The CU Denver School of Public Affairs hosted a bipartisan legislative panel for its monthly First Friday Breakfast Series. Tanya Kelly-Bowry, Vice President of Government Relations, moderated the March 1 event. Panelists included Representative Chris Hansen (D-Denver), Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale), and Colorado Sun Political reporter Jesse Paul. The panelists discussed the 2019 legislative session, budget hurdles, policy priorities, and the political climate at the Capitol. In particular, Representative Hansen and Senator Rankin discussed the role of the Joint Budget Committee and the development of the long bill, which is the piece of legislation passed every year that funds the Colorado government and its programs. Reporter Jesse Paul explained the importance of objective political reporting during the legislative session and its impact on the legislature. More than 150 people attended the breakfast event, including a mix of citizens, nonprofit stakeholders, public officials, students, and representatives from the CU Denver campus.

CU Denver Dean of School of Public Affairs Paul Teske, Representative Chris Hansen, CU VP of Government Relations Tanya Kelly-Bowry, Senator Bob Rankin, Colorado Sun Political Reporter Jesse Paul, CU Denver Chancellor Dorothy Horrell

Kathryn Werner, CU Denver School of Public Affairs