7:30PM segment 6
Colorado Call to Action, April edition
Following are the followup directory and links for John Andrews' legislative special on 710 KNUS. See our Bad Bill Target List in the post below this one. It's decision time; adjournment is soon. Make your voice heard today! Thanks for your willingness to get involved as the Colorado General Assembly decides vital issues in its 2008 session. Matters awaiting decision are a moving target, but your pocketbook, your freedoms, and your values are all on the line -- with hundreds of bills moving through the process and only about seven weeks to go.
Your voice can make a difference. If you want taxes and fees kept low, or union power curbed, or kids put first in our schools, or family values and constitutional rights protected, speak up and say so! See below for relevant links, along with our convenient directory of legislators with email addresses and phone numbers.
For information on bills awaiting action, click here. For a listing of committee members who will hear a specific bill you're interested in, click here. To search bills by subject matter, click here.
To get the name of your own state senator and representative, use this link, then click on the map to reach your county clerk and there find your polling place, where elected officials are listed. To call legislators through their switchboard, ask for any House member at 303-866-2904, for Senate Democrats at 303-866-4865, and for Senate Republicans at 303-866-4866. Reach Gov. Bill Ritter at 303-866-2471. Or to email him, click Governor.Ritter@state.co.us.
Directory Key: Leaders are listed first, then alphabetical by last names. H for House members, S for Senators, followed by their district number. Then counties represented, then R or D for party affiliation, then office phone number. Finally, email address, which you can click to send an email to that member.
Senate President Peter Groff S33 D 303-866-4864 Adams, Denver peter.groff.senate@state.co
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff H6 D 303-866-2346 Arapahoe, Denver romanoff@coloradohouse.org
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany S12 El Paso R 303-866-2318 andymcelhany@pcisys.net
House Minority Leader Mike May H44 Douglas R 303-866-5523 mike.may.house@state.co.us
Balmer, David G H39 Arapahoe R 303-866-2950 david.balmer.house@state.co.us
Benefield, Debbie H29 Jefferson D 303-866-2950 debbie.benefield.house@state.co.us
Borodkin, Alice H9 D 303-866-2910 Denver, Arapahoe aliceb321@aol.com
Buescher, Bernie H55 Mesa D 303-866-2583 bernie@buescher.org
Butcher, Dorothy H46 Pueblo D 303-866-2968 no email
Bacon, Bob S14 Larimer D 303-866-4841 bob.bacon.senate@state.co.us
Boyd, Betty S21 Jefferson D 303-866-4857 betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us
Brophy, Greg S1 R 303-866-6360 Cheyenne, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan Morgan, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma greg@gregbrophy.net
Cadman, Bill H15 El Paso R 303-866-5525 bill.cadman.house@state.co.us
Carroll, Morgan H36 Arapahoe D 303-866-2942 morgancarroll@webaccess.net
Carroll, Terrance H7 Denver D 303-866-2909 terrance.carroll.house@state.co.us
Casso, Edward H32 Adams D 303-866-2964 no email
Cerbo, Mike H2 Denver D 303-866-2911 mpcerbo@yahoo.com
Curry, Kathleen H61 D 303-866-2945 Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison,Hinsdale, Pitkin kathleencurry@montrose.net
Fischer, Randy H53 Larimer D Cap: 303-866-2917 randy.fischer.house@state.co.us
Frangas, K.Jerry H4 Denver D Cap: 303-866-2954 kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us
Gagliardi, Sara H27 Jefferson D 303-866-2962 sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us
Gallegos, Rafael L H62 D 303-866-2916 Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us
Gardner, Bob H21 R 303-866-2191 Fremont, El Paso bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
