Inauguration and "State of the State" mark first week
Last week we celebrated the inauguration of Governor Polis and the first week of the new legislative session. I was honored to be chosen to escort Governor John Hickenlooper to the ceremony and to witness the swearing-in from the stage.
Footage of Sen. Zenzinger escorting
Gov. Hickenlooper to inaugural stage and ceremony
Later in the week, Governor Polis delivered his State of the State where he outlined a bold agenda to address gaps in education, lower the cost of healthcare, foster a green economy, and to address tax reform. Here is a
link to the Colorado Sun's annotated copy of the speech.
After the speech, I was asked
my opinion of the Governor's vision. While I admire the direction he outlined, I am concerned about how we go about funding these new initiatives. Several of the objectives will require an ongoing investment well beyond this year's surplus. We have a number of important competing priorities, particularly in education, and we must strike the right balance.
First set of bills introduced
I was thrilled to have my bill,
SB19-003 to address the teacher shortage, introduced on the first day. Clearly, addressing the shortage is imperative to ensure that the students of our state receive the highest quality education possible to support their academic and personal growth. This bill will be heard in Senate Education on Thursday, January 24 at 1:30 pm.
With Gov. Polis and several woman legislators prior to the inauguration
In addition to this bill, several of my other bills were introduced as well:
SB19-044 Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment Emergency Medical And Trauma Care System. This bill repeals outdated language requiring t
he state board of health cooperate with the department of personnel in adopting certain criteria. This is a Statutory Revision Committee bill and helps clean up the statutes. It will be heard in Senate Health and Human Services on Wednesday, January 16 at 1:30 pm.
SB19-039 Interdistrict Transportation Of Students. This bill c
oncerns allowing interdistrict transportation of students only by adjacent school districts subject to the school districts' mutual consent. Last session, an amendment was added to a bill on foster care youth and school transportation that was found to be in violation of the state's single subject rule. A judge ruled the amendment language was unconstitutional, so the bill will take the amendment language back out. It will be heard in Senate Education on Thursday, January 17 at 1:30 pm.
SB19-017Requirements For CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation Land Acquisitions. This bill come from the TLRC and was referred to us by the CDOT Efficiency and Accountability Committee. It clarifies procedures for when CDOT must acquire land needed for specified highway-related purposes by means other than condemnation. It will be heard in Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on Tuesday, January 22 at 1:30 pm.
SB19-068 Expanded Electioneering Communication. This bill will eliminate two loopholes with regard to electioneering communication. The bill will require all electioneering ads to include who paid for the ad, including the time between the Primary Election and the Election. This bill will be heard in Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 30 at 1:30 pm.
1:30 - 3:00 Hearing for the Department of Labor & Employment
3:00 - 5:00 Hearing for the Department of Natural Resources
Tuesday, January 15
1:30 - 3:30 Hearing for the Department of Law
3:30 - 5:00 Hearing for the Department of Personnel & Operating Common Policies
Wednesday, January 16
1:30 - 2:30 Meet with Governor Polis Regarding FY 2019-20 Budget Requests
2:30 - 5:00 Consideration of Supplemental Requests for the Office of the Governor, the Departments of Agriculture, Human Services, Local Affairs, Military & Veterans Affairs, Public Health & Environment, Public Safety, Transportation, and Treasury
Thursday, January 17
Upon Adjournment, Joint Finance and JBC
1:30 - 5:00 Consideration of Supplemental Requests for the Departments of Health Care Policy and Financing, Public Safety, Regulatory Agencies, and State
Friday, January 18
1:30 - 2:30 Joint Transportation and JBC
Rachel Zenzinger
Rachel Zenzinger won election to the Colorado State Senate, representing District 19, in November 2016. She also served as Senator for SD19 in 2014. Sen. Zenzinger is a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a member of the Statutory Revision Committee, a member of the Interim School Finance Committee, and a board member of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority.
"What's Brewing at the Capitol" at New Image
We traditionally meet the third Wednesday of the month for our "What's Brewing at the Capitol" event. That means our next installment is coming up this week! Please plan to join us this Wednesday, January 16 at 6:30 pm at New Image Brewing Company,
5622 Yukon St, Arvada, CO 80002. This is a casual conversation over a microbrew with your State Senator. Hope you can join us!
With Gov. Hickenlooper prior to inauguration ceremony
Women's March tailgate event at the Capitol
If you are planning to attend this year's Women's March event in Downtown Denver, next Saturday, January 19th, you are cordially invited to grab some pre-march sustenance at a tailgate event inside the Capitol parking circle. Please join myself and Representative Brianna Titone at parking space number 94 for some coffee and donuts at 8:00 am. The parking spot is located on the South end of the Capitol near the 14th Street entrance. The streets will likely be blocked off to accommodate the March, so plan to park elsewhere and/or take transit into Downtown and walk to the Capitol parking circle.
Speaking at the Colorado Social Legislation Committee
Monthly town hall meeting will focus on RTD
If you are not planning to attend the Women's March in Denver, please think about joining Rep. Kraft-Tharp for our monthly town hall meeting on Saturday, January 19, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm at the Standley Lake Library. The topic this month will be an update from RTD about the G-Line.
With constituent Deputy Chief Mark Savage and Col. Matthew Packard, Chief
Tracking your Senator
On Monday, I was a guest panelist for the
Colorado Social Legislation Committee to discuss our fiscal future... The JBC met with the
Community Corrections division of the Department of Corrections...
On Tuesday, I escorted
Gov. Hickenlooper to the inauguration ceremony... I attended the
Blue Sneaker Inaugural Ball...
On Wednesday, I attended the
Commuting Solutions Legislative Breakfast... I met with officials from the
Colorado Behavioral Health Commission... The JBC had a hearing with officials from HigherEd including Chancellor Joe Garcia of the
Colorado Community College System, Dr. Leah Bornstein, President of
Aims Community College, Dr. Carrie Hauser, President of
Colorado Mountain College, Teina McConell, Executive Director of
Pickens Technical College, Jeff Barratt, Executive Director of
Emily Griffith Technical College, and Michael Klouser, Director of the
Technical College of the Rockies... And, I attended the
Colorado Restaurant Association Legislative Reception...
On Thursday, we heard the
State of the State Address... I had a meeting with Tim Foster, President of
Colorado Mesa University... I attended the
Colorado Home Builders legislative reception... and in JBC we had a hearing with officials from HigherEd including Dr. Cheryl Lovell, President of
Adams State University, Dr. Tom Stritikus, President of
Fort Lewis College, and Dr. Greg Salsbury, President of
Western State Colorado University... We also had a hearing with officials from
History Colorado and the
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission...
On Friday, I was interviewed live by
KOA Radio to provide the Senate Democratic Caucus perspective on the State of the State... I hosted my first
Coffee With Constituents at Two Rivers Coffee... We heard the
State of the Judiciary Address by Chief Justice Nathan B. Coats... and in JBC we heard from HigherEd officials including Bruce Benson, President of
University of Colorado system, Dr. Tony Frank, Chancellor of
Colorado State University system, Andy Feinstein, President of
University of Northern Colorado, Dr. Paul Johnson, President of
Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Janine Davidson, President of
Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Tim Foster, President of
Colorado Mesa University...
On Saturday, Rep. Titone and I presented a
Legislative Preview.
At the Blue Sneaker Inaugural Ball
If there is an event you think I should attend, please notify me!
Donations to
Rachel For Colorado
Can you help us by making a contribution? While the campaign activity has concluded, we still need your help so that we may continue keeping in touch with constituents. Your contribution helps pay for events, direct mail, the website, newsletter, and other tools that make voters aware of what is happening down at the State Capitol. THANK YOU!
