Colorado Concern 
 

March 10, 2014

The Week in Review

We have reached the halfway point of the 2014 Session of the Colorado General Assembly.  To date, 489 bills and resolutions have been introduced, and 35 have completed the process.   Most who are engaged in the legislative process state that to this point it has been a relatively quiet session - unlike last year, which was full of hot-button issues such as gun control, civil unions and mandated renewable energy standards that led to numerous late-night hearings and frayed nerves on both sides of the political aisle.  The fact that we are in an "even-numbered" year - which means an election cycle come November - is most routinely cited as the reason for a more moderate approach to issues currently under debate beneath the gold dome.

 

That said, there are a handful or more measures expected to be introduced in the coming weeks - some we support and others we likely will oppose - that will make the next 60 days key on how we will judge the outcome of this legislative session. 

 

Included in that list are items we support - such as the ballot integrity bill we have mentioned previously. Additionally, Colorado Concern has been working with other business associations and industry groups, along with the Metro Mayors Caucus and affordable housing advocates, to craft a solution focused on addressing a lack of multifamily, for-sale development (condominiums).  Current state law is crafted in such a fashion that class action litigation over construction defects is the norm, not the exception.  As a result, the costs of condominiums rise out of the reach of many entry-level buyers - including young families with children.  And that's if the condominiums are built at all.  Realtors report that they know there are condo buyers looking for properties - and can't find them.  This is a market that the developers would like to serve, but simply cannot shoulder the risk.

 

Today, most multifamily projects being built are for-rent properties.  This segment serves an important purpose, but creates a vacuum for a segment of our community that seeks a more urban-style living environment.  We would prefer that the market - not the legal environment - shape Colorado's housing inventory, and we believe there are reasonable common sense remedies to open the door to attainable housing for Coloradans. 

 

On the other side of the coin - measures we likely would oppose - we still believe it is possible that a proposal to make changes in the worker's compensation system will be introduced.  Three areas of modification have been suggested.  Click here to review a previous column on those items.

 

Meanwhile, tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. we have lunch with Governor John Hickenlooper at the Carriage House at the Boettcher Mansion.  I know we are all interested to hear what our state's chief executive thinks of the session so far, his expectation of the next several months before the final gavel drops, and his thoughts about the ballot issues currently under consideration for voter review in November.  We look forward to seeing you there.  If you have not registered but would like to join us, a few seats opened up late last week.  Contact Paige at [email protected] to sign up.

 

Should you have questions about any of the items outlined above, 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

 

Ted Brown  

Unusual allies on green legislation

Wall Street Journal: March 5

Features Noble Energy

 

Kim Day  

Costs of DIA project are transparent

Denver Post:March 8

Features Kim Day

 

Denver airport chief touts showcase project, defends maintenance cuts

Denver Post: March 5

Features Kim Day

Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
March 11:  Colorado Concern Annual Membership Luncheon with Governor John Hickenlooper
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Carriage House at the Governor's Mansion, 400 East 8th Avenue
 
April 3: Colorado Concern Luncheon with Colorado State Treasurer Walker Stapleton
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, 410 17th Street, 20th Floor
 
April 7: Preparing for the Future Health Care Reform and Healthcare Exchange
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400

Colorado Concern News Clips

 

 

Colorado Concern in the News

New Colorado business group aims to counter anti-fracking movement

Denver Business Journal: March 6

 

Budget

As Colorado legislature enters second half, budget is among top priorities

Denver Post: March 9

 

Development

Colorado in a building boom despite lagging commercial starts

Denver Post: March 6

 

Continuum tees up $98M hotel, office project near Union Station

Denver Post: March 6

 

Will metro Denver's apartment boom bring rents down?

Denver Business Journal: March 7

 

Education

Colorado looks at reviving education overhaul

San Francisco Chronicle: March 3

 

Students Hold 'State of the Student' Address for Education Reform

CBS4: March 4

 

Educators mark up initiative

The Durango Herald: March 4

 

Elections/Politics

Colorado Republican GOP gubernatorial candidates show united front during debate

Colorado Springs Gazette: March 3

 

Colorado's troubled ethics law

Denver Post: March 3

 

Bob Beauprez runs again for Colorado governor: "I still want it" 

Denver Post: March 4

 

Republican John Swartout joins Hickenlooper administration

Denver Post: March 4

 

In battle for 6th District's votes, Coffman, Romanoff target Koreans

Denver Post: March 6

 

Sen. Udall finds himself at odds with White House over CIA tactics

Denver Post: March 6

 

Udall rolls out first 'women's issues' attack targeting Gardner's record

The Colorado Independent: March 6

 

Gessler, Gardner win unofficial straw polls at GOP precinct caucuses

Denver Post: March 7

 

Hickenlooper staffer disciplined after caught campaigning at work

Denver Post: March 7

 

Energy

Another ballot initiative aims to boost environmental protections in fracked Colorado

The Colorado Independent: March 3

 

Oil Producers Undaunted as Colorado Mulls Fracking Restrictions

Inside Climate News: March 3

 

Colorado producers set to break oil-production record set in 1956

Denver Post: March 4

 

Wind power generating 4% of all electricity in 2013

Denver Post: March 6

 

Oil & Gas Industry Responds to Changing Political Environment in Colorado

MarketWatch: March 7

 

Floods

Government shutdown tapped 18.2 percent from Estes Park's sales-tax hike

Denver Post: March 4

 

General Business

Safeway, Albertsons would merge in $9 billion Cerberus deal

Denver Business Journal: March 7

 

Denver nominated for best convention city

9News: March 7

 

Labor/Employment

Report says Denver tech workers earn 3rd highest cost-of-living adjusted salaries

Denver Post: March 6

 

Fewer layoffs announced in Colorado during February

Denver Business Journal: March 6

 

Living among equals: Thornton and Centennial have narrow income gap

Denver Post: March 7

 

Marijuana

Legal pot: Is Jerry Brown right that we'd be too stoned to succeed?

Los Angeles Times: March 3

 

Colorado police chiefs ask for more money for marijuana enforcement

Denver Post: March 5

 

Colorado launches campaign to stop stoned driving

Denver Post: March 5

 

Colorado lawmakers urge regulators to let pot shops use banking services

Denver Business Journal: March 7

 

Regulations

Colorado small business won't get a break on rules, and union gets blamed

Denver Business Journal: March 5

 

Chambers of commerce leaders rally at Colorado Capitol (Video)

Denver Business Journal: March 6

 

Tax

Another business personal property tax bill bites the dust at Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: March 4

 

'Next level' business personal property tax break gets unanimous backing

Denver Business Journal: March 7

 

Telecommunications

AT&T chooses new Colorado president

Denver Business Journal: March 4

 

Transportation

Where's the gridlock in metro Denver?

Denver Business Journal: March 7

 

Payment of fees all that stands between Mile High Cab and first fares

Denver Post: March 7 

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips

Join the Colorado Concern Board of Directors for Colorado Concern's Annual Membership Luncheon with Governor John Hickenlooper March 11.
 Click here for details and to register.
___________
Colorado Concern Board of Directors

 

Pat Hamill

(Chairman)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Steve Farber

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

John Ikard

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Blair Richardson

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin
Sylvia Young