Gardner, Cory H63 R 303-866-2906 Adams, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Morgan, Washington, Yuma cory.gardner.house@state.co.us
Gibbs, Dan S16 D 303-866-3342 Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Summit dan.gibbs.senate@state.co.us
Green, Gwyn H23 Jefferson D 303-866-2951 gwyngreen@yahoo.com
Gordon, Ken S35 D 303-866-3341 Arapahoe, Denver ken@kengordon.com
Hicks, Stella Garza H17 El Paso R 303-866-3069 stella.hicks.house@state.co.us
Hodge, Mary H30 Adams D 303-866-2912 maryhodge@aol.com
Hagedorn, Bob S29 Arapahoe D 303-866-4879 SenBob@msn.com
Harvey, Ted S30 Douglas R 303-866-4881 ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us
Isgar, Jim S6 D 303-866-4884 Archuleta,Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel isgarsenate@frontier.net
Jahn, Cheri H24 Jefferson D 303-866-5522 ceri.jahn.house@state.co.us
Judd, Joel H5 Denver D 303-866-2925 joeljudd@aol.com
Johnson, Steve S15 Larimer R 303-866-4853 steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us
Kefalas, John H52 Larimer D 303-866-4569 john.kefalas.house@state.co.us
Kerr, Andrew H26 Jefferson D 303-866-2923 akerrhd26@earthlink.net
Kerr, James E H28 Jefferson R 303-866-2939 james.kerr.house@state.co.us
King, Steve H54 R 303-866-3068 Delta, Mesa steve.king.house@state.co.us
Keller, Maryanne "Moe" S20 Jefferson D 303-866-4856 moe.keller.senate@state.co.us
Kester, Ken S2 R 303-866-4877 Baca, Bent, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo ken.kester.senate@state.co.us
Kopp, Mike S22 Jefferson R 303-866-4859 mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us
Labuda, Jeanne H1 D 303-866-2966 Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson No email
Lambert, Kent H14 El Paso R 303-866-2937 kent.lambert.house@state.co.us
Levy, Claire H13 D 303-866-2578 Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin claire.levy.house@state.co.us
Liston, Larry G H16 El Paso R 303-866-2965 larry.liston.house@state.co.us
Looper, Marsha H19 El Paso R 303-866-2946 marsha.looper.house@state.co.us
Lundberg, Kevin H49 R 303-866-2907 Larimer, Weld kevin@kevinlundberg.com
Madden, Alice H10 Boulder D 303-866-2348 alice.madden.house@state.co.us
Marostica, Don H51 Larimer R 303-866-2947 No email
Marshall, Rosemary H8 Denver D 303-866-2959 rosemary.marshall.house@state.co.us
Massey, Tom H60 R 303-866-2747 Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, Pueblo, Saguache tom.massey.house@state.co.us
McFadyen, Liane "Buffie" H47 D 303-866-2905 Fremont, Pueblo buffie2006@hotmail.com
McGihon, Anne L. H3 D 303-866-2921 Arapahoe, Denver anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us
McKinley, Wes H64 D 303-866-2398 Baca, Bent, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us
McNulty, Frank H43 Douglas R 303-866-2936 No email
Merrifield, Michael H18 El Paso D 303-866-2932 michael.merrifield.house@state.co.us
Middleton, Karen H42 Arapahoe D 303-866-3911 middleton.house@state.co.us
Mitchell, Victor H45 R 303-866-2948 Douglas, Teller victor.mitchell.house@state.co.us
May, Ron S10 El Paso R 303-866-2737 senatormay@ronmay.org
Mitchell, Shawn S23 R 303-866-4876 Adams, Broomfield, Weld shawn.mitchell.senate@state.co.us
Mitchell, Victor H45 Douglas, Teller R 303-866-2948 victor.mitchell.house@state.co.us
Morse, John P. S11 El Paso D 303-866-6364 john.morse.senate@state.co.us
Peniston, Cherylin H35 Adams D 303-866-2843 cherylin.peniston.house@state.co.us
Pommer, Jack H11 Boulder D 303-866-2780 jack.pommer.house@state.co.us
Primavera, Dianne H33 D 303-866-4667 Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Weld dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us
Penry, Joshua "Josh" S7 R 303-866-3077 Garfield, Mesa joshpenry@gmail.com
Rice, Joe H38 D 303-866-2953 Arapahoe, Jefferson joe.rice.house@state.co.us
Riesberg, Jim H50 Weld D 303-866-2929 jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us
Roberts, Ellen H59 R 303-866-2914 Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us
