Colorado lawmakers grapple with doing the people’s work when the people can’t be there

Historic budget cuts are on the line as lawmakers seek to balance public access with pandemic precautions at the state Capitol

Lawmakers recessed for two weeks on March 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. They plan to return to the Capitol on May 26. (Photo by John Herrick)

Temperature checks. A closed cafeteria. Spaced seating. Lawmakers in masks separated by plexiglass. This may be the new normal at the state Capitol when the legislature reconvenes as soon as May 26.  

The public health measures are needed for lawmakers to continue doing their work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down the legislature on March 14. Since then, the respiratory disease has killed more than 1,000 people in Colorado.  

The pandemic also has blown an estimated $3.3 billion hole in the state’s $30-plus billion budget due to the loss of sales and income tax revenue as businesses remain on standby and unemployment spikes. The seven lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee have voted over the last two weeks to withhold a 3% pay increase for state workers, table capital construction projects and cut more than $100 million to higher education, among other cuts totaling more than $700 million. The committee is considering more cuts to the senior property tax exemption, the state’s contribution to the public employee’s retirement fund, K-12 funding, suicide prevention, substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, vaccine outreach, and health coverage for the uninsured and immigrants. 

But even as decisions that will affect most Coloradans are debated, public access to the Capitol and in-person access to lawmakers will be limited to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The options being discussed include encouraging lobbyists not to gather in the halls outside the chambers and limiting seating in committee rooms and the public gallery above the House and Senate floors.

To make their voices heard, advocates say they are sending emails to lawmakers and hosting town halls and online forums. Some have been calling, texting and sending letters. Others say they are banding together and leveraging their networks. But, even so, they say, it’s not quite the same. 

“I definitely think there will be something lost. In-person communication is the best way to get to know someone,” said Dusti Gurule, the executive director of the advocacy organization Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, or COLOR. “I hope it is something that [lawmakers] are thinking about — transparency and the voice of who is most impacted.” 

Questions remain about how to conduct legislative business during the pandemic. Democrats want to allow members who fear for their health to participate remotely despite objections from Republicans who say the Colorado constitution forbids it. Even if lawmakers allow remote participation by voting to amend procedural rules, it’s unclear how those tuning in from home would speak in floor debates, offer amendments or vote. And it’s still unclear whether reporters will have access to the floor of the House and Senate chambers, where they currently work during the session, in part given the need to spread lawmakers out to achieve social distancing. Unlike the current mandate for businesses in Colorado, lawmakers are planning to recommend — rather than require — that the public not enter the building with a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and wear non-surgical face masks. 

“Do we have the ability to turn somebody away because they have a fever? Those are big questions,” said Sage Naumann, the spokesperson for the Senate GOP. “It’s really hard for the government to do that. That’s why you can’t be turned away for your opinions. That’s why you can’t be turned away for what you look like or the God you worship … People have a right to have their voices heard.”

Despite the two-month-long recess, much legislative work has occurred with little or no public notice. In part due to budget cuts, lawmakers have already abandoned big policy priorities without a vote, including a bill to set up a state-run health insurance plan known as the “Colorado Option” and a paid family and medical leave program, which advocates have demanded for the past six years and say is needed now more than ever. 

From afar, Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, said she has been watching the Joint Budget Committee cutting funding for education. She said this has created a lot of anxiety and despair. But she’s hopeful teachers are watching and will make their voices heard before further cuts are made. In previous years, the Colorado Education Association has organized rallies with thousands of teachers traveling to the Capitol. 

“In some ways, I think that there actually is the opportunity to have more eyes on them than normal because we have so many people who are in stay-at-home situations because they are not working,” Baca-Oehlert said. “My hope is that the public would tune in.” 

COVID-19
Lawmakers recessed for two weeks on March 14, 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo by John Herrick)

But sometimes the public may not know to tune in. A gathering of more than two elected officials is considered a quorum and subject to open-meeting laws. But many of these public meetings are not being announced and may go unnoticed, said Jeff Roberts, executive director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. 

“There are lots of conversations happening that the press and public has no inkling about,” Roberts said. “That’s the nature of what’s happening right now. These discussions are not happening at the Capitol. Or if they are happening at the Capitol, the press may not be allowed in there.” 

Besides, he said, not everyone has access to adequate internet or a computer to watch and participate in committee hearings remotely. 

