Colorado Concern 
 

February 3, 2014

The Week in Review

We have known for months the litigation was coming - the Colorado Education Association and Denver Classroom Teachers Association's lawsuit against the Denver Public Schools over components of SB10-191, the Great Teachers and Leaders statute, which is the foundation of K-12 education reform in our state.  And, yet, you always hold out hope that the deadline will pass, and that the battle lines that have been drawn are no longer necessary.  Unfortunately, that will not be the case in this situation - as the debate is litigated over the ability of principals to control the destiny of their school by choosing which teachers they will and will not hire - ending a practice known as "forced placement"- or whether tenure is a vested property right.

 

Colorado Concern was a member of the coalition that worked to pass SB-191 in 2010, and we will continue to be a part of the group of business and education reform advocates defending any attempt to derail its critical components.  This includes opposing any legislative measures that roll back or undermine the tenets of the law - measures that are expected through proposals sponsored by Senator Nancy Todd and Representative Joe Salazar.  This opposition includes assisting the Attorney General and the Hickenlooper Administration in the legal defense of the statute in the court system - the first stop of which is Denver District Court.

 

You may be interested to know where Colorado citizens are on this issue.  A statewide poll was conducted in December 2013.  Key findings, which overwhelmingly support the provisions of SB10-191, are available here

 

Additionally, former Governors Bill Owens and Bill Ritter have joined forces to note their support of the fundamental reforms put in place through this legislation.  You can read their Denver Post op-ed here.

 

We will keep you informed as this issue moves forward.  The strength of our future workforce's education is in the balance.

 

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

 

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

 

Nancy McCallin

Denver Post: January 27, 2014

Features Nancy McCallin

Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
February 10: Conversation about Colorado's Energy Industry and Potential Ballot Issue Threats
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, 410 17th Street, 20th Floor
 
February 14: Colorado Concern Luncheon with U.S. Senator Mark Udall
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., RubinBrown, 1900 16th Street, 3rd Floor, 3rd Floor

 

February 20: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch with Guest Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino, Co-hosted by Walter Isenberg and Kay Norton
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400

Colorado Concern News Clips

 

 

Economy/Economic Development

Colorado's oil and gas boom could spill into construction sector

Denver Business Journal: January 28

 

Big business doesn't care about Fed tapering or Obamacare

Denver Business Journal: January 28

 

All major industries grew in metro Denver in 2013

Denver Post: January 30

 

Metro Denver EDC study shows eight-sector job growth

Denver Business Journal: January 30

 

Economy likely showed strength at the end of 2013

Denver Post: January 30

 

Cover story: What's the Super Bowl worth to Denver?

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Super Bowl ticket can punch up economy

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Denver Post: January 31

 

Viewpoint: Denver's economy strong, growing

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Education

Metro State professor, students head to Super Bowl to coordinate Taste of the NFL

Denver Business Journal: January 28

 

Denver Post: January 28

 

Denver Post: January 29

 

Teachers union sues Denver Public Schools over measure in reform law

Denver Post: January 29

 

Colorado Education Association's lawsuit is bad for education

Denver Post: January 30

 

Will Senate Democrats' top-priority bill really help Colorado jobs and the economy?

Denver Business Journal: January 30

 

Denver Post: January 31

 

Denver Post: February 2

 

Owens and Ritter: Teachers union must not stop reform

Denver Post: February 1

 

Elections/Politics

KKTV 11 News: January 27

 

Finger-pointing over Colorado secretary of state's budget continues

Denver Post: January 27

 

Equal campaign finance limits for all Colorado candidates

Denver Post: January 27

 

Denver Post: January 28

 

Denver Post: January 28

 

 Republican Larry Sarner to run for Congress

Loveland Reporter Herald: January 28

 

 Liddick: Colorado's inititative process lets the mob rule

Summit Daily News: January 30

 

 Election bill at forefront of Legislature - again

The Colorado Statesman: January 31

 

 GOP candidates to petition on to ballot

The Colorado Statesman: January 31

 

Colorado lawmakers renew gun debate

Denver Post: January 31

 

Huffington Post: January 31

 

Denver Post: January 31

 

Denver Post: February 1

 

 The busy, busy life of Rep. Brian DelGrosso: the Broncos, a baby and everything else

Denver Post: February 2

 

Energy

Business Groups: Anti-Fracking Campaign Threatens Jobs Across Colorado

North Central PA: January 24

 

Denver Post: January 27 
 

Denver Post: January 27

 

A record year for utility-scale solar power in the U.S.

Denver Post: January 30

 

Rooftop solar credit will have its own day before the Colorado PUC

Denver Post: January 30

 

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Another try at rolling back Colorado renewable energy mandate is blocked

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

General Business

 Booze before snooze? Bill would let Colorado bars stay open until 7 a.m.

Greeley Tribune: January 27

 

Denver stock show scores highest attendance in 3 years

Denver Business Journal: January 27

 

For cold-weather cities vying to host Super Bowl, 2014 game is key

Denver Post: January 27

 

Tourism office seeks lawsuit indemnity for agritourism businesses

Denver Business Journal: January 28

 

Colorado bars could serve booze until 4:30 a.m. under amended bill

Denver Post: January 30

 

Health Care

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Immigration

What business groups like about House Republican immigration reform principles

Denver Business Journal: January 31

 

Labor/Employment

Denver Post: January 27

 

Denver Post: January 27

 

Denver Post: January 28

 

Marijuana

ATMs in or near pot shops called "disaster waiting to happen"

Denver Post: January 27

 

Holder supports bank services for pot businesses; Colorado officials approve

Denver Business Journal: January 27

 

Colorado Supreme Court to review Brandon Coats' firing over medical marijuana

The Cannabist: January 28

 

Wall Street Journal: January 31

 

Taxes

'Amazon tax' goes to Colorado court

The Durango Herald: January 27

 

Judge questions prior focus in "Amazon tax" law case but doesn't rule

Denver Post: January 27

 

Uphold Colorado law on "Amazon tax"

Denver Post: January 27

 

Colorado gets reprieve on payments-in-lieu-of-taxes issue

Denver Business Journal: January 28

 

Transportation

Dems urge CDOT to hold off on 'secret deal'

9NEWS.com: January 31

 

Water

Anxiety builds over state water plan

The Durango Herald: January 31

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips

Senator Mark Udall
Colorado Concern is hosting a rescheduled luncheon with U.S. Senator Mark Udall at RubinBrown February 14.  Click here for details and 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