Colorado Concern 
 February 18, 2013
The Week in Review
  

 

Tamra Ward

While the major focus of debate at the State Capitol in recent days has been around increased gun control, in the coming weeks Colorado Concern is anticipating legislation that more directly impacts our ability to grow and enhance our business climate.

 

Our friends within the organized labor movement have shared that they support legislative efforts soon to be introduced that will require private sector employees locked out during a worker strike to be eligible to receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. They also will support proposals that implement changes in the current worker's compensation system, which will lead to increased costs for employers.

 

While we have yet to see the legislation - both are issues we have battled at the State Capitol before.

 

In the most simplistic of terms, workers who are on strike are not unemployed. They have made a choice to step away from their job over a labor dispute. Once the dispute is resolved they are able to return to their position, should they choose to do so. Unemployment benefits are for workers who have lost their job - and that distinction should be preserved.

 

You will recall it was just last session that we spent a great deal of time and effort to ensure legislation was passed that would preserve the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.   Allowing workers who have jobs to collect UI benefits makes no sense and is bad public policy. Colorado Concern will oppose any measure that attempts such action.

 

With regard to changes to the worker's compensation statutes, the stability and affordability of the current system is a major selling point utilized by economic development professionals in attracting employers to Colorado. In fact, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation's "Towards a More Competitive Colorado" ranks our state as the fourth most competitive worker's compensation system in the country. That's a good thing. Changes that prolong the process around taking care of an injured worker or lead to litigation simply drive costs and are not helpful to anyone - employer or employee. Be assured that Colorado Concern will work to ensure legislators have a clear understanding of the impact of any proposed changes.

 

Should you have questions about these legislative proposals, or any other, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. A real-time link to our status sheet is available here.

 

If you have not had an opportunity to register for lunch with Governor Hickenlooper on March 13 please do so here.

 

Have a great week.

 

Warmly,

Tamra 

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.
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events 

 

Below is a list of upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend.

 

ONE SEAT LEFT: Wednesday, February 20: Colorado Concern meeting with US Senator Mark Udall

2 to 3 p.m., Colorado Concern

 

REGISTRATION CLOSED: 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 Hoe Kitchen and Bar in Cherry Creek

 

Wednesday, March 13: Colorado Concern Annual Luncheon with Governor John Hickenlooper

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carriage House at the Governor's Mansion

Colorado Concern News Clips 

 

Budget

Budget solution will require cuts

Denver Post: February 13

 

Rocky Mountain National Park among those bracing for federal spending cuts

Denver Post: February 14

 

Democrats pitch plan to avoid spending cuts

Denver Post: February 15

 

Economy/Economic Development

Colorado exports set record high in 2012

Denver Post: February 11

 

Hubbard: Grounded by DIA dispute between Denver, Adams County

Denver Post: February 11

 

Colorado new-business filings hit record in Q4

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Colorado uses incentives to lure three feature films

Denver Post: February 15

 

Education

Process slammed for yielding no Latino Denver school board finalists

Denver Post: February 13

 

Colorado education board reviews report on turnaround schools

Denver Post: February 15

 

Elections/Politics

Some Colorado Republicans not happy about social conservative bill

Denver Post: February 11

 

Colorado Senate to take official vote on civil unions bill

Denver Post: February 11

 

Don Quick, former Adams County DA, to run for Colorado attorney general

Denver Post: February 11

 

Immigration reform, green energy, guns on Obama's speech list

Denver Post: February 12

 

Obama: Make budget priority

Denver Post: February 12

 

State of the Union speech highlights middle-class concerns

Denver Post: February 13

 

Colorado's take on Obama State of the Union

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Energy

Colorado oil and gas well setback fight headed to state legislature

Denver Post: February 11

 

The real impacts of increased drilling setbacks

Denver Post: February 11

 

Colorado oil and gas well setback fight headed to state legislature

Denver Post: February 12

 

