Putting America Back to Work

The worst downturn since the Great Depression has devastated American families.  More than 15 million would-be workers – including nearly 200,000 in Colorado – are now unemployed.  One-third have been jobless for six months or more.  Another nine million have succeeded in finding only part-time work.  And millions more have given up looking for a job altogether.   

The downturn has taken a toll on consumer confidence and spending.  Small businesses – the lifeblood of Colorado’s economy – are among the hardest hit.  The number of business start-ups has fallen to its lowest point in more than a decade.  Investment in research and development has suffered one of its steepest declines in 30 years. 

A Record of Leadership 

Andrew Romanoff led the fight to rescue Colorado’s economy from its last major crisis.  Reeling from deep job losses and an almost unprecedented drop in state revenues, Coloradans elected a new majority to the state legislature in 2004.  As Speaker of the House, Romanoff convened lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, as well as key leaders from every sector of the state.  Together, they developed an Economic Recovery Plan called Referendum C.  Romanoff helped build the broadest coalition in state history to pass the measure. 

Under Andrew’s leadership, the legislature produced the strongest jobs program in decades, including: 

• significant support for Colorado’s homegrown industries, such as renewable energy, bioscience, biotechnology, tourism, and the arts;
• financial incentives for small and rural employers;
• a near-record boost in work-study funding and financial aid for Colorado’s college students;
• a green light for three-dozen critical road and bridge repairs;
• a billion-dollar investment in school construction.

Andrew also voted to shield consumers from fraud and abuse, crack down on predatory lenders, defend the right to organize, and protect homeowners from foreclosure. 

Andrew’s efforts to strengthen the economy have earned praise from a wide range of business and labor organizations, including the Southeast Business Partnership, the Colorado Federation of Public Employees, the Colorado Contractors Association, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, and the Colorado Junior Chamber of Commerce.  In 2008, the Economic Development Council of Colorado – one of the state’s leading job advocates – honored Andrew with its Lifetime Achievement Award.   

A Plan of Action 

Andrew will bring new leadership to the Senate, by fighting to strengthen the middle class, modernize America’s aging infrastructure, train our workforce to compete around the world, improve oversight of the financial industry and restore fiscal responsibility.  In the U.S. Senate Andrew will work to: 

• Repair and rebuild our roads, bridges, mass transit, water systems, information networks and energy grids.
• Ease access to credit and capital, particularly for small businesses.
• Use the Earned Income Tax Credit to reward work and reduce poverty.

• Preserve the purchasing power of the minimum wage.
• Expand opportunities for dislocated workers to obtain job training.
• Maximize access to vocational rehabilitation.
• Strengthen the enforcement of consumer protection laws.
• Promote public-private partnerships to advance education, research and development in science, technology, engineering and math.
• Reduce the national debt by adopting performance-based budgeting, separating operating expenses from investments, and establishing a nonpartisan panel along the lines of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission.