June 2010

 

This summer will be less eventful than 2009, because the Legislature passed a bill suspending interim committees for 2010. There are a few standing committees that continue to meet over the interim, such as the Capital Development Committee and the Audit Committee. Other committees will meet if they receive outside funding; the Economic Opportunity/Poverty Reduction Task Force, of which I am a member, is one in this category.

 

Don’t forget to attend my monthly Town Hall Meeting on this Saturday, June 19, at the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling Streetfrom 10:30 a.m. to noon. The topics will be the redevelopment of the Westminster Mall, presented by Westminster City Manager Brent McFall, and the expansion of King Soopers at 80^th and Wadsworth, presented by Arvada City Councilwoman Rachel Zeninger.

 

Although the Legislature is not in session, I will be at my Capitol office one or two days per week during most of the interim. My office number has changed – I’m now in Room 330.    I’d be glad to take you on a personal tour of the Capitol, if you’d like to visit. Just e-mail me at senatorhudak@gmail.com to request a visit and/or tour.

 

The 2010 issue of The Voters’ Voice has been printed and will be hand-delivered to the houses in Senate District 19 by a volunteer at some time over the summer. This publication, created by my predecessor Senator Sue Windels, now in its 13^th edition, has a summary of key bills passed during the recent legislative session. It will also be posted on my website soon. 

 

I was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) to replace Senator Bacon. The Advisory Committee meets with CCHE to give input on topics being discussed. CCHE is the board that makes decisions for the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). Members of CCHE are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Senate District 19 is well represented on CCHE, with its Chair and Vice Chair being from the district, as well as the parent member of the Advisory Committee and now myself too. One of the key issues CCHE is working on currently is the Strategic Plan for CDHE. With the state’s budget shrinking, our institutions of higher education need to ensure that they can continue to exist and meet the needs of their students. 

 

After the session ended, besides attending my first meeting with CCHE, moving my office to Room 330, writing the Voters’ Voice, and taking a little vacation time, this is what I have been doing as your State Senator: