On Sunday, the Longmont Times-Call printed an article I wrote about what will guide me as I lead the state as president of the Colorado Senate. Please see below.
Guiding Values
On Friday, my colleagues elected me to serve as President of the Colorado Senate. I’m honored to be given the opportunity to guide Colorado—a state blessed by 300 days of sunshine a year—back to brighter days.
Colorado is marked by rugged mountains that withstand the changing winds. Her people are no different. We are stable and resilient.
As elected officials during these uncertain economic times, we must embody the sturdy spirit of those we represent. We must remain steady like the mountains amidst the changing winds of the economy.
While this recession may try our nerves and test our principles, we will not let it erode our beliefs and the values that guide us. We must act in ways that leave no gap between our conscience and our conduct.
During these uncertain economic times, one thing is certain: only by working together can we build a better Colorado. I’m confident that this General Assembly has the courage to come together, push partisan politics aside, and focus on the needs of the people of Colorado. That means putting people above the pressures of special interest groups, lifting up all those who live and work here, protecting the vulnerable, preserving the environment, enhancing access to healthcare, and expanding educational opportunities. And all of those things become more important—not less—in times like these.
My goal is to guide our state according to Colorado values: honesty and integrity, compassion and respect, justice and fairness, courage and humility. I hope that each of us, regardless of party affiliation, will keep these principles in mind as we make important decisions on policies that affect every Coloradan.
The first action I will take as President will be to convene an interim commission to craft long-term solutions to our state’s fiscal situation that will allow us to budget according to our values instead of being constrained by conflicting formulas. By bringing together a bipartisan group of legislators and community leaders, we will create a budget process that is strong and stable so we can enrich our education system, strengthen the middle class, and support those who need help the most.
As we continue to make difficult decisions at the Capitol, we must do what’s best for the people of Colorado. We must balance the outcries of our critics with the credibility of our values. Even in these tough times, we will not sink into cynicism or be weighed down by doubt. Instead, we will rise out of the current economic downturn with optimism and confidence and do the job you sent us here to do-to make Colorado the very best place in America to live.
Posted by SenatorShaffer in Blog []