The Waning Days of Legislative Session 2013 – 5/5/13
As the clock strikes midnight on Wednesday, the 2013 legislative session comes to a close. There will be a number of efforts seeking to sum up the work that we did and, depending on your political views, you’ll likely be very pleased or extremely dissatisfied, with not much to offer to those identify with the [...]
Read More >End of Session Nearing – 4/30/13
This is the last full week of the 2013 session. Still to be debated and voted on in the Senate are many weighty topics, some presented in lengthy bills of over 100 pages. Examples are dramatic changes to current law affecting elections, oil and gas development, and whether or not to repurpose the Fort Lyon [...]
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Colorado Youth Advisory Council Back at the Capitol! – 4/7/13
The Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) makes their second trip of the legislative session to the Capitol this week and they’ve been busy preparing for their time with the legislators. The legislative youth council has capacity for 40 youths from across the state and is officially recognized by the legislature to advise it on issues [...]
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The Pig and the Python – 4/14/13
When people have asked me to describe this legislative session, often I find myself referring to the expression that it’s been like “the pig in the python”. There’s so much being jammed through in a frantic hurry that it’s caused a huge bulge like the pig swallowed by the python, eventually being digested down the [...]
Read More >New legislative proposals this session
After a quick trip home for the weekend, I’m preparing for a busy week ahead with four of my bills to be heard in committee. My two water bills passed out of the agriculture committee last week and will be heard on the senate floor for any debate and, hopefully, passage on through to the [...]
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Hello from Ellen Roberts, senator for Colorado State Senate District 6, covering Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel counties in beautiful Southwest Colorado. Welcome to my website!
My senate legislative district covers eight counties in Southwest Colorado. District 6 is very diverse, geographically and politically. Like my former House District, with almost every issue that presents itself at the legislature, there’s definitely not consensus among the people back home as to how to vote on it or even if a bill has any merit at all. That’s part of the challenge of my job, but part of the fun, too, because there are lots of different people in my area.
During the legislative session from early January to mid-May, my approach is to take in as much information as I can, both facts and opinions, combine that with my knowledge of the district and my own principles and values, and then vote. When it comes to voting, there’s only a yes or a no – we don’t get the luxury of voting “yes, in this situation, but no, if the situation’s different”. It’s a pretty stark choice, yet it’s what I signed up to do on your behalf.
When the legislature is out of session, I am still on the job, traveling around the district talking with my constituents and learning more about their daily lives and the challenges they face in this difficult economy. I attend legislative conferences and am on several legislative committees, so I’m often on the road for legislative duties even though the session in Denver has adjourned.
Constituent contact is critically important for me to do my job well and I want to encourage all of my constituents to get in touch with me on an issue of concern or to let me know of problems you may be having with Colorado’s state government. Unfortunately, I can’t solve every problem, but I’ll do my best in trying. During the interim from mid-May through December, you can reach me at my home number, (970)259-1594, or by email at ellen.roberts.senate@state.co.us or use the Contact Me form located on this website.
Thanks for visiting my website!