DENVER – An open letter expressing concern over the number of businesses leaving Colorado and the inability of the state to attract others was recently sent to numerous Colorado elected officials. The several hundred business, technology, and civic leaders who signed the letter are asking for consideration in easing the regulatory burden that they say is the driving factor behind Colorado’s “deteriorating” foundation.
That same letter was both sent to and signed by Gov. Jared Polis, the irony of which is not lost on State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer (R-Brighton) who points out that Polis is the man behind the pen that has caused much of the trouble the letter outlines.
“Basically, he’s a hypocrite,” Kirkmeyer told Complete Colorado. “The ironic thing is he has put his name on these bills. We are the sixth most regulated state. Who does he think he is? He signed all those bills.”
Headed in the wrong direction
The letter, titled “Ensuring Colorado’s Innovation Future” was posted to a website that appears to have been created for this one matter. Everyone who has signed and the companies they represent can be found there.
“We – a bipartisan collation of Colorado tech and business leaders representing founders, investors, and operators across the state – are deeply concerned that the direction we are heading threatens the long-term prosperity of the people who call Colorado home,” the site says.
As of April 22, 320 signatures had been added to the page, with the most interesting being that of Polis himself, who in his nearly eight years in office has signed hundreds of bills in to law, and made numerous appointments to regulatory boards and commissions.
The website says that after Polis read the letter, he issued a statement “affirming his commitment to ensuring Colorado remains a great place for companies to grow, innovate, and thrive.
“Colorado is building one of the strongest and most diversified innovation economies in the country, and that success depends on an unwavering commitment to a strong partnership with the business community,” Polis said in his statementr. “I hear clearly the feedback from founders, investors, and employers … by working together, we will strengthen our competitiveness and make Colorado a top destination for talent, investment, and new ideas.
But the letter Polis himself signed is in open conflict with that sentiment, stating among other things: “We are hearing directly and unequivocally in boardrooms, capital allocation discussions, and private conversations with founders, CEOs, and investors across the country that Colorado is increasingly viewed as a less predictable and less competitive environment for building and scaling technology companies, other growth-oriented businesses, and traditional corporations alike.”
Polis’ pen
Kirkmeyer, who is hoping to replace Polis at the helm as one of three Republicans seeking the nomination from her party to run for governor in November, is calling foul on Polis’ claims after having represented Weld County in the Colorado Senate for all but two years of Polis’ time in office. She serves on the powerful joint budget committee, and was a Weld County Commissioner before that for nearly 20 years. She also led the Department of Local Affairs under former governor Bill Owens.
Kirkmeyer cited policies that Polis has championed and bills he signed that has caused Colorado to bleed small and large business opportunities alike, citing examples such as the FAMLI paid leave program, costly additions to the state’s energy codes, new oil and gas regulations and hostility to agriculture.
“The latest agriculture bill that (forces overtime requirements), the industry is saying this is going to kill us,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter to him. He’ll sign it anyway.”
She also pointed to Polis’ role in getting the Gallagher Amendment (which limited property tax increases) repealed, and numerous attempts at weakening the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Kirkmeyer said the three main components that companies look for when locating or moving are education, housing affordability and safe communities, adding Colorado is failing at all of them.
“We have an education system that we were not fully funding until, quite frankly, myself and some others pushed it through,” she said. “It was required by the constitution, but we weren’t doing it, and 60 percent of our kids are not reading at the third grade. Sixty to 70 percent can’t do simple 8th grade math.”
Kirkmeyer describes “bill after bill” Polis has signed softening crime and adding more and more regulation to new construction of homes.
“That is what keeps people from industries locating here or moving out,” she said. “The cost of housing, whether or not they can feel safe in their neighborhoods, and whether or not their children are going to get a good education. Those three things we are failing at under his administration. We are 47th or 48th in the nation for competitiveness. There is no stability. There is no certainty – other than it’s only going to get worse.”
