It is a bittersweet moment as we say goodbye to our friend and colleague Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet as she completes her time in the legislature, and we congratulate her on her new role at the David & Laura Merage Foundation.

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s life and work is more relevant at this moment in our history than at perhaps any other time since his tragic assassination in 1968.

Members of the Colorado Opportunity Caucus are responding with optimism to Gov. Jared Polis’s State of the State Address earlier today, in which he outlined a vision for his last year as governor that closely aligns with the vision and goals of the Caucus.

Today, attorneys Mark Grueskin and Nate Bruggeman of Recht Kornfeld, PC, filed answers on behalf of 15 Democratic Colorado state legislators to a complaint filed last year with the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) by the organization Common Cause Colorado. The responses establish that the complainant jumped to a conclusion (an entirely incorrect one, as borne out by a sworn affidavit from an independent source) based on initial press reports and a total lack of independent investigation.

Following recent reporting surrounding the Colorado Opportunity Caucus’ October legislative retreat, lawmakers have taken good-faith steps to address the matter. This includes donating funds that supported the retreat to the Food Bank of the Rockies.

Since its creation, the Colorado Opportunity Caucus has operated under direct legal guidance, so we know we acted in full compliance with the law. The State Ethics Commission has to perform their due diligence and when they do, we are confident the complaint will be dismissed as the political theater it is.

In the face of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, it has become clear all hardworking Coloradans need champions who prioritize solutions over soundbites, collaboration over conflict and progress over partisanship. That is why we, as members of the Colorado state House and state Senate, are proud to announce the creation of the Colorado Opportunity Caucus.