New Democrat Update - November 2000
TAKING ON THE HARD RIGHT
The New Progressive Initiative (NPI), the political action arm of the New Democrat movement in Colorado, recently mailed literature to educate voters in these State Senate Districts - 19 (Sue Windels vs. Jim Congrove), 27 (Scott Evans vs. John Andrews) and 29 (Bob Hagedorn vs. Debbie Allen). NPI promotes policies and leaders who articulate and fight for progressive values that Coloradans want in their public institutions and officials.
The NPI is guided by a clear set of values familiar to New Democrats - economic opportunity for all, responsibility from everyone, a new sense of community, tolerance and smaller, smarter government. For too long, progressives have ceded the debate in the suburbs to partisan, right-wingers who are philosophically out of touch, even with conservative residents. This governing philosophy resonates with the hopes and dreams of all Coloradans and is particularly relevant to suburbanites.
In a news release, NPI President John Loewy said "The mailings provide accurate information to residents about the positions their representatives have taken on important public policy issues. Unfortunately some legislators feel they can act in an ideological and polarizing fashion up until election time and then portray themselves as moderates more in line with the views and values of their communities. We decided to set the record straight and provide documented information on how they act when the folks back home aren't paying close attention."
For more on the New Progressive Initiative, visit its web site at www.newprogressiveinitiative.org.
ROTHERHAM MEETS DPS BOARD
The Progressive Policy Institute's (PPI) Andy Rotherham met with board members of the Denver Public Schools and others last month. The session focused on reforming public education and England's experience in decentralizing authority and accountability to individual school sites.
Attendees included School Board President Elaine Berman, Sharon MacDonald, James Mejia and Les Woodward. Jared Polis, Democratic candidate for State Board of Education, and Andrea Giunta, President of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, also participated in the meeting.
Rotherham is Director of the PPI's 21st Century Schools Project which develops policies to ensure that American schools help all students develop the skills they need to be successful in the New Economy. While on leave of absence from PPI, Rotherham served at The White House as Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, advising President Clinton on educational issues, including reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), charter schools and public school choice, improving educational options for disadvantaged students, and increasing accountability in federal policy.
Special thanks to Andy Rotherham and all participants for taking time out of their busy schedules to engage in this very important discussion!
REINVENTING GOVERNMENT
The Denver Rocky Mountain News Voter Guide on October 22 asked state legislative candidates an important question - "Do you think government services should be privatized? If so, which ones?" The answer to this question, especially from Democratic candidates, can be very revealing.
A good part of the current political gridlock is due to voters wanting public solutions but fearing government ineptitude will only make the problems worse. You can see this dilemma in issues ranging from public education to health care to gun-safety and more.
The conservative belief that the private sector must always do the job is just as wrong-headed as believing government should do it all. Many on the left also wrongly think they can ask for more money in the face of unprecedented levels of taxpayer dissatisfaction with government.
The Denver Rocky Mountain News question focuses on how government services should be delivered - rather than which services the public sector should provide. Since effectiveness and efficiency (not the role of government) are the focuses, the answer is a good indicator of whether a candidate is a pragmatic problem-solver or overly ideologically rigid from the right or left.
Of the 46 Democrats interviewed in the Voters' Guide, a small majority (26 or 57 percent) indicated an openness to finding the best way to deliver services - public or private sector. The remainder simply said no - privatization should never be an option.
To break the voters' stalemate - wanting solutions but fearing government will make them worse - New Democrats must continue taking the lead to reinvent the public sector so that it is more responsive to those it serves and more accountable to taxpayers. Otherwise, if all options of delivering the service are not on the table, support for activist government will continue to dwindle.
Which is why the answer to that question is so important. Which is why the Colorado DLC still has a lot of work to do.
CO DLC WEB SITE
Become a regular visitor to the Colorado DLC's web site . The site showcases the New Democrat Caucus in the state legislature, current and back editions of the New Democrat Update, local commentaries, New Democrats in the news, speeches, news releases, over 250 links to other policy/political sites, Colorado media and more.
Pay special attention to the "State and Local Ideas" section which includes over 100 solutions to Colorado's most important challenges:
Equipping Workers with Better Skills
Slaying Sprawl
The New Economy
Promoting Technological Innovation
21st Century Schools
A Second Generation of Environmental Policies
Fighting Crime/Safe Communities
Information Age Health Care
Economic Empowerment
Quality of Life
A New Governing Philosophy
Feedback on any of the ideas and the web site is very welcome. Let us know what you think!