Forty Years Ago This Week: Colorado lawmakers joined over 200 state legislators at the White House for meetings with President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George Bush and counsel to the president Edwin Meese III, about proposed federal budget cuts.
House Minority Leader Federico Peña, D-Denver, was joined by Senate Majority Leader Ralph Cole, R-Littleton, Speaker of the House Carl Bledsoe, R-Hugo, House Majority Leader Ron Strahle, R-Fort Collins, Senate President Fred Anderson, R-Norwood, and Senate Minority Leader Regis Groff, D-Denver.
Upon returning, Peña told reporters that while the trip was enlightening it was also terribly disappointing.
âAlthough Reagan is keen on bolstering the economy, he doesnât understand the specifics of the proposals,â Peña said. âHe allowed David Stockman [Director of the Office of Management and Budget] and the Vice President to make the decisions.â