When the legislative session kicks off in January, it’s easy for folks under the dome to get swept up in a flurry of negotiations and political posturing.
After all, lawmakers only have 120 days to advocate for their constituents on issues from education reform to transportation funding to health insurance. Moving a mile a minute makes it hard for legislators to build the kind of collaborative relationships that really produce results.
“We don’t have the opportunity to really get to know one another during the session,” said Sen. John Kefalas (D–Fort Collins). “Our constituents and their needs are our top priority, so we don’t always have time to build deep relationships off the floor.”
And that’s where the Colorado Competitive Council’s (C3) Business Base Camp comes in. On the surface, it doesn’t sound groundbreaking: Gather a group of freshman legislators, put them on a bus with 30 business people from around the state and hit the road. Each Business Base Camp is hosted by two legislators who highlight their district to their peers and participants and spend time in a informal setting just getting to know one another. This approach isn’t being done elsewhere, and, even more importantly, it’s producing real results.
“When you tour a colleague’s district and see firsthand what’s going well and what they’re challenged with, you get a much better idea of what they’re fighting for,” said Rep. Bob Rankin (R–Carbondale).
Touring Fort Carson with Rep. Dan Nordberg becomes an opportunity to thank troops and better understand the challenges of having a large military constituency. Going to a research laboratory with Kefalas becomes a chance to better understand how private and public sectors can come together to produce leading edge results. Driving through the Royal Gorge with Sen. Kevin Grantham shows how one community continues to rebuild and recover from a devastating wildfire. And, spending time at a nonprofit in Westminster highlights the challenges families living in poverty face when trying to find housing—a strong focus at the legislature for Adams County Sen. Jessie Ulibarri.
“The added perspective you gain when you’re boots on the ground helps us all better understand the unique needs of constituents across the state,” Nordberg (R–Colorado Springs) said.
Rep. Dominick Moreno (R–Commerce City) agreed.
“We have a real chance to learn from one another and also to just get to know one another in an environment that’s much more conducive to relationship building than a committee hearing,” Moreno (R–Commerce City) said.
Spanning the state, Business Base Camps also highlight the diversity of Colorado communities, from their geography to what drives their economies. This year alone, participants toured military bases, research and development hubs, universities, small businesses, a working mine and a school district approaching learning from a different angle.
“This is an opportunity to learn best practices and also to understand what frames a colleague’s thinking,” said Grantham (R–Canon City). “To be frank, it’s not always clear how conclusions are drawn by others and seeing someone in action speaking with a business owner in their community does help you understand how they get from A to B in their decision making.”
While on a touring bus, legislators and business people move from seat to seat, chatting about hobbies and recent trips. The legislature is in recess. Policy often takes the backseat on the bus.
“Just spending time together on the bus and driving through someone’s district becomes an opportunity for these leaders to strengthen relationships with one another and with the business community,” said C3 Director Mizraim Cordero. “And those relationships become the foundation for a more bipartisan approach to policy, which is really the ultimate goal for the business community.”
Business Base Camp aims to foster a collaborative spirit and regional approach to problem solving, mirroring C3 and the Chamber’s mission. From there, it may be easier for legislators to find common ground.
For Rep. Tim Dore (R–Elizabeth): “With Business Base Camp you begin to see how something good in a neighboring district can be a good for all of us.”
Laura Giocomo is the communications and marketing director for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.