Colorado Concern 
 

March 17, 2014

The Week in Review

Happy St. Patrick's Day.     

 

An Irish proverb notes, "It takes time to build castles."  That old adage is appropriate as it summarizes the Governor's remarks to Colorado Concern members at our annual luncheon with the state's chief executive last week. 

 

Governor Hickenlooper was mindful of the work done, much in collaboration with the business community, during his first term in office at the State Capitol, as well as during his tenure as Mayor of the City and County of Denver.  He noted much remains to be accomplished and, should voters allow him the opportunity, he is committed to serving the State of Colorado for another term.

 

The Governor also remarked that this legislative session has been less contentious that the last, and that the screen they have been using to review legislation that is impactful to the private sector is how the proposed measure would impact small business in our state.  

 

With regard to specific legislation, such as an attempt to make changes to the state's current worker's compensation system, he reiterated that the above-noted lens would be applied.  He also noted that discussions around how to address the lack of for-sale multifamily housing in the state were important, because a mix of product - for rent and for sale - is needed to build community.

 

Colorado Concern leadership was resolute in the role we must play to stop misguided efforts to close our state's doors to a key industry - energy - based on political rhetoric and fear.  We shared with the Governor we are working hand in hand with industry, and other interested business organizations, to ensure any attempt - through an outright ban on hydraulic fracturing or a more veiled proposal put forth as additional local government control - fails at the ballot box.

 

Key members of the Governor's cabinet were also with us for lunch.  They included Roxanne White, chief of staff, Alan Salazar, chief strategy officer, Jack Finlaw, chief legal counsel and Ellen Golombek, director of the department of labor and employment.  Colorado Concern has a strong relationship with these individuals, and we were pleased to have them present and have an opportunity to thank them for their service to our state. 

 

And so to stay on theme, I leave you today with an Old Irish Blessing:  
 
May love and laughter light your days, 
and warm your heart and home. 
May good and faithful friends be yours, 
wherever you may roam. 
May peace and plenty bless your world 
with joy that long endures. 
May all life's passing seasons 
bring the best to you and yours!

 

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.
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
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

 

Budget

2nd half of legislative session will focus on how, where to spend money

Colorado Springs Gazette: March 10

 

Development/Real Estate

Lack of new condos spurs Denver-area apartment development

Denver Business Journal: March 10

 

Colorado construction defects bill is on its way, but details remain unknown

Denver Business Journal: March 11

 

Wheat Ridge sees largest residential construction boom in decades

Denver Post Your Hub: March 11

 

Denver Mayor Hancock launches program to boost home ownership

Denver Business Journal: March 13

 

Why so few condos are going up in Colorado

CPR: March 13

 

Economic Development

Colorado makes an eco-devo investment in music industry at SXSW

Denver Post: March 11

 

Colorado OKs incentives for more than 630 jobs - but will they come?

Denver Post: March 14

 

Education

Colorado MBA programs ranked among nation's best by U.S. News

Denver Business Journal: March 11

 

Retired superintendent Cindy Stevenson talks about Jeffco schools (video)

Denver Post: March 11

 

Colorado House speaker pushes bill to shake up higher-ed funding

Denver Post: March 13

 

Big business takes on tea party over Common Core

Politico: March 14

 

Education board chair wants Colorado to repeal testing requirement

Colorado Springs Gazette: March 15

 

Elections/Politics

Suthers endorses Beauprez in race for Colorado governor

9NEWS.com: March 10

 

Rural interests are still waiting for a little love

The Colorado Statesman: March 10

 

Former gubernatorial hopeful Scott McInnis runs in a Mesa County race

Denver Post: March 10

 

Republican Party Ups Investment in Colorado

ABC News: March 12

 

How five Colorado Democrats may have paved the way for Congress to sue the administration

Daily Caller: March 13

 

State House races feature few contentious primaries

The Colorado Independent: March 14

 

Vail Daily column: Election wheels are in motion

Vail Daily News: March 14

 

Cover story: And what has the 'Gatekeeper' been doing?

