… Twenty Years Ago This Week in the Colorado Statesman … Diana DeGette is sworn in as a new member of Congress.

The newly elected DeGettehosted more than 300 of her supporters, family and closest friends at her ceremonial swearing-in as the 19th representative for the 1st Congressional District.

DeGette replaced retiring Democratic Rep. Pat Schroeder, who had served in the seat for 24 years. DeGette defeated her Republican opponent, Joe Rogers,with 56.9 percent to 40.2 percent the previous November.

After taking the (ceremonial) oath of office administered by 10th Circuit Court Judge Carlos Lucero, at the Denver Public Library, DeGette spoke briefly on themes she had emphasized during her campaign.

The newly-minted congresswoman vowed to work for “compassionate” government reform, environmental protection, quality education for children and defense of “individual freedom and rights in a diverse society.”

DeGette had been an outspoken critic of what she called “mean-spirited” welfare restructuring efforts by Republicans. She stated that necessary government reform of Medicare, Medicaid and Aid to Families with Dependent Children, must all be conducted compassionately.

“We must reform governmental institutions and programs to make them more responsive to modern society,” DeGette said. “But we must not fall prey to facile solutions, which, under the guise of reform, ignore the very heart and soul of our great country.”

On environmental issues, DeGette pledged to act as a “tough watchdog” over the cleanup of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and lead contamination in Globeville. She also pledged to “champion full funding for a complete regional light rail system.” Moreover, DeGette said, she would use her coveted seat on the U.S. House Commerce Committee to continue work begun during her two terms in the Colorado Legislature.

“As a member of the Commerce Committee, I intend to explore legislation similar to a law I passed in the state legislature, which gives incentives to property owners to clean up environmental contamination,” DeGette said, noting that both environmental and business groups had supported her endeavors.

DeGette’s top priority, however, was one Colorado Gov. Roy Romer also supported.

“The most important of all, is that every child receives a proud start in life, adequate nutrition, a quality education,” DeGette said. “If we all work together, I know we can achieve this for our kids.”

Among DeGette’s other projects was planning for the Group of Seven Industrial Nations (N-7) Conference to be held in Denver.

DeGette delivered her remarks during the swearing-in ceremony, which, The Statesman noted, had been carefully designed to appeal to the diverse population of the 1st CD.

Denver Mayor Wellington Webb made welcoming comments and the Gospel Voices Accapella Group sang spirituals at the beginning and end of the ceremony. In addition to prayers from Reverend Gil Horn (Montview Presbyterian Church) and Rev. Marshall Gourley (Our Lady of Guadalupe), DeGette also called on Cheyenne Tribal Elder Richard Tallbull to ask the blessing of the Great Spirit, which he did in his native language.

“I don’t easily get overwhelmed, and I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed right now,” said DeGette. “This is a real tribute to all of us.”

… Ten Years Ago … It wasn’t red … or blue – but “green.” Democratic House Speaker Andrew Romanoff urged his colleagues at the start of the 66th General Assembly session to continue the path to compromise and bipartisanship, which, he said, had been the hallmark of the previous two years (2005-2007).

“The people we represent, most of them at any rate, don’t want to see the state lurch left or right,” Romanoff said, moments after being unanimously elected as House speaker. “They just want to move Colorado forward.”

Romanoff touted the progress made on improving health care, strengthening schools and bolstering fiscal responsibility. But more remained to be done, he said, as he outlined his agenda.

“The most important color this year is not red or blue. It’s green. That’s the color of a cleaner environment and it’s the color of our New Energy Economy.”

On renewable energy, Democrats planned to push many bills through the Legislature that would help advance Gov. Bill Ritter’s goal of making Colorado a leader in conservation and development of new sources of energy.

Regarding health care: Romanoff stated that a large percentage of the 180,000 Colorado children who were uninsured already qualified for government programs. He wanted the state to make a greater effort to get those children enrolled in health programs, while the SB 208 Commission on Health Care developed recommendations for providing insurance to the 770,000 uninsured Coloradans. Because of the report, Romanoff was ready to wait until the following year to address its recommendations.

Minority Leader Mike May,R-Parker, expressed displeasure with the Democrats’ willingness to wait another year before tackling the biggest health care issue facing the state.

“Certainly there is much that can be done now,” May said. “Colorado’s families cannot wait for another election cycle, another year of studies, another year of talk while the problem continues to grow.”

… Ten Years Ago … Gov.-elect Bill Ritter is sworn in and immediately embarks on the “Colorado Promise.” Over a thousand people turned out on a chilly January day to attend Ritter’s inauguration, an event that officially made him the first Democrat since 1959 to have the unhindered backing of the Democratically controlled state House and Senate.

Ritter began his remarks by thanking the citizens, outgoing Gov. Bill Owens and his family and his own wife and children. He then said that it was vital that civic servants not betray the public’s faith in them.

“It is a solemn duty to serve as an elected official,” said Ritter. “We hold a sacred trust with the people who elect us. It is sacred in every way. We must honor that trust through our hard work, and through our commitment to an open and honest relationship with the people of this state.”

Though he waited to address the details of his plans for his term until his State of the State Address, Ritter repeated his campaign slogan of a “Colorado Promise.” He related the promise to a quote by Robert Kennedy who said, “The future is not a gift: it is an achievement. Every generation helps make its own future …”

“We won’t accomplish everything in a year,” he stated, saying that his plans would take four or eight years to accomplish.

Ritter’s agenda included: making Colorado a national leader in renewable energy, an education system that would give “our children opportunities and our employers the best-educated workforce in the nation,” “comprehensive health care reform” and environmental protections.