Colorado Concern 
 

September 30, 2013

The Week in Review

 

Post Labor Day is when campaign season kicks into high gear in Colorado.  This year is no different with the focus of discussions being Amendment 66, which is focused on increased revenue - through a personal income tax increase - for preschool through high school education.

 

Colorado Concern has been on the record since March noting our opposition to the state moving from its current flat tax system to that of a graduated nature, as proposed in Amendment 66.  That said, we had not taken a position on the ballot measure because the reforms that are to be financed through the increase in revenue were meaningful. 

 

Then the landscape changed.  Colorado Concern was alerted that the Colorado Education Association (CEA) was poised to sue the State of Colorado - post election - over the constitutionality of the tenure provisions of SB-191, the Great Teachers and Leaders bill that is the foundation of K-12 reform in our state and a major recipient of funding through the ballot measure before voters this November.

 

To us, asking for nearly $1 billion dollars annually on the one hand - as CEA is doing as a proponent of Amendment 66 - when you plan to file a lawsuit over components of the very measure you are seeking to fund, felt disingenuous at best.  Additionally, ensuring that the decision to litigate occurred after the election lacked the transparency we believe voters deserve.

 

With that as our focus, Colorado Concern gathered together six additional business organizations from across Colorado, sending the attached correspondence to CEA President Kerrie Dallman in which we registered our disappointment in the CEA's approach and urged it to stand down.  

Colorado Concern Chairman Pat Hamill also weighed in on the issue, submitting the following  op-ed to The Denver Post.

 

Below you will find links to news coverage on this issue:

 

Editorial: Deception key to new education tax increase

Colorado Springs Gazette: September 25 

 

Carroll: The threat hanging over Amendment 66

Denver Post: September 25

 

Business group asks Colorado teachers union to waive legal challenge

Denver Post: September 28

 

Voters will decide the outcome of Amendment 66, as they should.  Our goal in this exercise was simply  to shine the light of day on actions we believe were less than transparent, ensuring our fellow Coloradans were provided with all the relevant facts as they cast their ballot. 

 

If you have questions about this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

 

Warmly,

Tamra  

Tamra

Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
Monday, October 21: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch 
co-hosted by Kate Paul and Sylvia Young
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400
Members in the News

 

CBRE predicts more stability for metro Denver office construction

Denver Business Journal: September 26

Features Ray Pittman

 Colorado Concern News Clips

 

Colorado Concern in the News

Suspicion clouds Colorado board action, critics link union motive to education tax vote

Colorado Springs Gazette: September 22

 

Colorado business leaders ask Congress to revive immigration reform

KDVR: September 24

 

Business leaders urge Congress to pass immigration reform

Denver Business Journal: September 24 

 

 Editorial: Deception key to new education tax increase

Colorado Springs Gazette: September 25 

 

 Carroll: The threat hanging over Amendment 66

Denver Post: September 25 

 

Business group asks Colorado teachers union to waive legal challenge

Denver Post: September 28

 

Ballot Issues

Amendment 66 backers fail to make case for higher taxes

Denver Post: September 23

 

Poll shows more opposition to Colorado school finance tax measure

Denver Post: September 24

 

Pro-ballot group opens office here

Pueblo Chieftain: September 28

 

Economy/Economic Development

State economy builds steam

The Durango Herald: September 21

 

Colorado in good position as unemployment declines

Denver Post: September 23

 

Denver Startup Week buzzes, but will it have longstanding impact?

Denver Post: September 23

 

Colorado economy creating more jobs in 2013

Denver Post: September 26

 

Metro Denver becoming hub for money centers

Denver Business Journal: September 26

 

Education

Denver Post: September 23

 

Denver Post: September 23

 

Barnes-Gelt: An idea for DPS: Year-round classes

Denver Post: September 23

 

The real debate in Denver Public Schools election

Denver Post: September 25

 

Elections/Politics

Even after historic wins, recall organizers pick fight with Colorado

KDVR: September 23

 

 After the recalls, Colorado remains a hotbed of activity

Washington Times: September 23

 

Colorado recalls: Organizers say state GOP scoffed at recalls of Morse, Giron

Denver Post: September 23

 

Secret ballot case reaches Colorado Supreme Court

Denver Post: September 24

 

Business ideas needed for 2014 General Assembly

Colorado Springs Business Journal: September 25

 

Energy

What 3 things do environmental groups want from the oil and gas industry?

Denver Business Journal: September 24

 

NREL: Wind, solar power benefits can outweigh fossil fuel costs

Denver Business Journal: September 25

 

Denver Post: September 25

 

Vestas Colorado plants bolstered by new wind-turbine contract

Denver Post: September 26

 

Floods

Colorado's September floods will likely join ranks of $1 billion plus

Denver Post: September 23

 

Colorado confirms more oil spills but flood flows complicate clean-up

Denver Post: September 23

 

State now tracking 10 oil and gas spills in Colorado flood zones

Denver Post: September 23

 

Colorado launching massive emergency dam inspection program

Denver Post: September 23

 

Denver Post: September 24

 

Denver Post: September 24

 

Businesses step up to help Colorado flood victims

Denver Post: September 24

 

Colorado flood-related oil spills rise, but how does that compare to a swimming pool?

Denver Business Journal: September 24

 

SBA, Colorado offer more help to flood victims

Denver Business Journal: September 25

 

Hickenlooper considering special legislative session in wake of Colorado floods

Denver Post: September 26

 

Hickenlooper puts $65.5M more toward flood recovery

Denver Business Journal: September 26

 

Former Qwest president new Denver Chamber public affairs head

Denver Business Journal: September 25

 

Denver Restaurant Week divides into February and August, raises prices

Denver Post: September 25

 

Health Care

House passes budget bill that defunds health care law

Denver Post: September 23

 

Colorado gets $3.5M to increase scrutiny of proposed insurance rate hikes

Denver Business Journal: September 25

 

Colorado ahead under Obamacare

Denver Post: September 26

 

Colorado: Microcosm of confusion on health law

9News: September 28

 

Marijuana

Marijuana Legalization Activists Target States For 2014

Medical Daily: September 22

 

Marijuana the "next great American industry," investor group says

Denver Post: September 25

 

Taxes

Challenge over TABOR returns to court

Denver Business Journal: September 23

 

Telecommunications

EAGLE-Net Defends Its Broadband Life

Multichannel News: September 25

 

Transportation

FasTracks' North Metro line draws four teams into bid competition

Denver Business Journal: September 25

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Upcoming Events

Members in the News

News Clips

gourmet-forks-plate.jpg  Join Co-Hosts Kate Paul and Sylvia Young as they host Colorado Concern's Membership Networking Lunch October 21.  Click here for details or to register.
Colorado Concern Board of Directors

 

Pat Hamill

(Chairman)

Kay Norton (Treasurer)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Joe Blake

Dr. Ted Clarke

Steve Farber

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

Bill Hybl

Walter Isenberg

Don Kortz

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Kate Paul

Blair Richardson

Dan Ritchie 

Dick Robinson
Rick Sapkin
Sylvia Young