Perhaps more so than any previous year, 2005 is shaping up to be a make-it-or-break-it year for higher education in Colorado. The 65th General Assembly convened on Jan. 12 with a sea change in leadership and not just a full plate, but one overflowing with the state's well-publicized fiscal problems related to the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" (TABOR) and Amendment 23 (K-12 funding).

A solution is going to require legislative action, a green light from Governor Bill Owens and could possibly include a vote by the people in November. If a solution is not reached, the state may face more than $234 million in general fund cuts in the next budget year, while at the same time having to refund more than $446 million to taxpayers from the TABOR surplus. Unfortunately, due to constitutional constraints, the biggest share of budget cuts would likely come from higher education.

Other issues the legislature will face include the funding of the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) college tuition stipends. Currently, the CCHE has proposed the amount be set at $2,400, but the legislature will ultimately determine the per-credit-hour amount. For more information about COF go to
http://www.mscd.edu/%7Ecollcom/@metro/tw@metro_vol2/cof_twv2011205.htm

Among the proposed bills that could impact Metro are:

• HB05-127 High Schools College Preparation, which requires school districts to notify parents if students score under a certain threshold on their 11th grade ACT and that schools provide the necessary remedial preparation.
• HB05-1041 Records of Higher Education Foundations, which specifies that financial records of college foundations are public records for purposes of the open records acts, while maintaining donor confidentiality.
• SB05-003 Colorado Achievement Scholarship, which creates the Colorado Achievement Scholarship Program for the purposes of promoting pre-collegiate curriculum, increasing access to postsecondary education and decreasing the use of illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

To read these bills go to
http://www.leg.state.co.us

The change in leadership
The democrats now hold majorities in both the house and senate for the first time in four decades. Here is a list of the key players:

Senate:
President Joan Fitz-Gerald (D-Golden)
President Pro Tem: Peter Groff (D-Denver)
Majority Leader: Ken Gordon (D-Denver)
Asst. Majority Leader: Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus)
Majority Caucus Chair: Ron Tupa (D-Boulder)
Majority Whip: Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus)
Minority Leader: Mark Hillman (R-Burlington)
Asst. Minority Leader: Steve Johnson (R-Loveland)
Minority Caucus Chair: Norma Anderson (R-Lakewood)
Education Committee: Sue Windels (D), Chair; Bob Bacon(D), Vice Chair
(D)Suzanne Williams, Ron Tupa
(R)John Evans, Ed Jones, Nancy Spence

House:
Speaker: Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver)
Speaker Pro Tem: Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge)
Majority Leader: Alica Madden (D-Boulder)
Asst. Majority Leader: Michael Garcia (D-Aurora)
Majority Caucus Chair: Angie Paccione (D-Ft. Collins)
Majority Whip: Dorothy Butcher (D-Pueblo)
Minority Leader: Joe Stengel (R-Littleton)
Asst. Minority Leader: Mike May (R-Parker)
Minority Caucus Chair: Bill Cadman (R-Colorado Springs)
Education Committee: Mike Merrifield (D), Chair; Angie Paccione (D), Vice Chair
(D) Debbie Benefield, Wes McKinley, Jack Pommer, Judy Solano, Nancy Todd
(R) David Balmer, Keith King, Mark Larson, Josh Penry, Ray Rose, Al White

Joint Budget Committee:
Senator Abel Tapia (D), Chair; Representative Tom Plant (D), Vice Chair
(D) Representative Bernie Buescher, Senator Moe Keller
(R) Representative Dale Hall, Senator Dave Owen

Watch for legislative updates throughout the spring semester in This Week @Metro.