Meeting Students at Colorado's Capital Conference and Leaving Inspired 

By Marsha Porter-Norton 

This blog post from the Colorado Capital Conference (CCC) highlights the students who attended, 12 total, with a smidgen of commentary on higher education funding.  By the way, the reason “capital” is with an “a” is because it refers to a city not a building. 

The reason students attend is that the CCC is hosted by CMU (formerly Mesa State and now Colorado Mesa University) and also by CU along with both of Colorado’s Senators.  On the trip, we also had Presidents from both Universities, some members of their governing boards, and several faculty. 

Not having many occasions to be around students these days, this was my favorite aspect of the trip.  For starters, my roommate had just graduated from CMU and was a technological whiz.  She was doing media work for CMU while on the trip:taking pictures, Vlogging (video blogging), writing, and all the while, texting and doing all things Smart Phone.  I was sort of in awe and her incredible media savvy. In fact, my new friend motivated me to write this blog.

Another student took the time to call into question some facts and figures one of our speakers was presenting. The speaker was the former Governor of Maryland and he was citing school failure as a significant contributor to the recent Baltimore riots.  She had done fast research on her phone (of course) and asked him some civil, yet pointed, questions about some of his ideas. Many of us feel intimidated by people in power and we shouldn’t. Elected officials answering questions and explaining or defending the information they share is part of the job. Good for her. 

Finally, another young person I met was not part of the CCC but I sat by her on the plane. She is a Captain in the Marine Corps on her way from Colorado to Quantico for training. She had a lot to say about the polarization in our country and how it’s really not helpful coming from an enlisted person’s viewpoint. At one moment on our flight, she pulled out The Economist magazine. I told her we get the magazine but I often do not find time to read it through and through. I received a nice lecture, veiled as commentary, from her on the importance of keeping up with all sides of an issue in a democracy. I came home and rounded up all our past Economists and am now newly motivated to read them. 

A funny moment was when on a break a student was sitting by me and taught me how to use the swipe function on my Android smart phone, a texting feature. Duh. So simple!  For those of who with whom I text, watch out. No longer will you get misspelled words or single sentence or letter texts. I told him he was my new best friend and later asked if he could come back to Durango and follow me around for a while.  

One issue that affects all these students is higher education funding in Colorado. On day 2 we had a panel on this topic.  It included Tim Foster, President of Colorado Mesa University; Senator Gardner; Senator Bennet; and CU Chancellor Donald Elliman.  All are pictured below.   To sum up a robust discussion and to be blunt: funding levels from the State coffers for higher education would be laughable in Colorado if the consequences were not so sad. We are 49^th in the country in terms of what our State contributes to higher education as a percentage of the General Fund.  Guess which State is 50^th? Mississippi.  How in the world are we rivaling Mississippi for the distinction of being last in the county for our commitment to higher ed?   Well, many blogs, laws and web sites are dedicated to this topic so I’ll be short and just say it’s the infamous fiscal knot created by TABOR, and the Gallagher Amendment and Amendment 23.    The General Fund in Colorado, which is what funds higher education, is so squeezed that our State cannot keep pace and federal cuts to higher education mean back filling from that level, even if agreed to, is not happening.      On the federal level, Pell grants used to make up 75% of students’ funding borrowing portfolio and now make up about 25%. Colleges are scrambling for tuition increases and chasing ever-more private money. President Foster said in his presentation, “….we will do this with or without State support." 

Senator Bennet spoke most eloquently about this and of course, his former position as Superintendent of Denver Schools means he brings a very credible perspective. He gave a dire warning, “We do not begin to pay enough attention to this issue and I encourage all of you to make this your issue." He noted income disparities and gave a staggering figure that kids in poverty enter kindergarten with a multi million word gap in relation to their peers not in poverty.   He went on to say that education is the basis of our governing and if we don’t fix this, “…we will not even begin to recognize our democracy.” I'm afraid this is not a futuristic comment. 

Higher Education Panel. Picture: CCC staff. 

One thing fiscal conservatives will like is the concept that this all has meant cutting fat from many of our campus budgets.   Colorado Mesa University’s President Foster cited the example of their campus going to a building heat exchange system saving a lot of money on energy costs along with congregating summer classes to fewer sites plus reducing the number of department deans. These are laudable moves and ones that might should have happened anyway. However,  in my humble view, cutting our way from 49^th to a reasonable ranking will not alone solve the problem. 

