Colorado Concern Update, Events & News Clips January 28, 2013

January 28, 2013

The Week in Review

While the State Capitol has been busy since the gavel dropped on the start of the 2013 session, the focus to date has been on issues key to Coloradans, but not specifically in the wheelhouse of the business community. Last week two pieces of legislation that had been introduced and failed in previous sessions - civil unions and in-state tuition for undocumented students - easily passed their first committee. The outcome of the 2012 election, placing both chambers of the legislature in the hands of the Democratic Party, leads those who watch the Capitol closely to believe these measures soon will be on their way to Governor Hickenlooper's desk for his consideration as new state laws.

In the coming week we will engage on measures directly impactful to the business community. These include: protecting our freedom to contract, ensuring system reform remains part of the debate around Medicaid expansion, preserving an employer's ability to utilize outside tools in private hiring decisions, shielding the stability of our worker's compensation system, ensuring balance in labor/management relations and reforming our school finance system, just to name a few proposals that come to mind. Our legislative status sheet is updated daily and available for you here. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about a specific piece of legislation or a policy issue of interest.

Thank you to those of you who joined us for breakfast with Speaker Ferrandino. Please take a moment to sign up for the Tuesday, Feb. 26, luncheon with Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman and House Minority Leader Mark Waller. These gatherings are an opportunity for you to share your thoughts, ideas or concerns with our state's elected leaders.

Wishing you a good week.

Warmly,

Tamra

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

Davidson: Denver's 25 "Most Powerful Women" honored at chamber dinner

Features Anne Warhover, Christine Benero, Beth Soberg, Kate Paul, Kelly Brough, Kim Day and Tami Door

Denver Post: January 24

Below is a list of upcoming Colorado Concern events.

Click here for more details and to register to attend.

Tuesday, February 26: Colorado Concern Membership Lunch with Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman and House Minority Leader Mark Waller, co-hosted by Steve Farber and David McReynolds

Noon to 1:30 p.m., Second Home Kitchen and Bar in Cherry Creek

Colorado Concern News Clips

Economic Development/Economy

Gov. Hickenlooper backs cap on zone tax breaks for firms

Denver Post: January 22

AP IMPACT: Recession, tech kill middle=class jobs

Denver Post: January 23

Business tax-break bills face uphill climb in Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: January 25

Energy leading, aerospace lagging among metro Denver's key industries

Denver Post: January 25

Metro Denver EDC: Health-related jobs lead industry growth

Denver Business Journal: January 25

Region's employment grew in 2012, poised for more increases

Northern Colorado Business Report: January 25

Mayor Hancock offers vision for Denver's future

Denver Business Journal: January 25

From Davos, Hickenlooper talks business, civil unions with KOA

Denver Business Journal: January 25

U.S. applicants for unemployment benefits drop to 5-year low

Denver Post: January 25

Education

Colorado "on-time" high school graduation rates increasing

Denver Post: January 25

Ditmer: Emily Griffith Opportunity School in need of rescue

Denver Post: January 25

Elections/Politics

Judge blocks Colorado mail ballot rules

The Denver Channel: January 22

A victory for Colorado voters

Denver Post: January 23

Civil-unions bill moves ahead

Our Colorado News: January 25

Energy/Environment

Proposed setback rules for drilling would hurt Greeley

Denver Post: January 22

Garfield County wants more analysis of BLM oil and gas plan

Denver Post: January 22

Wind energy projects scored record year in 2012

Denver Business Journal: January 22

Big bet on Wyoming wind: Phil Anschutz's latest $9 billion idea

Denver Post: January 22

Obama signals renewed push on climate change in Inaugural speech

Denver Post: January 22

Colorado regulators delay vote on oil and gas setbacks

Denver Post: January 24

Oil and gas Association: Fort Collins fracking ban proposal 'illegal'

Northern Colorado Business Report: January 24

Controversy over Xcel's SmartGridCity project on road to resolution

Denver Post: January 24

Federal Budget/Taxes

"Fiscal cliff" deal means $145 million hit on Colorado tax revenues

Denver Post: January 22

Republicans appear ready to give on some of Obama's programs

Denver Post: January 23

Senate reintroduces failed farm bill, still seeks $23 billion in cuts

Denver Post: January 23

House passes bill suspending debt limit for four months

Denver Post: January 24

Signs of hope on the federal budget

Denver Post: January 24

General Business

Half of Springs' medical marijuana businesses have shut their doors

Colorado Springs Gazette: January 22

Denver City Council to debate implementing marijuana laws

Denver Post: January 23

Medical marijuana backers lose bid for looser regulations

Denver Post: January 23

As expected, Senate committee passes Colorado civil unions bill

Denver Post: January 24

Singleton hired as interim president of Colorado Black Chamber

Denver Post: January 24

Southwest passed Frontier as DIA's No. 2 carrier in 2012

Denver Business Journal: January 25

Denver International Airport set record in 2012

Denver Post: January 25

Interest rates offered by banks, credit unions in Colorado are dismal

Denver Post: January 25

Health Care

Centura Health unveils "health neighborhood" plan at Aurora facilitiy

Denver Post: January 22

Nearly half of U.S. children are undervaccinated, a new study shows

Denver Post: January 22

Anschutz Medical Campus making strides

Denver Post: January 24

New Colorado health exchange may sign up nearly 1,000 people a day

Denver Post: January 25

Smokers could face steep penalty under new health care law

Denver Post: January 25

Immigration

Poll: Many say let illegal immigrants stay in US

Denver Post: January 23

Immigrant tuition bill clears panel

Our Colorado News: January 26

No room for politics in debate on immigration

Northern Colorado Business Report: January 25

Labor

Labor bills heat up in Colorado Senate

Denver Post: January 23

Democrats Flex Labor Muscles In Colorado Legislature

CBS Denver: January 23

Obama stands his ground on fiscal debate`

Denver Post: January 22

Bill to ease unionization for Colorado firefighters clears committee

Denver Post: January 24

Strange billfellows: Mayors of Boulder, Colorado Springs unite against legsilation

Denver Post: January 24

Lewis: America hates unions more than CEOs

Denver Post: January 25

Taxes

Online small businesses concerned about sales tax legislation

Denver Post: January 24

Transportation

Raising gas taxes would stabilize highway funds

Denver Post: January 22

RTD approves new shuttle buses for 16^th Street Mall

Denver Post: January 23

RTD plan would build FasTracks to Commerce City sooner

Denver Post: January 24

In This Issue

The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips

Senator Bill Cadman

Representative Mark Waller

There are just four spots left for the February 26 Colorado Concern membership lunch with Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman and House Minority Leader Mark Waller. Click here for more details and to register.