The lack of remote access is just another iteration of a longstanding lack of access to state lawmakers among some communities in Colorado. Regular sessions are held during the day when working people may not be able to take time off. Others may not be able to drive hours to Denver. 

“Most of our people have always had an access issue,” said Jenny Davies, the co-founder of Progressive Promotions, a liberal advocacy group. “The structure of the legislature definitely privileges people who have more freedom and economic flexibility.” 

Committee meeting audio is available on each committees’ page on the Colorado General Assembly’s website. The Open Media Foundation films and records House and Senate floor debates and makes them available on the Colorado Channel website

On Monday, the eight-member Executive Committee plans to begin finalizing a plan for how to manage the pandemic for the second half of the session. And lawmakers say they are confident they can strike the right balance between public access and safety. 

“The public is such an important part of this. The legislature is the people’s house. We are there to be transparent and accountable to the people of this state,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, a Democrat from Lakewood who has been helping work on the plan for remote participation among lawmakers. He said there will have to be greater emphasis placed on calling, texting and acknowledging written forms of communication. 

“I think that we don’t lose a lot as long as every legislator puts in the effort.” 

[ad number=”5″]

[ad number=”2″]

1 COMMENT

  1. Last time we had this turmoil over a virus, was Polio just before last Century started, and when Vaccine was decided, and used, turned out to be injecting Polio into the children, until 1935. Still do not have a vaccine for Polio, but wife and I , have mutual friend who was born in 1935, and had polio in her youth. She is now 85 years old, and Polio came back on her. She is in nursing home, in Texas and cannot walk, has trouble talking, and will never be better. She was born 5 Apr 1935, my wife was born 7 Apr 1935, and they were friends in kindergarten, grade school, high school, and she was there when wife and I married, in Denver 24 Aug 1952.
    ——-My point. This social distancing, and face mask started on RECOMMENDATION OF HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, TO FLATTEN THE CURVE (SPIKE) OF CASES. That has been accomplished, and instead of over 200,000 deaths, we are just approaching 100,000 deaths. NO REASON NOW TO KEEP THE FACE MASKS, OR SOCIAL DISTANCING.
    ——-President and Health Officials recommended. but GOVERNORS ORDERED CITZENS INTO THIS, AND NOW THEY NEED TO RESTORE COUNTRY. LET EACH BUSINESS DECIDE WHEN THEY HAVE EMPLOYEES BACK, READY TO WORK, AND LET CITIZENS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES, (AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST) DECIDE WHAT RISK WE WANT TO TAKE.
    ——-In 90 years of age, I took risk of working in coal mine , out of high school. Before that, born in 1929, living on farm, I took risk of farm chores, with animals that could injure or kill me, and in Military I worked close to, involved with Cancer producing aircraft, nuclear testing , in Nevada. Shared bathroom showers in 2 story, open bay barracks with crews who flew bombers through nuclear clouds, parked aircraft across road from our barracks. Crew lived in supply building, next to our barracks, so we shared toilet-shower areas. Worked on street, windows own, when atomic cannon rolled past, with MP guards, on way to Frenchman’s Flat, on Nevada Gunnery Range, NW from Las Vegas.
    ——-Retrained into Avionics, I worked with high voltage, that could kill me if I made mistake, while testing, with protections turned off. Necessary in my job of testing and repairing equipment, later in teaching foreign and USA military to work on that equipment, teach their own students, or subordinates. So I have received all the vaccinations of childhood, even some in early years, the old fashioned way of being exposed to others with the disease (before immunizations-vaccinations even started in 1930s, 1940s. I never bungee jumped, or jumped out a perfectly good aircraft, climbed high mountains, though I have driven and walked on high mountains. I even risked walking on sidewalks, where some people drive, when drinking, or using drugs not prescribed.
    ——-When I get sick, I call or go see my doctor. I do not call the governor, or president, or expect them to do anything for me. I decide with my doctor, what I will do, or accept, and that has worked for me all these years. Even been married 68 years to same woman I married in 1952. Raised 3 wonderful children, who married well, and also decided on the risks they would endure.
    I do not appreciate being confined to my residence. I committed no crime, am not wearing ankle braelet, and still am house bound by governors’ decree. AND THAT IS TO GIVE DEMOCRATS LEG UP FOR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. ERIK TRUMP IS CORRECT.

Comments are closed.