I heard one of the educational dignitaries on this trip say something such as: I always tell students their student debt is a car payment. The implication, at least to my ears,  was that it isn’t that big of a deal. My interest in this topic was so piqued by this comment that I’m formulating a blog post on students' higher education debt in relation to stagnant wages and job opportunity. Look for it soon.

Older generations are often concerned about young people coming up behind. Some fear handing over the keys to the country given their different ways of being, values or mores. This might especially be true now as the next generations have ventured into technology at a faster pace than at any time in history, it seems.   I found each one of these students to be engaging, intelligent and quite interested in politics and the future. And, I came away believing that if America is in the hands of the likes of this gang of 12, America will be just fine.  I only hope we can get our higher education funding scheme fixed so they have the same chances at the American Dream that I did.

CCC attendees. Picture: CCC staff 

MP-N Meets the Notorious RBG

MP-N Meets the Notorious RBG

By Marsha Porter-Norton

                                                     Update 9/18/20: Rest in Peace Justice Ginsburg 

You know the expression, “…s/he took my breath away”… well that is how I felt when Justice Ginsburg walked into the Supreme Court Courtroom at the Colorado Capital Conference session on June 5^th addressing our delegation.  Thank you to Senators Bennet and Gardner who somehow made this interview happen! 

 

This Tumblr (aka picture or graphic shared via social media) was
created by a law student and went viral.
 Read more at the bottom of this post.

My immediate impression of her is that her intellect takes over a room. She dressed in a lovely turquoise dress complete with matching earrings and a Zuni necklace.  

Being quite late to this popular culture news item, I learned Justice Ginsburg has gained quite a reputation among Millennials and is affectionately called the “Notorious RBG.” She is an internet icon among many young people and you can read more at the bottom of this post.   

With the risk of showing my age, I was slightly put off that an American Justice had been given such a persona. I mean the word notorious of course is for people who have done very bad things.  However, after thinking this through and being with 12 Millennial students at the conference, this all makes perfect sense. Millennials have inherited a world with so many challenges.   They are inundated with media of forms and in volumes never imagined by previous generations. It must be overwhelming.  Is it any wonder that something like a Tumblr graphic or someone as unique as Ruth Bader Ginsberg is what it takes to catch their eye?  The fact she has captured the attention of America’s youngest voters is inspiring. And, if it takes an image like this one, then I’m all for it.

She did not give a speech but rather spoke for a minute and then opened it up for questions for 35 minutes. There were several attorneys and law students in the delegation. They asked detailed legal questions.  Some of these she addressed and some she would not due to pending cases. Quite frankly, I was in such awe that I don’t remember each question and her responses specifically!   She did say something such as the legal tone of the country is not like the day-to-day weather but rather the overall climate of America’s justice system changes gradually over time.  Someone asked her to tell us her most notable case and she said, “I am not going to do that. That is like asking which of my four grandchildren is my favorite one.”    

The Supreme Court, made up nine Justices, receives 7,000 to 8,000 cases a year to consider.  They hear 80 of them or roughly 1%.  The docent who addressed us beforehand told us the cases that they hear are generally when two or more lower circuit courts have disagreed. There are other reasons a case might make it to the high court including state jurisdictional conflicts.  A rare state jurisdiction case is coming up this year between Colorado and Utah over guess what: water. Those in Colorado’s water world, I’m sure, will tune in for the audio or a transcript which anyone can do for any case at: http://www.supremecourt.gov/.

Lawyers who argue in front of the Court are not really trying a case, which may confuse some people. As the Notorious RBG put it, “…they don’t argue the cases. They have a discussion with us.” The Justices read briefs on the case beforehand and each lawyer gets one-half hour to present their points verbally and s/he is interrupted frequently with rapid fire questioning. If you know a lawyer who has argued a case in front of the court be sure and give them a pat on the back or buy him/her a beer. It must be a nerve wracking experience but one that comes with an adrenaline rush and much pride,  to be sure. 

This picture shows the room from the Justices’ vantage point.   We were in the red seats. The court room is actually smaller than I imagined. Absolutely no photographs, iPads, lap tops or videos are allowed.  This is the decision of the Chief Justice. Current Chief Justice Roberts bans them (or rather has continued the historic ban) believing that it will affect the proceedings. This makes total sense to me. The room has somberness about it that a selfie would well, taint.  Security is evident everywhere. The public can gain access to the gallery, which are the red seats in the picture,  through a ticketing system that is "first come first served."  There are also tickets issued where a visitor can be in the court room for a short time which allows more people to see it. 

