John Hickenlooper in 2012 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Civil Rights:
2012: It's time to pass civil unions
Next up [in my state-of-the-state speech] was our major policy agenda item for that session.I said: "We believe we should legislate what happens inside a church or place of worship, but government should treat all people equally."
I
said: "It's time to pass civil unions."
Most everyone on the floor of the chamber rose from their seats and applauded. Each legislator who stood and clapped was an exclamation point on the statement. Many republicans remained notably seated and stoic.
Source: 2012 State of the State, in "The Opposite of Woe," p.284
May 24, 2016
On Health Care:
2012: Make healthcare both affordable and accessible
In the [state-of-the-state] speech, we eased into one of the more challenging items or us to get through the legislature. The previous year, we had created the Colorado Health Insurance Marketplace; now, with Congress utterly gridlocked in a feud over
ObamaCare, we needed funding for it. The legislators had an idea this was coming, and I conveyed as much when I said that making Colorado the best place for entrepreneurship also meant we must have "health care that is both affordable and accessible."
Source: 2012 State of the State, in "The Opposite of Woe," p.283
May 24, 2016
On Energy & Oil:
Develop unconventional technology for extracting shale oil
Colorado's energy sector holds tremendous promise. We continue to build on the state's reputation as a leader in promoting solar, wind and renewable energies and developing cleaner fossil fuels. Colorado is blessed with abundant reserves of natural gas.
With new discoveries in the Niobrara formation and technologies for extracting shale oil, we are poised to be a leader in unconventional energy technology as well.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Fracking opens new era of energy; but disclose ingredients
We also start the year with the country's strongest and fairest rule disclosing the ingredients in the "fracking" process. The old geologist in me is champing at the bit to go into detail about this process. Suffice it to say that this is a drilling
procedure that has opened the door to a whole new era of energy development that can lead to more jobs, cleaner air and energy security for our country and the world. The ideas and innovations that created this revolution all occurred in Colorado.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Families & Children:
Consolidate 23 early childhood services under one roof
Even in difficult times, we need to right by our kids. We seek your support in consolidating early childhood services under one roof to more efficiently & effectively aid children & parents. Currently, there are 23 separate funding streams administered
through five different state agencies, each playing a role in early childhood support and services. Together, we are proposing a state-local strategy that integrates prevention and intervention, quality early learning and family support and engagement.
Our plan will consolidate early childhood services in a new office in the Department of Human Services. Abundant research demonstrates that if a child fails to learn how to read by the third grade, that child is more likely to drop out of high school
and faces an enormous uphill battle for the rest of his or her life. We must develop intervention strategies with parents and teachers to identify failing students long before they reach the third grade and keep them from an illiterate future.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Government Reform:
Pits and Peeves: Replace red tape with LEAN government
A commitment to partnership and collaboration can overcome the dysfunction of partisan gridlock. We need to make government work better. Part of that means making government efficient, effective and of course elegant.
Last year we began a rigorous review of state rules and asked for examples of unnecessary regulation from Coloradans across the state. We are scrubbing every state agency to eliminate red tape.
Our plan is outlined in the report we issued this week called "Pits and Peeves."
We understand that government is not a business. Still, we need to apply best practices from successful companies where they make sense.
That is why we initiated the LEAN program in almost every state agency, where employee teams are now actively identifying waste and inefficiency to create savings.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Local Issues:
TBD Colorado: share your vision and priorities for our state
In the coming weeks you will hear details about a privately funded and non-partisan process of civic engagement called "TBD Colorado." Really, we tried to come up with a catchy name but TBD truly captures the intended outcome--it's to be determined.
Like the Colorado Blueprint, TBD Colorado will focus on listening and not imposing top-down, government-driven solutions. Coloradans will be invited to share their vision and priorities for our state. In the sense that entrepreneurs try to find solutions
to the needs and challenges of society, TBD Colorado will seek to tap that same spirit that exists, in part, in all of us in Colorado.
We all have the capacity for creativity and personal reinvention. We all have the capacity to contribute to our communities . and to make Colorado the best state in the nation.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Social Security:
Update constitutional barriers in state's retirement program
We can make state government more effective and realize cost savings by bringing the state's antiquated personnel system into the 21st century. The state Constitution is riddled with personnel rules and administrative procedures that are obsolete and
should be reformed. We are working with state employees on a package of reforms. We are not immediately seeking legislative changes to the state's retirement program; we are mindful of the obligation to ensure that PERA is both stable and sustainable.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
On Technology:
COIN: Colorado Innovation Network incubates entrepreneurship
An attraction to entrepreneurship is a climate of innovation. We established the Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) to foster collaboration and idea-sharing across private sector, academic and public lines, including the 29 research laboratories in
Colorado. This will multiply occurrences like Primestar Solar, where an innovation at the National Renewable Energy Lab translated into more than 400 jobs in Colorado.COIN gives us a unique opportunity to incubate entrepreneurship and facilitate the
transfer of new ideas to the marketplace. While COIN is privately funded, we are asking for a modest public investment to continue the success we had with Arrow and GE. We are requesting $6 million to support the work of the Colorado Economic Development
Commission, and $3 million for a revolving loan fund to provide low-risk gap financing so Colorado can compete with other states for film, video gaming and electronic media productions. These investments will repay the state many, many times over.
Source: Colorado 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2012
Page last updated: Aug 10, 2019