Colorado’s 69th General Assembly has officially begun, and while much has changed since the Legislature last convened, our responsibilities to the people of Colorado have not. We begin our work on the heels of a difficult election season, but we still remain united by our duty and desire to strengthen opportunity for every Coloradan.

Whether we’re looking at implementing Amendment 64 or considering the implications of increased entitlement spending, there will be no shortage of work for legislators in 2013. I am under no illusion that our work this year will be easy, but I know that both Republicans and Democrats want to see our state grow and emerge from this recession stronger than before.

We can accomplish this, and much more, by creating opportunity for the people we serve.

In education, opportunity for growth is boundless, which is why House Republicans once again plan to prioritize funding for K-12 and higher education. We want to give every deserving student the opportunity to rise to their potential by creating a special fund to offer merit-based scholarships. We also plan to expand access to advanced placement courses in rural areas and strengthen Colorado’s English language learner programs, so every student has the resources they need to achieve great things.

“Higher education,” however, does not always translate into a four-year degree. By strengthening Colorado’s vocational training programs, we can add the skilled labor to our workforce that our job creators need to expand and grow their business.

It is our duty — and our desire — to create opportunity for every Coloradan, but we must be careful that the policies we bring forth do not derail our fragile economic recovery, nor force the constituents we serve to tighten their belts any more than they already have. That’s why House Republicans have pledged to “do no harm” with the legislation we introduce. Instead, we’ll work tirelessly to create a stable environment for our job creators, so they can hire employees and grow their business.

In energy development, especially, Colorado has the potential to add thousands of jobs to our economy and lead the nation as an energy economic hub. We are just as well positioned to lead in renewable energy development as we are in traditional energy sources, and our approach to harvesting these resources must reflect this reality. An “all-of-the-above,” responsible development strategy moves us closer to energy independence and further along our path to economic recovery.

House Republicans know the people and industries of Colorado can achieve great things if given the right opportunity. Opportunity seeds growth and nurtures accomplishment. It is the difference between a paycheck and an unemployment check, and House Republicans will work with all intensity and speed to deliver it to every Coloradan.

If you’d like to learn more about House Republicans’ 2013 legislative agenda, you can visit www.ColoradoHouseGOP.com, or find us on Facebook (http://on.fb.me/q7qzzC) and Twitter (http://bit.ly/USmMqc).

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House Minority Leader Mark Waller is a Republican from Colorado Springs. He represents House District 15 in the 69th General Assembly.

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