On KBDI's Independent Thinking, Caldara allowed Post's Haley to mislead on governor's State of State speech, no-strike legislation

Summary: Discussing Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter's recent State of the State speech, Jon Caldara on the January 24 broadcast of Independent Thinking did not correct guest and Denver Post editorial page editor Dan Haley's misleading assertions. Haley stated that "I was expecting to see ... some of the more aggressive things that were talked about in the gubernatorial campaign, as far as health care, transportation, education," and claimed that "the governor certainly didn't deliver those things" during the speech. In fact, Ritter discussed health care and education in detail in numerous passages throughout the address, including references to new legislation.

On the January 24 broadcast of KBDI Channel 12's Independent Thinking, host Jon Caldara uncritically allowed Denver Post editorial page editor Dan Haley to state regarding Gov. Bill Ritter's (D) 2008 State of the State speech, "What I was expecting to see was some of the more aggressive things that were talked about in the gubernatorial campaign, as far as health care, transportation, education. And the governor certainly didn't deliver those things in his State of the Union (sic) Address." Haley did not specify what he meant by "deliver," but omitted that numerous lengthy, detailed passages in Ritter's prepared speech pertained to the issues of health care and education, with references to specific, new legislation related to those issues.

Later on the program, discussing the no-strike clause in Ritter's executive order "Authorizing Partnership Agreements with State Employees," Haley referred to a Republican-sponsored bill "to prohibit" public employee strikes, then stated, "Yet, it's my understanding they've included all public employees in that -- teachers and whatnot -- and the governor won't sign that if that gets to his desk and includes teachers." In addition to omitting Ritter's reported support of no-strike legislation -- which the Post had noted -- Haley and Caldara failed to mention that another bill, introduced by a Democratic state representative and supported by Ritter, would prohibit state employees from striking but would not include non-state workers such as public school teachers.

During a discussion with Haley and Rocky Mountain News reporter Lynn Bartels about the current state legislative session, Caldara brought up Ritter's State of the State address, saying, "I didn't see anything that blew my socks off." Haley then criticized the speech because it "certainly didn't deliver" on the issues of "health care, transportation, education."

Caldara failed to point out that contrary to Haley's assertion, while Ritter briefly mentioned transportation issues in his address, he spoke at length about health care and education. In the introduction of his speech, Ritter stated that "[f]ulfilling the Colorado Promise is a long journey. Over the past 12 months we put key building blocks in place," adding:

Over the next 120 days, we must:

• Make real progress on education reform, because too many of our students are unprepared for college or the 21st century workforce.
• Strengthen our robust economic climate for new and existing businesses by investing in higher education and transportation, because the global economy is getting more competitive every day.
• Move ahead on health-care reform, because escalating health-care costs impact every family and every business.
• Ensure that our election and voting systems work and are fair.
• And continue to secure Colorado's energy future, protect Coloradans from fraud and violent crime, and keep the pressure on Washington to enact meaningful immigration reform as we enforce our own laws in this area. [emphases added]

The governor further stated that:

We must overcome some big challenges if our vision for Colorado is to become a reality. Over the last year, scores of dedicated Coloradans have helped us sort through the issues and potential solutions to some of the toughest challenges we face: how to fund a 21st century transportation system; how to make sure all Coloradans have access to affordable, quality health care; how our schools and colleges can accomplish their missions.

These are all high-priority issues, as is continuing broad-based discussions on how best to address conflicting provisions in our state's Constitution. But we aren't going to come up with big fixes in all of those areas all at once. It would be a fool's errand to even try. We must make steady progress across the board, doing what we know is right and what we can afford. [emphases added]

Moreover, in the "Legislative, Policy and Budget Agenda" of Ritter's address, the last two subsections were devoted to "Health Care" and "P-20 Education," respectively. In addition, Ritter devoted half of the 12-paragraph subsection on "Economic and Business Development" to discussing higher education and transportation.

Regarding health care, Ritter said, "This year, we'll continue to aggressively work on cost and access issues." He continued:

My Fiscal Year 08-09 budget request calls for enrolling 17,000 more eligible children into CHP+, and we'll be undertaking major efforts to enroll more eligible families in Medicaid by simplifying, streamlining and modernizing the application and administrative processes.

