Durango Chamber hosts Roberts, Isgar for “Eggs & Issues”

DURANGO, Colo. – Health care, water rights, the gas severance tax and government regaining public trust are merely a few of the issues promising to more than fill the proverbial plates of the region’s legislators as they prepare for the 2008 session.

State Senator Jim Isgar and Representative Ellen Roberts made what turned out to be a rare joint appearance (given their hectic summer schedules) on Sept. 18 at “Eggs & Issues,” a quarterly effort of the Durango Chamber of Commerce designed to keep the community informed of legislative issues. Summer has purportedly been no “vacation” for the legislators, as interim committee sessions, meetings with constituencies and more have filled the days.

“At least January through mid-May we know where we’re going,” said Roberts. “You get up, go down to the capitol. You might be there until late at night, but it’s just one place.”

Roberts oversees four counties, and Isgar represents eight, though in addition to traveling within the district, Isgar’s senate committee roles took him to both Chile and China representing energy concerns. His position on the Severance Tax Interim Committee also has had him studying how the taxes, reaped from the oil and gas industry, should now be allocated.

Designed originally to address “impacts” from drilling, with at least half of the dollars to come back to the affected communities, the severance tax dollars now have no clear and simple path for impacted area support.

“We need to create a better methodology so the money actually goes back to the impacted areas,” said Isgar, reminding that La Plata County gas companies contribute roughly one-half of the total fund dollars. “We have legislative responsibility. It’s going to be contentious.”

Different factions are hungry to earmark the dollars for education, transportation or open space. Isgar is not against funding these things, but noted that these alternative projects not be considered until all the oil and gas impacts are addressed.

For Isgar, water remains a crucial issue. He is the leading authority on the topic at the state level, and given his experience and understanding of water’s “big picture,” is understandably apprehensive about suggestions from Front Range entities to tap into the Colorado River system.

“There’s not much we can do unless we figure out how to make more water,” said Isgar. “When we look at how much water there is left to develop in Colorado, everybody looks to this basin… I ask people, where is it?”

With Lake Powell sitting at 50 percent or less capacity, and downstream demand (i.e. in Arizona, California) potentially increasing, taking water from more northern streams that feed into the Colorado River system is not practical, even if it is legal under Colorado’s constitution.

“Our constitution says that you have the ability to appropriate unappropriated water,” said Isgar. “How can you argue that there’s unappropriated water when there’s only 4 million acre feet in the Colorado River system, and we owe the lower basin over 8 million. That comes off the top.”

Isgar has been considering, and now is verbalizing, the idea to condition the decree so that the water cannot be diverted from the feeder streams unless a pre-established water level for the system is maintained – thereby protecting the Western Slope and the rights of those downstream.

“I think it’s an idea whose time has come,” said Isgar. “You will hear more about this because it affects us all.”

One effort that Roberts has committed to carry forward in 2008 is development of a statewide Legislative Youth Council. Currently she is working with local high schools to create the model.

“We want to put in to the bill exactly what this council will do,” said Roberts, encouraging community members who are interested in becoming involved to contact her. “We want to build this youth council so the legislature gets advice on all these issues that are coming… criminal justice reform, education reform … so the youth have a true voice into the legislature.”

Roberts also hopes a side benefit of the bill will be a broader understanding of the state government for the youth (and adults) of southwest Colorado, and thus an ownership in the process.

“I think one reason we’re so challenged with our constitutional initiative process in this state is that many people think there’s this huge disconnect from the legislature to what the people want,” said Roberts. “The more people who actually have that experience, participate in it… the more they’ll realize that like Jim and I, we just live here, and you can approach your legislator with your ideas.”

In the area of health care, in 2007, Roberts shepherded HB 1219, which eases the red tape local communities are required to cut through should they wish to establish a health care district.

“I think a very localized approach to health care reform is going to be necessary,” she said, urging community support at the up-coming public meetings designed to discuss results of a countywide study on health care reform. “If health care is something that’s of interest to you… I don’t know that any business doesn’t care about this. It impacts quality of life issues for you and your employees.”

Three separate meetings have been scheduled Sept. 24 by the League of Women Voters: Ignacio 9-10:30 a.m.; Bayfield Noon-1:30 p.m.; and Durango 5:30-7:30 p.m.

“At least if you come and hear what the issues are, and what some of the experts suggest for change, that will give you a little bit of a head’s up before other things start rolling down the pipeline,” she said.

The 2007 legislative session, which ended in May, was Roberts’ first, and though as a Republican, she is in the minority, she sponsored ten bills, nine of which were signed into law.

“There is so much going on at the state level,” said Roberts. “We have so much coming in terms of important issues. Health care, education – how are we going to pay for our roads… A lot of really good people are just interested in doing good work.”

To keep current on activities at the legislature – including daily revision of pending bills – both Isgar and Roberts urged constituents to monitor the web site, www.leg.state.co.us. Both legislators can also be contacted via email from the site.

Bank of Colorado sponsored the informational breakfast event, along with the Chamber. According to Chamber Director Jack Llewellyn, the next Eggs & Issues will be scheduled some time in December.