One of the most central areas where such a problem solving approach is needed is in the realm
of workforce development. We cannot hope to compete with India and China without having a
workforce that is healthy and well educated. Looked at in that perspective, no one will want to
shortchange either healthcare or education, since then it would be to shortchange our ability to
maintain our competitive standard of living. Both business and labor, and every other group
for that matter, have workforce development as the condition of their ultimate well-being.

For that to be dealt with in a short legislative session with the focus it deserves, it was essential
that there not be an outbreak of partisan wrangling, much less a climate of dispute between
labor and business. That is precisely why Governor Ritter wisely vetoed the bill that labor
wanted passed at the beginning of the session. However important anyone might have viewed
it, it was not as important as getting the best possible healthcare and education for Colorado’s
workforce, as well as crucial steps forward on energy and funding of transportation.

Those are what are essential for our economic development, and Pat Waak justly celebrates the
accomplishments of our elected officials — by Easter, no less, with a good amount of time still remaining in the session. In its own way, it is our Democratic party’s example of fiscal responsibility in dealing with and solving problems in the real world. Pat’s counterpart in the Republican Party should be pleased that we have taken one of their values and made it our own.