Even for a State of the State address, Gov. Jared Polis did plenty of bragging. In his sixth such speech Thursday, he touted his administration’s strides on preschool and public ed; health care; climate change; the crime fight; affordable housing, even the introduction of gray wolves.

It was as if he were seeking to burnish his credentials for a run for higher office – if that wasn’t apparent from his repeated references to President John F. Kennedy.

Let’s hope the higher office he lands doesn’t turn out to be secretary of transportation – should the White House go to someone else. Sinking untold billions of dollars into passenger rail service – an idea that leaves him aglow – would do as little to get most of the nation from Point A to Point B as it would it would most of Colorado.

Yes, Polis actually said, “passenger rail service that works is within reach.” He called the long-planned, never-realized vision he has embraced for high-speed trains along the Front Range “big” and “bold.” Which translates to “costly” and “ridiculous” for Colorado commuters gridlocked in traffic daily at rush hour on highways urgently in need of expansion.

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“We’re going to get it done,” he vowed of rail service, by leveraging “our share” of federal funds. He envisions trains running to far-flung parts of the state, even “on to Craig and Hayden.” And while he’s at it, he wants to expand bus service statewide, too.

Even Polis seemed to grasp the irony of such ambitions in a state that has yet to make good on years-old promises to upgrade its mass-transit network. Like the long-stalled extension of Metro Denver’s light rail system to Boulder – which he pledged to complete.

“The problem of unfinished public transit in our state has simply gone on for too long,” he acknowledged.

If ever realized, of course, the governor’s transportation pipe dream still wouldn’t put a dent in Colorado’s transportation needs. Funding more pavement would – something our green governor likely never will admit.

Meanwhile, let’s praise Polis for using his speech to promote a policy that makes sense – while remaining deeply unpopular with many of his fellow Democrats in the Legislature – tax cuts.

“The tax rate is simply too high,” he said, noting that annual TABOR refunds to taxpayers are a reminder government is taking in too much tax revenue.

“Cutting the income tax rate is the most effective way to further our economic growth.”

“Taxes are simply too high,” he repeated, calling out income, property and sales taxes alike.

It’s not a new message for Polis. He is famously on record for supporting elimination of the state’s income tax. In theory, at least. But in a state where the Legislature controlled by his party can’t seem to grow government fast enough, it’s encouraging to hear the governor stick up for taxpayers.

Credit is due Polis on another point, too – his call for revising state law that makes it too easy to sue homebuilders over construction defects. Construction of affordable condos has all but disappeared as a result. Changes in the law are needed.

We’ll laud Polis for his commitment to revisit construction-defects law. We’ll challenge him to make good on his theoretical support for ending Colorado’s income tax, joining several other states. And as for his enthusiasm for trains, we’ll urge him to start small. An electric train set for his next birthday, perhaps.

Denver Gazette Editorial Board