Thread by @KyleClark

NEW: @GovofCO Polis will begin his State of the State address with a list of challenges faced by Colorado in his first term, with the notable inclusion of rising hate speech. Will thread details from prepared remarks here. #copolitics

"We’ve gone through a lot these last four years, Colorado," Gov Polis' prepared remarks read. "COVID-19. Shootings. Devastating wildfires. Record inflation. Spiraling hate speech."

Polis' remarks shout out Gandolf from Lord of The Rings, Nikola Jokic, and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone (because of course). "Jokic, Gandalf, Trey and Matt, and Colorado believe the next chapter is the best one - and I do too. Our best days are yet to come."

Polis will call for a country that "respects freedom and the personal health decisions of women, transgender Americans, and all Americans." Polis will call for "secure, accessible elections" and action to "secure our borders and fix our inhumane, broken immigration system."

Polis' prepared remarks include a reference to migrants who "have always come to America in search of freedom, safety and economic opportunity, often escaping brutal oppression from authoritarian communist dictators like Maduro in Venezuela." Says Colorado is supporting migrants.

Polis' remarks directly call out California for "decades of poor planning" leading to a water and electricity crisis, unafforable housing, and jammed freeways. "We are not California, we are Colorado," Polis' remarks read. "And I refuse to let us make those same mistakes."

Polis will call for building affordable housing on state-owned land, plus "flexible zoning to allow more housing, streamlined regulations that cut through red tape, expedited approval processes for projects like modular housing," and more housing near transit.

Polis will call for continued reductions in Colorado's income tax, and making the senior homestead exemption portable so that seniors can enjoy the tax break while downsizing + allowing younger families access to larger homes they no longer need.

Polis will propose $120M in new clean energy tax credits. His prepared remarks reference the "temporary Suncor disaster," which has shut down Colorado's only oil refinery, saying "the only long-term solution is to continue pursuing low-cost, reliable, renewable energy."

Polis will call out "some large hospital systems" for "making record profits, paying zero taxes, and sitting
on enormous reserves while overcharging customers." We've reported that more than half of Colorado's hospitals (many small & rural) are in financial distress.

Polis will call for a ballot measure asking voters to approve using excess tobacco tax money to create more hours of universal pre-K (a program now enrolling families for the first time).

Polis will propose expanding Care Forward Colorado, which allows students to pursue a health care career at a community/technical college at no personal expense, to also include career paths in construction, firefighting, law enforcement, nursing, and early childhood education.

Polis will say Colorado "can and must do better" on crime and will call for "greater penalties for car theft, deterring unlawful weapon possession by felons, and cracking down on ghost guns."

Polis' prepared remarks suggest, but do not explicitly say, that Colorado's Red Flag gun law should be expanded to allow prosecutors (like police or family members) to petition a judge to have someone's guns temporarily seized.

Those are some of the notable portions of Polis' prepared State of the State remarks. @Marshall9News is at the Capitol and has other highlights here:

https://twitter.com/Marshall9News/status/1615409076518924289