Home for the holidays

Home for the holidays, facing another year in the Legislature

Dec. 29, 2001

Life In The Legislature
By State Rep. Mark Larson

Is anyone else as stunned as I am to find out that New Year’s is next week? How did that happen? After Christmas completely snuck up on me, I took a more serious long-term look at my calendar (long-term to a legislator being a week to 10 days out) only to find the 2001 is all but gone and the 2002 session just a little over a week away.

Having put that panic attack behind me, at least until the end of this article, I assessed what had happened that would cause for this losing-track-of-time phenomena. Certainly the extraordinary sessions had something to do with it. These seemingly unnecessary exercises in partisan futility only wreaked havoc on an already very full summer of interim committees and meetings around the district. Consequently, all of the meetings that had been scheduled when the extraordinary sessions were called had to be compacted into the remaining available time slots. A special "thanks" to all of you that were so accommodating!

I think the second time-evaporating phenomenon was unexpectedly being asked to serve on committees or panels that could potentially impact our community. At least one of those committees had multiple meetings around the state that I had not planned on attending. The Colorado Mental Health Institute steering committee wrestled with reducing beds at the Fort Logan (Denver) and Pueblo Institutes and transferring those beds to rural communities like Durango. While a worthy concept, trying to accomplish this goal while remaining revenue neutral (those fiscal dictates that can only be accomplished in theory, seldom in practice), translates into spreading already diminishing resources even further. The seven meetings being completed, we are finalizing our report. Complain as I might, this was time very well spent.

The largest demand on time is the most enjoyable part of my job, and quite possibly, why I completely lost track. Attending meetings around the district, explaining what is happening in Denver and listening to your concerns is what I truly enjoy about serving. Southwestern Colorado has a very involved and participative citizenry. Accordingly, I have a tremendous resource in you and never have to wonder what my position should be on issues. Naturally, there will be times we disagree.

However, I have found that on only one or two occasions has my position not been reflective of what the majority of my district thought ... and I have you to thank. The session begins on Jan. 9, 2002. I will again be contacting you to gain your opinion on legislation and how it will impact our home.

The most satisfying time consumer is the one-on-one case work. It can also be the biggest drain on my emotions and patience with state government. The tremendous diversity of casework issues tests my knowledge level and ability to effectively resolve problems. Some problems are easy to correct and I simply need to put someone in touch with a bureaucrat. But all too often, a case will surface that, hard as I try, cannot be resolved without an act of Congress, removal of TABOR, a change of attitude in administration or the make up of the legislature. That is when I step into my closet and scream in frustration.

I am amazed at how time has flown over the past three years of serving you. In this holiday season and, especially since Sept. 11, when our spirits and emotions seem to resemble a roller-coaster ride, I want to take this time to thank each and every one of you ... my community family, my friends and not so friends, of all races, stature and religion, for being who you are and making our little corner of the world such a wonderful place to live. Peace and love.

Mark Larson is a state representative from Cortez. He can be reached at the Capitol by phone, (303) 866-2914; by fax, (303) 866-2218; or by email at marklarson@sni.net . He also has a web site at www.larsoncolorado.com.