Colorado Concern 

December 8, 2014

The Week in Review

 

With the mid-term elections behind us, several key issues were hot topics for discussion in Washington, D.C., in recent weeks.  One such item was comprehensive immigration reform, where President Obama took executive action around border security, streamlining the process to allow high-skilled individuals, graduates and entrepreneurs to stay in the country, and modifications to the current deportation policy.  The debate continues regarding the legality of such action from the executive versus the legislative branch, but one thing is certain:  In the eyes of the business community something must be done to address our broken immigration system.

 

To that end, Colorado Concern's leadership wrote to Colorado's Congressional Delegation urging them to find a common sense solution.

 

The text of the letter follows:


 

On behalf of the 110 business leaders who comprise the membership of Colorado Concern, we pledge to you our strong desire to work with you to craft policies that will help Colorado's economy grow and prosper.

 

One of the issues that is top-of-mind for our members, and the business community overall, is the broken immigration system that hobbles economic growth, denies local communities much-needed tax revenue, and keeps millions of families in the shadows in Colorado and across the country. 

 

With the election behind us, it is clear that Americans are interested in real solutions, not in dueling sound bites.  We have a tradition in Colorado of moving beyond tough election fights and coming together, regardless of party, to craft balanced compromises that address serious policy issues.  We believe that bipartisan, substantive and effective immigration reform can and must be an area in which there can be common ground. 

 

As we look at the myriad proposals that have been discussed in recent years, it is clear that there are components of many that are worthy of inclusion in an immigration-reform agenda that can be enacted by a solid, bipartisan majority in Congress, and signed by a Democratic president.  Whether it's border security, enhancing the ability of guest workers to come to the United States, or addressing the future of undocumented individuals living among us - or any of the other thorny immigration issues - no one party has a monopoly on good ideas.  Regardless of whatever executive action the White House may or may not take, legislative consensus is still imperative.

 

Indeed, Republicans and Democrats came together to sign the Colorado Compact - which Colorado Concern joined - that discussed the basic principles of meaningful immigration reform.  More than a year after that positive document was signed by dozens of organizations, labor shortages continue to plague industries across the state, stifling much-needed economic growth.  Conversely, real reform would provide the opportunity for workers in industries ranging from agriculture to bioscience to high-tech startups to come to the United States, sparking real economic growth. 

 

The only unacceptable path to us is one of continued inaction.  We are prepared to work with you not only to share the challenges that stem from this broken system, and the significant anchor it places on the economy, but also to help find common ground.  Consensus can begin with Coloradans coming together.

 

We believe strongly that now is the best time in years for dialogue, compromise and constructive legislating.  We deeply appreciate your commitment to serve the people of Colorado and our country, and hope that 2015 is the year when we will see, at long last, meaningful steps to repair America's immigration system.

 

Sincerely yours, 

              

 

Patrick Hamill                                         Tamra J. Ward

Chairman                                                President and CEO

 

 

Should you have questions regarding this issue, or any other policy matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at tamra@coloradoconcern.com.

 

Warmly,

Tamra  

Tamra

B:CIVIC - Promoting Business Philanthropy

 

A number of leading companies in the state have come together to form a new entity, B:CIVIC (Businesses Committed to Investing and Volunteering in the Community). B:CIVIC's mission is to promote and advance business philanthropy and community involvement across Colorado. Its goal is to help businesses large and small find ways to give that are meaningful to their employees, impactful to the community and good for their bottom line as well.  This is an organization founded by business for businesses - not a forum for nonprofits.  

As a benefit to its members, Colorado Concern has an inside track on membership.  The first 100 to sign up will be considered Founding Members.  There are a few slots left.  If you are interested in learning more or joining, go to BCIVIC.org.

 

Members in the News

 

Steve Jordan  

Metro State poised to serve demand for workers in advanced industry

Denver Post: December 5

Features Stephen Jordan

Colorado Concern Upcoming Events

 

Below is information on upcoming Colorado Concern events. 

