Today's Opinions

Your Colorado legislature convenes today for the first regular session of the 68th General Assembly. Legislators will join new Gov. John Hickenlooper to do the public’s business and must complete their work by May 11 to comply with the 120 days voters have provided them to do their work.

The year 2011 is here, and with it comes a new slate. What’s past is past, and here’s hoping that our elected leaders both in Denver and Washington will seize the opportunity to put aside election year hostilities and work together for a greater good.

Democrats took control of the Colorado Senate by a narrow 18-17 margin after the 2000 election. Republicans maintained control of the House and the governor’s office. When incoming Senate President Stan Matsunaka spoke at the annual pre-legislative forum sponsored by the Colorado Press Association that year, he announced that because he didn’t believe a split legislature could agree on a plan, the Senate wouldn’t try to pass a bill to establish congressional districts for the next 10 years and the issue would be passed onto the courts.