Dear Friends & Supporters,

My work at the Capitol continues at a very fast pace! On a weekly basis, we probably cast 100 or more votes on
the House floor and in committees. I don't think that you would want to read a complete account, so let me
again hit the highlights.

Transportation

Saturday morning found me high in the clouds in an airplane over Northern Colorado, looking down at the new
"front range transportation corridor." We flew to Wellington along I-25, then turned east about 10-15 miles, then
turned southward to follow where the new 4-lane highway and rail corridor will be. Our 7-seat plane was almost
full; I joined two other State Representatives, a State Senator, a co-pilot, and the pilot. At first we wondered if
we would get off the ground. The plane wouldn't start. Apparently the maintenance crew at Centennial Airport
had run the batteries dead working on the radio system. But with the help of jumper cables we were soon
airborne.

A large company in the U.S., who doesn't want their name mentioned yet, is willing to invest and borrow
approximately $2 billion dollars to build a toll highway from I-25 (the Wellington exit) eastward around Greeley,
east of DIA, east of Colorado Springs, and finally come out about 10 miles south of Pueblo. The project would
start this fall, if plans go according to schedule, and would finish in 30 months. There would be no cost to the
taxpayer since all of the expense would be according to usage via tolling. The cost to drive on, I was told, would
be about $.09 per mile as compared to the cost of $.18 per mile in the 470 toll road around Denver. The cost to
drive on our state highways and interstates is about $.04 per mile, and is paid primarily by gas taxes.

For those who are "in a hurry," the speed limit on the new highway would be 85 miles per hour. The cost of the
highway patrol would be carried by the tolling amount, but the highway patrolmen would be hired and
supervised by our State Highway Patrol.

The new highway would greatly improve traffic flow on I-25. Trucks would use the new highway, and trains
would use the new rail lines that run alongside it. This includes many of our freight trains and all of the coal
trains. This would relieve the congestion of our existing freight lines going through Denver. This could free the
lines for passenger train use from Fort Collins to Pueblo, as some people are requesting.

A bill allowing this tolling entity to toll across county lines (7 counties all together) will come up before the House
Transportation Committee this Wednesday, 2/2/05, at 1:30. I expect very little, if any, opposition to this. I plan
to vote YES.

Budget

Magic happens! During last year's budget (2004/2004) we had a $147 million shortfall. But someone figured
the federal inflation rate wrong. This year, (2005/2006) an accounting and computer error was discovered
and we learned that we had $161 million dollars more than we thought.

Nevertheless, we still have work to do to balance our budget. Previously, we were off by about 2%. Now it
is less than 1%. The Democrats have referred to our previous shortfall as a "crisis" and a "train wreck" when
nothing could be further from the truth! Colorado is the envy of many states because our total tax burden ranks
8th best nation-wide.

In looking for the best budgeting plan, we need to consider several priorities:

-the possible securitization of our tobacco lawsuit

-sufficient construction funding of new highways, bridges, and new driving lanes

-the equitable restructuring of Amendment 23 (K-12 education) and TABOR (The Taxpayers Bill of Rights).
There are 4 proposals on the table now. All but one focuses on TABOR. Rep. Keith King's effort addresses
Amendment 23, but only in a limited way.

Gay Agenda

A bill that would give homosexuals and lesbians special rights in the work place was passed by a 4 to 3 vote in
the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee. All 3 Republicans voted NO. Staffers estimate the
new law would cost the state about $79,000 the first year to hire someone to review the expected claims. The
bill's next stop is the appropriations committee. If it passes that committee, it then goes on to the Senate floor. I
recommend that you call, write, or e-mail your State Senator to voice your opinion.

The GLSEN (Gay - Lesbian - Straight Education Network) strongly pushed a resolution in our nation called "No-
Name Calling Week." Rep. Angie Paccione from Fort Collins carried this bill in the House and it passed. I voted
NO. Last year when she carried it, the resolution died in the Education Committee. Now that the Democrats
have control of the House, Senate and all of the Committees, these kinds of resolutions and bills will most likely
pass.

Finally
I will continue to do my best to represent the citizens of Loveland by providing the proper government services,
keeping taxes as low as possible, letting you keep as much of your freedoms as possible, and standing for what
is right and fair to all concerned. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail, letter, or phone call. You are also
welcome to visit me.

Thank you for your prayers and support! May God bless our great State and Country!

Respectfully,
Jim Welker
House District 51