Rose, Ray H58 R 303-866-2955 Delta, Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel ray.rose.house@state.co.us
Renfroe, Scott W. S13 Weld R 303-866-4451 scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us
Romer, Chris S32 D 303-866-4852 Denver, Jefferson chris.romer.senate@state.co.us
Scanlan, Christine H56 D (303)866-2952 Eagle, Lake, Summit christine.scanlan.house@state.co.us
Solano, Judy H31 Adams D 303-866-2918 judy.solano.house@state.co.us
Sonnenberg, Jerry H65 R 303-866-3706 Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Weld jerry.sonnenberg.house@state.co.us
Soper, John F H34 Adams D 303-866-2931 john.soper.house@state.co.us
Stafford, Debbie H40 D 303-866-2944 Arapahoe, Elbert debbie.stafford.house@state.co.us
Stephens, Amy H20 El Paso R 303-866-2924 amy.stephens.house@state.co.us
Summers, Ken H22 Jefferson R 303-866-2927 ken.summers.house@state.co.us
Swalm, Spencer H37 Arapahoe R 303-866-5510 spencer.swalm.house@state.co.us
Sandoval, Paula E. S34 Denver D 303-866-4862 paula.sandoval.senate@state.co.us
Schultheis, David C. "Dave" S9 El Paso R 303-866-4835 dave@daveschultheis.com
Schwartz, Gail S5 D 303-866-4871 Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Saguache gail.schwartz.senate@state.co.us
Shaffer, Brandon C. S17 Boulder D 303-866-5291 brandon@brandonshaffer.com
Spence, Nancy S27 Arapahoe R 303-866-4883 nancyspence@qwest.net
Todd, Nancy H41 D 303-866-2919 Arapahoe, Denver nancy.todd.house@state.co.us
Takis, Stephanie S25 Adams D 303-866-4855 stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us
Tapia, Abel J. S3 Pueblo D 303-866-2581 abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us
Taylor, Jack S8 R 303-866-5292 Eagle, Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt No email
Tochtrop, Lois S24 Adams D 303-866-4863 lotochtrop@aol.com
Tupa, Ron S18 Boulder D 303-866-4872 ron.tupa.senate@state.co.us
Vaad, Glenn H48 Weld R 303-866-2943 glenn.vaad.house@state.co.us
Veiga, Jennifer S31 D 303-866-4861 Adams, Denver jennifer.veiga.senate@state.co.us
Weissmann, Paul H12 Boulder D 303-866-2920 reppaul@aol.com
White, Al H57 R 303-866-2949 Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt al.white.house@state.co.us
Witwer, Robert E H25 Jefferson R 303-866-2582 rob.witwer.house@state.co.us
Ward, Steve S26 R 303-866-4846 Arapahoe, Jefferson steve.ward.senate@state.co.us
Wiens, Tom J S4 R 303-866-4869 Douglas, El Paso, Lake, Park, Teller tom@tomwiens.com
Williams, Suzanne S28 D 303-866-3432 Arapahoe, Denver suzanne.williams.senate@state.co.us
Windels, Sue S19 Jefferson D 303-866-4840 senatorwindels@comcast.net
George Soros, meet John Jay
(Denver Post, Feb. 3) Precinct caucuses are coming up on Tuesday. If you’re registered with a party, be there. You can vote in the presidential poll and help choose candidates for local, state, and federal offices, as well as issues for the party platforms. If you go to a Republican caucus, the other participants were probably at church or synagogue this weekend. If you’re at a Democratic caucus, it’s likely they were not. Surveys show that Americans who worship at least weekly tend to vote with the GOP by about 60-40. Those who worship less often, vote with the Dems by a similar margin. This doesn’t make either party better, but it’s one of the sharp differences between them. Asked what issues will frame the 2008 campaign, members of a DU adult class I’m teaching with David Sirota put religion second on the list, right behind the war. Also near the top were the economy, health care, taxes, and the role of government.
After Sirota elicited these suggestions and jotted them on the board, it was my turn to cross-examine. How had such concerns, I probed, helped Republicans win seven of ten presidential elections since 1968? Specifically, where did religion come in? The class is mostly liberals (which I’m enjoying), and one answered: “Abortion and homosexuality.”
