Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper delivered his final state of the state address at the state capital in denver picky outline his legislative priorities including Economic Development, Broadband Internet access, transportation, infrastructure, Education Investment and environmental protection. This is about an hour. [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] it is my pleasure and honor to present to you the honorable john hickenlooper, governor of the state of colorado and. [applause] always a lastminute change. Please, thank you. At a time when shouting seems to have replaced talking, and insults have replaced ideas, i want to start by honoring the men and women who join me in this chamber, and all those who have made it their lifes work to serve the people of colorado, driven by an abiding desire to serve and make our great state even greater. President grantham, speaker duran, members of the General Assembly, Lieutenant Governor lynne and her husband jim, justices of the colorado supreme court, attorney general coffman, treasurer stapleton, secretary of state williams, southern ute councilman frost, ute mountain chairman cuthair and vicechairwoman cuthairroot, members of the state board of education, mayor hancock, other elected officials in attendance, my hardworking cabinet and staff, and, of course, to my amazing wife robin, who couldnt be here today, to my incredible son, teddy, and to all of my fellow coloradans. We have so much to be thankful for. We thank our veterans and active Service Members and their families for their courage and sacrifice to the cause of freedom. We thank the members of the Colorado National guard, more than six hundred of whom were deployed overseas last year. We thank our department of public safety, along with local first responders, who accept the daily dangers of their work as routine. We mourn alongside the families of those weve lost Deputy Sheriff zack parrish. Firefighters mike freeman, Brett Anderson and lieutenant jim schaefer. Sergeant first class stephen cribben, special Warfare Operator petty officer 1st class Remington Peters and Sergeant First Class mihail golin. Were here, as public servants, to make this place we love, stay a place we love; a place we can be proud of. Thats called topophilia, its our love of place, and reflects our love of colorado. Its the growling of tractors in brushs 4th of july parade. Its the smell of barbecue at the Little League ballfields in sterling on a summer night. If youve seen a sunrise over the plains. Drank a cold beer after a day of hunting, or consider rocktober a real month, youve experienced it. Heck, it was a carriage ride up pikes peak that inspired Katharine Bates to write america the beautiful. She later wrote, we stood at last on that gateofheaven summit, and gazed in wordless rapture over the far expanse of mountain ranges, and the sealike sweep of plain. This love of place colors everything we do. We are a Community Thousands of years in the making. Starting with the paleoindians, followed by more recent inhabitants including the arapaho and cheyenne, and utes. Renewed by the first hispanic settlers; the hopes of the 59ers; the coalstained faces of the next pioneers; and the sweat of those who built train tracks, bridges, and tunnels, and stayed to start families and build communities. It was the germans, japanese and irish immigrants from countless countries who planted the seeds of entrepreneurship. And our immigrants today who continue to harvest those seeds. As president reagan said about the shining city on the hill the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get there. Popular culture has tried to sell us a tall tale that colorados history is only about rugged individualism and conflict. But cooperation has always been the defining part of our dna. Trappers used to go out in packs of ten or twenty because teamwork was safer and more productive. There were a lot more barn raisings than there were shootouts. Mountain residents at the turn of the century would leave their cabins unlocked and stocked with food in case a weary traveler in the area hit a storm. Those travelers were honorbound to clean the cabin and restock it later. Sometimes in this building, we stray from this colorado way. We dont always restock the cabin. We dont always listen. Issues can get tangled in a web of special interests. Trust in our government, at every level, is a critical part of love of place. Not that our mountains and plains arent a big part of our communal affection, and sports teams as well. But i believe love of place is a key ingredient of most Economic Development. And people arent eager to make the investments that all prosperity demands if they dont trust the people who lead them, and trust that those leaders will work together. In this past legislative session, we did just that. We finally fixed the hospital provider fee. [applause] we now have a little more sanity in our budget. And hospitals in rural colorado that would have closed, continue to serve thousands of patients. Jennifer riley, an executive at Memorial Regional Health in craig, told us, you helped keep our doors open. Thank you. [applause] last year, we reformed construction defects. And slowly, were building more condos. We delivered a modest deposit on our broadband initiative. And today, a highschooler in