For most legislators, Colorado’s 66th General Assembly started in January. But for Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins, the Senate GOP’s representative on the Join Budget Committee, work began way back in November. 

“First, I want to ensure that every dime of taxpayer money is spent wisely, and second, I want to ensure that we are spending Referendum C money the way it was promised,” said Johnson. “Third, I have to keep my caucus informed on money matters.”

Voters passed Referendum C in 2005 to help state government recover from the recession leading to nearly $1 billion in budget cuts.

Johnson originally came to Capitol Hill as a state representative in 1996, and he is now serving his second term in the Senate after being re-elected last fall. He represents Senate District 15, which entails Larimer County.

The senator also has some history as a Larimer County planning commissioner.

“I’m very pleased with the way we (the caucus) have come together this session,” he explained. “People make our differences out to bigger than they are. After that union bill (House Bill 1072), we all really came together. There is a great sense of team felt around here.”

HB 1072 would have made it easier for unions to force closed shops on Colorado workplaces. The proposal was vetoed in early February by Gov. Bill Ritter a few days after an eight-hour GOP filibuster in the Senate.

Johnson, who is a retired veterinarian, talked proudly of his three horses, two dogs, one cat, two goats and four ducks at his family’s home, where he lives with his wife, Lynette. He said he loves Fort Collins, which he describes as a small and friendly town despite a population of more than 100,000

“I went to school at Colorado State University, and I’ve just never been able to leave” said the senator, who is originally from Columbus, Ohio.

Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from CSU in 1982 and later a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1986.

When not working for the people of Colorado, Johnson teaches government and history part time at Heritage Christian High School and Chemistry at CSU.

He suggested that the hardest part of being a Legislature is the time away from home and the financial sacrifice.