Sept 25 - Ritter Unveils Colorado Promise Agenda

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today unveiled his comprehensive policy agenda, a 52-page book titled "The Colorado Promise," his blueprint for establishing Colorado as a national leader in education, health care, jobs, renewable energy, and more.

The book is a compilation of twenty-one position papers and action items. Many have been released separately over the past six months, and the book includes several new ones as well, including plans for statewide Broadband Internet Access, Homeland Security, and Higher Education.

"Fulfilling the Colorado Promise means taking action and solving problems," Ritter said. "It means promising that we will hand over to our children and grandchildren a better Colorado. It means having a vision, providing strong and responsible leadership, and building partnerships that set aside partisan politics and put Colorado's common interests first. It also means creating opportunities for all Coloradans."

"Coupled with my Colorado Opportunity Pledge, 'The Colorado Promise' is my roadmap for Colorado’s future in the 21st century. These ideas are ambitious, and they will require common sense, cooperation and compromise. I grew up in a big family on a small farm where I learned the value of a hard-earned dollar. I understand that taxpayer dollars must be invested wisely and prudently, and that – unlike in Washington – our state must always balance its budget. That philosophy of fiscal responsibility and fiscal restraint is at the core of my promise to Colorado."

A summary of Ritter's top proposals:

EDUCATION: Ritter plans to increase access to early childhood education, improve K-12 student learning, and reduce high school drop-out rates. He intends to provide businesses with the nation's best-educated, home-grown workforce. The "Colorado Promise" agenda calls for:

  • Creating a statewide Child Care Report Card.
  • Working with school districts to develop teacher cadet programs.
  • Establishing a 'Principal Institute.'
  • Supporting pay-for-performance and improving teacher recruitment.
  • Creating a low-interest home loan program for teachers.
  • Streamlining accountability programs.
  • Doubling the production of technical certificates and college degrees within 10 years.

HEALTH CARE: With 788,000 Coloradans lacking health insurance, ending this crisis will dominate much of the first year of his administration by:

  • Convening all stakeholders and establishing a "Colorado Health Plan," with legislation to be introduced in the 2008 session of the General Assembly. The goal: to improve health-care access, affordability, and quality.
  • Taking Colorado from among the worst 10 states for child immunizations to the top 10 within two years.
  • Establishing a Small Business Health Insurance Team.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & JOB GROWTH: A strong, vibrant economy is essential for Colorado to grow and prosper. Ritter's "Colorado Promise" calls for:

  • Establishing five regional economic development plans for the Eastern Plains, Western Slope, San Luis Valley, mountain resorts and Front Range, and integrating them with a statewide plan.
  • Creating a Colorado Jobs Cabinet and a Governor's Council on Innovation.
  • Establishing a Broadband Internet Access Infrastructure Council, and ensuring that broadband Internet access is available to all Coloradans.

NEW ENERGY ECONOMY: Colorado is blessed with abundant renewable and traditional energy sources. The "Colorado Promise" agenda calls for establishing the state as a national leader in a New Energy Economy.

TRANSPORTATION: Ritter's "Colorado Promise" calls for:

  • Establishing a Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel within my first 90 days in office.
  • Hosting a statewide Transportation Summit.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & THE STATE BUDGET: The "Colorado Promise" calls for providing a more modern and smarter state government by:

  • Conducting top-to-bottom performance and financial audits that have generated savings of as much as 6 percent in other states.
  • Maximizing federal funding.
  • Making investments today that will save more later.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Ritter's "Colorado Promise" calls for enacting responsible solutions and pressuring Washington D.C. to provide the nation with comprehensive immigration reform.

THE ENVIRONMENT: As a stubborn steward of Colorado's land, air and water, Ritter's "Colorado Promise" places a heavy emphasis on protection and conservation.

WATER: Ritter's "Colorado Promise" lays out plans for a responsible mix of conservation, re-use, efficiency, cooperation, and, upgraded and new water storage when necessary.

The "Colorado Promise" book is posted on the campaign website, www.ritterforgovernor.com. Click here to download a PDF version of "The Colorado Promise." Hard copies also are available by e-mailing info@ritterforgovernor.com or calling 303.534.0660.