julesburg is taking remote business classes so perhaps one day he can start his own company. For the first time, we used marijuana taxes for a homeless initiative. We helped people save their own lives. Last year wasnt always pretty; progress isnt always painless. But it was the most impactful, bipartisan legislative session since the great recession. We reminded everyone the collaborative colorado way is the best way. [applause] when were frustrated we listen harder. When were stumped we turn to facts and data. We try to bring the best ideas to the table. We dont define ourselves by those who oppose us. As any restaurateur knows, theres no margin in having enemies. Thats basically our slogan. And im grateful to have been your friend these last seven years. Most of the time. If you havent lived in colorado long, you might be tempted to think that the state you see today was inevitable. But when we first met in this room, our economy was in disarray. We had just ended the worst year for job seekers in generations. We were twentysixth in unemployment and fortieth in job growth. Nearly 400,000 coloradans were unemployed or underemployed. And tens of thousands more had dropped out of the workforce. So we did what coloradans do. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We hosted fifty meetings and took comments from more than thirteen thousand people in all sixtyfour counties. Coloradans told us what they needed to shape their communities across the state from the bottom up. With this input, we created a new blueprint for a new economy. We cut red tape; promoted the state not just to tourists, but as a probusiness destination for aspiring entrepreneurs; championed innovation and technology; and made it easier for Small Businesses to get a loan. The colorado blueprint made it easier for people to create and grow their own businesses and helped make colorado a place that loves entrepreneurs. By almost any measure, weve become one of the best places for business in america. Were one of the most active and healthiest, one of the best states to raise a family and make a living. We shattered unemployment records, tourism records, and hosted worldclass cultural and music events. The state has become a bridge between nonprofits and the private sector. Weve leveraged a quarter of a billion dollars through publicprivate partnerships for Community Initiatives that have touched millions of lives. Were putting our faith in people like sevenyearold ashley scott from colorado springs. Two years ago, she started a holiday benefit and purchased blankets, socks and gloves for the homeless. This past year, she partnered with twenty businesses, her school, and the community to do even more. She said doing this makes me feel happy. The homeless need a merry christmas, too. Ashley, we are grateful for your presence and your incredible work. [applause] its a shame youre not twentythree years older. You could run for governor. [laughing] everyone else is. [laughing] [applause] weve swelled our ranks in healthcare with 600,000 more enrollees while prioritizing value. We lifted families out of poverty with a focus on twogeneration solutions. Across our state and with our tribes. Our Family Planning initiative has helped reduce the abortion rate among teens in colorado by 64 . [applause] and reduce teenage pregnancies by 54 . [applause] weve become the leading state on a per capita basis for aerospace employment. When our Cybersecurity Center reaches full capacity, well have thousands of people a year getting certificates. We were the first state to legalize Recreational Marijuana [applause] one clapper in the back. [laughing] but while doing so weve helped create a roadmap for other states. And by the way i dont think any of us are wild about washington telling us whats good for us. [applause] we expect the federal government will respect the will of colorado voters. We charted our trails, expanded broadband to almost 100,000 rural homes, lured countless businesses large and small, and revitalized dozens of main streets. We provided Wraparound Services for thousands of people, like sarah middlebrooks, who completed the fort lyon program, found permanent housing, and now maintains her own Small Business while pursuing her associates degree. She couldnt make it because of an accident over the weekend. Sarah if youre watching, we wish you a speedy recovery. We also wish to say congratulations. [applause] we created the countrys first and best methane regulations; a by bringing together nonprofit in oil and gas industry. We brought together the entire state have water plan that secures food production. We protected the sage grouse from being listed as an endangered species in west, and develop an electric Vehicle Infrastructure spanning 7000 miles. We cut or modified almost half of our rules and regulations. And in doing so, saved businesses nearly 8 million and over 2 million hours last year, 2 million hours. [applause] and we measured our progress on everything that matters. We trained thousands of employees who completed 600 lean process improvements, created more value for coloradans and won several awards. Were one of the most innovative and transparent state governments in america. My mother used to say use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. It turns out those are pretty good words for a state to live by. Along