Colorado Concern 
 

May 13, 2013

The Week in Review 

 

Tamra Ward

Another legislative session is in the rearview mirror.  The Colorado General Assembly adjourned

sine die on Wednesday evening - approximately six hours before the statutorily mandated midnight deadline.   A total of 700 bills and resolutions were introduced this year.  Colorado Concern engaged on 20 measures:  Ten we supported, and a like number we opposed.  Seven bills we supported passed both chambers, and of those we opposed, four were defeated.  A link to our status sheet can be found hereas well as a copy of the veto letter Colorado Concern and 21 other statewide organizations sent to Governor Hickenlooper last week. 

 

As noted over the last five months in discussions with our state's elected leaders, Colorado Concern's focus is protecting and enhancing our state's business climate.  We support measures that meet that goal, and oppose those that do not.  We look forward to working with members of the General Assembly and the Hickenlooper administration during the off-session to discuss how we best align those ideals.   

 

I would be remiss if I did not thank Erin Silver and Pete Kirchhof, who represent Colorado Concern at the State Capitol, for their efforts this year on our behalf.  We are fortunate to have their expertise as part of our team.

 

Discussions now move to the 2013 statewide ballot, specifically, the discussion around a $ 1.1 billion income tax increase for early childhood and K-12 education.  In the coming weeks proponents will decide which taxing method they will select for voter consideration, and if 2013 is the appropriate timeline for the discussion.  Click here for a copy of a story from the May 5, 2013, Denver Post on the issue and the business community's thoughts on the issue.  

 

As we move into summer this communication will come to you every other week. 

 

A reminder:  Don't forget to sign up for our June 20th lunch with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. 

 

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

 

 Kelly Brough

Denver chamber right to question City Council

Denver Post: May 6

Features Kelly Brough

 

Greg Maffei  

Liberty Media sees cable TV consolidation coming after Charter buy

Denver Business Journal: May 8

Features Greg Maffei

Colorado Concern Upcoming Events 

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

  

REGISTRATION CLOSED: 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

 

Thursday, June 20: Colorado Concern Luncheon with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Brown Palace

 Colorado Concern News Clips

  

 

Budgets

White House threatens to veto debt bill

Denver Post: May 8

 

Economy/Economic Development

Dow crosses 15,000 as unemployment rate falls to 7.5%

Denver Post: May 6

 

Denver to suburbs: DIA development will help all of us

Denver Business Journal: May 8

 

EDC approves $3.9M in incentives for 3 companies

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Small Business Development Centers get extra money

Denver Business Journal: May 10

 

Colorado Democrats' jobs package survives session, but will jobs result?

Denver Business Journal: May 10

 

Education

Colorado school finance revamp next tax increase to voters

Denver Post: May 5

 

Poll: On tax increase for education, details erode voter support

Denver Post: May 6

 

CSU approves 9 percent tuition kike in 2013-14 for Fort Collins

Denver Post: May 6

 

Financial issues dominate Colorado legislature's education agenda

Denver Post: May 11

 

Colorado lawmakers face recall for anti-gun stance

Examiner.com: May 11

 

Elections/Politics

Hick in New Yorker profile: "I'm not gonna run for president"

Denver Post: May 6

 

Legislature blocks oil and gas bills opposed by industry

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

Hickenlooper vs. the hicks? Hardly

Denver Post: May 7

 

Colorado Legislature session ends with contentious bills settled

Fort Collins Coloradoan: May 8

 

Carroll: A setback for election integrity

Denver Post: May 8

 

Colorado Legislature session ends with gun laws, civil unions

Fort Collins Coloradoan: May 9

 

Democrats give reaction after 2013 Colorado legislative session ends

Denver Post: May 9

 

In finale to legislative session, Hickenlooper lists accomplishments

Denver Post: May 9

 

Dems, GOP discuss likes, dislikes about a session just ended

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

2013 Colorado legislative session scorecard

Denver Post: May 9

 

Colorado's historic 2013 legislative session in review

KDVR: May 10

 

In 2013, Democrats had their way

The Durango Herald: May 10

 

Election fraud bill signed by Gov. Hickenlooper

Washington Times: May 12

 

Tribune Opinion: Partisanship, lack of communication in Legislature disappoints

Greeley Tribune: May 12

 

Political recall season replaces legislative session in Colorado

Denver Post: May 12

 

Energy

A renewed bill on renewables

Denver Post: May 6

 