Read more commentary about the Colorado Promise Agenda:

September 26, 2006 in Policy Corner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 24 - Ritter Unveils Health-care Plan

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today unveiled his comprehensive “Colorado Health Plan,” an ambitious blueprint for fixing the state’s broken health-care system by reducing costs, increasing insurance access, and improving the quality of care.

The release of Ritter’s “Colorado Health Plan” comes the same day he and Congressman Beauprez participate in a health-care forum at The Children’s Hospital in Denver (10 a.m., 1056 E. 19th Ave.).

“Health-care costs are spiraling out of control for Colorado businesses, families, and individuals,” said Ritter, Denver’s District Attorney from 1993 to 2005. “More than 770,000 Coloradans lack health insurance – a number that grows every year and includes about 180,000 kids. Quite simply, our health-care system is broken and it’s time for a major overhaul.”

Ritter’s “Colorado Health Plan” calls for long- and short-term fixes. Long-term solutions will follow an intensive one-year review process that brings all stakeholders – including consumers, providers, and insurers – to the table to seek compromise and consensus.

The plan calls for:

  • Establishing a Small Business Health Care Team to make it easier for small businesses to buy affordable insurance, and possibly allowing small businesses to buy into the state employee health plan.
  • Making substantive improvements to the Medicaid program, including addressing the needs of the elderly and long-term care patients.
  • Increasing transparency, accountability and the availability of consumer pricing information, including the creation of a “Health Outcomes Report Card” that measures health outcomes by region.
  • Reducing costly and life-threatening medical errors.
  • Promoting preventative care and launching a new “Strong Employees, Strong State” initiative to promote worksite wellness, and creating wellness “competitions” among local chambers of commerce and other business groups.
  • Taking Colorado from one of the 10 worst states (we currently rank 44th) to one of the 10 best for child immunizations within two years, as well as addressing a number of other child-health and maternity-care issues. Colorado currently has one of the worst percentages of low-birth-weight babies in the nation.
  • Improving rural health care by increasing the use of technology, offering incentives to increase the number of rural health providers, and assessing the unique needs of rural providers.
  • Promoting mental health and emphasizing suicide-prevention programs. Colorado has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation.
  • Encouraging people to take personal responsibility for their own health.

“We cannot rely on Congress to fix our health care crisis. Congressman Beauprez’s overly simplistic answer is for everyone to just ‘take a hike,’” Ritter said. “Around the country, governors are taking the lead and developing bold and sustainable health plans for their states. That’s what we’re going to do here in Colorado. This is one of the centerpieces of my plan to fulfill the Colorado Promise. We can no longer afford the ills of our system – people using emergency rooms as their primary care centers; people putting off basic health-care needs until they erupt into more costly and life-threatening situations; businesses no longer able to afford to offer their employees insurance. Fixing our broken health-care system is a wise investment, not for the next election, but for the next generation and for the future of the state – for children, families, seniors, and businesses.  By making health and health-care a priority we can make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.”

Read an additional article about the positions of the candidates on health-care issues:

August 24, 2006 in Policy Corner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 21 - Ritter Promotes 21st Century Agenda to Boost Jobs and Economy

"Colorado is open for business," gubernatorial candidate declares.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today released his economic-development plan for adding jobs, attracting and retaining businesses, and expanding Colorado’s economy in the 21st century.

“Coloradans deserve nothing less than an economy that provides secure, quality jobs,” said Ritter, who served as District Attorney of Denver from 1993 to 2005. “Businesses large and small need a governor who sends a clear message across the country and around the globe that Colorado is open for business. They need a governor who will provide leadership on critical issues necessary to support a vibrant economy such as affordable health insurance, education reform, and building a world-class transportation system.”

Ritter is constructing a bi-partisan coalition of business, economic-development, and job leaders in his campaign for governor. He demonstrated his commitment to Colorado’s future economic well-being by strongly supporting Referendum C and opposing Initiative 88 and Amendment 38.