True, but the explanation goes deeper. Faced with a string of Supreme Court rulings devaluing religion, and with a Manhattan-Berkeley-Hollywood axis scorning moral absolutes and spiritual faith, traditionally-minded Americans of both parties rallied around GOP candidates for a defense of the old values, “the way we were.”
Defense of marriage and the unborn was part of it, sure, but so was defense of our national identity and security. Baptist Jimmy Carter lost reelection after dismissing the “inordinate fear of communism” and embracing a declinist view of the future. Divorcee Ronald Reagan won twice with “city on a hill” biblical optimism and a forward strategy against the Soviet “evil empire.”
The Bush-Clinton struggle since 1992 has reflected many of these same disagreements. In 2000, a tree-hugger bent on saving the planet was edged out by an evangelical saved from drink. Substitute radical Jihadism for communism, and you realize that our 2008 debates aren’t so different from those of 1972 or 1984.
The political force of America’s enduring self-image as a nation under God, what Lincoln called “this almost-chosen people,” will be my message to that room-full of older progressives when our DU course wraps up on Feb. 6. Will they get it? Probably not as well as the class of younger conservatives I met with a month ago.
These were a dozen grad students at the John Jay Institute for Faith, Society, and Law in Colorado Springs. Though Jay is sometimes called the forgotten Founder, Kenneth Starr terms him “the father of American conservatism.” Co-author of the Federalist Papers and the nation’s first Chief Justice, he insisted morality and religion were indispensable to ordered liberty. The John Jay Institute insists they still are.
Conducting one-year academic fellowships and a lecture series, the newly-formed institute and its scholarly president, Alan Crippen, are not a militia “waging war against the separation of church and state” as secularists fumed in a Gazette article on Nov. 11 (reprinted in the Washington Post). They are a voice of reason -- yet politely subversive even so.
Fellow Adrienne Moorehead told the Gazette that natural law, asserted by constitutionalists from Thomas Jefferson to Clarence Thomas, must again have its day. Fellow Brandon Showalter spoke of a career in service to “God’s design for the social order.” Incendiary talk indeed.
George Soros and Tim Gill may call the tune in this election cycle, but soon enough it’s a good bet we’ll be hearing more from Showalter, Moorehead, Crippen, and John Jay.
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Aldous Huxley at Auraria?
Last week I was on the Auraria campus of CU-Denver a couple of times for notable events. On Sept. 11, President Hank Brown launched a new lecture series under his personal sponsorship, hosting John Agresto for a discussion of lessons about the American character in light of our Iraq experience and the struggle against terrorism. Then on Sept. 15, a statewide teen conference in honor of Constitution Day was presented on campus by LibertyDay.org, the national civics project headed by Andy McKean of Littleton.
Several impressions stayed with me. One, education for citizenship isn't quite as dead at our high schools and colleges as curmudgeons like me sometimes claim, though it still needs a lot of reviving.
Two, the Auraria campus buildings and grounds look great -- well-appointed, attentively maintained, and with visible signs of expansion. No evidence of the alleged financial crisis of Colorado higher education meets the eye.
Three, it always saddens me to see Auraria's grand old churches (including our state's first synagogue) now serving mostly as museums, historic sites, or secular meeting facilities rather than houses of worship. You couldn't have a more vivid symbol of our current practice of drawing down the West's moral and spiritual heritage, rather than sustaining it as integral to the process of cultural transmission and learning.
Fourth -- and in my opinion the most revealing detail of all, though seemingly small -- what volumes were spoken about our times by a men's-room vending machine in one of the classroom buildings.
The items for sale were condoms, Excedrin, Tylenol, and Tic-Tacs: little packages, none more than a dollar, fully equipping your modern college guy for the day's eventualities of pleasure, pain, and politeness as he acquires higher learning.
Will it occur to him, if Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" happens be assigned in one of his English classes, that the state-sponsored, responsibility-sapping availability of Soma bliss and recreational sex envisioned by Huxley is not far from being realized in the here and now?
And even if it does, will he recognize the danger this poses to himself, his generation, and our country? I hope so, but I doubt it.
[Cross-posted at PoliticsWest.com]