Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran and Republican leader Patrick Neville talked of working together on transportation and construction defects in speeches to open the legislative session Wednesday.

They still stood their partisan ground on issues they hold dear – the rights of women and minorities and the rights of taxpayers, respectively.

The kickoff was a preface to Gov. John Hickenlooper’s State of the State message Thursday morning.

Transportation needs and remedies to lawsuits over construction defects have failed in a divided statehouse – Democrats control the House., and Republicans hold the Senate – the last two years.

“Today, progress has come,” said Duran, who said announced bipartisan bills would tackle both issues.

How those bill are shaped during the legislative process, however, is still a mystery and could break the fragile detente.

Duran expects the legislature to refer a measure in November to raise taxes – likely either sales or gas taxes – to fund major upgrades to overcrowded and neglected roads and potentially mass transit.

“We need a plan that focuses not just on moving cars down the road, but on moving people,” she said. “We need to accommodate our state’s increasing productivity and population, which is growing by 250 people per day.”

Republicans have signaled they want asphalt first, not more lightly used light-rail commuter trains. Environmental interests are likely to pressure Democrats for transit.

Duran said the state could find a way to fund billions in transportation needs without raiding the general fund budget and shortchanging education. By state law, voters get veto power over tax increases, however.

Neville said the state has more than a billion dollars more in its proposed budget this year than last. Transportation should be a priority with existing money, he said.

“No other issue in front of us impacts commerce, education, public safety and revenue more than transportation,” he said. “Parents drive their kids to school on our roads. Businesses depend on employees and customers traveling to their facilities. Oil, gas and agricultural companies depend on roads to transport their product, and the state depends on tourism.

“There are countless more examples of why transportation must be our top priority, yet there are elected officials in this building that say funding transportation is only something we can do when we have extra money.”

Neville said House Republicans would continue to fight for their core issues: religious liberty, parental choice, gun rights and regulatory reforms for small business.

The state’s first Latina House speaker also said she would not tolerate language or legislation that harms or denigrates women or minorities in the name of opposing political correctness.

“I ask all of you in this room to join me in defending the ideal of an inclusive Colorado – of one that does not permit bullying of people because of their gender, race, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation,” she said. “Inclusiveness cannot be dismissed as political correctness. It is a fundamental tenet of our state and of our nation.

“Inclusiveness is part of who I am.”

House members from both parties liked the talk of cooperation, but each side remained wary of the other afterward.

“I’m really proud of Speaker Duran for being the first Latina speaker of the House; a glass ceiling in Colorado has been broken, and that’s a great thing,” said Rep. Clarice Navarro, a Republican from Pueblo.  “I appreciated her remarks today, but we have very different philosophies on the role of government.  Her remarks were heartfelt, but I’m simply not a big-government advocate, and I heard a lot of big government support and ideas today.  I wish her the best, and I’m proud of her, but I’m also fairly certain our votes won’t be the same.   

“We can improve our state’s quality of life with prioritization, without growing government, and by exercising political courage.”

Rep. Dan Pabon, a Democrat from Denver, said the session isn’t about rhetoric and polarized political positions, but about serving those who elected the legislature’s members.

“Some of these extreme positions – guns, vaccinations and religious liberty – are issues the average Coloradan won’t deal with in their everyday life,” Pabon said.

“I think as long as we put our words and actions into improving the everyday quality of life of our constituents we will be doing the work they sent us here to do. I think if we change the focus to something extreme, then we’re out of touch with the people we represent.”

Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, a Republican from Highlands Ranch, said he was glad to hear Neville stand up for bedrock Republican issues, while offering GOP cooperation on transportation.

“At this point of this session we all think we can work together very well, and I’m optimistic just like everyone else,” Van Winkle said. “… With split chambers, we’re forced to work together, and I think we will.”

Rep. Mike Foote, a Democrat from Lafayette, said bipartisan is always the goal but frequently breaks down.

“I think at the end of the day, we can say to Colorado that we achieved something on transportation and a few other major issues, then it’ll be a good session.”

Rep. Larry Liston, a Republican from Colorado Springs who served in the House before, from 2005 to 2011, said both speakers made good points.

“But I think Rep. Neville was on the mark,” he said.

Rep. Jessie Danielson, a Democrat from Wheat Ridge, said Wednesday’s speeches were upbeat, but she is not letting her guard down.

“It leaves me hopeful there’s room for collaboration and working together, but to be vigilant and stand up for people in our districts,” she said. “The speaker talked about inclusiveness not being about political correctness, and that’s true, but we need to look out for everyone who needs our help.”