US Sen. Bayh Announces New Colorado Co-Chairs
March 2, 2001 - The new national chair of the DLC, US Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), announced Attorney General Ken Salazar, Senate President Stan Matsunaka and House Minority Leader Dan Grossman as the new co-chairs of the Colorado Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), a group of elected officials, 29 other state legislators and many private citizens.
“It’s an honor for the DLC that the three top state Democrats in Colorado have agreed to lead the charge for progressive change in their state,” said Bayh. “They will be an important part of our national efforts to grow the New Democrat movement around the country.” The organization advocates a new state and local public policy agenda that moves beyond traditional conservatism and liberalism.
“I am honored to be involved with this important force for change within the Democratic Party and Colorado,” said Salazar. “To solve today's problems, we must advocate a new, positive, progressive agenda that gives citizens a new choice in politics. Democrats must be about a ‘third way’ agenda that emphasizes opportunity, responsibility and community, rooted in mainstream values.”
"The Democratic Leadership Council is offering fresh approaches to the economic and social challenges facing our state and our country, and I'm proud to be involved in that effort in Colorado," said Matsunaka. "By exploring new and innovative ways to address the real concerns facing our citizens and our economy, we will ensure that the Democratic Party stays vital and vibrant."
“New Democrats in Colorado are advocating a positive, progressive agenda that will strengthen the middle class and help those less fortunate become members of the middle class,” said Grossman. “We will overcome the rigidity and orthodoxies that prevent Colorado from moving forward.”
“Having the three top state Democratic leaders on board demonstrates the transformation of the Democratic Party in Colorado,” said DLC President Jim Gibson. “Today’s announcement proves that, increasingly, Colorado Democrats are New Democrats.”
The Colorado DLC works closely with the New Democrat Caucus, a group of 31 state legislators which promotes the “New Democrat” agenda which rejects New Deal liberalism, promotes equal opportunity but not equal outcomes, and realizes that government cannot solve all of our problems.. The Caucus, chaired by State Sen. Bob Hagedorn, is dedicated to the development and passage of progressive legislation. Members of the New Democrat Caucus are listed in the attachment.
Since the early 1990's, the Colorado DLC has sought to be the progressive voice of reform and leading source of policy innovation within the state Democratic Party. The Colorado DLC’s mission is to put Democrats on the cutting edge of change, aggressively taking the lead on those issues that really matter to Coloradans.