the journey, our spirit was tested by floods and fires and inexplicable loss. On the other side of these tests, we became stronger. By nearly every measure, colorado is perhaps stronger now than at any point in history. Our economy is ten times more diverse than when i was laid off in 1986. We developed a welldeserved reputation for innovation and welcomed the several hundred thousand pilgrims who have moved here from elsewhere, allowing them to experience, firsthand, just why we love this place so much. This is an era for the record books. But we cant rest on our laurels. As one farmer told me in colorado, you can be a rainfall away from a record crop, but a hailstorm away from losing it all. So we will not let up. We wont stop to enjoy the view. We have a lot to accomplish in the next 119 days we need to find the right solution to peras unfunded liability. We need to pass legislation to safely cap orphan wells. We need to halt the Opioid Epidemic that continues to destroy lives and families, and disproportionately affects our Rural Communities. We need to enact a k12 and infrastructure funding plan that will help make the water plan a reality. We need legislation and funds to ensure full broadband buildout in rural areas. [applause] and we need to protect our Rural Communities by addressing the intense, negative impact the gallagher amendment has had, and will have, in the future. [applause] its a commonsense agenda. And its an opportunity for us to continue showing the country how its done, that politics need not be a blood sport, that we need not wage war between the blue team and the red team, and that dedicated and caring people, even those who may disagree at times, can still achieve important goals together. Its also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to honor and respect our colleagues and uphold the dignity of our offices. Lets pledge here and now that we will not tolerate Sexual Harassment in colorado. [applause] in the early hours of the last century, Theodore Roosevelt said of the united states, it should be the growing nation with a future that takes the long look ahead. Lets take a long look, and think together about the kind of place colorado must become so that we can pass our love of place onto the next generation. Today, more coloradans are working than ever before. The colorado secret is out, our inmigration to the front range is the envy of the nation. But our rural areas are not experiencing the same boom. We need to create the right ecosystem. Its like the bristlecone pine, unique to the west. It lives in a harsh but stunning High Altitude environment, the perfect conditions for it to thrive. It may grow more slowly than the spruce, but it is sturdy, resilient, and yes, beautiful. Most people in rural areas are filled with a love of place. I had lunch with fourteen future farmers of america almost a year ago. I asked these young adults how many would choose to return to their small hometowns if they could make a living. Every hand went up. But one young woman later noted, if i came back with someone i loved, theyd need a job too. We need more good jobs in rural colorado. Many Outdoor Recreation and manufacturing companies, sports enthusiasts and adventurers from around the world, seek out dynamic rural areas. And thats great. But some of our best entrepreneurs are already in Rural Communities. Seven years ago, robert graves, a fourthgeneration dairy farmer in bellvue, colorado, started making an australian style yogurt, which you can now buy in all fifty states. Noosa yogurt is in all 50 states and has annual revenues of over 200 million. Glad to have rob graves here. [applause] they have now 240 employees in bellevue colorado. [applause] but to reinvigorate more of our smaller communities, we need to incentivize companies and rural entrepreneurs, or the urban ones who want to be rural, to take a chance and start a business where theyre needed the most. Thats why we Just Announced a tenmilliondollar Rural Venture Fund to focus Equity Investment and access to capital in rural parts of the state, similar to what theyve done along the front range. Startup colorado is a fiveyear initiative to organize and convene startups around the state, supported by brad feld and other top entrepreneurial leaders. Were expanding our blueprint and rural jumpstart Economic Development programs. Maybe we should look at expanding jumpstart incentives to seven years. Were backstopping loans for rural markets that allow businesses and startups to get more access to capital. We need to make it easier for anyone to love any part of colorado and start a business in that place. Companies also in any place need affordable, Quality Health care. [applause] we have some of the most expensive counties for health care in the country, and fourteen counties only have one option on the exchange, all of them are in rural areas. We need our friends in washington to finally move past the tired fight over the Affordable Care act. Its not perfect, and we need to strengthen it in lots of ways, but it has helped reduce our uninsured rate by half. 600,000 coloradans, many from rural parts of the state, now have coverage who didnt before. And it is help save lives. [applause] however, we all can agree that america spends too much on healthcare and gets too little for it. This is an economic argument as much as a