CO lawmakers preview big issues on the table for 2020

Colorado lawmakers are preparing for another legislative session with Democrats running the House and Senate starting next week.

KRDO crews drove up to the Colorado State Capitol to speak with House Democrats about their plans for the upcoming session, and Republicans on their thoughts.

The number one issue expected to be on the table in 2020 is healthcare.

Governor Jared Polis is pushing the health insurance public option, a program that would be regulated by the government in an attempt to lower costs, putting a cap on how much hospitals can charge.

He says it'll help people in rural areas where options are fewer.

"When there's not a choice, there's no competition. And frankly for markets to work, we need competition," Polis said in a conference last month.

Senate Republicans are pushing back. The Colorado Hospital Association says it'll hurt the healthcare industry, and they agree.

"We believe that those kind of top-down solutions tend to not work and tend to make the situation worse than it already is," said Sage Naumann, Communications Director for the Colorado Senate Republicans.

While they disagree on how to do it, both parties want to drive healthcare prices down.

House Speaker KC Becker says there's room to negotiate, if Republicans have other ideas.

"If you don’t like it, come to the table with your own option," she said in a press conference on Friday.

Like last session, education is also a big ticket issue.

Last year, parents jumped at the opportunity for free full day kindergarten.

Now Governor Polis wants to create legislation to get more kids into preschools across the state. He also said he wants to make teaching jobs more appealing.

"We are seeking a further expansion." he said. "as well as working to prepare more opportunities for childhood educators to make sure that the kids get the very best preparation."

Complaint after complaint about transportation has pushed the issue higher up the list this session.

"We have a 9 billion dollar or so backlog in road repairs and road improvements. We need to start putting money toward that," Naumann said.

And last but not least, the people say they want government transparency.

Speaker Becker says they're working to be more transparent financially.

"Taxpayers should know how their tax dollars are being spent," she said.

We asked about transparency when it comes to officer involved shootings, and the release of body cam footage.

Becker and Majority Leader Alec Garnett say upgrades to current legislation will most likely be talked about this session.

The new legislative session starts next Wednesday and runs through May 6.