Colorado Concern 

April 14, 2014

The Week in Review

At this week's meeting of the Title Board, a statewide ballot measure will be vetted that would require the fiscal impact of any constitutional amendment or statutory proposition be included on the petition circulated by the proponents of the proposal.  This fiscal impact would provide citizens with an understanding of the costs or benefit associated with the measure, Initiative 137.  Sound familiar?  It should - it mirrors language in the proposed legislation we and a coalition of 14 other statewide groups focused on for increasing the integrity of our ballot process.  And we contemplated running this legislation this session. However, even-numbered-year politics and heated debates over proposed changes to state law around recall elections were clouding the discussion around our measure.  Therefore, to ensure it received the full and thoughtful review it deserves, we and our bill sponsors chose not to proceed this session.  

 

Initiative 137's proponents are leaders in the business community: Pat Hamill, chairman of Colorado Concern, and Bob Diebel, chair-elect of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.  This effort is in concert with Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED), an effort focused on educating the general public about the energy, economic and environmental benefits of safe and responsible oil and natural gas development.

 

Should the Title be set - there is always the possibility of someone contesting the proposal, which leads to a longer process - the next step is approval of the template to collect signatures.  That process takes several months, and the total number of valid signatures required is 86,105.  To ensure success, the total collected is usually double the required amount.  More to come as this measure moves forward.

As a follow-up to last week's column, facing defeat of his proposal in its first committee, Representative Salazar chose instead to postpone indefinitely his proposed legislation that took aim at the heart of education reform - HB14-1268, "Nonprobationary Teachers No Indefinite Unpaid Leave" (Salazar/Todd).  However, the litigation over the issue continues, making it a critical one to monitor. 

 

Should you have questions about these issues, 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.
 
Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

Click here for more information or to register to attend events.
 
May 22: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Breakfast Hosted by John Ikard and Featuring Ken Lund
7:30 to 9:00 a.m., 
Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400
Members in the News

 

Shaun Yancey  

Q&A: Shaun Yancey, PCL Construction's new Denver-based U.S. chief

Denver Business Journal: April 8

Features Shaun Yancey

 

 

Boyer's Coffee Profile

Company Week: April 8

Features Mark Goodman

 

 

IMA HQ near Denver Union Station sells for record-setting price

Denver Business Journal: April 7

Features Ray Pittman

 

DaVita signs CBRE to handle facilities management for 1,100 clinics

Denver Business Journal: April 9

Features Ray Pittman


Colorado Concern News Clips

 

 

Budget/Government

Local transit, affordable housing, planners top Denver City Council budget priorities

Denver Post: April 7

 

Senate okays budget bill; now for the conference committee

The Colorado Statesman: April 8

 

Colorado's spending transparency improves this year

Denver Business Journal: April 9

 

Gov. Hickenlooper's staffing overhaul, sold as cost-neutral, costs millions

Denver Post: April 9

 

Legislature approves state budget, including 2.5% raise for state workers - Colorado WINS

Colorado WINS: April 10

 

Economy/Economic Development

5 signs US job market may finally be accelerating

Denver Post: April 7

 

U.S. finally regains the jobs lost in the recession

Denver Post: April 7

 

More than $300 million pours in to Colorado digital startups in Q1

Denver Post: April 8

 

Applications for US jobless aid dip 32K to 300,000

Denver Post: April 10

 

Federal Reserve's inflation medicine undone by slowing health costs

Denver Post: April 10

 

Metro Denver EDC gets all 'Ron Burgundy' about success

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Colorado tourism-incentive limits advance, despite concerns of funding board

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Development/Real Estate

Denver better than most in construction jobs

Denver Post: April 9

 

Help wanted: Colorado construction industry needs people

Denver Business Journal: April 9

 

Aurora wins battle against Denver hotels in Gaylord hotel project

Denver Post: April 10

 

PwC: Investors clamoring to buy Denver office buildings

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Education

Opinion: A bipartisan approach to restoring Colorado public education funding

Denver Post: April 7

 

Salazar shelves controversial teacher tenure bill

CPR: April 8

 

Teacher tenure standoff continues in Colorado

Denver Post: April 8

 

Jefferson County teachers declare impasse in contract negotiations

CPR: April 8

 

3 Colorado colleges rank among top 100 undergrad business schools

Denver Business Journal: April 8

 

Teachers fight back against Denver Public Schools in court

Westword: April 10

 

Colorado higher-ed funding bill sparks high-level differences

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

New version of Colorado higher-ed makeover passes legislative committee

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

Colorado education board asks lawmakers to repeal multi-state tests

Denver Post: April 10

 

Elections/Politics

Report: Election administration improving, in most states

Washington Post: April 8

 

