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GRAND JUNCTION - In a gubernatorial debate Saturday, Republican candidate Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter agreed the state faces difficulties in funding transportation, higher education and health care, but disagreed on when to address solutions.
Ritter told an audience at Club 20's fall meeting he favored a constitutional convention after the voter-approved budget measure Referendum C sunsets in five years. The measure allows the state to keep an estimated $5 billion in tax surplus refunds in that time.
Beauprez, however, said waiting would be "bad leadership."
"We know we've got problems," Beauprez said. "Why in the world wouldn't we begin the task of beginning a dialogue."
The candidates were asked about their approach to fixing Colorado's health care system. About 17.1 percent, or 770,000 Coloradans, are uninsured, according to the Colorado Health Institute.
Lack of access to health care is an issue that has been taken on by governors, Ritter said. Ritter said he would favor Colorado adopting a primary care package similar to what Massachusetts adopted earlier this year.
"It is shared responsibility," Ritter said. "Individuals have a responsibility to carry insurance."
Ritter added that the state government can help offer a low-cost menu of health services. Beauprez said there was no silver bullet to fix the health care problem, but electronic medical records filing, telemedicine, physician reimbursements and nurse-help phone lines would save money.
Both candidates spoke about the need for importing foreign workers to work in the agriculture, tourism and construction sectors to fill jobs Coloradans won't take.
Ritter said the United States needs a rational immigration policy at both the state and federal levels.
"I have to be a person who is in favor of guest worker visas," Ritter said. "That kind of policy has to come from the federal government."
Beauprez, who also favors a guest worker program, said there is a need to use biometrics and other forms of identification for legal immigrants.
"We can't track a work force in year 2006? Of course we can," Beauprez said.
The candidates also took on water and environmental impacts of energy development, both important issues on the Western Slope.
Beauprez said science should drive conclusions on environmental impacts, but it's important to be vigilant when monitoring water. "Once (water's) contaminated sometimes it can never be rectified," Beauprez said.
Ritter, who spoke about his opposition to Referendum A, said more water needs to be stored from aquifers on the Front Range. Referendum A would have provided up to $2 billion for water storage projects but was seen as an attempt by the Front Range to steal water.
Both candidates spoke about revamping transportation, which is funded primarily through the state and federal gas tax.
Ritter said, if elected, he would form a transportation commission within his first 90 days in office to consider new funding sources. "We're not investing in infrastructure," Ritter said. "We're not able to maintain our roads and bridges with the current funding stream."
Beauprez favors scrapping the gas tax and increasing the sales tax by .77 cents on the dollar.
Before the debate began, supporters of Beauprez and Libertarian candidate Dawn Winkler started a shouting match outside Two Rivers Convention Center.
"The only choice for governor is the only governor for choice," Winkler supporters chanted. Beauprez supporters retorted by spelling out the candidate's name.
Club 20 represents 22 western Colorado counties on issues such as transportation, water and natural resources.
Ritter told an audience at Club 20's fall meeting he favored a constitutional convention after the voter-approved budget measure Referendum C sunsets in five years. The measure allows the state to keep an estimated $5 billion in tax surplus refunds in that time.
Beauprez, however, said waiting would be "bad leadership."
"We know we've got problems," Beauprez said. "Why in the world wouldn't we begin the task of beginning a dialogue."
The candidates were asked about their approach to fixing Colorado's health care system. About 17.1 percent, or 770,000 Coloradans, are uninsured, according to the Colorado Health Institute.
Lack of access to health care is an issue that has been taken on by governors, Ritter said. Ritter said he would favor Colorado adopting a primary care package similar to what Massachusetts adopted earlier this year.
"It is shared responsibility," Ritter said. "Individuals have a responsibility to carry insurance."
Ritter added that the state government can help offer a low-cost menu of health services. Beauprez said there was no silver bullet to fix the health care problem, but electronic medical records filing, telemedicine, physician reimbursements and nurse-help phone lines would save money.
Both candidates spoke about the need for importing foreign workers to work in the agriculture, tourism and construction sectors to fill jobs Coloradans won't take.
Ritter said the United States needs a rational immigration policy at both the state and federal levels.
"I have to be a person who is in favor of guest worker visas," Ritter said. "That kind of policy has to come from the federal government."
Beauprez, who also favors a guest worker program, said there is a need to use biometrics and other forms of identification for legal immigrants.
"We can't track a work force in year 2006? Of course we can," Beauprez said.
The candidates also took on water and environmental impacts of energy development, both important issues on the Western Slope.
Beauprez said science should drive conclusions on environmental impacts, but it's important to be vigilant when monitoring water. "Once (water's) contaminated sometimes it can never be rectified," Beauprez said.
Ritter, who spoke about his opposition to Referendum A, said more water needs to be stored from aquifers on the Front Range. Referendum A would have provided up to $2 billion for water storage projects but was seen as an attempt by the Front Range to steal water.
Both candidates spoke about revamping transportation, which is funded primarily through the state and federal gas tax.
Ritter said, if elected, he would form a transportation commission within his first 90 days in office to consider new funding sources. "We're not investing in infrastructure," Ritter said. "We're not able to maintain our roads and bridges with the current funding stream."
Beauprez favors scrapping the gas tax and increasing the sales tax by .77 cents on the dollar.
Before the debate began, supporters of Beauprez and Libertarian candidate Dawn Winkler started a shouting match outside Two Rivers Convention Center.
"The only choice for governor is the only governor for choice," Winkler supporters chanted. Beauprez supporters retorted by spelling out the candidate's name.
Club 20 represents 22 western Colorado counties on issues such as transportation, water and natural resources.
