Colorado Concern 
 

May 6, 2013

The Week in Review 

 

Tamra Ward

Three days, and counting.  The 120-day clock on the 69th Session of the Colorado General Assembly will run out at midnight on Wednesday.

 

Over the past five months we have outlined our position on key measures of importance to job creators, in most instances sharing our concern over how a proposal would negatively impact our business climate.  We also regularly have noted our dismay regarding the process utilized in moving  proposals forward - be it a lack of interest in collaboration or compromise, or the timing of the introduction of a measure that was worthy of additional review and consideration.  With one-party control at the Capitol, in most cases the bills we raised concerns about advanced through the process and are now on their way to the Governor's desk for his consideration.

 

In the legislative process the last opportunity citizens have to note their concern regarding a proposed law is through a veto request.  Colorado Concern believes in utilizing that option when necessary, and will do so this year on four measures.  We do not stand alone.  Twenty-two business organizations from across Colorado join us in this effort.  A copy of the veto request letter is available here.

 

Governor Hickenlooper has 30 days to review each bill that reaches his desk and decide if he will affix his signature, making the measure state law, or if he will utilize his veto pen, sending the measure back to the drawing board for further discussion in future legislative sessions.  Our position and wish for which action he will choose is clear.  We believe in balance, stability and a focus on meaningful primary job growth.  We embrace, and expect, a system that allows for thoughtful and respectful debate.  That is the Colorado that best represents all our citizens.

 

Should you have questions regarding any measure considered by the Colorado General Assembly this session, please do not hesitate to contact me at tamra@coloradoconcern.com.

 

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.
Members in the News
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. Click here for more information or to register to attend events.

  

Monday, May 20: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch Co-Hosted by Pat Hamill and Kay Norton

Noon to 1:30 p.m., Second Home, Cherry Creek

 Colorado Concern News Clips

 

Budgets

Debt ceiling fight may come in October

Denver Post: April 29

 

Hickenlooper signs state budget with funds for construction, eco devo

Denver Business Journal: April 30

 

Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper signs 2014 budget into law

Denver Post: April 30

 

Economy/Economic Development

Colorado small business owners mixed on state of economy

Denver Post: April 29

 

After near-stall in late 2012, U.S. economy pics up

Denver Post: April 29

 

Long-sought defense cuts are hurting economic growth

Denver Post: April 29

 

Gunmaker Says Colorado's New Laws Will Send It Packing

NPR: April 30

 

Colorado small-business hiring edges up in April

Denver Business Journal: April 30

 

Legislature continues assault on Colorado economy

Colorado Springs Gazette: May 2

 

Colorado business conditions index dips

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

Suburbs to Denver: What's our cut from DIA development?

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Home starts up 52% in a year in metro Denver

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Economic reports raise hopes for stronger hiring

Denver Post: May 3

 

Education

Undocumented Immigrant Student In-State Tuition Bill Signed Into Law In Colorado

Huffington Post: April 30

 

Ten years in the making, Colorado ASSET becomes law

KUNC: April 30

 

Parents struggle with funding the high cost of college education

Denver Post: April 30

 

Colorado House passes school finance bill aimed at boosting funding

Denver Post: April 30

 

Furniture baron Jabs give $10 million to CU Denver Business School

Denver Post: May 2

 

Kilgore will run for Denver Public Schools Board of Education

Denver Post: May 3

 

Web-based classes changing face of campus life

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Should community colleges in Colorado be allowed to offer four - year degrees? No

Denver Post: May 5

 

Should community colleges in Colorado be allowed to offer four-year degrees? Yes

Denver Post: May 5

 

Elections/Politics

Andrews: A very different Colorado

Denver Post: April 29

 

On Hot-Button Election-Reform Bill, It's Gessler Versus the Clerks

The Colorado Independent: May 1

 

Colorado election bill receives initial approval

Denver Post: May 2

 

Sharp discord marks vote on election reform

Grand Junction Sentinel: May 3

 

Colorado Senate OKs mail-ballot voting, as GOP maintains fraud concern

Denver Post: May 3

 

Energy

Noel: Oil drilling in Colorado isn't likely to go away

Denver Post: April 29

 

