Colorado Concern Legislative Update 
 April 16, 2012
The Week in Review

 

Tamra Ward

Twenty-five days remain in the 68th Session of the Colorado General Assembly. This is the time when it feels like everything - and nothing - is happening.      

 

Budget Deliberations: The fiscal year 2012-13 budget, which will guide state spending for the coming year, is moving through the process with both chambers suspending other work to fully debate the measure and highlight their areas of focus. The House has completed its work; the Senate will do so early this week, and the process will conclude with a conference committee that will negotiate conflicting provisions.

 

Early Literacy Act: Several bills Colorado Concern supports or is monitoring are pending action in both chambers while negotiations to address questions or concerns are under way. This includes HB12-1238 - The Early Literacy Act (Massey-Johnston), which Senate President Brandon Shaffer has voiced concerns about and has assigned to a committee that may not look favorably upon such legislation. Colorado Concern has been working with the bill sponsor and Senator Shaffer to seek reasonable middle ground. It remains to be seen if that is possible, and preserving the meaningful focus of what we are seeking to accomplish with this bill - literacy for all Colorado third graders - is key.  

 

Early Childhood: SB12-130 - Concerning Governance of Child Development Programs (Newell-Massey), is a simple measure focused on streamlining and consolidating services provided to children utilizing state programs.  This effort has been miscast by Tea Party activists as government intervention in the day-to-day life of families. The bill passed the Senate after some struggle, and has been assigned to a House committee that is unlikely to look favorably upon it. A truly unfortunate outcome, but not an unfamiliar or uncommon one in an even-numbered political year.  

 

I specifically mention these two measures, and the work that is going on behind the scenes by our team and others, to highlight how critical it is for Colorado Concern to be part of this process, and to remind us all that as frustrating as it can be, we - the business community - are in this for the long haul. With term limits and elections lawmakers will come and go. Our ideas and focus will remain. If we are not successful with key measures this year, we will reevaluate, revamp and return. Ultimately, in this effort, time is on our side.

 

Reviewing Late Bills: This is also that time that we historically see a flurry of late bills, measures that for one reason or another - be it complexity or politics - are not introduced until the last weeks or days of the session. We will carefully review any proposals introduced to ensure they are not problematic to our business climate or the business community more broadly.

 

A Reminder: Our monthly Member Luncheon has been rescheduled for noon, April 30,at McCormick's Fish House. If you would like to join us please R.S.V.P. here.

 

Click here for this week's legislative status sheet.  

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.
 
Click here to download the Colorado Concern At a Glance Status Sheet for quick tracking of Colorado Concern's bills of interest.
Members in the News 

 

Features Colorado Concern members Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Davita Incorporated, Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC,
Denver Post: April 15
 
Denver Post: April 15
 
John Ikard
Denver Post: April 15
Weekly News Clips 

 

Budgets

Colorado House gives initial OK to budget after almost 7-hour debate

Denver Post: April 12

 

Colorado budget debate devolves into silliness

Windsor Beacon: April 12

 

Economic Development

Prestidge named metro Denver EDC's new energy industry manager

Denver Post: April 9

 

Editorial: Leave tourism process alone

Denver Post: April 9

 

Hickenlooper's requested eco-devo money left out of state budget

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Gaylord hotel backers pack hearing on state tourism financing

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

On tourism incentives, Elliman is against recycling

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Another try at eco-devo boost fails, leaving Hickenlooper priority in limbo

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Education

Legislature takes local out of local control for - Colorado Capitol Watch

Colorado Capitol Watch: April 9

 

Colorado State University Refunding $88 Million

Bond Buyer: April 10

 

EdNews Colorado: Adams 12 proposes $12M in cuts

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

Teachers, students and parents rally for education funding

Denver Post: April 11

 

Douglas County teacher negotiations open to public

Denver Post: April 11

 

Guest Commentary: DPS is weeding out experienced teachers

Denver Post: April 11

 

Hundreds rally for education funding at Colorado Capitol

Denver Post: April 12

 

Business groups, key GOP figures support bill setting tuition for illegal immigrants

Denver Post: April 13

 

Colorado Voices: "High stakes"? You bet

Denver Post: April 13

 

Guest Commentary: School Funding: Stop giving away public assets

Denver Post: April 13

 

CU president: State funding for colleges imperiled

Denver Post: April 14

 

Controversial ASSET bill passes Senate

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Elections/Politics

Colorado Democrats hope bill can deliver mail ballots, presidential votes

Denver Post: April 9

 

Bill to create special lottery ticket for veterans to be introduced today

Denver Post: April 9

 

Quillen: Unemployment works for the GOP

Denver Post: April 9

 

Fruita policeman could lose job over election bid

RealClearPolitics: April 10

 

Weissmann congressional candidacy petition signatures ruled insufficient

Boulder Daily Camera: April 11

 

Lawmakers battle over Colo. inactive voters

The Aurora Sentinel: April 11

 

Coors outraises Rep. Perlmutter in latest quarter

The Aurora Sentinel: April 11

 

Editorial: Common sense on ballot issue

Denver Post: April 13

 

Denver Mayor Hancock polls residents to gauge ballot priorities

Denver Post: April 13

 

SoS Gessler miffed at 'game-playing' by Dems

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Groups sue Gessler over campaign finance rules

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Weissmann campaign undaunted by initial rejection of petition signatures

The Colorado Statesmen: April 14

 

Baumgardner, White to face off in GOP primary

Glenwood Springs Post Independent: April 14

 

Republican lawmakers face musical chairs

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Democratic lawmakers face musical chairs

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Proponents of ballot measures up for the challenge

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Dems headed to greener - or oranger - pastures

The Colorado Statesman: April 14

 

Quillen: The latest in stupid ideas to amend our constitution

Denver Post: April 15

 

Lundberg advances to 2nd Congressional District's GOP primary; Janich doesn't

Daily Camera: April 15

 

Energy

Editorial: Questions about Xcel rate request

Denver Post: April 9

 

Drilling concerns: Erie monitoring air; water quality but can't enforce rules

Denver Post: April 10

 

Denver-area businesses add fees, raise prices to offset fuel costs

Denver Post: April 10

 

Colorado drilling taskforce tries to diffuse state-local battle

Denver Post: April 13

 

General Business

Colorado Democrats' bid preference bill up for debate

Denver Post: April 10

 

Guest Commentary: Colorado needs an HOA court

Denver Post: April 11

 

Colorado drilling task force tries to defuse state-local battle

Denver Post: April 13

 

Colorado ahead of most on job growth

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Buy USA Bill Becomes Controversial At State Capitol

CBS Local: April 14

 

Health Care

Insurance firms rolling out health care cost calculators

Denver Business Journal: April 13

 

Pinnacol

Guest Commentary: Pinnacol: Change is difficult
 
Denver Post: April 12

 

Taxes

Colorado ballot proposals would end property taxes, let more use pot

Denver Post: April 9

 

Editorial: State's "Amazon tax" was right idea in wrong place

Denver Post: April 9

 

Transportation

Denver forum on growth notes importance of transit system

Denver Post: April 11

 

Water

Gov. Hickenlooper targets water conservation, dams for Colorado River

Denver Post: April 11

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

The April Membership Networking Lunch has been moved from April 17 to April 30.  Click here for details and to register.