Hello everyone. Good morning and thank you for sticking around we are thrilled to have the governor of colorado back for the second year in a row i am an Energy Reporter at politico. We have a limited time so we will have a speed round on a number of topics for governor hogan. Colorado has very ambitious climate goals. Can you outline those for us. Yes i ran for office with a goal of 100 Renewable Energy by 2040. We already had several communities that stepped up with more aggressive goals the first was pueblo, colorado our industrial heartland with a goal of 100 Renewable Energy by 2035 also to cities that have already achieved 100 aspen and now glenwood springs. We look forward to have the statewide story. We have a variety of utility providers and number of municipals, some are leading the way, some are lagging that were looking forward to work with everybody to achieve that. You talked about 100 renewables in just 20 years but the plan you put forward has no enforcement mechanism so how do you ensure you will get all the way there . Hard to have specific policies for the full window so our largest utility in the state now in the statute is 80 carbon reduction by 2030 so thats ten years. The discussions with tristate which we join them in 90 percent by 2030. So yes that final ten or 20 in that decade we will get there but the planning cannot begin until we reach 80 or 90 . What about the transportation sector, now the highest carbon emitting sector in the economy . Coloradans like allwheeldrive, boats. How do you transfer that economy away from fossil fuels quick. We are also excited about opportunities for beneficial electrification to be on the forefront of adopting electric vehicles. Colorado consumers are excited about zero emission electric vehicles, 2. 5 of vehicles sold last year. We recently adopted the zero emission standards for those sold over the next five years we on the forefront of charging infrastructure and also looking at Multimodal Community solutions for residents like front range rail along highway 25, what alternatives people have to getting in their car and driving. Youre here as part of the governor associations meeting with your colleagues. Are you talking about energy and climate issues because we havent seen Congress Move forward. Youll have to ask me after. I dont know discussions the next few days but certainly is something we talk about the western governors, connectivity of the grid and transmission infrastructure. Im sure energy will be one of the topics that is covered today or tomorrow. Speaking of western governor issues, water is a big issue out west and the Colorado River basin is running short. What are you doing . Also nevada and arizona, water is the lifeblood of our economy and way of life whether for the ag industry or growing metropolitan and suburban areas. What we look at in colorado last week 30 minute version, i will try to give it in one minute, we have a state water plan that includes water storage and efficiency that was completed under my predecessor John Hickenlooper who is now a candidate for the United States senate is a question of funding that planned. So now we include 10 million from the general fund this year, but we also passed a a Sports Gaming initiative on the ballot that provides a dedicated Funding Source for water projects. That doesnt start until the rules are out to but as that gets up and going that will produce revenue for Water Infrastructure and efficiency projects. Lets turn to a new Agricultural Industry in your state, cannabis. Colorado is one of the full first states to legalize marijuana in 2014. Since then, a growing industry has sprouted around that substance. What still needs to be done to make sure it is safe for everyone . We have a thriving cannabis industry so one is more on the ag side, Industrial Hemp recently formally allowed under the most recent farm bill. We just sent in our comments secretary purdues addition draft rules on that, we have suggestions for improvements, but hundreds of colorado farmers are growing happy for textile products and cbd, on the other side that gets more attention nationally is on the marijuana side. These are not large farms they are grow houses, generally indoors. Its a high value crop and heavily regulated with Strong Security requirements about the supply chain, but we have a more mature industry than any other state. In a couple years ahead we want to keep that advantage because they will catch us we want to be ready for the next stage with Capital Formation and then to go public and banking remains an issue we have the save act which passed the house one of the lead sponsors is rep. Perlmutter from the colorado, on the banking and finance committee ever also making sure that Cannabis Companies have access to financial services. Its getting more attention in congress these days so with the federal legalization how does that affect your state quick. It would be good. In many jurisdictions sales are not legal. We have local control. Kansas or utah it is not legal at all. Its up to each town in our state if they want to have dispensaries are not the secondlargest city Colorado Springs does not have any. Nearby towns do. That we value that local control just as we do for other activities there are state parameters you cannot be near schools and have to have security cameras but its up to each community how many and where they want to allow it. Turning to technology questions, the house antitrust subcommittee held a field