Calonge addressed the concerns many people have with not being able to get the vaccine, the state’s estimation that it should have three times the amount of vaccine it currently has, whether Colorado is getting its fair share, how the state distributes it, who should get the vaccine, whether the administration is to blame for the lack of supply and if someone already has the flu, what they should do.

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STATE BILL COLORADO
DENVER — Republican Jane Norton told 9News’ ‘Your Show’ on Sunday that she’s running for the U.S. Senate because over the summer she became “more and more concerned” about the direction of the country, citing the federal stimulus, cap-and-trade legislation and the president’s recent health-care reform proposals.
“I couldn’t stand by and not get in the race,” Norton said.
Norton, a former Colorado lieutenant governor who is vying in a crowded Republican primary for the right to challenge either incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet or would-be senator Andrew Romanoff, told the program she agreed with one viewer who called the stimulus “spending insanity” and said she would shine a light on earmarks and let Congress vote up or down on them. She would also look at emergency spending bills that get laden with “all sorts of nonemergency provisions.” Colorado has a single subject bill requirement that Norton said she would extend to Congress. She would also not authorize spending that’s not part of an appropriations process; by some estimates, that spending totals $100 billion. Finally, “it might be good for the nation” to have line-item veto powers enjoyed by 43 governors, Norton said.
Congress isn’t listening to what the American public is saying about being thrifty during the current downturn, Norton told ‘Your Show’ host Adam Schrager.
“We want a stimulus that’s going to be job-sustaining growth, not these one-off infusions of cash,” she said.
Asked the best way to reduce reliance on petroleum products, Norton said would advocate for an “all-of-the-above” strategy that calls for nuclear power, car electrification, and additional research and development. “Cap and trade is not the way to do it,” she said.
Schrager received a number of questions about illegal immigration, and he posed the issue to Norton, as he said he’s done with other candidates.
“We need to secure the borders,” Norton responded. “We also need to enforce the laws we have on the books right now. … We have to design a verifiable and efficient temporary worker program so employers, especially our hospitality and agricultural sector, know when they want to employ someone … they are here legally.”
On the issue of the Afghanistan war, Norton said America needs to stay in that country “and get the job done.”
“We can fight it here, or we can fight it there. I think it’s better to fight it there,” she said.
She also said she doesn’t advocate an arbitrary timeline for departing from the country.
Regarding small business growth, Norton called for a basic health-care program that would keep costs low. She would also give tax breaks — “tax equity,” she called it — to people who buy their own health care. She also believes tort reform will control runaway health-care costs.
Montana Sen. Max Baucus’ bill, which lacks a public option, is a “step in the right direction” but still would lead to huge government spending.
Finally, Norton called Colorado’s 2010 U.S. Senate race a “referendum between big government spending or can individuals achieve in this country?”

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STATE BILL COLORADO
DENVER — Andrew Romanoff may be perceived as a latecomer to the U.S. Senate race, but he’s not, and his candidacy won’t divide the Democratic party, he insisted Sunday on 9News ‘Your Show.’
Romanoff, the former Colorado House speaker who was term limited in January 2009, aid his aim is to grow the party. The recent Democratic presidential primaries was good for democracy and good for the Democrats. “Democrats are a lot like cats,” he said. The sounds of alley-fighting are Democrats “making more cats.”
The candidate was asked to point out a difference between himself and Michael Bennet, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to the seat vacated by Ken Salazar when was made secretary of the Interior.
He replied: “I bring to this race a strong record of legislative leadership. … I know how to find common ground. I also know where to draw the line. I bring I think the strong record of legislative leadership … of any candidate, on either side of the aisle.”
Asked why he didn’t decide to run earlier, Romanoff said, “I did spend a good deal of the year teaching and traveling and talking to ordinary Coloradans.” The 14 months that lay between now and November 2010 is “plenty of time” for Coloradans to pick a senator, he said. The selection of a senator is important, and should rest with the people, Romanoff stressed.
Schrager asked: How would Romanoff overcome President Obama’s endorsement of the Bennet pick? Romanoff said, “We’ve got support from all across the state. … Within a couple weeks, you’ll see us put together a campaign that has a leader in every county.” No one is entitled to the job, Romanoff said.
“The only job I’m focused on is representing the people of Colorado in the United States Senate.” It’s not about his job, Romanoff said, it’s about yours. “Those are the jobs I think we should make sure the campaign focuses on.”
On the issue of health care, Romanoff said the public option should be made available to every American who wants it, citing the need to hold insurance companies accountable. “We heard from lots of constituents trying to get claims paid,” he said of testimony in Colorado’s House of Representatives.
A viewer asked about his past support for single payer health insurance. Does he still support it? Romanoff said he does, saying he doesn’t believe in “the luck of the draw.” Single payer would energize the economy, Romanoff said.
“What causes a great deal of upheaval in families right now is when they face a catastrophic illness or injury that sends them into bankruptcy,” he said.
Romanoff, who received a law degree from the University of Denver, was asked by one viewer about medical malpractice tort reform. Romanoff instead proposed a “pay for performance” model for doctors that would raise health outcomes.
The Employee Free Choice Act needs to be brought to the floor of the Senate, and a filibuster should be avoided, Romanoff said. Romanoff supports the bill but said he wants to preserve the secret ballot for union approvals.
Romanoff was asked about his vote supporting a 2003 resolution supporting then-President Bush’s entry into the Iraq war. Romanoff replied, “Like most Americans, I regret that way we went into Iraq with a definite exit strategy.”

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