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

Monday, December 8: Colorado Concern Annual Holiday Reception
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Governor's Mansion Main Residence, 400 E. 8th Avenue

Tuesday, January 13: Reception Welcoming Blair Richardson as Chairman of Colorado Concern
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Harman Hall, 400 St. Paul Street

Colorado Concern News Clips

 

Development/Real Estate

Effort to curb construction-defects lawsuits

The Durango Herald: December 1

 

Denver Business Journal: December 1

 

Commercial real estate boom could spell trouble for Denver metro nonprofits 

Denver Business Journal: December 3

 

Building lawsuits

Cortez Journal: December 5

 

Economy/Economic Development

Denver Post: December 1

 

RTD's new rail cars for FasTracks system unveiled to public

Denver Post: December 3

 

Boulder Planning Board approves Google campus plan - with conditions

5-1 vote follows hearing that stretched past midnight

Denver Post: December 5

 

Secretary of state accepts part of Boulder County voting results; accuses clerk of violating law

Boulder Daily Camera: December 6

 

Education

Report finds parents in Denver happy with school choices, not transportation

Denver Post: December 3

 

Elections/Politics

Denver Post: December 1

 

Politico: December 2

 

Proposal would keep Colorado on daylight savings

Denver Post: December 2

 

Denver Post: December 2

 

Denver Post: December 4

 

Citizen boards flex muscle in opposition of new Colorado election laws

Daily Journal: December 5

 

Colorado lawmakers ready police reform bills in wake of Ferguson, NYC

The Denver Post: December 6

 

Energy

Denver Business Journal: December 1

 

Denver Post: December 1

 

House approves tax credit for wind energy but trouble is ahead

Denver Post: December 5

 

Oil reserves grow in Colorado, across the U.S.

Denver Business Journal: December 5

 

Health Care

Denver Post: December 2

 

Denver Post: December 3

 

Colorado health exchange site experiences enrollment speed bumps

Denver Post: December 3

 

Colorado health exchange site experiences enrollment speed bumps

Denver Post: December 3

 

Immigration

Gardner and Coffman split votes on symbolic immigration bill

Denver Post: December 5

 

Labor/Employment

Boulder Human Relations Commission holding public hearing on living wage

Boulder Daily Camera: December 4

 

Marijuana

Colorado's Pot Industry Looks To Move Past Stereotypes

CPR: December 3

 

More pot packaging battles loom as legislative session nears

The Colorado Independent: December 5

 

TABOR

The National Impact of a Colorado Court Case

North Denver News: December 2

 

Denver Post: December 3

 

Transportation

Denver Post: December 1

 

Denver Business Journal: December 1

 

Denver Business Journal: December 1

 

Denver Business Journal: December 2

 

Colorado airport funding mistake leads to director leaving division

Denver Post: December 2

 

Denver Business Journal: December 3

 

RTD's new rail cars for FasTracks system unveiled to public

Denver Post: December 3

 

Denver Business Journal: December 4

 

Why Denver wanted a flight to Panama

CPR: December 5

 

DIA earns high marks for healthy food choices

Denver Business Journal: December 6

 

Water

5280: December 2

In This Issue
The Week in Review

B:CIVIC Invitation

Members in the News

Upcoming Events

News Clips


toast-confetti.jpg
Join us for our annual Holiday Reception December 8 at the Governor's Mansion.
 Click here for details and to register.  Please sign up by Tuesday.
___________
Colorado Concern Board of Directors

 

Pat Hamill

(Chairman)

Tamra Ward

(President and CEO)

Ted Brown

Steve Farber

Tim Gill

A. Barry Hirschfeld 

Bill Hybl

John Ikard

Walter Isenberg

David McReynolds

Larry A. Mizel 

Blair Richardson

Dan Ritchie 

Rick Sapkin
Sylvia Young