Colorado Concern 

March 23, 2015

The Week in Review

 

Tamra Ward

Expanding and enhancing the information that Colorado voters are provided about proposed ballot measures is a vital step forward in strengthening our citizen initiative system.  That is why Colorado Concern is the major proponent of HB15-1057 - Concerning the process for a statewide initiative to be placed on the ballot - Court/DelGrosso and Sonnenberg/Hodge.  It is a measure with strong bipartisan support and would provide a statement on the fiscal impact of a ballot measure - and place that impact statement on the petition forms for voters to consider before they sign their names. 

 

Understanding how a ballot measure would affect taxpayers' pocketbooks, and government coffers, is a critical piece of information that is important in aiding voters in making an informed decision.  It is the equivalent of a price tag on a car - because we don't want to know what a major purchase costs after we have signed the papers to buy it.   

 

Ironically, that is exactly what voters face when they are presented today with petitions that may sound good on the surface but that lack basic information about the costs and the benefits.  HB 1057 will fill that vacuum with straightforward, factual and unbiased data prepared by the non-partisan Legislative Council - the same folks who prepare the Blue Book Voter Guide. 

 

This fiscal impact statement measure isn't a new concept.  More than half the states that use the initiative system require such a statement to enhance voter education.  Even California!  And HB 1057 mirrors the current process used for legislatively referred ballot measures, and all bills moving through the Colorado General Assembly; any proposal considered for the ballot, or for placement into our statutes by the State Legislature, has a fiscal impact statement - known as a "fiscal note" - prepared before it can be considered by our lawmakers.

 

We live in an age in which information flows faster than ever before, and in which transparency in government is expanding exponentially.  HB 1057 is an important and overdue asset for expanding the transparency of ballot initiatives and for giving Coloradans the fiscal facts they need and deserve.  The Denver Post agrees. See a link to the Post's editorial in support of this measure. 

 

This bill has its first hearing on Wednesday in the House State Affairs Committee.  Twenty-nine organizations from across Colorado support this approach and will be working to see it pass for consideration by the full House.  The environmental lobby, organized labor and progressive/conservative groups oppose the measure.  We believe good government will win the day on Wednesday, and that we will be a step closer to ensuring you, as a voter, have better information as you consider what measures are before you each November.

 

If you have questions about this bill, or any other measure, 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.

 

Tuesday, April 7: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch Co-Hosted by David McReynolds and Blair Richardson, featuring guest speaker Fiona Arnold, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400

 

Thursday, May 14: Colorado Concern Membership Networking Lunch and State Legislative Session Wrap-Up Co-Hosted by Barry Hirschfeld and John Ikard

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Colorado Concern, 140 East 19th Avenue, Suite 400

Members in the News 

 

Ryan Good  

Denver Business Journal: March 10
Features Ryan Good

 

  

Pinnacol celebrates workers comp centennial: A history

The Colorado Statesman: March 20

Features Phil Kalin


Colorado Concern News Clips

 

Budget/TABOR

Colorado state budget forecast leaves business bills, transportation funds in trouble

Denver Business Journal: March 19

 

Denver Post: March 19

 

Colorado budget forecasts offer a warning

The Denver Post: March 21

 

Development

Denver Post: March 16

 

Denver Post: March 16

 

Longmont Daily Times Call: March 16  

Editorial: Addressing affordable housing

Boulder Daily Camera: March 16

 

Bill seeks to seal cracks

Durango Herald: March 16

 

Editorial: Denver voters need stock show plan details

Denver Post: March 16

 

Denver Business Journal: March 17

 

New bill at Colorado Capitol aims to protect builders, developers from lawsuits

The Denver Channel: March 18

 

Condo builder bill faces 1st legislative test

The Denver Post: March 18

 

Denver Post: March 19

 

Economy/Economic Development

Denver Post: March 17

 

Denver Business Journal: March 17

 

Denver Business Journal: March 18

 

 

Denver Post: March 19

 

Education

Denver's grading policy not abnormal, but under review

Denver Post: March 16

 

Moody's warns Colorado needs to step in and fix PERA

Denver Business Journal: March 16

 

New twists complicate testing debate

Chalkbeat New York: March 18

 

KDVR: March 18

 

Denver Post: March 18

 

Chalkbeat: March 19

 

Elections/Politics

Colorado lawmakers want to create title insurance commission

Inman: March 16

 

Mail-ballot pioneer Oregon becomes first state to automatically register voters

Minneapolis Star Tribune: March 16

 

Denver Post: March 17

 

Bills on Colorado ski-area water, mineral rights do a face plant in Legislature

Denver Business Journal: March 18

 

More ballot issues, charter amendments also on ballot

The Coloradoan: March 21

 

Energy

Oil production in Colorado and North America is changing the balance of power worldwide

Denver Business Journal: March 16

 

Legislature kills mineral-rights bill

The Durango Herald: March 17

 

BisNow: March 19

 

General Business

Denver Business Journal: March 17

 

Denver Business Journal: March 18

 

Denver Business Journal: March 20

 

Liquor stores and grocers in fight over sales

The Coloradoan: March 22

 

Health Care

Colorado HealthOP's surge on insurance exchange carries red flag

Denver Post: March 16

 

Denver reports 94 percent of residents have health insurance coverage

Denver Post: March 17

 

Colorado legislators want to double review time for health exchange

The Denver Post: March 18

 

Reimbursement battle between doctors, insurers could reach Legislature

Denver Business Journal: March 18

 

Denver Business Journal: March 18

 

Colorado vaccination law lacks enforcement, and no change is in works

Denver Post: January 19

 

Immigration/Labor

Man lives in Denver church basement as debate over immigration rages

Denver Post: March 16

 

Denver Post: March 17

 

Denver Post: March 18

 

Compromise would allow 3 offices to offer immigrant driver's licenses

The Denver Post: March 19

 

Denver Business Journal: March 20

 

Labor/Employment

Denver Business Journal: March 16

 

Colorado Lawmaker Pitching Hike In Minimum Wage To $12.50

CBS Local: March 20

 

Marijuana

Denver Business Journal: March 20

 

Transportation

Colorado officials have "bold mission" to get to zero traffic deaths

The Denver Post: March 17

 

Denver Post: March 18

 

Denver Post: March 20

 

 

Denver Business Journal: March 20

 

Water

Let Colorado residents use rooftop runoff

The Denver Post: March 16

 

Rooftop rainwater collection bill easily clears Colorado committee

The Denver Post: March 18

 

Denver Business Journal: March 19

 

Sasha Nelson: Proposed water bill offers barrel full of common sense

Craig Daily Press: March 21

 

 

In This Issue
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Join us April 7 for our monthly Membership Networking Lunch co-hosted by Blair Richardson and David McReynolds and featuring Fiona Arnold, Executive Director of the CO Office of Eco. Dev't and Int'l Trade.
for details and to register.