Progress Now Action

The following was released from the governor's communication office this afternoon

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Gov. Ritter and a group of bipartisan lawmakers today announced new legislation for conducting the 2008 elections by using paper ballots at polling places while maintaining voter choice through options such as early or absentee mail voting.

"One of the most basic roles of government is to provide for elections that are fair, reliable, transparent and convenient for voters," Gov. Ritter said. "Our democracy depends not only on the people's ability to vote, but also on their confidence that every vote counts.

"This bi-partisan legislative proposal will fix the problems we face because of decertified electronic voting machines for the 2008 elections. Paper ballots are a tried-and-true election method that has worked for decades. They ensure a verifiable paper trail and minimize the possibility of technology failures that have caused Election Day problems in the past."

The legislation will be co-sponsored by Reps. Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and David Balmer, R-Centennial, and Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver.

"Given the constraints of the decertifications, this is the best solution we can craft," Rep. Balmer said. "We must preserve absentee voting and Election Day, precinct-based voting so that we avoid disenfranchising voters who only vote in presidential election years."

"Sometimes, the old-fashioned way is the best way," Rep. Madden said. "And since my kids tell me that 'retro' style is in again, I think we're being very trendy. Let us not forget that our forefathers and foremothers fought for the right to vote. We should always be grateful for that right and exercise that right."

Previously introduced legislation should enable the Secretary of State to recertify optical scanning equipment to count ballots on election night as well as electronic voting machines for the limited purpose of providing polling-place access to voters with disabilities.

Gov. Ritter and legislators said they will continue working closely with the Secretary of State and county clerks to ensure successful election processes this year and in the years to come.  Click here to view Gov. Ritter's letter to the county clerks.

"Ensuring fair and accurate elections underpins our entire democracy," Gov. Ritter said. "Restoring the people's confidence in our voting system is vital. This plan will do that."

How is it that voting, a basic constitutional right, is consistently such a problem for state's to figure out how to do well. You’d think that after the Florida election morass that happened in 2000, states would have be able to get their act together enough to create a voting system that efficiently works along with ensuring voter confidence in fair and impartial elections.  Apparently not…with Secretary of State Mike Coffman decertifying many of Colorado’s electronic voting machines it has created election turmoil over how to count votes next November.  Coffman’s decisions have put him at odds with many county clerks who want an all mail-in ballot next year.  However, this apparently was not the option Coffman preferred, because yesterday he recommended to the Legislature that paper ballots be used in the fall. 

The result of this mire of voting uncertainty is a showdown this legislative session over election procedures in the centennial state.  Legislators have expressed mixed reactions over the debacle.  According to the Grand Junction Sentinel:

Coffman's announcement on Wednesday followed one on Monday by state Sen. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, calling for greater use of paper ballots. Gordon said he doubted the reliability of all electronic voting machines and called for legislation to avoid an election fiasco in November.

 

State Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, said he was all the more interested in carrying legislation this session voiding the requirement for state certification and allowing federally certified machines to be used, an effort that state Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, endorsed.

This week we sent out a letter asking Progress Now members to urge Governor Ritter to support protection of the Roan Plateau as he plans to release his 120 day review to the Bureau of Land Management.  Over 500 members responded by signing the open letter.  You can read the letter here

We also have a sampling of just some of the comments that members left.

Douglas Schnitzspahn -

Please consider the long-term effects of short-term thinking. The amount of natural gas that can be recovered form the Roan Plateau can never make up for the fragile, wild character of the place I want to be able to tell my children that you helped save this place for them and their children.

I've seen photos of the drilling platforms already in the Roan Plateau area and know that many, many more are planned.  This would be an irreplaceable long-term loss for our state, and I don't believe the short term energy gain warrants it, especially since conservation measures are still not a priority. In addition to the wildlife, there are many native plant species that will suffer if drilling goes ahead as planned. It is extremely difficult if not impossible to restore native plant species once their habitat is disturbed and it is these species that the wildlife depends on.

Nancy Zeilig -

I'm so glad you're Colorado's governor. It's great to have a governor we can trust to act out of integrity.

Les Gray -

The Roan Plateau is a jewel.  Only a small percentage of existing leased land has been developed.  We don't need the Roan now and future drilling techniques may do less damage.  Mr. Bush has already handsomely rewarded his patrons; don't let them get the Roan, too.

An increasingly discouraged public has waited all year for the President and Congress to take action on Global Warming…net result – nothing!

Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana summed it up best, "Here's a novel concept for Congress. Do something. Anything. Move."

With wisdom saying that Congress is trying to at least put together some type of energy legislation that might have a chance of getting across the President's desk, it seems that the two separate energy bills that passed in each house of Congress have yet to be successfully merged into a single piece of legislation to ship off to the White House. 

It’s understandable that Congress feels bogged down by administration that is determined to squeeze every drop of oil and gas out of the ground before passing serious energy legislation to address global warming.  Yet it’s imperative that Congress take action on some level, even if they know full well that a veto is coming.

In response to the snail’s pace with which Congress is moving, Governor's around the country are banding together to address the issue, cajole congressional reps, and call for federal action. 

3 Guvs – Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA),  Jon Huntsman Jr (R-CA), and Brian Schweitzer (D-MO) all appear in a new TV add that will begin airing soon calling on Congress to take action on the issue of global warming.  Lets hope it’s the healthy kick in the pants that Congress needs.

Earlier this week I wrote in support of the Governor’s new Climate Action Plan for the state.  The problem with selling this agenda though is the traditional notion that “green policies” only appeal to folks who care about the environment in the first place. 

 
But two articles have recently appeared in the NY Times that bring the greening of the country down to a more personal and relevant level for those of us who don’t drive hybrid cars and have annual memberships to the sierra club. 

 
The first is an op-ed by Thomas Friedman on the creation of green collar jobs.  The second is the effect that greening cities across the U.S. is having.

Today I’m live blogging from downtown Denver at the “Colorado’s New Energy Economy” conference, hosted by Governor Ritter’s Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Energy Outreach.

Governor Ritter opened the conference by outlining Colorado’s leadership role in a new energy economy.  The governor explained that as a state with abundant traditional energy sources in coal and natural gas, the 4th sunniest and 9th windiest state, as well as the home of the National Renewable Energy Lab and great research institutions, there is a genuine opportunity for Colorado to lead the way in the new energy economy which combines both old and new energy sources to meet energy demands while protecting the environment as well.

The conference couldn’t have come at a better time.  With the average residential utility customer emitting 7.1 metric tons of carbon per year and a projected demand growth of 60% over the next 17 years and a population increase of over 1 million people, Colorado needs to be at the forefront leading the way in economic and renewable development.

The most salient comment so far has come from Ron Binz head of the Public Utilities Commission.  With a full house of over 550 attendees at the conference and 150 people on the waiting list Binz stated “If you can say anything about Colorado’s New Energy Economy, it’s going to be crowded”

For updates on energy issues throughout the state visit www.coloradoenergywatch.org