Colorado Concern believes that a balance of power in the state legislative branch is of benefit to the business community, and had outlined as one of its key initiatives for 2014 achieving that outcome.  The results of the election allow us to check the box that we met that goal. 

According to analysis from the Secretary of State's office, nearly $150 million was spent on constitutional and legislative candidates and ballot issues this year.  While that is a sizeable sum, the actual figure is likely much higher as organizations known as c4s (for their placement in the U.S. tax code) are not governed by the same reporting and disclosure requirements.  Additionally, this total does not include the political spend for federal office seekers.  According to the Federal Election Commission, more than $81 million was spent between U.S. House and Senate contests in the Centennial State.  It's no wonder we all have campaign ad fatigue.

With the election behind us we now turn toward our legislative agenda for 2015.  If you have not yet completed Colorado Concern's public policy survey, please do so here.  We value your thoughts and opinions.  Thank you in advance. 

Warmly,

Tamra

Denver Business Journal: November 4

Features Rob Katz

9NEWS: November 5

Features Kelly Brough

Major art projects taking shape at DIA hotel-station site

Denver Business Journal: November 7

Features Kim Day

Denver Business Journal: November 7

Features Kent Thiry

Budget

Hickenlooper's budget plan endorses tax rebates, new state spending

Denver Post: November 5

Colorado's Proposed Budget Includes $30.5M Marijuana Rebate

Marijuana.com: November 6

Development/Real Estate

Growth in north Thornton is attracting a lot of new home development

Denver Post: November 4

Cherry Creek, LoDo road changes to impact Denver motorists, businesses

Denver Post: November 4

Inventory of homes for sale in Denver metro shrinks dramatically

Denver Post: November 6

Opinion: Condo-building rules should protect homeowners, not developers

Denver Post: November 6

Economy/Economic Development

Denver Business Journal: November 4

Education

Push for STEM education in Colorado gathers steam

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Editorial: Better schools for southwest Denver

Denver Post: November 3

Colorado's state Board of Education races drawing money, attention

Denver Post: November 3

Should there be more to school evaluations than student test scores?

CPR: November 3

How the University of Colorado bagged the $40 million Wildlife Experience

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Denver Post: November 5

Colorado's only approved ballot measure concerns teachers' unions, school boards' negotiations

Daily Journal: November 6

With elections over, superintendents to push for more money from Hick, legislature

Chalkbeat Tennessee: November 7

Chalkbeat: Parties fretting over prospects for control of Colorado Legislature

Denver Business Journal: November 6

Elections/Politics

Despite attention, Colorado voter fraud remains rare, say clerks

The Denver Post: November 3

Denver is top U.S. market for election ads

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Complete 2014 election results

Denver Post: November 5

Denver Business Journal: November 5

Denver Business Journal: November 5

Denver Business Journal: November 5

Denver Post: November 6

Colorado clerk: No evidence of mail-in ballot fraud

Colorado Public Radio: November 6

El Paso County shatters election turnout record

Colorado Springs Gazette: November 6

Surge in older voters aided Cory Gardner's victory over Mark Udall

The Denver Post: November 6

Colorado House majority balance remains uncertain with tight races

The Denver Post: November 6

Colorado State Capitol vandalized during Million Mask March; 10 arrested

Los Angeles Times: November 6

Colorado legislature cancels leadership elections

The Denver Post: November 6

Anti-gay Former Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt Wins Race for Colorado House Seat

Towleroad: November 6

Colorado Senate control hinges on ballot counting in Adams, Jeffco

The Denver Post: November 6

Colorado Dems win back 2 seats lost over gun bills

9NEWS: November 6

Nutrition Nannies Win Mere 1 Of 4 High-Profile Ballot Initiatives

Forbes: November 7

Political Pundits Completely Miss The Point Of Expanding Voting Rights

ThinkProgress: November 7

Our view: The mail-in ballot post-game

Aspen Times: November 7

It's official: GOP wins 18-17 majority in Colorado Senate

The Denver Post: November 8

The State Legislative Landslide

American Thinker: November 8

What should Colorado's state government do for business?

Denver Business Journal: November 8

Colorado Senate Republicans declare victory as ballot counting ends

The Denver Post: November 9

Questionable practices mar Colorado elections

Communities Digital News: November 9

Meyer: Colorado's election winners, losers

The Denver Post: November 9

R.I. casinos dealt tough hand in election

The Providence Journal: November 9

Energy

Fracking advocates urged to "win ugly" by discrediting opponents

Denver Post: November 3

Denver Business Journal: November 7

General Business

Colorado's restaurant industry is satisfying an appetite for growth

Denver Post: November 3

LoDo commands 20% higher rents than the rest of downtown Denver

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Denver Post: November 4

Whole Foods opening flagship store next to Denver Union Station

Denver Post: November 6

Denver Post: November 7

Health Care

Colorado health exchange users may pay much more for insurance next year

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Denver Post: November 4

Denver Business Journal: November 6

Labor/Employment

Small business divided over minimum wage votes

Denver Post: November 3

Marijuana

Shrinking Majority Of Americans Supports Marijuana Legalization, New Gallup Poll Shows

Huffington Post: November 7

Tax

Denver Business Journal: November 6

Transportation

I-70 traffic changes how Coloradans live, play

Denver Post: November 3

FasTracks at 10: RTD's sprawling rail-transit construction project is still rolling

Denver Business Journal: November 3

Denver Post: November 6

CDOT: I-70 plan protects taxpayers

Denver Post: November 6          

Denver Post: November 7