Legislature puts an end to DECIDE

Click here to get more information about DECIDE

In a 35-30 vote, the Colorado House of Representatives failed to reach the two-thirds majority vote and the Senate never brought it to the vote necessary to put DECIDE (HCR 1002) on the ballot in November 2010.  Great Education Colorado — a member of the Great Futures Colorado coalition, which proposed the referendum — issued the following statement:

We are deeply disappointed that the voters will not have any opportunity on the November 2010 ballot to prevent and reverse deep and disastrous cuts to schools, colleges and universities.  It is unfortunate that the legislature did not trust the voters enough to let us DECIDE whether to invest more in our children, economy and future.

We knew from the start that it would be an uphill battle to put DECIDE on the ballot.  If there were an easy way to fix Colorado’s education crisis it would have been done by now.

Even though DECIDE will not be on the ballot, this effort was tremendously successful.  The Great Futures coalition moved the budget reform conversation forward, by focusing attention on the urgency of the education funding crisis (preschool through higher education), offering a solution, and reminding Colorado that a fix to the funding crisis is within our grasp.

Thousands of public education supporters stepped into the political process — many for the first time — to testify, call and write their legislators.  Together they took DECIDE far beyond what anyone expected, and put the legislature on notice that we will not sit idly by, as budget cuts dim the prospects of our children and our state.

We are tremendously grateful for the courage and leadership demonstrated by DECIDE’s prime sponsors — Representative Debbie Benefield, and Senators Suzanne Williams and Chris Romer — and by all the other legislators who cosponsored and voted for DECIDE.

The defeat of DECIDE is a disappointment and a blow to the educational opportunities of over one million students in Colorado.  It does not mark an ending, however.  To the contrary, we are just getting started.  We will not rest until Colorado provides the resources necessary to ensure the legacy of a quality education for every child.

Thank you to the legislators supporting DECIDE!

Prime Sponsors:

Rep. Debbie Benefield
Sen. Suzanne Williams
Sen. Chris Romer

Co-sponsors:

Rep. Jerry Frangas
Rep. Wes McKinley
Rep. Mike Merrifield
Rep. Karen Middleton
Rep. Cherylin Peniston
Rep. Joe Rice
Rep. Christine Scanlan
Rep. Sue Schafer
Rep. Judy Solano
Rep. Nancy Todd
Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
Rep. Edward Casso
Rep. Randy Fischer
Rep. Sara Gagliardi
Rep. Daniel Kagan
Rep. Jeanne Labuda
Rep. Claire Levy
Rep. Beth McCann
Rep. Joe Miklosi
Rep. Sal Pace
Rep. Jack Pommer
Rep. Dianne Primavera
Rep. Su Ryden
Rep. John Soper
Rep. Max Tyler
Rep. Ed Vigil
Rep. Paul Weissman
Sen. Bob Bacon
Sen. Brandon Shaffer

Otherwise supporting (voting on the floor or in committee, or otherwise informing constituents of support):

Rep. Mark Ferrandino
Rep. Joel Judd
Rep. Lois Court
Rep. Terrance Carroll
Rep. Andy Kerr
Rep. Buffie McFadyen
Rep. Jim Reisberg
Sen. Rollie Heath
Sen. Mary Hodge
Sen. Evie Hudak
Sen. Mike Johnston
Sen. Paula Sandoval
Sen. Pat Steadman

DECIDE Referendum Information (HCR 1002 and SCR 002)

After thousands of emails, phone calls, and eloquent testimony from public education supporters, DECIDE was passed by the House Education, Senate Education, and the Senate Finance Committees. Unfortunately, in a 35-30 vote, the Colorado House of Representatives failed to reach the two-thirds majority vote and the Senate never brought it to the vote necessary to put DECIDE (HCR 1002 / SCR 002) on the ballot in November 2010.

Below is an archive of information about DECIDE …

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Take action for DECIDE!

1. E-mail the legislators who are not yet publicly supporting DECIDE.

2. Call your own representative and senator to encourage them to support DECIDE.

Learn about DECIDE:

List of Legislators with phone numbers not supporting DECIDE

List of Legislators supporting DECIDE

Frequently Asked Questions

Read the official “DECIDE” referendum language.

DECIDE 2 page “all you need to know” flyer

Media Coverage:

March 24 Press Conference

April 19 DECIDE House Ed Committee Hearing

CO Council of Churches Letter to the Editor about the moral imperative Colorado faces when it comes to education, urging the Legislature to let voters express their values with DECIDE

Great Futures Denver Post Guest Commentary

List of Legislators not yet publicly supporting DECIDE

As of May 5, 2010, the following Colorado State Legislators have not yet taken a public stance on House Concurrent Resolution 1002 or Senate Concurrent Resolution 002, known as DECIDE (for “Decide: Education Cuts or Invest in our Democracy and Economy”). 

Make sure your voice is heard loud and clear by calling the names on this list — any time, day or night — and leaving the simple message: “I am calling to ask you a question of critical importance to the children and higher ed students of this state: Will you support DECIDE (HCR 1002 or SCR002) in a floor vote? DECIDE represents Colorado’s last chance to prevent further, deep cuts in the 2011-12 school year.  With the legislative session coming to a close, this is your last chance to make a difference for Colorado’s kids.”

Abel Tapia 303-866-2581
Al White 303-866-2586
Amy Stephens 303-866-2924
Andrew Kerr 303-866-2923
B.J. Nikkel 303-866-2907
Betty Boyd 303-866-4857
Bill Cadman 303-866-2737
Bob Gardner 303-866-2191
Brian DelGrosso 303-866-2947
Bruce Whitehead 303-866-4884
Carole Murray 303-866-2948
Cheri Gerou 303-866-2582
Cindy Acree 303-866-2944
Cory Gardner 303-866-2906
Dan Gibbs 303-866-4873
David Balmer 303-866-2935
David Schultheis 303-866-4835
Ellen Roberts 303-866-2914
Frank McNulty 303-866-2936
Gail Schwartz 303-866-4871
Glenn Vaad 303-866-2943
Greg Brophy 303-866-6360
James Kerr 303-866-2939
Jerry Sonnenberg 303-866-3706
Jim Riesberg 303-866-2929
Joel Judd 303-866-2925
John Kefalas 303-866-4569
John Morse 303-866-6364
Josh Penry 303-866-3077
Joyce Foster 303-866-4875
Kathleen Curry 303-866-2945
Keith King 303-866-4880
Ken Kester 303-866-4877
Ken Summers 303-866-2927
Kent Lambert 303-866-2937
Kevin Lundberg 303-866-4853
Kevin Priola 303-866-2907
Larry Liston 303-866-2965
Laura Bradford 303-866-2583
Liane McFayden 303-866-2905
Linda Newell 303-866-4846
Lois Court 303-866-2967
Lois Tochtrop 303-866-4863
Mark Scheffel 303-866-4869
Mark Waller 303-866-5525
Marsha Looper 303-866-2946
Mary Hodge 303-866-4855
Maryanne Keller 303-866-2585
Mike Kopp 303-866-4859
Mike May 303-866-5523
Morgan Carroll 303-866-4879
Nancy Spence 303-866-4883
Randy Baumgardner 303-866-2949
Scott Renfroe 303-866-4451
Scott Tipton 303-866-2955
Shawn Mitchell 303-866-4876
Spencer Swalm 303-866-5510
Steve King 303-866-3068
Ted Harvey 303-866-4881
Terrance Carroll 303-866-2346
Tom Massey 303-866-2747