Denver Business Journal: March 14

 

More on the Cover Story: 5 legislators who will effect Colorado business legislation (Slideshow)

Northern Colorado Business Report: March 14

 

Behind the cover story: Ed Sealover on the Legislature's half-way mark (Video)

Denver Business Journal: March 14

 

Obama to appoint Peter Groff to scholarship commission

Denver Post: March 14

 

Energy

Anadarko to drill hundreds of Colorado oil and gas wells in 2014

Denver Business Journal: March 4

 

Xcel Energy contracts for biggest solar power farm east of the Rockies

Denver Business Journal: March 12

 

Vestas is on a hiring spree at its Colorado wind turbine plants

Denver Business Journal: March 12

 

Viewpoint: Energy industry, enviros can join hands on Colorado air rules

Denver Business Journal: March 14

 

Floods

How Colorado is recovering from the floods 6 months later

kdvr.com: March 12

 

Colorado gets $199 million more for flood recovery

Colorado Springs Gazette: March 14

 

Flood-destroyed Colorado businesses are on the

road to property tax credit

Denver Business Journal: March 13

 

General Business

SBA surety-bond program helped Colorado businesses win $30M in contracts

Denver Business Journal: March 11

 

House committee advances Colorado tax-preparer disclosure bill

Denver Post: March 12

 

Denver Business Journal Publisher Scott Bemis to retire

Denver Business Journal: March 12

 

Grocery

Safeway sale would transform supermarket industry

Denver Post: March 10

 

Health Care

Deadline approaches to get insured

CPR: March 11

 

Bill to repeal Connect for Health Colorado is shot down

Denver Business Journal: March 12

 

Colorado fourth in health care enrollments among states with private exchanges

Denver Post: March 13

 

Immigration

Omar M. Campbell: Immigration mess

Steamboat Pilot & Today: March 12

 

Labor/Employment

Pay parity for Colorado women drops in 2012 to 78.3% of men's wages

Denver Post: March 12

 

Applications for US jobless aid dip to 3-month low

Denver Post: March 13

 

Metro Denver young people have harder time finding jobs

Denver Business Journal: March 14

 

Colorado House resolution on minimum wage sparks maximum debate

Denver Post: March 14

 

Marijuana

Colorado saw $2 million in recreational marijuana taxes in January

Denver Post: March 11

 

Legislature tackles issue of possible marijuana sales tax refund

Denver Business Journal: March 12

 

Colorado Marijuana Loophole Bill Unlikely

CBS Local: March 12

 

Pot is legal and deemed medically beneficial, but risks for kids scare health pros

Denver Post: March 12

 

Legislature: No tax breaks for pot production

KHQ Right Now: March 13

 

Colorado court: Some marijuana cases can be overturned

Denver Post: March 14

 

Colorado employers increase testing for drug use, survey shows

Denver Post: March 14

 

AP Exclusive: FBI balks at pot background checks

Denver Post: March 14

 

Guest opinion: Views on medical marijuana change quickly

The News-Press: March 16

 

Tax

Anti-TABOR suit can go forward, federal appeals court rules

Denver Business Journal: March 10

 

Transportation

For whom 36 tolls

Denver Post: March 10

 

Toll roads causing problems, but Colorado says it's immune

Denver Post: March 10

 

Use of Public Transit in U.S. Reaches Highest Level Since 1956, Advocates Report

New York Times: March 10

               

Colorado transit rides to record growth in 2013

Denver Business Journal: March 11

 

Colorado Senate approves UberX and Lyft ride-sharing bill

Denver Post: March 11

 

Supreme Court ruling could threaten rails-to-trails plans in Colorado

Denver Post: March 12

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Upcoming Events

News Clips


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Join us for a discussion about Colorado's health exchange and the Affordable Care Act as it relates to your business at a complimentary lunch April 7 at our offices.
 Click here for details and to register.
___________
Colorado Concern Board of Directors

 

Pat Hamill

(Chairman)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Ted Brown

Steve Farber

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

John Ikard

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Blair Richardson

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin
Sylvia Young