In contrast, the Republican candidate for governor has taken positions harmful to Colorado’s economic health, as noted in recent accounts in:

Ritter’s complete jobs and business-development plan, “Growing a Strong Economy for Colorado,” is posted on the campaign website. The plan calls for:

  • Providing a 21st century economic infrastructure so that the economy can grow and thrive, including:
  • Creating a Colorado Jobs Cabinet within the administration. The cabinet will be composed of senior business leaders and representatives of higher education, economic-development agencies, and workforce-development officials to align economic development and educational goals.
  • Bringing every government agency with a role in economic development together with business and education leaders to create modern economic-development strategies, and placing a renewed sense of priority and urgency on the work of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
  • Strengthening Colorado’s rural economies by establishing regional partnerships between state government and each economic region. These partnerships will research and analyze economic and labor-force trends, court businesses that show an interest in locating or expanding in the region, and develop recruitment and retention business packages. These partnerships will address the unique needs of the state’s five major economic regions – the Western Slope, San Luis Valley, Eastern Plains, mountain resorts, and Front Range – as well as the statewide needs of all of Colorado.
  • Streamlining government to be more responsive by improving permitting and licensing processes, responding more efficiently to inquiries about available land or office space, and providing quick and thorough answers to questions about state policies or services.
  • Establishing a statewide incubation strategy that will coordinate existing incubator programs and recruit new ones.
  • Providing greater access to small-business capital by serving as an effective resource for information on a wide variety of private sector and government-sponsored sources of capital.
  • Directing businesses to under-used federal economic-development programs.
  • Focusing efforts on industries that provide exceptional opportunities for growth, including renewable energy, aviation, aerospace, biomedicine, biotechnology, medical research, travel, and tourism.

“I want Colorado to be the first state that businesses think of when considering relocation and the last state they would ever want to leave,” Ritter said. “I will make it my duty as Governor to market Colorado as the best state to do business.”

Read additional articles and commentary about Bill's economic development plan:

August 23, 2006 in Policy Corner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 11 - Ritter Plans for Smarter State Budgets

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter pledged today to establish a state budgeting process that will serve as a national model of efficiency, accountability and prudence. Ritter outlined a five-point budget proposal titled, "A Smarter State Budget."

Denver's former District Attorney from 1993 to 2005, Ritter said he will undertake a top-to-bottom budgeting audit that probes beneath individual line items to find systemic inefficiencies. "This is a fiscally conservative approach to managing the state's budget and the taxpayers' dollars," Ritter said. "We here in Colorado must balance our budgets. In Washington, Congressman Beauprez has been party to colossal increases in federal spending, Congressional pay hikes, and a federal deficit that is now nearly $9 trillion. He can't even call himself a fiscal conservative anymore."

"I will ensure that the state budget reflects a shared vision for Colorado," said Ritter, who gained a national reputation for his innovative funding programs as Denver's top law officer. "The budget will be a tool to deliver on promises made to voters. It will be accountable, prudent, and wise. And it will reflect the best policy and business practices of any state in the nation."

Ritter's five-point plan calls for:

  1. Establishing a new budgeting culture that aligns spending with priorities and loosens the grip of bureaucratic obstacles that create waste.
  2. Earning the best value for every dollar spent by becoming more efficient and effective rather than over-emphasizing line-item cuts.
  3. Instituting a total state government performance review. Similar reviews are savings states billions of dollars. An initial analysis estimates that Colorado can save as much as 2% of its general fund spending by implementing several common-sense proposals, Ritter said, including:
    • Pooling pharmaceutical purchases across all state agencies.
    • Entering multi-state purchasing compacts for goods and services.
    • Attacking Medicaid fraud.
    • Converting state government telecommunications to Voice over Internet Protocol.
    • Aggressively implementing energy-efficiency programs.
    • Creating a 1-800 hotline directly to the Governor's Office to report waste and fraud, and take suggestions on how the state can be more efficient.
    • Allowing residents to renew driver's licenses online, as 10 other states do.
  4. Maximizing federal funding and grant money.
  5. Making investments that will save us even more in the long run, such as:
    • Reducing prison recidivism.
    • Reducing the need for college-level remediation instruction.
    • Providing more children with access to health insurance and immunizing more children.

Ritter's plan won high praise from one of the state's top fiscal planners, state Rep. Bernie Buescher, who chairs the legislature's bi-partisan Joint Budget Committee. "Bill Ritter has turned his attention to the critical aspect of governing Colorado," Buescher said. "This document shows that Bill understands the importance that every dollar of taxpayer money is spent effectively. Having extensively studied the budget, I find the Ritter plan refreshing. This is the type of budgetary leadership we need to protect the public's money and ensure that Colorado gets the best value from its state government."

