The 2013 session of the Colorado General Assembly is history now, and what a session it was. Longtime observers of the state government have described this legislative session as the most productive in a generation, and we’re proud to have been a part of getting things done for our districts and the people of Colorado. We passed 441 bills during the 120-day session, 95 percent with bipartisan support.

Pete was prime sponsor of five bills that passed the Legislature. He concentrated on jobs and economic development. One of his bills was the Keep Jobs in Colorado Act, which reduces outsourcing and adjusts the bidding process for state contracts to ensure that more of our taxpayer dollars go to support Colorado businesses and hire Colorado workers, not businesses out of state or overseas.

He was also a prime sponsor of the economic gardening bill. Colorado spends millions of dollars every year on incentives to attract large-scale businesses, but does little for smaller businesses that are established in the state. Pete’s bill creates a pilot program to provide Fortune 500-quality consulting assistance to medium-sized Colorado businesses with growth potential.

In his first session as a legislator, Tony was prime sponsor of four bills that became law. One of them fixes a confidentiality loophole that prevented thousands of unemployed Coloradans from being contacted by job placement agencies. Another means more students from low-income families will get breakfast in school, reducing the number of kids who don’t learn as well because they’re hungry.

We supported bills that will have a measurable impact in boosting our economy and connecting more Coloradans to good jobs, increasing renewable energy, expanding the availability of health care, advancing the civil rights of workers and improving the state’s tax structure.

We joined a bipartisan majority to support a balanced state budget that increases K-12 funding by $127 million and adds $36 million to higher education, beginning the process of filling in the cuts our schools have received in recent years.

We supported reasonable measures to make our neighborhoods safer by making it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to obtain guns, while also protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

We voted with a bipartisan majority for civil unions, getting the government out of the business of deciding which loving couples to grant legal protections to.

We joined the bipartisan vote for Colorado ASSET, which follows through on our investment in K-12 education by making Colorado high school graduates, regardless of immigration status, eligible for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. When more young Coloradans become bigger contributors to our state’s prosperity, we all reap the benefit.

Of course, not every one of our constituents agrees with every vote we cast. With deep respect for those who hold opposing viewpoints, we proudly stand behind our votes, and with our constituents.

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State Rep. Pete Lee’s House represents District 18. Contact him at 303-866-2932 or reppete@gmail.com. State Rep. Tony Exum Sr.’s House District 17 includes southeastern Colorado Springs. Contact him at 303-866-3069 or tony@tonyexum.com.

Pete Lee