Proposal for tax holiday for new Colorado oil and gas wells dies

Denver Business Journal: February 12

 

Xcel: Wind power notches new record in January

Denver Business Journal: February 12

 

Hickenlooper argues in D.C. for state regulation of fracking

Denver Post: February 13

 

What Hickenlooper told Senate panel about energy issues

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Report: Risks to health low from Erie natural gas wells

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Xcel continues pursuit of $16.6 million in SmartGridCity costs

Denver Post: February 13

 

Colorado ethanol producer begins shift from corn to woody biomass

Denver Post: February 13                                    

 

Water fouled with fracking chemicals spew near Windsor

Denver Post: February 14

 

Blistering Colorado Energy Office inspires disagreement among lawmakers

Denver Post: February 14

 

A closer look at Colorado air quality

Denver Post: February 14

 

Bill expanding state's alternative fuel fleet passes Colorado Senate

Denver Post: February 15

 

Investor: Colorado can lead in renewable energy

Denver Post: February 15

 

General Business

Proposed Colorado laws to curb gun violence reverberate beyond Capitol

Denver Post: February 11

 

More from the Amendment 64 task force

Denver Business Journal: February 11

 

Denver City Council to vote in April whether to opt out of marijuana

Denver Post: February 12

 

Ski area report card dings four Colorado resorts with expansion plans

Denver Post: February 12

 

First marijuana bill of the session clears Colorado House

Denver Post: February 13

 

DRCOG construction defect study may finish too late for Sen. Scheffel

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Community support and adaptability key to small business survival

Denver Post: February 13

 

Bills on tech fund, job-candidate credit checks advance in Legslature

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Bill banning concealed guns on campus advances; GOP bill delayed

Denver Post: February 14

 

Broncos home field getting $30M upgrade

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Taxes, costs tap into MolsonCoors profit

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Marriott in negotiations to build the Aurora Gaylord hotel

Denver Post: February 15

 

Health Care

Colorado children saw oral health improve, but gaps remain survey says

Denver Post: February 12

 

Govt: $4.2B recovered in probing health care probe

Denver Post: February 12

 

Colorado consumers lose in drug bill moving ahead, opponents say

Denver Post: February 13

 

Colorado Medicaid expansion would create 22,000 jobs, study says

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Colorado mental health experts propose changes to Hickenlooper's plan

Denver Post: February 14

 

Is health-insurance exchange a viable option for Colorado businesses?

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Immigration

Coffman tells Aurora crowd he favors legal status for immigrants

Denver Post: February 11

 

Has Sen. Bennet really thought about immigration?

Denver Post: February 11

 

Labor/Employment

Gov.Hickenlooper must douse labor bill

Denver Post: February 11

 

Unions losing numbers, influence in the United States

Denver Business Journal: February 11

 

Employee Facebook privacy bill comes to Colorado

Denver Post: February 12

 

Colorado senators give a rare mention to CACI

Denver Business Journal: February 12

 

Minimum wage: What you need to know about Obama's proposal

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Hands-off-my-Facebook bill gets initial OK in Legislature

Denver Business Journal: February 13

 

Union takes second step toward CenturyLink strike

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Taxes

Carroll: Boulder's "fee" could sink TABOR

Denver Post: February 11

 

A business tax break bill meets a bipartisan death

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

NFIB, Independence Institute argue against plaintiffs in case to overturn TABOR

Denver Business Journal: February 14

 

Transportation

New Fitzsimmons interchange at I-225 and Colfax in Aurora to be unveiled Monday

Denver Post: February 11

 

Tolled express lane OK'd for C-470, but won't be built for two years

Denver Post: February 12

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Upcoming Events

News Clips

Senator Mark Udall  

There is just one seat left for this Wednesday's Colorado Concern meeting with US Senator Mark Udall. 

Click here for details and to register to attend.

 

John Hickenlooper

 

 

Colorado Concern's Annual Membership Luncheon with Governor John Hickenlooper is taking place March 13.  

Click here for information and to register.