"My vision for Colorado's budget will help us fulfill the Colorado promise," Ritter said. "It represents Colorado values. It employs modern, 21st century business practices. And it puts people first. We will achieve savings, not by making government do less of what we want, but by making government smarter and more effective."

August 12, 2006 in Policy Corner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 31 - Senior Citizens Among Ritter's Top Priorities

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today declared that giving Colorado’s 400,000 senior citizens a voice in state government and improving their quality of life will be among his top priorities. July9_la_veta_bRitter launched a new Senior Citizens web page and released a new Senior Citizens policy paper. The paper outlines Ritter’s plans to address elder abuse and fraud, health care costs, prescription drug costs, maintaining independence, and including seniors in important policy decisions. As Denver’s District Attorney from 1993 to 2005, Ritter established the Communities Against Senior Exploitation Partnership, which now serves as a national and statewide model.

July15_parade_cAcknowledging the special needs of some of Colorado’s older residents, the materials released today were published in a type face 45 percent larger than all other campaign literature. “Colorado’s older adults are an integral part of our communities and our economy,” said Ritter, who turns 50 on Sept. 6. “We need their ongoing participation and skills, and they deserve our ongoing respect and consideration."

Bill_and_ethel“My mother, Ethel, is 81 years old. She worked hard her entire life. She has 11 living children, 32 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Like many seniors, she has dedicated her life to ensuring the well-being of her family. It is time to return the favor,” Ritter added. “As Governor, I will work with senior citizens to ensure they have a seat at the table and their voices are heard when it comes to making decisions about their lives and well-being. Together we can and will improve the quality of life for older Coloradans. It’s our responsibility and our moral obligation.”

Today’s announcement continues Ritter’s grass-roots outreach efforts to important constituency groups across the state. In addition to the new Senior Citizens web page, Ritter has launched similar Sportsmen, Veterans, and Law Enforcement web pages.

August 06, 2006 in Policy Corner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 25 - Ritter Releases Transportation Plan

Time to Revamp Transportation System

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today promised to partner with Colorado’s regional transportation agencies to seek out creative funding and multi-modal solutions to the state’s critical transportation needs.

Ritter released his plan, "Transportation in the 21st Century: Keep Colorado Moving," to Colorado’s transportation leaders.

“Colorado’s transportation infrastructure is in serious trouble,” Ritter said. “Roads and bridges are in disrepair. On many highways, demand has overwhelmed our capacity to move people and goods efficiently and safely. And the state has no clear financial plan for the future. Simply put, the process for funding our transportation system is antiquated and needs a 21st century overhaul."

“We will look for inefficiencies and eliminate them,” Ritter added. “But we cannot solve this state’s transportation funding dilemma – a $50 billion to $100 billion dilemma according to the state’s own estimates – by eliminating a handful of jobs at the Colorado Department of Transportation and calling it a day. That might be how Congressman Beauprez wants to solve the problem, but it won’t get us very far.”

Ritter’s plan calls for:

  • Creating a “Colorado Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel” within his first 90 days in office. The panel will bring together all stakeholders to identify transportation funding strategies, recommend new revenue streams, and examine project priorities. The panel will launch its efforts by holding a Statewide Transportation Summit.
  • Protecting current transportation revenue by fighting efforts that would undermine and roll back Referendum C. Ritter opposes Initiative 88, which would cap Ref C revenues and lead to transportation funding cuts. Congressman Beauprez was the first person to sign the petition seeking to get Initiative 88 on the November ballot.
  • Promoting regional solutions – such as metro Denver’s FasTracks and El Paso County’s Go 1A – and working in partnership with regional agencies to move Colorado forward. CDOT must be both a leader and a collaborator.

Ritter said that coordinating land-use development plans with transportation projects, protecting the environment, and supporting the state’s 78 commercial-service and general-aviation airports will be among his top transportation priorities. Alleviating congestion along I-70 and working toward a long-term solution to one of the state’s most important transportation corridors also will top his agenda. Regardless of the solution, Ritter said he is committed to including a transit component as part of the long-term I-70 plan.

