The Colorado Independent - Latest Comments in Dear Mr. Governor…

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Mani — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:42:22 -0000

Police discipline You are known for never bringing chrages against a police officer even after some of the most heinous shootings by Denver officers during your reign as DA. What should we expect from you in this area now that you hold Colorado's highest office. Why should the people of Colorado trust you with their safety now?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

coyotegulch — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:15:06 -0000

Transbasin Diversion Governor Ritter,

You were quoted by the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on January 13th as saying, "I believe the days of the transmountain diversion are over." Do you still believe that today (March 2007)? How would this effect Aaron Million's pipeline to the Front Range?

I know, that's two questions. So shoot me.

Coyote Gulch

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

whistlingbird — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:48:56 -0000

Colorado Oil & Gas Commission Governor,

I understand that you are looking to balance the membership of the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission.

This gives those of us that are seeing our life and lands directly impacted by the massive scale of methane gas wells some hope.

The commission is now dominated by members of the Oil & Gas Industry - how will you change this to better represent the homeowners, ranchers, wildlife and the environmental impact?

Thank you,

Lou Barrett

Trinidad

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Rolf Asphaug — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:07:16 -0000

Rail for I-70 to the mountains Governor Ritter, a recent issue of Westword had an article quoting Bob Briggs to the effect that with the right political leadership, we could have a passenger rail line built all the way to Grand Junction from Denver by 2016. Will YOU make it a top priority to provide that leadership?

Governor, we need to start building NOW! It's actually already too late: at the rate things are going, we'll be facing total gridlock and the strangling of our mountain resorts within a few short years. And if we simply widen the highways, by the time we've finished the roads will again be just as bad as they are now. Rail is the only realistic answer.

Please tell us (1) whether you support passenger rail to the mountains and beyond and, assuming you do, (2) exactly what you intend to do to make building a rail line a REALITY during your administration.

Thank you!

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

JoeyK — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:45:24 -0000

Party Divisions Governor Ritter,

How do you feel about the fact that Senate Majority leader Joan Fitz-Gerald has been publicly placing the blame for the Labor Peace Act's downfall on you (instead of herself for pushing the bill so early)? Are you surprised that she would abandon her party's Governor so quickly out of the gate?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

rae — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:15:26 -0000

Higher Education Gov. Ritter, you campaigned, and won, very much on the need to improve education in this state. I've seen some results in the areas of K-12, but as a constitutionally protected cost area, I feel that the state's time is better spent focusing now on higher education. Many of our brightest students are being priced out of state universities because of sky-rocketing tuition costs. I'd like to hear actual plans, not just rhetoric, on what your administration plans to do about the state of higher education in Colorado.

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Cara DeGette — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:12:32 -0000

Parolee voting Should parolees be allowed to vote? Why, or why not?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

ToddHollar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:38:28 -0000

Renewable Energy Hi,

Your campaign focused on making Colorado a leader in the renewable energy industry. Can you describe the progress that you have made so far? What legislation can we expect in the future?

Thanks.

Todd Hollar

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:20:49 -0000

Question What are you doing to stem the tide of youth suicide in Colorado? Most young men kill themselves with guns found in the home. Guns are extremely efficient and allow no second chances since the majority people who attempt suicide and recover don't do so again. Have you considered supporting and passing a child access prevention law (requires proper storage of firearms in a home with kids) this session?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

mtnpublious — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:09:06 -0000

choices If you had ONLY enough to fix one of the issues, would you fix the traffic issue on I-25 from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs or traffic issues from Denver west on I-70?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:01:50 -0000

Government waste You inherited a budget that in many ways was conservative in spending, particularly in areas such as mental health, social services, and public health. However, the previous administration might be viewed as extravagant in its repeated waste of millions of dollars on software systems that do not work, or at least do not work as well as they should. What is your plan to address the repeated problems of poor state oversight of such projects? How do we avoid these costly mistakes in the future?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

aaronrowland — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:50:44 -0000

LGBT Equality... Governor Ritter,

Some might characterize your public support for LGBT equality as mediocre. How do you stand on SB 25 (Colorado's ENDA) and what other legislative steps toward LGBT equality would you be willing to support?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Mark Mehringer — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:26:42 -0000

Labor bill Now that you vetoed the labor bill, what efforts are you making to get a compromise measure passed?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Dan Whipple — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:26:18 -0000

regional greenhouse gas reduction The govnerors of five western states -- Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California and New Mexico -- formed the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative to reduce greenhosue gases emitted in their states. Do you plan to have Colorado join in this effort?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Anonymous Parent — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:18:49 -0000

Education Funding There is enormous support across the state for early childhood education. Studies prove that these programs have a far-reaching impact on making our kids better students. Denver just voted to create a landmark early childhood education program. What will your administration do to support a statewide effort to give our kids the right start?

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Leslie Robinson — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:13:59 -0000

Dear Guv: The Potholes.... It seems that every state highway needs some type of road repair. The I-70 ski corridor is horrific. How will you work with CDOT to solve these problems and raise the funds necessary to fix our roads? And don't say "severance tax"--I live in Rifle and know how much we need those funds to help areas impacted by oil and gas.

Re: Dear Mr. Governor…

Wendy Norris — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:55:35 -0000

my question What budget and departmental efforts are being made by your administration to prepare the state for the quickly approaching end to the five year TABOR time-out period afforded by the passage of Referendum C?