WINNERS
 Gail Schwartz - The Green Machine An undisputed leader on green jobs bills this legislative session, and a key supporter of renewable energy and clean air legislation. Gail Schwartz's bravery in 2010 will benefit all of Colorado for generations to come.  Bruce Whitehead - Freshman of the year Sponsor of two of the most important bills in recent memory, the Clean Air Clean Jobs Act and House Bill 1001 (renewable energy standards), Bruce Whitehead has emerged as an inependent power in the Senate--and forceful advocate for his Southwest Colorado district.  John Morse - The most courageous man at the Capitol Senator John Morse carried legislation to bring health care jobs to underserved communities. He was a strong advocate for criminal justice interests. And above all, Morse was fearless in calling out the right wing on their disingenuous tactics and misrepresentations throughout the session.  Sara Gagliardi - The best friend of health care jobs Three bills sponsored by Rep. Gagliardi this session: HB10-1138 and SB10-058, concerning student loan reimbursement for health workers, and HB10-1415 in support of health worker safety, demonstrate her commitment to protecting patients, health care workers, and the industry as a whole.  Dianne Primavera - Cancer fighter extraordinaire Rep. Primavera sponsored HB10-1252, which mandated that mammograms be made available to all women regardless of age. She sponsored legislation to better cover medication for specific cancers, and above all sponsored Senate Bill 10-002, fighting insurance company claim denials.  Debbie Benefield - Education specialist Rep. Debbie Benefield has sponsored too many excellent education bills to count over the years. This session, her work on early childhood education and preserving K-12 funding in the present recession were as much as her constituents could ever ask for. And her popular gift card consumer protection bill shouldn't be overlooked, either.  Max Tyler - The House's freshman star Rep. Max Tyler has quickly established himself as one of the most thoughtful and articulate members of the Colorado House. His leadership on House Bill 10-1001, the renewable energy standards bill, was key to its success.  Al White - The Budget Pragmatist Republican Sen. Al White, a member of the Joint Budget Committee, dramatically pled with fellow Republicans to support the hard choices made to balance this year's budget. White ultimately did not succeed in convincing his colleagues to put principle over partisanship, but he deserves credit for trying.
LOSERS  Senate Minority Leadership Under Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry's leadership, what might have been a useful and constructively engaged minority turned into cynical right-wing "no" chorus. The Senate Minority is now composed of ideologues who came over from the House--Dave Schultheis, Bill Cadman, Kevin Lundberg, and Ted Harvey, together with the new generation of crazy, Scott Renfroe and Mike Kopp. Add that to Penry's pandering, trafficking false information and extremism, and endless invective at the majority on the taxpayer dime, and you've got the whole sorry picture.  Cory Gardner - The "King of Self-Inflicted Wounds" Cory Gardner seems to be too busy jetting off to Washington D.C. for fundraisers to represent his constituents this year. Gardner missed at least six days of the legislative session in order to campaign for office. Of course, When Gardner does manage to show up, it's not much better for his rural Eastern Plains district, as with his vote to cut the already-underfunded Agriculture Department.  Ellen Roberts - Damage Control #FAIL Ellen Roberts is a politician who tries, and fails, to be everything to everyone. Faced with a challenge from her right, Roberts sponsored a terrible bill from the insurance industry that would have stopped attempts by other legislators to improve health care in Colorado. Despite her pandering to the far right, Roberts is still in danger of losing to a Tea Party candidate.  Kevin Lundberg - Worst Poster Child Ever Lundberg needs no introduction. One of the Colorado General Assembly's most outspoken climate change deniers and general purpose right wing radicals, Lundberg had a big legislative session this year--trashing the League of Women Voters, defending Xcel Energy (a monopoly) in the name of the "free market," and condemning as "socialism" a budget that was in fact cut by hundreds of millions of dollars.  Spencer Swalm - "Mr. Compassion" Known in the legislature as the #1 water carrier for the insurance industry, insurance agent-by-day Spencer Swalm never missed an opportunity to fight against improving access to health care, and even suggested that instead of a tax break for the poor, we should tell them to not "have babies out of wedlock."  Dave Balmer - Returns (some) calls Dave Balmer has one of the more interesting backgrounds of any of the right wingers in the legislature, but as an elected official in Colorado's legislature he has proven to be shamelessly corrupt and beholden to the interest he raises money from. This year, Balmer actually interrupted a hearing to call a major donor on his cell phone for advice on a vote.  Shawn Mitchell - The "Beavis and Butthead" Prize No list of "losers" from a Colorado legislative session is complete without Shawn Mitchell. Starting with disruptive and unstatesmanlike behavior during the Pinnacol hearings late last year--even making degrading remarks about the underwear of female Senators--to his insistence on dragging petty electioneering onto the floor of the Colorado Senate, Mitchell takes "boorish" to new and truly embarrassing levels. |