healthrelated one. The year before the Affordable Care act, twothirds of bankruptcies in colorado were caused by medical debt. Thats over 100,000 bankruptcies, 100,000 individuals and families, and a disproportionate number were in rural areas. The following year, the aca helped reduce that number by 60 . [applause] more than 60,000 families, didnt go through the trauma of bankruptcy. When were secure in our health care, were more likely to take a chance and start a business. Every economist and anyone with a smartphone would agree our economy is undergoing tectonic shifts with the acceleration of automation and artificial intelligence. Yet today in almost every part of colorado, zip code still determines your educational outcome. And that determines your economic outcome. This needs to change. We reconvened the Education Leadership council to build a longterm vision and path forward. Its nonpartisan and comprehensive, with a focus on the Building Blocks of a childs success from Early Childhood to workforce and beyond. Were pumping an additional 100 million above enrollment and inflation into our schools this year, and adding 10 million to address teacher shortages in rural areas. We also proposed repeating this years 30 million to rural schools next year. Even with these increases, we remain roughly threequarters of a billion dollars behind the funding colorado voters placed in our constitution nearly two decades ago. We need to be honest with ourselves and the voters. This number wont go down much without their help. And if we are being really blunt, it hurts rural colorado more than the front range. But to create the kind of workforce that will keep our state at the forefront of the new economy, we need to go beyond the funding issue we need to rethink and retool our approach. We need to transition from a degreebased Education System to one that also includes skillbased training. [applause] experts tell us over sixty percent of our kids in school today will not get a 4year degree. That number is true in colorado as well. Careers and professions by the dozens will be swept away in the coming decades by artificial intelligence. But new industries will emerge at an equally frantic rate. We will need not just engineers but huge numbers of technicians and analysts with new sets of skills. We need to get more kids learning skills that matter. We need to do it yesterday. Thats why were working with the state board of education to expose more students to coding in middle and high school. Why not give those schools with a Foreign Language requirement the choice to offer coding as an alternative language . [applause] but lets not fall into the trap of instituting a bunch of coding classes and thinking weve solved the problem. We need Flexible Solutions that can adapt to what employers need tomorrow, not just what they need today. This means training and apprenticeships. Working closely with business and education leaders, in a publicprivate partnership, colorado is igniting an apprenticeship renaissance with careerwise. Its a model being copied around the country. Were connecting companies, talent, k12 schools, Community Colleges and training centers. We have youth apprentices in pilot programs at thirtyone schools in four districts and were partnering with forty businesses. This isnt your grandparents version of apprenticeship. This is onthejob, skillstraining in industries, like business operations, health care, and advanced manufacturing. Within a decade we want to see twentythousand students per year receiving college credit, developing skills, and learning how business works. Apprenticeships are designed to grow hand in glove with skillful, a digital platform, developed with linkedin and the markle foundation, that will help connect job seekers and employers in this new economy. Last summer, microsoft philanthropies announced a twentysix Million Dollar investment in skillful to expand these efforts, the largest grant in the history of the foundation. [applause] projections of all kinds suggest we will fall well short in trained workers, in every industry in the next decade. We need all hands on deck. We need everyone getting training. We need to expand our Training Programs and tailor them for people with disabilities and the incarcerated soon to be released. Theres a lot to do, but colorado has become an early model for the country. And we need to continue to lead. I presented our apprenticeship and skillful programs to dozens of executives from some of the nations largest foundations, who are putting their considerable weight behind solving challenges of the twentyfirst century, and building a skillsbased workforce. Our work around skills transitions into our work around Higher Education. Last fall, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education presented our updated Higher Education master plan. We need to increase postsecondary credentials by tens of thousands in the next eight years, and erase equity gaps. Coloradoan wont continue to love had this place or build their lives here if they cant they keand find Affordable Housing. If they cant stay connected. Its about Companies Like may fly which builds equipment for angler and work for the state to move all of their manufacturing manufacturing tomorrows. They wanted a rural environment, a rural environment was strong broadband. Theyre training local