Ritter noted that Colorado’s statewide needs far outweigh our ability to pay for them. CDOT’s "2030 Statewide Transportation Plan: Moving Colorado," states that current forecasts call for transportation revenue of $75 billion from now through 2030. But the state will need $123 billion to simply maintain today’s level of service and infrastructure, and $178 billion to grow the system and make improvements.

“That means we have a funding gap of about $50 billion to $100 billion,” Ritter said. “Clearly, we have many obstacles to overcome. But we will leave no stone unturned as we explore and examine solutions. It will take a full range of local, regional, and statewide strategies to produce the 21st century transportation infrastructure needed for Colorado to thrive. With strong, responsible, and forward-thinking leadership, we can achieve the Colorado Promise.

Read additional commentary about Ritter's transportation plan:

July 31, 2006 in Policy Corner | | TrackBack (0)

July 20 - Ritter Releases Wildfire Prevention Plan

With Colorado on high alert for another devastating fire season, gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today released his plan for protecting Coloradans, their property, and wildlife habitat from wildfires.

“We must always be prepared for the worst,” said Ritter, Denver’s former District Attorney, “and my first priority will be to protect the people of Colorado. I will ensure that proper planning, training, and resources are in place to protect Colorado’s people, land, and wildlife habitat.”

Ritter’s plan calls for:

  • Increased collaboration among state, federal, and local authorities and private landowners to mitigate and prevent wildfires before they start through thinning, prescribed burns, and adopting “firewise” techniques that make homes and businesses more defensible.
  • Ensuring that state resources – including more than $3 million appropriated for fire suppression by the legislature and governor – are spent effectively and efficiently.
  • Attacking Colorado’s mountain pine beetle infestation quickly and efficiently. More than 425,000 acres of north-central forestland were infested in 2005, significantly increasing the risk and severity of forest fires in those areas.
  • Balancing Colorado’s needs and national emergency response needs. Colorado must become more self-sufficient so that our resources are not siphoned away to meet federal needs.

“Wildfires are a natural part of the environment here in the West,” said Ritter, who was endorsed by the Colorado Professional Firefighters Association earlier this year. “But we can and must do more to protect ourselves.”

Ritter applauded U.S. Ken Salazar, who criticized the federal government yesterday for not doing enough to reduce fire risks in the West, where more than 4 million acres have burned so far this year compared with 3 million at this time last year.

The complete plan is available on the campaign website.

Read additional commentary about Ritter's wildfire protection plan:

July 25, 2006 in Policy Corner | | TrackBack (0)

July 19 - Honoring Colorado’s Veterans

Colorado has a proud tradition of honoring its military veterans and serving as host to some of the nation’s most important military installations. With four Medal of Honor recipients hailing from Pueblo alone, all of Colorado is in many ways the “Home of the Heroes.”

More than 420,000 veterans reside in Colorado, and 2,800 Coloradans are deployed overseas. Veterans and active-duty military are key components of Colorado’s economy and social fabric. As a society, we have a moral obligation to provide fully for our veterans and active-duty personnel. My father served in the Army during World War II and is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery. He took great pride in his military service, and my respect for the military and our veterans is derived from my father’s experience.

As Governor, I will make it a priority to improve state-delivered services to our veterans and their families. I will fully support veterans by advocating on their behalf and providing leadership on issues of importance. While the federal government’s responsibilities and resources are greater, Colorado can play an important role. The state can and should take a strong position on issues affecting our veterans, such as the relocation of the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Denver to Fitzsimons, even where we have little statutory or financial role.

Last November, I worked for the successful passage of Referendum C, which created important opportunities for the state to address the needs of troops returning home to Colorado from Iraq and Afghanistan and to meet the needs of our existing veterans.

Sadly, 1,800 aging veterans die each day around the country. Most are World War II veterans. Veterans’ needs for nursing, long-term, and other health-care services are escalating. Colorado operates nursing homes for veterans in Aurora, Florence, Monte Vista, Rifle, Trinidad, and Walsenburg. But we know from the recent troubles at the nursing home in Aurora at Fitzsimons that the state must do a better job of caring for our veterans. State veterans’ nursing homes are an integral part of VA health support; as Governor I will work hard to honor the commitments the state has made to enhance our nursing homes.