hearing in boulder to investigate allegations that Big Tech Companies are violating antitrust law. O what do you think about the Tech Companies . Are they too big . I didnt get a chance to attend the field hearing so im glad to hear they are hearing from local folks. The concept of what antitrust means in a 21st century internet economy is important. In many ways we have to figure out what that means from a Competitive Landscape that used to be easy if you were in a certain industry selling with 80 of the market but how do you define the market . Googles more than a Search Company so this percentage of the Search Market but what does that mean . So its an interesting space. Im glad those discussions are occurring to figure out the right balance to support innovation and prevent anticompetitive practices. I wasn to talk space force, the Newest Branch of the military. Colorado is a front runner to be home of the us command. What are you doing to move the command to your state . I know its a big competition between jurisdictions. We think colorado is the best place for Space Command we have the infrastructure in Colorado Springs and el paso county. We already have military bases. We have a great quality of life for military spouses. We are also aligning state transportation investment to meet the needs of activef duty and then to have the best proposition. We have a Strong Military presence and heritage in our state. It is important for the aerospace players. And the Space Command with help be a linchpin in that continued leadership in the space economy. Your administration has proposed Public Health insurance option to reduce healthcare costs. It would be run by private Insurance Companies and with government oversight. Many states have not been successful in this, how will colorado . This is a Publicprivate Partnership it could mean the government is running. It could mean a coop. Vanessa be a public option to provide competition in 22 counties theres only one choice. They dont have that competitive or downward pressure. How to reintroduce the competition into the market to drive down rates, save consumers money had is consistent. How has industry responded . Its a reflection point and there are some options so you are not cut out this model so it is a Strategic Direction direction, better than governmentrun models but not the freeforall with the state of the industry. Is this something youre pushing through the Legislature Soon . And then to formalize the process of the implementation bill. And then to be introduced in the coming weeks. Will you need price caps on hospitals to make this work . It generates the savings for consumers that is between ten and 20 on premiums in three ways. One, it recaptures the pharmaceutical rebates. And the reduces the medical loss ratio for Insurance Companies, its a Small Group Market the same with a Large Group Market of 85 cents of every dollar paid goes out the door and then we have cost controls so yes we have to have leverage for better rates, and enough to continue to be successful but to rein in this overcharging and excess charges across the board. Saying on healthcare, the Trump Administration has pushed for regulation that would allow some states to import prescription drugs from canada. Have you had any conversations with hhs about this we spoke to secretary these are several times along with florida we have passed legislation importing prescription drugs from canada. Those are continuing. We need a waiver to do that but we are optimistic based on those initial conversations but the devil is in the details. Could it happen soon . The administration is interested in getting it done by the end of the year. We would hope this year or early next yeat this program can begin. Have you discussed this with any Democratic Candidates with the b ryan one on board to keeping that in place in colorado . We see this as a workaround. We have some other ideas in our state, but this is a pragmatic workaround to the extortion of consumers by pharmaceutical companies. Paid familiy lead, so an effort to pass 12 weeks of paid family leave failed in colorado but your take on how to move forward is a little different than other liberal lawmakers. In your view so the private sector should oppose one pay for the leave instead of creating a new state program to fund it. Im optimistic colorado can get this done. And with paid family leave it is a concept that time is long overdue. We are really excited to make sure more coloradans can get paid family leave. We have unpaid through fmla. And paid many provide paid but how do we send it to more people and make sure they can afford to take the time off to be with kids or their ailing family members . Moving on to education, as the father of two Charter Schools and on the campaign trail sometimes that is a controversial option. Many of the president ial candidates have been criticizing Charter Schools. What do you think of the argument that they take funding and resources away from Public Schools. Every state is different, they are just like any other Public School with the local administration and we have a hybrid school between a charter and a district, so we encourage innovation and excellence. Its no different conventional or innovation or Charter School. We value the quality of education. All schools held accountable. So what role the federal government should play on the startup grants, working on that legislation and what that looks like. And with that role to expand of