I’m a conservative and a partisan Republican. I offer up a lot of criticism here of Democrats – most of it well-deserved. But as this article that appeared yesterday in Colorado Senate News shows, if the Democrats have to be in charge, our state is well-blessed to have Peter Groff as senate president:
“When the chips are down on issues like this one, you close ranks and move ahead with a common purpose,” said Senate GOP leader Josh Penry. “I’ve found Peter’s vision goes way beyond the usual partisanship, and his openness to some of our ideas on tax relief has made all the difference,” Penry said of the Denver Democrat….
“Even though the distinction between the two parties has never been sharper on a wide range of policy issues, we also know how to work together when our priorities are in synch,” said Republican Senate Caucus Chair Mike Kopp, of Littleton. “President Groff has shown real leadership in that regard. He realizes that the only way we’re going to move ahead in some of these areas is to pool our best ideas.”
Partisanship is vital to fostering productive legislative debates, but followed blindly is dangerous. I disagree with Peter Groff on some key issues, but his example is one worthy of respect. The two commonsense tax relief bills cited in the above article are ones he could have opposed because they are Republican ideas, but to the benefit of the state of Colorado he gave them his backing.
I am hopeful Senator Groff will also see the non-partisan light shining and support true school district transparency in Senate Bill 57.
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