We also must provide greater support and services for our rural veterans and their families, including access to health care, compensation, pension benefits, and additional information. According to the VA, $20 billion in pension benefits goes unclaimed nationally because those who are eligible are unaware that these funds are available. As Governor, I will ensure our veterans and their families receive every available dollar.

I also will ask the legislature to improve the County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Program and the training given to these key providers of veteran services. With little state support, the services are typically limited, vary widely in quality, and are sometimes nonexistent.

With the pending return of the entire 4th Infantry Division to Fort Carson, we must make sure they and all returning troops are prepared for the eventual transition to civilian life. As Governor, I will make sure the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Personnel, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation are fully equipped to provide a high level of job training, rehabilitation, and business opportunities.

Colorado’s military service members have sacrificed a great deal for their fellow citizens. They have given their lives, their future well-being, their very best in every respect. Political leaders owe our veterans and their family members far more than rhetoric. As Governor, I will work to ensure our state government’s services are commensurate with these sacrifices. To best accomplish this, I will ensure that veterans’ voices are heard in Colorado and that veterans are part of every discussion regarding their future.

July 23, 2006 in Policy Corner | | TrackBack (0)

July 11 - Ritter Announces Conservation Agenda

LAUNCHES OUTREACH EFFORT TO COLORADO OUTDOORSMEN

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today released his conservation agenda for Colorado, which includes protecting Colorado’s wilderness areas and supporting the state’s strong hunting and fishing heritage.

As part of the agenda, Ritter has launched an outreach effort aimed at recruiting Colorado’s hunters, anglers, and other outdoorsmen and women in his conservation plans. Ritter has launched a new Sportsmen’s page on his campaign website and published a "Sportsmen and our Great Outdoors" position paper.

"Colorado issues more than a million hunting and fishing licenses every year," Ritter said. "One of those fishing licenses is mine, and my second-oldest son is now an accomplished deer hunter. So when I talk about how important sportsmen are to Colorado, and why partnering with them to protect our outdoor heritage is a top priority, I’m speaking from personal experience. I want to ensure that we are able to protect our wilderness areas and public lands - and pass on this legacy to future generations."

Bill_fly_fishingRitter, an avid fly fisherman, said hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers are central to the Colorado lifestyle and play an integral role in Colorado’s economy. Hunters, anglers, archers, and others spend more than $1 billion a year on travel, equipment, food, lodging, and other wildlife-recreation activities in Colorado. The industry supports at least 20,000 full-time jobs. "Protecting Colorado’s wilderness and roadless areas makes good environmental sense and good economic sense," Ritter said. "Public land should be just that – public, something that benefits everyone, not sold off to benefit special interests."

Ritter’s conservation agenda is just one part of his commitment to the environment as well as to alternative energy and sound water management.

July 17, 2006 in Policy Corner | | TrackBack (0)

New Energy Economy Tour Begins Saturday, June 17

Bill will launch a statewide Energy Tour this Saturday, visiting three pioneers in the field of alternative energy and promoting his New Energy Economy plan, which was originally released in April.

The tour will highlight the groundbreaking work being done around the state by private companies, public enterprises, utilities and individuals to end our reliance on foreign oil.

"We all know from the astronomical price of gas for our cars and energy for our homes that we are at a tipping point," said Bill. "My plan for a New Energy Economy will make Colorado a national leader in the field of alternative energy. We will create new jobs, protect our environment and establish a secure and sustainable energy future for our children and our grandchildren."

The Energy Tour will highlight many of the alternative-energy accomplishments and success stories that already exist around Colorado. Driving in the campaign's new ethanol-fueled Chevy Tahoe on Saturday, Ritter will visit:

10 a.m. - Clean Energy, 24000 E. 78th Ave., Denver Int'l Airport
Noon - Blue Sun Biodiesel/Gray Oil, 804 Denver Ave, Fort Lupton
2 p.m. - New Belgium Brewery, 500 Linden St., Fort Collins
Click here to learn more about these companies.

At the conclusion of the tour, the public is invited to meet and mingle with Bill at the New Belgium Brewery from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Bill's New Energy Economy Tour will continue after Saturday throughout the campaign and across the state. Details are pending and will be released as they are finalized.

June 16, 2006 in Policy Corner | | TrackBack (0)

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