On cost control, we'll be launching five new disease-management programs and fully funding the Childhood Immunization Information System, two steps that will yield significant savings over the long run. I'm also directing my health care team to spearhead a collaborative effort that will address cost and quality. We will bring all stakeholders -- including insurance companies, hospitals and physicians -- to the table. Many of them have personally committed to me they will stay at the table for the long haul, for what I like to call a little corporate introspection. [emphasis added]

And regarding education, the governor said, "[T]oday, I am announcing the 'Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids,' and it will be co-sponsored by Senators [Chris] Romer [D-Denver] and [Josh] Penry [R-Fruita] and Representatives [Robert] Witwer [R-Golden] and [Christine] Scanlan [D-Dillon]. This will be the most revolutionary shift in education policy this state has seen in years." Ritter later added:

I am proposing that we establish policies that assume all students have the potential to succeed in college, and that we prepare them accordingly. I am proposing a seamless system of expectations, policies and tools that thread their way from pre-school to college. We must ensure that every classroom in Colorado is providing a rigorous and relevant education, and that students are learning skills that effectively prepare them for success in the 21st century. [emphasis added]

Later during the Independent Thinking broadcast, referring to a bill introduced by Republican state Rep. Bob Gardner (Colorado Springs) that would ban all public employees from striking, Haley stated, "[I]t's my understanding they've included all public employees in that -- teachers and whatnot -- and the governor won't sign that if that gets to his desk and includes teachers." However, Haley and Caldara failed to point out Ritter's reported public support of a competing no-strike bill introduced by Democratic state Rep. Jim Riesberg (Greeley).

Regarding Gardner's and Riesberg's bills, the Rocky Mountain News on January 23 reported, "Ritter's lawyers believe the order keeps employees who enter into partnership agreements from striking. But the governor has committed to signing a bill clearing that up." The News also stated that "Ritter supports Riesberg's bill," and further reported:

Republicans have seized on Ritter's concession, drafting a bill that would ban strikes not just by state workers but all public employees, including RTD bus drivers and teachers.

The bill also establishes stiff fines for striking -- including $10,000 per day per involved union and automatic termination of striking employees.

"The purpose of my bill is to prevent the public from being held hostage by employee labor unions," said Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs.

Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley, has a competing bill banning state employees from striking and making it a misdemeanor for an employee to violate that prohibition. Of the bills addressing Ritter's executive order, it is viewed as having the only chance of passing.

From the January 24 broadcast of KBDI Channel 12's Independent Thinking:

CALDARA: Starting with the State of the State Address, I didn't see anything that blew my socks off. It doesn't seem like there's a whole lot of burning issues coming out at the House. What's top on the list?

BARTELS: Well, what did you want to burn your socks off?

CALDARA: I -- now, I was thinking maybe there'd be another union issue, but I think with the incredible push-back, including a front-page editorial, on the last union issue, I don't see the legislature pushing --

HALEY: I think they took care of the union issue through an executive order in November. What I was expecting to see was some of the more aggressive things that were talked about in the gubernatorial campaign, as far as health care, transportation, education. And the governor certainly didn't deliver those things in his State of the Union Address. Yet the year is still young, and we may see some of those things come up, as, you know, Lynn mentioned earlier. I mean, it's the beginning of the legislature, so you may see some bills --

CALDARA: But all the bills are in.

HALEY: -- that are a little more ambitious than you would get out of the State of the Union Address.

BARTELS: All the bills aren't in.

HALEY: There's always late bill-status.

BARTELS: You have till March. What are you talking about?

HALEY: Right.

CALDARA: I thought all of the, I thought most of the bills were already spoken for.

HALEY: No.

BARTELS: No.

HALEY: They're already getting late-bill status on things, and --

BARTELS: No.

[...]

CALDARA: All right, last -- quick question. Will they do anything on the executive order? There was some talk about the legislature actually codifying it, and so that we can know where our legislators stand on this ridiculous thing.

HALEY: There's a bill to prohibit -- on the no-strike clause. Yet, it's my understanding they've included all public employees in that -- teachers and whatnot -- and the governor won't sign that if that gets to his desk and includes teachers.

BARTELS: I've kind of stayed out of the whole union thing.

CALDARA: What, your union rep won't let you get involved?

BARTELS: No, I'm not a member of the union.

CALDARA: Really?

BARTELS: Should I say that on TV? Is that a bad thing?

—C.H.