DENVER – Colorado lawmakers had a bit of a “kumbaya” moment this week in touting bipartisan workforce development measures that aim to help connect Coloradans with jobs.
The news conference Thursday saw Democrats and Republicans hugging each other and sharing smiles during a legislative session that has been overshadowed by several moments of partisan wrangling.
But leaders in both the House and Senate from both sides of the aisle came together in the name of the middle class.
“The Colorado Ready to Work package is something that Republicans and Democrats can get behind,” said House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran, D-Denver. “This issue of being ready to work is not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue – it’s a Colorado issue.”
“Taxpayers are investing billions of dollars annually in our educational institutions,” said Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs. “It would be penny wise and pound foolish if we do not invest both our time and some appropriate level of resources in establishing policies and the structures to help these investments pay off for our students.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com