DENVER (AP) — Gov. Bill Ritter delivered his fourth and final State of the State message to Colorado lawmakers Thursday, promising to work hard in his final term to deliver jobs and close a $1 billion budget deficit.
Ritter focused on what he calls the new energy economy — green businesses that he says will generate jobs. He called for raising the renewable energy requirement for major power companies from 20 to 30 percent.
“This will trigger the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs, draw new capital investments and new companies to our state, and keep Colorado at the epicenter of America’s energy revolution,” he said.
Ritter also urged lawmakers to pass a bill they hope will give the state an edge in competing for millions of dollars in federal education funds. The bill would require the state to track where educators get their training and report on the success of teachers and principals in boosting student achievement.
The Senate approved the bill Thursday, the second day of the session. Ritter wants to sign it before Colorado submits its application for the federal “Race to the Top” program next week. The House plans to take it up later Thursday.
“Frankly, regardless of whether Colorado receives a Race to the Top grant, we’ve already won. We are now a national leader in education reform,” Ritter claimed — though he noted later in his speech that the state has spent more on prisons than educating college students.
Ritter made only a passing reference to the fact that he is not running for re-election. He announced his decision last week, saying he needed to spend more time with his family, and he insisted the move will free him politically to make “tough and unpopular decisions” in the months ahead.