expansion on a Charter School side and even with our state theres different approaches how to incorporate charter and Innovation Schools into their portfolio of public education. You would oppose eliminating that federal funding stream . Yes. That would help to get them off the ground it is a very important Funding Source for accountability. To education. Homelessness is on the rise in colorado especially in denver metro area. What are you doing to rehouse people especially as housing prices go up so much . We are just convening in the next week or two all the major metro mayors to have that role to find a constructive state partnership. The state fundss some houseing, we were able repurpose a hotel, but basically within six months instead of taking 18 months and at a fraction of the cost, with minor modifications to the rooms, we cut the ribbon and helped to keep people off the street. The Trump Administration has pushed los angeles to accept policy changes especially around Law Enforcement, empowering them to do more about homelessness. In your view, what is the appropriate role for Law Enforcement dealing with people who are unhoused . Law enforcement can be a point of contact but what does it do . If they bring them to prison, that is what could cost taxpayers a lot more money. But then they have to have the interface, interfacing with housing. So yes that is at the core expertise. And then also to pass them off to folks to help them regain their dignity and support themselves. And is the administration doing anything to address elevated housing costs in colorado. There is a correlation it is not if you still bring it down by 10 you still have a Homeless Population but you would have less and those on the margins could afford housing. The state has a role. We are looking looking at the state owned land there are nine parcels we are working on, and then so essentially those and then we could meet their demand. Turning to national politics. In 2017 when you were in congress, you voted to impeach trump. How do you think those democrats in congress conducted themselves and did they make a good case and for those impeachment managers with a constitutional duty with competency and integrity we are very proud of i will be the electorate in november so President Trump will be one of the factors and others oppose him just because of his policies. Colorado is a swing state and a super tuesday state as well. Have you been in contact with any of the candidates . Yes they are paying attention to our state. It is an interesting attribute of our primary that independents, which is the plurality of our state, get both ballots. And essentially with primary both sides of the aisle and we saw in recent weeks Mike Bloomberg and pete boudicca judge and they are starting to focus on colorado. The democratic field has a couple of billionairs spending an unprecedented amount of money, what do you think of them being able to spend those unlimited amounts . It all spends the same whether it came from outside, soft money, super pacs, what matters is whether the message is resonating. With the super pac money how is that resonating and thats what we will find out. Have you decided how you will vote on super tuesday . I havent. I have been supportive of michael bennet. And then to see. So you havent decided if you will vote for him . R you have New Hampshire and South Carolina then a lot of coloradans will say who was running and focusing on colorado and who was to be the next president of the United States. If we have any questions for the governor . You were a great advocate of Animal Welfare and colorado is a state with inaudible i know you have always been an advocate for wildlife and wild species. Are you thinking about these issues. Yes, actually a bill to ban puppy mills was just defeated in the legislature and we hope to continue to work on that issue but also and then continuing to work where we have the first wolfpack to inhabit colorado since 1940 recently return. This is the first healthy pack of six making our state home and we are very excited, they are protected under the federal endangered species act and we continue to monitor that we have a great diverse wildlife and thats an important part of the Value Proposition for residents and images of state. And with the health and diversity of wildlife to restore areas that have been depopulated and to manage out wildlife resources effectively and compassionately. I work at the Energy Futures initiative, we produce the u. S. Energy and employment report so i want to circle back to earlier questions and naturally tristate is shuttering its coal plant, so what are you doing to transition away from coal clack. We have 17 coops that contract with tristate to provide some of their energy. Tristate has other customers in other states. Three of those coops are attempting to secede from tristate and they are the larger ones, united power is the largest member, la plata and the Delta Montrose which is several years further along in the process. Tristate says how do we fix this and keep our colorado customer base, and achieve lowcost renewable with benefits to the ratepayers and to the airquality. Part of the discussion is also under the tristate contracts, our coops are limited at 5 local production. Many have great geophysical logistics for wind and solar want to go way above 5 with the smallscale wind and then to provide jobs in those communities. That is part of the discussion as well as the plans to retire costly