workers while building an outdoor reck center and a Business Park at the same time because they believe their business should grow side by side with the community. Now grateful to have david here with us. Stand up. Take a bow. Thank you for picking colorado. [applause] its great news for Rural Communities that many jobs can be done anywhere. But it requires good internet. We with immediate to giddy up. We went from 60 to 80 coverage in rural colorado in last two years. Well be at about 85 by the end of had this year. And hopefully 100 by 2020. But to get [applause] but to get there we need your support. One with of the most essential pieces of infrastructure in our economy is our naturally landscape is our clean air. Clean water. But things even thinks about when they hear the word, colorado. It is one reason why companies of all sorts have been drawn to this place we love. And the reason why the Outdoor Recreation show is coming to denver in a couple of weeks. With its 110 Million Dollars in economic impact. Its why many of our farmers and ranchers who live on the land kill here came here an stay here but the responsible to be good stewarts does not just fall on the rule rural parts of the state but it rest with all of us. Excellent had a plan to close in pueblo and lead to greater investment to support 21st century jobs. Im still unsure what it is that critics dont like. They dont like the cleaner a ire or lower utility bills. Clean air matters and working with Rocky Mountain steel one of the cleanest steel plants in this country if not the world. Theyre working with them to move toward a are renewable ande need everyones support to make sure this is a reality. Pueblo is known in steel city but soon it can be known as solar and wind city. Mow motion of us would agree that science shows our climate is changing. As significant rate i would say had in large part payoff humans now many some i shouldnt say but even those who disagree with me on Climate Change can agree that we need to protect the colorado environment and our grandchildren will grow to love. But the Strong Economy were those tbrrn can come back to find jobs. Now, this includes protecting our water for agriculture. If we dont implement water plan and funding rural will be first and hardest hit. We live in a state of open markets. The rural economies can never afford to match what front range morns pay Domestic Water and yet having a sustainable source of food no matter what happens around the world is an essential foundation for the piewches future of our state. Were one of the great exporting states as a point of pride for those ho come here an we have to make sure that is a resouse that we continue to invest in rather than put at risk. The Colorado Water plant provides framework but doesnt include all of the funding over next 30 years. It lays out, 85 . We need the support of a General Assembly to make sure we find rest of that funding. But the cost of water has been a small, small part of the overall inflation and new housing prices along much of the front range and a elsewhere. It strain ones ability to love where they are, where they live when they cant afford the price of a home. Or even rent near the job and comungts they care about. While many conversations around Affordable Housing are combined confined to front range, the Colorado Housing and finance authority has supported housing projects all across colorado. Theyve newscasted 13 billion across the state. I think we need to increase our Affordable Housing tax credits by 50 . These are matching funds that work only with local investment. If we believe private enterprise is part of the solution, then ch afa is one of the answers. Now, im forgetting one other type of infrastructure awe right the multibillion dollar hole in our roads. [laughter] its about connecting to our communities, our jobs, our markets, its about connecting to peoples we love. And good infrastructure creates good jobs. These are facts. Fort morgan votes said yes to raising their sales tax to get to work preparing their city streets. And now past sew county vote for new lanes on i25. Coloradoans want to invest in our quality of life because of their for colorado and they want us to allow us to pass that affection kfltly on to the next generations thats why communities are easing traffic and bike lanes are creating walkable areas and in response to demand from southwest colorado and other rural arts pa of the state, saying is expanding routes it is part of why we partners partner fan sonk vehicles with smart highways and save lives. Futuristic Companies Like hyperloop are making colorado a testing route but were not going to be able to innovate our way out of track jams and congestion without resources. Coloradoans spend hundreds of dollars a year extra per car on repairs and operating costs as a result of bad road conditions. We raised dozens probably on average over 40 hours a year in traffic. The cost of asphalt and concrete continue to rise yet we have increase state gas tax in over 5 years. Weve been driving on a on a flat tire for almost quarter of a century. All the while utah raise gas tax twice. Not that im competitive. Not only to we underfund maintenance by more than 200 Million Dollars per year but we also have a project lift of 9 billion and total needs estimated to be 25 billion by 2040. And thats all on top of the existing budget. Last year, we committed 1. 