Tom Tancredo's petition signatures certified, he can run for Colorado governor

Colorado Springs Gazette: April 9

 

Swing state Democrat raises $2 million in re-election bid in Q1

Daily Caller: April 9

 

Equal Pay Day shakes up Colorado state Capitol, Senate race

The Colorado Independent: April 9

 

Equal pay is great, until it applies to Colorado Democrats

Town Hall: April 10

 

Scott Gessler's emergency election rule shot down by Colorado Supreme Court

Westword: April 10

 

 

Daily Caller: April 11

 

Renfroe beats Buck for top-line on CD-4 GOP primary ballot

KDVR: April 11

 

Three GOP congressional districts will have primary races

The Colorado Independent: April 12

 

 

CBS Local: April 12

 

GOP attorney general primary to pit Coffman, Waller

Grand Junction Sentinel: April 13

 

Energy

Colorado energy group on fracking: 'We just point to the science'

OneNewsNow: April 7

 

Colorado Sen. Bennet to lead energy-tax panel

Denver Business Journal: April 7

 

Proposal to hike oil and gas fines by 1400% returns to Colorado legislature

Denver Business Journal: April 8

 

Proposal to hike oil and gas fines by 1,400% returns to Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: April 8

 

Crude oil potential from Colorado's DJ Basin gets bigger (a lot bigger)

Denver Business Journal: April 8

 

Book Excerpt: A Look Inside America's Fracking Boom                                                                               

Wall Street Journal: April 9

 

Drilling for oil and gas drives Colo. trucking boom

CPR: April 9

 

Billions to flow into Niobrara crude oil operations this year in Colorado and Wyoming

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

Colorado regulators ponder the 'true' value of rooftop solar power

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

 

Denver Business Journal: April 11

 

Pro-fracking push to win over Latinos

Upstream Online: April 11

 

General Business

Colorado breweries steal the show at World Beer Cup awards

Denver Business Journal: April 12

 

Health Care

House votes to change how health care law defines full-time work

Denver Post: April 7

 

What comes next for health care law?

Denver Post: April 7

 

More in Denver signed up for Medicaid than for private insurance

Denver Post: April 10

 

Labor/Employment

The untold story of U.S. military vets: We are trained and ready for business

Denver Business Journal: April 8

 

Mark Udall, Cory Gardner supporters battle over Paycheck Fairness Act

Denver Post: April 9

 

Marijuana

Lack of banking opens private-money doors for marijuana properties

Denver Post: April 7

 

OPINION: New pot bill in Colorado Senate is a threat to families

Denver Post: April 7

 

New Denver committee will hash out marijuana policy

Denver Post: April 7

 

Governor cuts pot revenue forecast by $20 million

Denver Post: April 8

 

Centennial will ban retail marijuana

Denver Post: April 8

 

Colorado pot revenue less than predicted (w/ video)

WDAY: April 9

 

Colorado marijuana sales rise slightly in 2nd month of recreational sales

The Republic: April 9

 

Opinion: Milbank: Hey, Congress: Try inhaling

Denver Post: April 9

 

House bill would set limits for potency of marijuana edibles

Denver Post: April 9

 

Colorado budget planners seek stability in funding pot enforcement

Denver Post: April 9

 

Cannabis-Rx ready to scoop up Denver industrial buildings

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

PERA

Carroll: Colorado lawmakers pass on PERA

The Denver Post: April 11

 

Tax

Colorado legislators expand recruitment tax credit but kill two other business bills

Denver Business Journal: April 7

 

Opinion: Will: Ron Wyden's Sisyphean battle over tax reform

Denver Post: April 7

 

Telecommunications

Comcast pitches its Time Warner deal as boost to innovation

Denver Post: April 9

 

Telecommunications reform package moves to Colorado Senate after House approval

Denver Business Journal: April 10

 

Transportation

Highway funding formula change could mean urban vs. rural war in Colorado

Denver Business Journal: April 7

 

RTD's buses are leaving, so what's next for Market Street Station?

Denver Business Journal: April 7

 

Opinion: Taking a stand on I-70 proposal

Denver Post: April 7

 

Denver City Council backs I-70 rehab project, with reservations

Denver Post: April 8

 

Don't let the regulatory past be the prologue for Uber

The Denver Post: April 9

 

Planning for Jefferson Parkway still pulling in municipal dollars

Denver Post: April 9

 

Water

Meet the man tasked with solving Colorado's looming water crisis

CPR: April 7

 

Haven't heard of the Colorado Water Plan?

The Durango Herald: April 8

In This Issue
The Week in Review

Legislative Tracking

Upcoming Events

Members in the News

News Clips

Ken Lund
Join Colorado Concern for a Membership Networking Breakfast May 22 hosted by John Ikard and  featuring Ken Lund, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
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