New Democrat Update

NO! TO DRUG PRICE CONTROLS

Last month, the Colorado DLC strongly opposed a legislative proposal that would have increased the cost of prescription drugs, especially for those on long-term maintenance medications. This price-control measure, designed to neutralize the lower-cost advantages of mail-order pharmacy options, would have effectively forced mail-order costs upward to the level of retail prices. As a result of legislative fiat, patients would have lost this lower-cost option.

We say "would have" because shortly after last month's New Democrat Update was distributed, GOP House Majority Leader Lola Spradley called for HB 1320's withdrawal. For a look at the arguments that defeated this misguided measure, see a commentary by House Minority Leader Dan Grossman and State Sen. Bob Hagedorn.

SAVING ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND MONEY

Conservatives are always trying to tell us that there are unavoidable trade-offs between growing the economy and protecting the environment. In reality, using natural resources more cost-effectively creates new profitable business opportunities and cost-saving possibilities. The massive inefficiencies causing environmental problems often cost more than the measures that would reverse them.

Energy efficiency - getting the same level of service for less cost - is a tangible boost to both the bottom line and environmental quality. Especially in light of California's power crisis, smart conservation efforts will ensure Colorado will have adequate energy supplies for the foreseeable future.

Colorado should lead this important cause by maximizing the energy efficiency of every state building. The results should then be publicized to persuade the private sector to do the same.

When State House Minority Leader Dan Grossman (also Colorado DLC Co-Chair) decided to pursue this win-win opportunity for state taxpayers and the environment, he discovered companies in the business of identifying and implementing energy efficiency solutions. These energy service firms seemed especially attractive because they are paid a percentage of the savings realized, costing taxpayers nothing.

Why wasn't this opportunity already being pursued? Welcome to the bureaucratic buzzsaw. The glue that holds the state bureaucracy together is like epoxy. It comes in two separate tubes. One holds rules, the other budgetary line items. Mix them together and you get cement.

Colorado's budgetary process and rules effectively block state agencies from taking advantage of such no-lose propositions for taxpayers. Overly strict rules and regulations and excessively detailed line-item budgets discourage innovation and improving performance. While sometimes preventing bad things from happening, detailed rules and red tape also stop good things from happening.

Grossman, along with State Sen. Bob Hagedorn (Chair of the New Democrat Caucus), are solving this problem through legislation that will remove the barriers while enforcing accountable and measurable results. Governor Owens and the Senate should follow the House's lead and pass this commonsensical measure.

The taxpayers and our environment deserve nothing less.

DENVER RANKS HIGH-TECH

The DLC's think tank - the Progressive Policy Institute - released a new report last month that assesses the degree to which each of the top 50 metropolitan areas in the country is making the transition to compete in the Information Age. After ranking the metro areas, the authors outline a progressive and innovative agenda to promote opportunity and raise incomes in the New Economy.

Denver ranks seventh, behind San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego and Washington DC. The Mile City's great showing is fueled by a highly educated workforce, good-quality jobs, dynamic entrepreneurial companies, a strong orientation to using the Internet and other new technologies, a quality telecommunications infrastructure and ample venture capital. To build on its strengths, Denver needs to integrate more into the global economy, boost private and public investment in academic research and development, and put more computers in schools.

In light of the current debates on smart growth and transportation, the legislature should especially heed these two recommendations from the report:

"To make a region more attractive to knowledge workers, metropolitan areas should take steps to boost forward-looking amenities like outdoor recreation facilities and new urbanism, improve public safety through technology innovations like wireless communication systems and reduce road congestion by among other things, expanding road capacity and deploying new intelligent transportation systems."

"Metropolitan areas are now the fundamental competitive units of the New Economy, and New Economy governments should form strategic visioning and managing partnerships, across local government boundaries with all the key players in a region (private sector, universities, community organizations)."

The first principle of the New Democrat movement is that economic growth generated in the private sector is the prerequisite for widespread opportunity in the 21st century. We must embrace the New Economy and advocate an agenda that will achieve rapid productivity gains, enabling wages to grow. The new keys are to get "prosperous, not bigger" and "better, not cheaper."

"THERE'S A BETTER (THIRD) WAY"

Be sure to get the latest copy of Blueprint, entitled "Making the Big Choice: Bush's Tax Plan is a Reckless Gamble with America's Prosperity. There's a Better Way." Learn why we need a real prosperity agenda, continued fiscal discipline, to prepare for the aging of America, and truly progressive tax cuts, along with what Americans really think about the Bush tax plan.