9 billion dollars in financing for roads when we addressed the hospital provider fee. And i think soon next thanks to senate bill 267 we will see a 100 Million Dollar per year commitment in general fund revenue towards those needs. Last week, we proposed another 148 million from the recent increase recent increase in revenues. And then in the coming years, our proposal for future revenues will continue to dedicate more than 100 Million Dollars per year on top that. Also from the general fund. Thats progress. But it is still wont be enough to solve our transportation problem. And it doesnt devote a single dollar to our city and county roads and bridges. We with need to be even more ambitious as tile we look at a longterm solution with a sustainable Funding Source of sustainable Funding Source. Theres broad imreement across party lines, coloradoans deserve the opportunity to vote on whether we need new resources where they should come from. [applause] it is time to go to the voters. Now surrounds ourselves with people who agree with us. Its easy to create an echochamber. But were investing in the unglamorous effort to take the listen because it works. In ancient greece conversations about great disagreements of the day took place around big dinners that lasted days. Strangers were welcome and restaurant tour loves this. Conversation would slow down and unlike a cable tv debate, or a tweet storm, it is a loud spectra, spectrum of view points to emerge people invested their time in each other. Often fueled by wine here in colorado well probably stuck with beer. [laughter] but i think we need to get back to that point where we had deep discussions. We immediate to rebuild these places of convergence and all is one open up my office. We have 364 days left in this this administration. Thats an eternity for compromise. It only took 87 days for 39 delegates to create colorados constitution. And that included a bill of rights, three branch state government, bicamera legislature elected governor, and supreme district and county courts. Its an eternity. But the issues are fiercely urgent as Martin Luther king, jr. Said, tomorrow is todays. When we invest in education today, we make our kids more competitive tomorrow. When we modernize our infrastructure, we lay the groundwork for the jobs of the future. When we stand up for common sense approaches to health care and get more people covered, we lower costs. And save lives for years to come. These core priorities arent always glamorous. They dont always get big headlines. But thats part of the colorado way. Had is the colorado that has lured generations from across the country in around the world. It is why we swell with prize whenever we tell tell owsers where were from. And it is why they smile and response. Its what walter and bruce all work towards and what helply griffith invested her life in. Theres no other place like it. David mason our poet said it best some come out west to beat the odds and find out the sky is the limit. Some simply stare no end to it. The way you can love a land and quite a few of the people in it, give me the sage in sunlight, warm even in winter, give me the moonlit snow. Give me the book cliffs and the farms. The wild flowers of colorado. One of the greatest joys in my life was when i was pitching baseball games in high school. You have to be so focused in everied atom in your being is throwing that pitch to the perfect spot. But youll never succeed without a Agreement Team behind you. The joy of these past seven years has been every bit as intense and every bit as sweet. Ive been blessed to work with Incredible Group of people i would like my cabinet and senior staff to stand up and again, with be recognized. [applause] and i also include all of you as part of of this team you be an Incredible Group of poem and i cannot express how much i appreciate your partnership. Your friendship and your support to some difficult and some joyous times. And especially for deepening our love of this wonderful, wild place. So one last time from this podium, giddy u up. [applause] [applause] [applause] thursday morning were live in columbia, South Carolina for next stop on cspan bus 50 capitol tour and kevin bryant will be our guest on the bus during washington journal starting 9 30 a. M. Eastern. Heres a look at live events for tuesday on cspan a senate panel looks at Public Health threats facing the u. S. Thats from the Senate Health education labor intentions committee at 10 a. M. Eastern. Former Vice President joe biden gives his take on u. S. Russia relations hes at the counsel on Foreign Relations 12 30 eastern on cspan2 cia director mike pompeo on National Security and security challenges facing his agency thats at 11 a. M. Eastern. The senate back at noon and they continue debate on drone chairman of the Federal Reserve on cspan 3, Senate Energy and national reare Sources Committee examines the impact of major weather effects at American Power grid thats at 10 a. M. Eastern. Later today the u. S. Senate takes up the nomination of jerome to be o the next chairman of the Federal Reserve and next we show you confirms hearing from mr. Powell he talked his flossty and anticipated approach to the role of chair this hearing from november 28th is just over two hours. And the committee will come to order for