Bill Ritter for Governor of Colorado

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:

• ColoradoLib.com: Bill Ritter the visionary: Transportation edition

July 21 - O'Brien Visits Rotary Chapter in Clear Creek County

Barbara O'Brien, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, spoke to a meeting of the Clear Creek Rotary on Friday about the issues facing Colorado.

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:

• ColoradoLib.com: Ritter also attempts to avert catastrophic fire season

July 19 - Ritter Speaks To Veterans Group

On Wednesday, Bill spoke to the Colorado Veterans of America about issues important to veterans and military families in Colorado. He explained his policy proposals for supporting veterans with improvements to state-delivered services to Colorado's veterans and their families. More than 420,000 veterans reside in Colorado, and 2,800 Coloradans are deployed overseas. Bill's father served in the Army during World War II and is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery. The Colorado Veterans for America endorsed Bill's candidacy on Memorial Day, May 29.

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 19 - Veteran Joins Ranks of Ritter Supporters

US Army License Plate ... Democratic Heart Sgt. David Pfister retired after serving thirteen years in the Army with assignments in Germany, South Carolina, and at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. His son Brian is currently serving in the Army.

July 17 - Recent Polls Show Bill in Lead

Two new statewide polls show that if the election were held today, Colorado voters would elect Bill Ritter as their next governor -- confirming earlier surveys and highlighting Congressman Beauprez’s high unfavorable ratings.

In a poll published today by The Denver Post, Ritter defeats Congressman Beauprez 42% to 35%. In a separate poll published last week by Rasmussen Reports, Denver’s former District Attorney leads the Congressman 42% to 37%.

Ritter also received a favorable nod from a Washington Post political blog last week: “(G)iven Democrats' electoral gains in the state in 2004 and Ritter's impressive campaign to date, he carries a slight edge.”

The most significant findings of The Denver Post poll: the Congressman’s unfavorable rating of 22 percent, compared with Ritter’s 8 percent unfavorable rating. Ritter continues to hold a strong lead among women voters in the Post poll, 46 percent to 31 percent. He also does better among Democrats than Congressman Beauprez does among Republicans. Ritter also beats Congressman Beauprez among unaffiliated voters, 41 percent versus 33 percent. The Post and Rasmussen polls are similar to surveys taken over the past year, including a Post poll from February that put Ritter ahead 43 percent to 37 percent.

“The poll numbers are gratifying,” Ritter said. “But we’re taking nothing for granted. We’re working hard, traveling to every corner of Colorado to earn every vote we can between now and Election Day.”

Read additional blog commentary about these polls:

• ColoradoPols.com: Ritter Still Leads in Post Poll
• ColoradoPols.com: Putting the Polls in Perspective
• JunctionDailyBlog.com: Candidate Forum (yawn) and Another Poll
• JunctionDailyBlog.com: New Governor Poll
• SquareState.net: Ritter Leads By Seven

July 15 - Ritter Dance Troupe Debuts at Denver's Black Arts Festival

	On Saturday, Bill with about 50 campaign supporters joined community activists Anna Jo Haynes and Happy Haynes, State Rep. Terrance Carroll, and Sherry Jackson, Executive Director of the Colorado Democratic Party, to march in the Boogaloo Parade of the Denver Black Arts Festival.
	Every group marching in the parade has to perform for the festival judges, so the Black Arts Festival saw the official debut of the Ritter Campaign Dance Troupe dancing their own unique version of the Electric Slide.
	Bill enjoys a moment with Ms. Ayers, the nonagenarian mother of Perry Ayers, one of the founders of the Denver Black Arts Festival. It was the twentieth anniversary of the festival, which celebrates the arts and culture of Denver's African-American community.
(All photos provided courtesy of Pat Duncan.)

July 15 - Custer County Group Shows Their Support

On Saturday, Eileen Pappas led an excited contingent of Bill Ritter supporters in the Westcliffe Stampede Rodeo Parade. Eileen is the campaign's Custer County coordinator.

July 15 - Clear Creek Democratic Party Picnic

On Saturday afternoon, Barbara O'Brien and August Ritter attended the "Bands, Beers, Brats, and Democrats" picnic hosted by the Clear Creek Democratic Party at Shadow Ranch near Georgetown.