Forty Years Ago This Week: State Sen. Barbara Holme, D-Denver, a leader in the Democratic Party who had served nearly a decade in the Colorado General Assembly, announced by letter to her District 34 constituents that she would not seek reelection following a rough legislative session for the minority party lawmaker.

In her letter, Holme explained that she had reached her decision largely due to frustration with being a member of the minority party through a turbulent legislative session.

“When the legislature convened in January,” Holme wrote, “we found the 1982-83 budget was going to have a deficit. The Republicans raised taxes and slashed spending. After … we found that in spite of those actions, we would still have a deficit.”

Even after a two-day special session in August and another two-week one in September, taxes were again raised, and spending was cut. Holme wrote that all the decisions regarding which programs were cut were made by the Republican caucus.

“Democrats may not speak at Republican caucuses,” Holme continued. “And in fact, are discouraged from attending. During the two-week session, Democrats could easily have stayed home. Our votes made no difference.”

While Holme railed against the caucus system, she said frankly that even leaders in her own party were reluctant to point out how poorly the current caucus system functioned.

“We are embarrassed to admit how little influence we have,” Holme said. “I cringe as I write this.”

Former Sen. Paul Powers, R-Denver, who had lost his seat to Holme due to reapportionment, was expected to announce his candidacy for the seat along with Democrat Norma Edelman.

During her tenure, Holme, who had served as both caucus chairman and assistant floor leader in the state senate, left the door open for future political involvement when asked by reporters, but said that she had no immediate plans.

Thirty Years Ago: State. Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, took part in a historic first meeting between members of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators to outline a plan to improve access to and medical care for Blacks and Hispanics.

The 2003 NBCSL/NHCSL Health Care Disparities Conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona, and participants heard presentations from various medical professionals.

“It was a privilege to work with fellow legislators who share my sense of urgency and obligation to work together to better understand and address the impact of health disparities on underserved populations,” Groff said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published studies showing that death rates for African Americans versus whites due to cardio-vascular disease were 29% higher, 40% higher for strokes specifically.

At the end of the conference, both caucus group agreed to form a Health Disparities Consortium that would be devoted to address Black and Hispanic health disparities and the social, economic and environmental conditions that affected the disparities.

“I plan to participate actively in this consortium, to bring the broadest possible knowledge to bear on the disparities we fight in Colorado, and furthermore to share the remarkable experiences of our own communities,” Groff said.

Twenty Years Ago: Rumors abounded as to whether Gov. Roy Romer would leave office to take up a position in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet.

Cable TV magnate Bill Daniels told The Colorado Statesman that he was entirely convinced of the scenario.

“Roy Romer is a very ambitious man,” Daniels said. “Chances are high that he’ll end up in Washington.”

But National Democratic Party Chairman David Wilhelm, himself a Clinton administration insider, told curious Statesman reporters bluntly, “Roy Romer wants to be governor of Colorado.”

Rachael Wright is the author of the Captain Savva Mystery series, with degrees in Political Science and History from Colorado Mesa University, and is a contributing writer to Colorado Politics and The Gazette.