Super Court Room.
Photo: The Supreme Court's Web site 

The court is in session from May through October with the rest of the year devoted to issuing decisions. No one knows when these decisions will be released.  Minority opinions can explain when a consensus is not reached and Justice Ginsburg is well known for her sharp dissents.  As we know, a major case on the Health Care Law (a.k.a. “Obamacare”)  is set to be released any moment and relates to whether the states’ health care exchanges can provide subsidies via Medicaid.

As we know from history, for the really contentious cases such as the gay marriage or abortion or civil rights issues, people come from all over America. Advocates or opponents  are either lucky enough to get in or they camp out in front.  Oh, if these steps could tell their stories.   

Photograph: Entrance to the Supreme Court
Photo: Marsha Porter-Norton 

While in the moment my breathe was so taken away I couldn’t really formulate a question. I think if I would have made an inquiry,  I would have asked her to grade our current American justice system in its entirety on an A to F scale in the context of recent news such as police brutality, marijuana, national security and privacy,  health care access, etc., etc.  From what little I heard from her, we can be rest assured that she would have answered the question with incredible thoughtfulness and intellect in her measured Brooklyn speech that has captured the hearts and minds of Millennials and now, MP-N.

******************************************************************* 

More on the Notorious RBG.....

“An 82-year-old Supreme Court justice and Jewish grandma seems an unlikely choice for Internet superstardom. But the kids love Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In 2013, law student Shana Knizhnik created a Tumblr dedicated to Ginsburg, called NOTORIOUS RBG, playing off the hyped-up persona of late rapper Notorious B.I.G. It went viral, and as Ginsburg spent 2013 and 2014 writing series of pointed opinions in important civil rights and gender equality cases, her notoriety — and fan base — grew among a young cohort of women and men not otherwise entrenched in daily Supreme Court doings. Ginsburg eventually noticed — she asked her law clerks, "What's this Notorious?" and the clerks explained the rapper connection — and she seems largely tickled by the online attention, telling Yahoo News's Katie Couric that "most of it I think is very funny."

Source and read more at:

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a40044/ruth-bader-ginsburg-internets-most-fascinating/

More links:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/16/ruth-bader-ginsburg-goes-full-notorious-rbg/. 

http://notoriousrbg.tumblr.com/.

  

On Civility and Bipartisanship and Bending the Trajectory

On Civility and Bipartisanship ~~  and Bending the Trajectory

By Marsha Porter-Norton 

The Colorado Capital Conference I recently attended was bipartisan.  I came away with renewed hope that our country can heal itself from our partisan wounds and perhaps, even tackle the big challenges we face.  The speaker line up modeled bipartisanship from the opening bell.  We heard from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell right along with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. We heard from Grover Norquist with Americans for Tax Reform and from President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough and his Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz.   The conference was hosted by Republican Senator Cory Gardner and Democrat Senator Michael Bennet and attended by a very diverse mix of attendees from across this  “purple” State.  Of course, Colorado Mesa University and the University of Colorado also hosted but are nonpartisan by nature.  Several speakers noted that many states would not even host a Capital Conference and also told us our state is one of the last bastions of bipartisanship. As if I wasn’t already so proud to be a Coloradoan.

Our country is very polarized.  We all know this.  So what was it like being there in close proximity to this supposed vile partisanship and is there anything that can be done?  Below are some thoughts from the speakers with some of my own conclusions woven through out.  To be clear, I don’t agree with all these ideas but they are at least food for thought and maybe some should move forward?

Redistricting: State legislatures draw the maps for Congressional races and the majority of them are so homogenous that most candidates do not have to interact with or be accountable to voters who have a differing world view.   This was the opinion of Senator Chuck Schumer, D, New York and also the former Republican Governor of Maryland, Robert “Bob” Erhlich.    Senator Schumer went as far as to say that we can largely thank our highly polarized country for the way these maps are drawn.  These maps affect the configuration of districts for House of Representatives races which eventually leads to the makeup of the House itself (Senators do not have “districts” as they run state wide).  This phenomenon is toxic for democracy as it creates Congress members who can safely ignore opposing views because they don’t represent very many voters who disagree with them.  One answer is to have State legislatures or maybe an appointed body step up and draw diverse district boundaries. We are lucky in our 3^rd Congressional District as the make up is more balanced than a “safe” district.   While this is a long term problem and will take a very creative set of solutions (and significant political will), Senator Schumer ended with a hopeful comment that our “…democracy will prevail.”   I hope he is right.

