Colorado Concern Legislative Update 
 January 30, 2012
The Week in Review

 

Tamra Ward

To date, the frenetic level of activity that historically occurs at the State Capitol has yet to materialize. While the number of bills that have been introduced is on par with previous years, the fever pace that can occupy the building has yet to happen. I am certain it's just a matter of time.

 

Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for our monthly meeting with House leadership. Speaker Frank McNulty shared his interest in meaningful regulatory reform that clears the way for the private sector to create jobs. He also mentioned a need to support and advance responsible energy production, with a focus on traditional sources.

 

The growing rate of spending in Medicaid and its impact on all other categories of funding in the state's budget was also a focal point of the Speaker's remarks. He and his caucus colleagues are interested in finding opportunities to better the program and reduce its growing impact on the General Fund. Colorado Concern members highlighted the discussion we had the week prior with members of the Senate around a private sector approach to managing Medicaid recipients' care, and offered our expertise and assistance. We will keep you posted on any progress.

 

Unfortunately, Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino was unable to join us due to illness. We will join up with him next month.  Click here to register for our February meetings with leadership.

 

The issue of most interest to the business community last week was Governor Hickenlooper' s endorsement of the efforts to move Pinnacol Assurance from its current quasi-governmental status to that of a full mutual insurance company, and eventually to a stock-based entity. The Governor's support came in the form of a memo to the Task Force of business, labor and community leaders he appointed last fall to review the proposal outlined by the workers' compensation provider. That group meets this week to discuss the recommendation. Business and labor organizations - the two largest constituents of Pinnacol - have not yet formally taken a position on the plan, but have noted their support of the current system. No legislation has been introduced, but it is expected.

 

Colorado Concern's Board of Directors meets this Thursday morning. We will discuss Pinnacol's restructuring proposal, as well as legislation on which we have taken a position to support or oppose.  Click here to view the Colorado Concern legislative bill tracking report. We also will cover measures currently before the Title Board, the status of the Lobato v. the State of Colorado appeal, a proposed plan for our candidate work in 2012 and FasTracks. Next week we will share highlights from the meeting.

 

As always, news clips of interest are included below.

If you have questions, concerns or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me at 303.860-1201, or [email protected].

 

 

Warm Regards,

Tamra

Tamra J. Ward

President and CEO

Colorado Concern

Colorado Concern Legislative Tracking

Click here to find out what legislation Colorado Concern is tracking.  The report includes links to bill text, sponsors, Colorado Concern's positions, bill status, and additional notes.
Members in the News 

 

Bruce Benson

Bruce Benson, University of Colorado

 

Guest Commentary: CU is a model of efficiency

Denver Post: January 23

Weekly News Clips

 

Note: In an effort to cut down on the number of emails we send our members during the state legislative session, we will now be combining our weekly news clips and the legislative update into one email.  In weeks past, we had included legislative news clips in the Legislative Update and then sent a separate email of all news clips of interest from the week. 

 

Budgets

Denver budget task force: Save dollars via details to overcome shortfalls

Denver Post: January 24

 

Guest Commentary: Challenges lie ahead for municipal infrastructure

Denver Post: January 26

 

Development

Lawmaker aims to privatize Colorado lands

Fort Collins Coloradoan: January 24

 

Colorado contractors hopeful about 2012 construction

Denver Business Journal: January 24

 

Economy

Obama to take on economy in state of the union

Denver Post: January 24

 

Economic Development

Analyst: Applicants for Colorado tax incentives overestimated visitor figures

Denver Post: January 24

 

With resorts suffering, Colorado's advertising for skiers

Denver Business Journal: January 24

 

Legislature pushes for satellite US patent office

Denver Business Journal: January 25

 

Barnes-Gelt: Small-business loans are the seeds that grow a great city

Denver Post: January 25

 

Lawmaker to roll with bill promoting Colorado as a movie-making mecca

Pueblo Chieftain: January 29

 

Education

Colorado Teacher Tenure Rules Poised For Quick Approval

CBS Local: January 24

 

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers appeals 'Lobato' school funding decision

Denver Post: January 24

 

Colorado Voices: A different path to prosperity

Denver Post: January 24

 

Council finds states weakening teacher tenure

Fox News: January 25

 

Proposal to limit school board campaign cash likely doomed

The Colorado Independent: January 25

 

Rally in Castle Rock praises school choice and assails teachers unions

Denver Post: January 25

 

Military, work experience could net college credit

Denver Post: January 25

 

Carroll: Spending, but not learning

Denver Post: January 25

 

Bill would make CPR a grad requirement

Education News Colorado: January 26

 

Dezzutti: ASSET Could Be a Real Asset for GOP

CBS Local: January 27

 

Editorial: ASSET bill offers hope to all students

Denver Post: January 27

 

Colorado GOP seeks to limit what it calls overreaching child-care rules

Washington Post: January 27

 

Bill in Colorado legislature puts state-testing call in parents' hands without penalizing schools

Denver Post: January 29

 

Elections/Politics

Gessler cites voter fraud in 2010 election

Denver Post: January 24

 

In State of Union address, Obama calls on top to help lift middle

Denver Post: January 25

 

Editorial: Economic justice vs. class warfare

Denver Post: January 25

 

Colorado GOP Hispanic lawmakers rip Obama's Aurora visit as "campaign" stop

Denver Post: January 27

 

Colorado Democrats disqualify Swonger from primary

The Durango Herald: January 27

 

Boulder businessman Eric Weissmann to challenge Polis in congressional campaign

Longmont Daily Times-Call: January 29

 

Energy

Solar thermal advocates say Colorado is perfect for taking the head

Denver Post: January 25

 

Obama using visit to Aurora today to pitch clean-energy program

Denver Post: January 27

 

General Business

Bankruptcy filings in Colorado end five years of upticks

Denver Post: January 26

 

Side Street: HOA report finds 'major' issues with boards, management companies

Colorado Springs Gazette: January 27

 

Colorado Republicans, business groups prefer to work on reducing regulations

Denver Business Journal: January 27

 

Health Care

Resolution repealing health care causes ill feelings

The Colorado Statesman: January 24

 

Report: Electronic health records still need work

Denver Post: January 27

 

Health care spending takes a bite out of education

Pueblo Chieftain: January 29

 

Labor

Colorado House committee kills union wages bill

Denver Business Journal: January 27

 

Private sector unions add members

Denver Post: January 27

 

Pinnacol Assurance

Pinnacol Assurance, beset with criticism, suspends ads for privatization

Denver Post: January 25

 

Hickenlooper gives blessing to Pinnacol privatization proposal, with a few tweaks

Denver Post: January 26

 

Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper recommends Pinnacol privatization with tweaks

Denver Post: January 27

 

Transportation

Boulder council weighs $24 per-household annual transportation tax

Boulder Daily Camera: January 25

 

Water

Tribes, Colorado talk Animas-La Plata water, as state nears contract with US on paying for it

The Republic: January 26

 

Lawmakers oppose water law change

Pueblo Chieftain: January 27

In This Issue
The Week in Review - Legislative Update from President and CEO Tamra Ward

Colorado Concern Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Weekly News Clips