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Campaign Updates>
Palisade Tribune: Penry Continues to Impress
June 16, 2005
Palisade Tribune Editorial: Penry Continues to Impress
State Representative Josh Penry (R-Dist. 55) has to rate as
the most effective freshman representative to come down the
pike in many moons. Repeatedly, his leadership on water
and other issues has focused the Colorado House of
Representatives on solutions that are acceptable to both
parties.
Recently, Penry came forth with an effort to restore
funding to Colorado's institutions of higher education. He
is the sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 1003, which
would refer a measure to the voters to slow the rate of
Amendment 23 spending for fiscal years 2006-07 to 2008-09,
putting 50 percent of the savings toward higher education
and to aide college students and at-risk youth. The
measure also would allow the Legislature to reduce
Amendment 23 funding requirements by up to 50% in years of
economic decline after July, 2009, giving priority
consideration in spending the savings to higher education.
Finally, HCR 1003 would de-Bruce Amendment 23 allocations
to the State Education Fund.
According to Penry, the measure is necessary to restore
higher education funding cuts forced by Amendment 23.
We believe the Legislature has given higher education
something of a beating by chossing to reduce funding to
meet the state's ongoing budget crisis. Penry's resolution
gives voters a chance to decide just how important higher
education is in Colorado. We hope it makes it to the
ballot.
Penry also gets along with the Senate. He partnered with
Sen. Jim Isgar (D-Dist. 6),c arrying SB 243 in the House,
establishing a task force to advise federal and state
officials on the handling of roadless areas in Colorado's
national forests.
We congratulate Penry for quickly becoming one of Mesa
County's most effective legislators and expect him to get
even better.
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