Open Primaries: This idea was also put forth by Senator Schumer. He theorized:   What if the primaries were open and everyone voted for any candidate regardless of party?  And further, what if there was then a run off of the top two vote getters?   Apparently California has done this and in his view, it became a governable state again.  The former Senator Trend Lott, R, Mississippi also called for election reform.     I get that the devil is in the details on this one.   There are many reasons, some of them valid, why the political parties wish to have only their voters voting for their candidates. I would note our City Council elections in Durango are non-partisan and the process seems to work just fine. It’s compelling.

Media:   “We are just in the opening moments of this media revolution”, relayed Matt Bai who is a national columnist for Yahoo News and before that chief political correspondent for the New York Times Magazine.   Much air time was given to our media systems and how they contribute to the polarization in our country because media of all forms influence our information base, voting and even, what we think of people who disagree with us.   Mr. Bai relayed that our society is in a cataclysmic shift in the way we consume media and in his words the way we “…monetize it.”  And, our political processes on all levels are right in the middle of this seismic activity.    As one side,  Governor Erhlich noted that cable news has taken the fun out of politics because candidates fear their every move will be aired out of context in the 24 hour news cycle (which is true) and thus, they become fearful of expression….scripted and stilted.   Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid added, “If all you watch is cable news, you think we hate each other. We don’t.” One of the best solutions coming from Mr. Bai is to require media literacy in our schools. Love this idea.   Maybe too each of us can be careful about what we believe on Facebook or other social media; we can research facts;  we can discount political advertising that is hateful; and/or maybe we can make a habit of talking  more with neighbors,  friends or family of different political stripes.

Money:  This might be the area I sensed the highest amount of “stuck-ed-ness.” The vast amount of money in politics was cited across the board as being depressingly unhealthy but there was no consensus about solutions.   One speaker noted that in the old days, candidates would talk about issues with voters. Now, they must spend the majority of their time talking about money to donors.   My favorite ideas which were generated from a variety of our speakers included getting rid of the shadowy super PACs that hide campaign donations and require that all donations go directly to the candidates. Another idea was to combine that tactic with removing any limits but put in place the requirement of immediate reporting on-line so we all see in real time who is giving to who. The  allure and addiction of money in politics is not going to go away.  I believe it’s a matter of how badly we want our democracy back as to if any reforms will be instituted.    

 
What does divided government mean? Several of the speakers noted that they think the USA has hit a new low in polarization and that things are improving.  The country has accomplished some things lately.  The conservative columnist William “Bill”  Kristol told us the evenness in our country views creates even more polarization since it’s not clear where we stand. We the People elect a very conservative House and a Republican Senate and yet, the President was reelected. He said this gives leaders inconsistent signals and makes them wonder if they have mandates to govern. Conversely, one speaker noted a divided government is not necessarily a bad thing because it forces compromise.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R, Kentucky noted wisely though that a divided government isn’t a message of:  “We don’t want the Congress to  do nothing.”    

Some of the elected officials  who spoke to us said something such as:  I know it seems like we don’t like each other but we actually do. We are friends. We go to dinner or workout together.   I was thinking:    “Really. The average citizen would never guess that you all like each other based on what you often say often say on TV, put in your campaign ads, and write.”   This argument is sort of akin to the kid on the playground who is bulling and tells the teacher: I didn’t meant it. Everyone does it. I actually like the person I was hitting.    If elected officials would focus more on civility in every single  thing that they do the country probably would shift or at the very least, we would have more role models.

This current state of partisanship is real but it doesn’t have to define what our democracy looks like for our children and their children. My take away is that our government is us. Washington DC is not a separate animal while it may feel that way sometimes.  Political Consultant Frank Luntz relayed to us that only leaders will change this divided and toxic political environment, not us.  I must respectfully and whole heartedly disagree.  The people choose to have such a partisan country. We choose this by who we elect; which media we consume; with our thoughts and words.  Our problems are too big not to take this issue seriously.  As Senator Cory Booker, D, New Jersey  noted, “On all indices from the World Economic Forum, the United States is dropping….in graduation rates, R&D investment, infrastructure, etc. and this is a threat to our future.”   In order to solve these huge challenges,  present and future generations need us to bend the trajectory of our civility and bipartisanship towards a healthier destination.  I think we can but will we?

Learn more about the conference at: http://www.coloradomesa.edu/capitalconference/