Denver named No. 3 oil and gas city in the world

Denver Business Journal: May 6

 

Drilling in gung-ho Greeley hits opposition near west-side homes

Denver Post: May 6

 

CSU database tracks energy legislation nationwide

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

New oil gusher reported in Eastern Colorado

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

Most oil, gas measures die during Colorado Legislature's 2013 session

Longmont Daily Times-Call: May 9

 

Boulder to consider moratorium on fracking

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Colorado court strikes down local fees for oil and gas wells

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Oil and gas riling critics mull next steps after defeats in Colorado legislature

Fort Collins Coloradoan: May 10

 

Rankin leads push for veto of SB 252

Glenwood Springs Post Independent: May 11

 

General Business

Legislature advances business bills

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

Bills on local labor, Internet tax, stop-loss insurance pass Colorado Senate

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

Fortune 500 lists 10 Colorado companies in 2013

Denver Post: May 7

 

United Way makes $7 million in innovation grants

Denver Business Journal: May 10

 

Winners and losers of the 2013 Colorado General Assembly

Denver Post: May 11

 

Colorado Legislature's work touched every resident

Longmont Daily Times Call: May 11

 

New Colorado law gives legal protection to corporate do-gooders

Denver Post: May 12

 

Health Care

University of Colorado Hospital tries to make its new ER more like The Gap

Denver Post: May 6

 

Consumer groups protest cut in Colorado exchange outreach budget

Denver Post: May 7

 

Delays increase cost of VA hospital by $500M

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Disparity seen in what Colorado hospitals charge

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Colorado's health exchange boosts request for outreach money

Denver Post: May 10

 

Obama declared health care law is here to stay

Denver Post: May 10

 

Hickenlooper: Health care, education reform keys to drawing small business

Denver Business Journal: May 10

 

Immigration

Grads preferred to grandmas in proposed immigration bills

Denver Post: May 7

 

Colorado companies optimistic about visa options in immigration bill

Denver Post: May 8

 

Colorado Legislature Approves Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Democracy Now: May 9

 

Immigration bill passes first early test in senate

Denver Post: May 9

 

Immigration bill could boost Social Security, analysis shows

Denver Post: May 9

 

Labor/Employment

Colorado lawmakers pull plug on union lockout bill

Denver Business Journal: May 6

 

Hickenlooper signs small-business discrimination bill despite heavy opposition

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

Comp time or overtime pay? House passes bill to give workers a choice

Denver Business Journal: May 8

 

Denver council's e-mails show no improper union activity, chamber says

Denver Post: May 9

 

Marijuana

Colorado pot collectives test limits of Amendment 64

Denver Post: May 6            

  

 

Aurora to consider running the show for recreational marijuana

Denver Post: May 6

 

Colorado legislature gives final OK to marijuana driving limit

Denver Post: May 7

 

Effort to repeal Colorado's legal pot law fails at the last minute

Daily Caller: May 7

 

Pot business not for government

Denver Post: May 7

 

Legitimizing pot in the Colorado legislature

Denver Post: May 8

 

Colorado legislature votes to tax recreational marijuana

Reuters: May 9

 

Colorado legislature gives final approval to historic marijuana bills

Denver Post: May 9

 

Hickenlooper urges voters to support taxes on Colorado marijuana sales

Denver Post: May 9

 

PERA

Guest Commentary: There is no need for panicky " fixes " to PERA

Denver Post: May 6

 

Taxes

Think the tax code is a mess? Here's one new way to tell Congress how to fix it

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Telecommunications

Colorado looks to regulate broadband like phone service in rural areas

Denver Post: May 6

 

Telecom bills die as Colorado Legislature winds down

Denver Business Journal: May 7

 

EAGLE-Net: $7.8 million remaining from $100.6 million broadband grant

Denver Post: May 7

 

Dish profit, revenue dip, but Hopper's catching on

Denver Business Journal: May 9

 

Transportation

Colorado road money can now be used on transit projects

Denver Post: May 6

 

Blasting at Twin Tunnels signal start of I-70 improvement projects

Denver Post: May 7

 

Rocky Mountain choo choo

Denver Post: May 7

 

Frontier's fees are a forecast for the industry's future

Denver Post: May 7

 

Acknowledge light rail's problems

Denver: May 10

 

 

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips

 

Mayor Michael B. Hancock  

Join us for the June 20 Colorado Concern Membership Luncheon with Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.

Click here

for details and to register.