October 03, 2017 02:53 PM UTC

Diane Mitsch Bush Resigns from Legislature

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• by: Colorado Pols

Senate Republicans effectively ended the special legislative session today by killing the second bill in as many days that was presented to fix a drafting error related to marijuana tax collections for special tax districts. The end of the special session also marks the close of the legislative career for Steamboat Springs Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, as RealVail.com reports:

Colorado State Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush, a Democrat from Steamboat Springs who represents Eagle and Routt counties, officially submitted her letter of resignation on Monday, clearing the way for a selection committee to pick her replacement as she runs for the U.S. Congress in the state’s 3rd Congressional District…

…“I am proud to have represented all the people of my two rural, mountain headwaters counties,” Mitsch Bush said. She followed with, “as a rural, Western Slope Representative, I have stood up for agriculture, rural hospitals, rural schools, higher education, transportation, better rural broadband, energy efficiency,
environmental protection, and keeping our public lands public.

“I am very excited to bring my legislative skills and bipartisan record to really representing our big, beautiful Third Congressional District in the US Congress. People in our district are struggling with low wages, a lack of good jobs, high health care costs, and a lack of opportunity. I want to work together in Washington to level the playing field so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

Mitsch Bush’s resignation is not a huge surprise given that she is seeking the Democratic nomination for Congress in CD-3 (Republican Rep. Scott Tipton is the incumbent). Mitsch Bush could have sought a fourth a final term in the State House in 2018. A Democratic vacancy committee in HD-26 will meet on Oct. 28 to select a replacement to finish Mitsch Bush’s term.