumbent Rep. "Free Ride" Jim Riesberg, who was elected in 2004 and has become well known for his liberal ideology, which has included advocating to raise his own property taxes.

The lawmakers expressed excitement over the quality of Republican candidates running this year. “These guys know what it’s like to sign the front of the paycheck,” Gardner said referring to the number of small business owners including Matt Fries, the GOP's pick for Senate District 14, Cheryl Palm in House District 24 and Kevin Priola in House District 30.

The tour continued to Eagle County in the afternoon. It will stop in Grand Junction, Montrose and Alamosa Friday, and will wrap up on Saturday with stops in Walsenburg, Colorado Springs and south Denver.