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Capitol Conversation: Hickenlooper's Final Legislative Session

Brian Eason of The Denver Post and Ed Sealover of the Denver Business Journal contemplate what's in store for the 2018 legislative session.
Bente Birkeland
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Capitol Coverage
Brian Eason of The Denver Post and Ed Sealover of the Denver Business Journal contemplate what's in store for the 2018 legislative session.

Colorado lawmakers recently headed back to the state capitol for the annual legislative session. It’s the final session for term-limited Gov. John Hickenlooper. Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland talked to Brian Eason of The Denver Post and Ed Sealover with the Denver Business Journal to get their outlook on the coming months.

Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland sits down with Brian Eason of The Denver Post and Ed Sealover of The Denver Business Journal to talk about the 2018 legislative session.

Interview Highlights

On Hickenlooper’s final state of state address:

Sealover: It was in some ways very aspirational and it was far reaching as well. You look at him calling for transportation solutions both from the general fund budget and from a likely tax ballot measure. You look at him really seeking to reach out to rural Colorado not just with broadband but with job training with specific educational goals.

On the challenges for public pension reform:

Eason: One of the biggest priorities this year is pension reform. You have the state treasurer running (for governor) on that platform on the Republican side. I think there’s going to be a lot of consternation from the left on some of the solutions that are being proposed there. 

On how the election year impacts the session:

Sealover: You look at all the meaty bills out there and almost none of them have bipartisan sponsorship so I think that tells you a lot about the election year politics that are going on.

Eason: You’re seeing already a lot of statement bills from both sides that they know aren’t going to pass. The House Democratic agenda is pretty similar to a lot of bills that they proposed last year that didn’t go any where.

Capitol Coverage is a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Fifteen public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.

Copyright 2021 KUNC. To see more, visit KUNC.

Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has been reporting on state legislative issues for KUNC and Rocky Mountain Community Radio since 2006. Originally, from Minnesota, Bente likes to hike and ski in her spare time. She keeps track of state politics throughout the year but is especially busy during the annual legislative session from January through early May.