No oil and gas reps on oil and gas commission? The ban plan is back

Denver Business Journal: April 30

 

Amended rural renewable-energy bill passes Colorado House, goes to Senate

Denver Post: May 1

 

Driller-fee measure runs out of gas

Denver Business Journal: May 1

 

Xcel's solar-rebate program is maxed out, temporarily halted

Denver Business Journal: May 1

 

Colorado House approves bill raising oil and gas water testing rules

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

ConocoPhillips, Arapahoe County work out new local regs

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

(Renewable energy measure) Veto, please

Pueblo Chieftain: May 3

 

Oil and gas bills hit stiff opposition

Denver Post: May 3

 

Airing the issue of oil/gas pollution in Colorado

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Xcel, solar industry reach incentives deal

Denver Post: May 3

 

General Business

Denver chamber names Business Award winners

Denver Business Journal: April 29

 

Colorado Senate approves benefit-corporations bill, with changes

Denver Business Journal: May 1

 

Senate committee kills $1M study proposal

Denver Business Journal: May 2             

 

Dean Foods to spin off WhiteWave majority stake

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

Hickenlooper pressured to veto some business measures

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Big bills could stall as Colorado General Assembly heads to finish line

Colorado Springs Gazette: May 4

 

Legislature advances business bills

Denver Business Journal: May 4

 

Health Care

Question: When is a legislative expenditure not a TABOR expenditure?

The Colorado Statesman: April 29

 

Colorado Medicaid Expansion Moves Forward With One Republican Vote

Kitsap Sun: April 29

 

Medicaid expansion heading to Governor's desk

Colorado Public Radio: May 2

 

Colorado lawmakers finish work on Medicaid expansion

Denver Post: May 3

 

Big insurers wary of joining Obamacare exchanges

Denver Post: May 3

 

Bill to force insurers to pay full cost of follow-up cancer tests dies

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

Immigration

Bennet: Immigration bill can make us economically stronger

Denver Post: April 29

 

Immigration deal-maker also in charge of defeating GOP

Denver Post: May 2

 

Labor/Employment

Bill in Colorado legislature would take lockout benefits too far

Denver Post: April 29

 

NFIB pushing hard for veto on discrimination-lawsuit bill

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

Increase workers' rights to damages

Denver Post: May 2

 

Denver a top spot for new college grads

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

Marijuana 

Marijuana tax debate stalls in Colorado

Denver Post: April 29

 

Hubbard: Passing the pipe in Colorado

Denver Post: April 29

 

Marijuana issues drive discord in Legislature

Our Colorado News: April 30

 

Colorado House gives initial approval to marijuana tax measure

Denver Post: April 30

 

Paranoia over Colorado pot laws

Denver Post: April 30

 

Police leaders sound alarm, say legislature dropped ball on marijuana regulation

KDVR: May 1

 

Carroll: Yes, pot revenues will too cover costs

Denver Post: May 1

 

Marijuana magazines under scrutiny in Colorado, which may treat them like pornography

Washington Post: May 2

 

Pot bill advances in Colorado Senate, minus exemption for private pot clubs

The Republic: May 2

 

Colorado marijuana legalization repeal talks lose momentum at Capitol

Denver Post: May 2

 

Colorado Legislature: Legal marijuana timeline growing short

Boulder Daily Camera: May 4

 

Colorado marijuana store regulations move closer to becoming law

Denver Post: May 4

 

Telecommunications

CenturyLink, lawmakers fight over $54 million phone subsidy program

Denver Post: April 29

 

NTIA to lift EAGLE-Net suspension, broadband project needs more money

Denver Post: April 30

 

Charlie Ergen dishes on Sprint deal

Denver Post: May 3

 

Transportation

RTD West light rail line opens with speeches, free rides

Denver Post: April 29

 

Frontier Airlines to charge some customers for carry-ons, drinks

Denver Business Journal: May 2

 

Air travel cost up nearly 30 percent, Evergreen group reports

Denver Post: May 2

 

Light rail a symbol of a big-thinking region

Denver Business Journal: May 3

 

 

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips

 

Join us for the May 20 Membership Networking Lunch co-hosted by Pat Hamill and Kay Norton. 

Click here

for details and to register.