Mount Virtus

Hats off to Colorado’s own Congressman Mike Coffman for stepping up to the plate and co-leading the effort to bring back the Balanced Budget Amendment. Coffman lays out the case in The Hill blog:

Adoption of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget is an enormous task and will take an immense amount of political will but our future and our children’s future depends on lawmakers having the fortitude to do the right thing. To become law the measure must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and then be ratified by two-thirds of the states. In 1995 and then again in 1997 a balanced budget amendment passed the House but failed to meet the two-thirds requirement in the Senate by a single vote. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible….

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Update: Scanned copy of the March 5 Taxpayers for Liberty letter posted below.

Yesterday I received a strange mailing from a group called Taxpayers for Liberty. (Many of my fellow conservative, politically-active Colorado friends likely received the same.) It’s a self-described 501c4 organization with a Denver P.O. Box and an executive director named Andrew O’Neill — I’m almost positive it’s not this Andrew O’Neill.

I will take time later today to scan and post the four-page letter, along with the attached questionnaire and reply form, so you can see the mailing for yourself. It looks a lot like your standard political fundraising letter, with short paragraphs and heavy on underlined text and bullet points. Suffice it to say, the group Taxpayers for Liberty is very fond of Ken Buck, while railing on Jane Norton for not returning the questionnaire and Tom Wiens for filling out the questionnaire identically but having a voting record, or something like that. (more…)

Despite the best efforts of Colorado statehouse Democrats to turn around and point the fingers at the e-e-e-eeevil Amazon.com, they (with the exception of Sen. Gail Schwarz) are all responsible for paying no heed to the warnings and ultimately killing many small Colorado Internet businesses.

Speaking of difficulty in taking responsibility, WhoSaidYouSaid has posted a YouTube video of Democrat state senate leader John Morse going ballistic at Amazon. Sadly, for the overwhelming majority of people whose businesses have been affected, this just doesn’t ring true.

Turning in his Kindle for an iPad is John Morse’s prerogative. But venting at a business for following through on a rational decision caused by his own vote won’t ease the pain of Colorado’s Amazon affiliates. Although it might inspire a few to volunteer on behalf of John Morse’s Republican opponent Owen Hill. (more…)

Yesterday’s Rasmussen poll is the best news GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis has had in awhile, and well timed to land a week before caucuses. Fellow RMA blogger Don Johnson notes that McInnis’ six-point lead over Denver mayor John Hickenlooper comes in spite of a distinct popularity advantage by the Democrat. Johnson says: “That’s not so good for McInnis.”

I disagree with that assessment. Everyone knows Hick is more popular, flashier. The fact McInnis leads in spite of the disparity says a good thing not only about the former Congressman’s chances to claim the governor’s mansion next year, but also about the heavy baggage that comes with being a Democrat in Colorado in 2010.

Of course, plenty hinges on whether this latest poll is an outlier or the sign of a trend. A similar result in April may be dispiriting to the majority Dems.

But let’s bring it home. Does the new Rasmussen poll affect your view on which Republican candidate is the stronger general election selection to take down Hickenlooper: McInnis or Dan Maes? Have your say on the March survey of Colorado’s political temperature by Friday. Who knows? You could be the deciding vote.

Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge has reached iconic status, especially in Republican primaries. Politicians who sign the pledge are declaring their opposition to any and all future tax increases.

Below is the official updated list of all Colorado candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress who have signed the no-new-taxes pledge. Interestingly, the top four U.S. Senate candidates are all aboard, but only two of the four candidates in the 4th Congressional, and one each from the 3rd and the 7th. Current Republican Congressmen Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn unsurprisingly are on the list as well: (more…)

Two days, two stories, two reasons why I believe the Colorado General Assembly needs more legislators like Senator Shawn Mitchell fighting for us. First, Colorado Senate News reports a recent floor debate in which Mitchell assumes his usual role as bold and articulate spokesman for common sense and liberty, leading the vote against a heavy-handed, onerous renewable energy mandate:

“I don’t want a European society where government will decide what life will look like tomorrow,” said Mitchell. “I want a free American traditional society where my choices, your choices–as consumers, as families, as citizens–will determine what society will look like tomorrow.”

Second, a Colorado News Agency story on a committee meeting in which Mitchell pushed the logic behind majority Democrats’ bill to ban health insurance companies from taking gender into account in issuing premiums:

“Should auto insurance companies be allowed to charge more for boys than girls?” asked Mitchell, in reference to the much higher rates that are applied to the policies of teen-age male drivers than to teen-age female drivers.

Mitchell nevertheless was the lone Republican joining the Democrats on the committee in voting for the bill, saying that he will now consider introducing a bill that prohibits gender discrimination for auto insurance and that he anticipates their support. The other two men on the committee, both Republicans, voted against the bill.

Can we get more Shawn Mitchells in the state legislature? There’s a reason why Democrats don’t enjoy debating him. With enough likeminded Colorado legislators, Mitchell and the fiscal conservatives can do more than win debate on technical points. SOmething to think about going into 2010….

A quick update from the Colorado 7th Congressional District GOP primary campaign trail (isn’t that a mouthful!) … First, the very strong fundraising quarter by Ryan Frazier was noted today in the eighth paragraph of a story by Wall Street Journal reporters Stephanie Simon and Ana Campoy about anti-Beltway sentiment fueling successful races across the country:

In Colorado, a little-known suburban city councilman, Republican Ryan Frazier, raised more money last quarter for his congressional bid than all but one of the state’s incumbent members of the U.S. House.

Meanwhile, already facing an uphill challenge to catch up with Frazier’s money and momentum, Jimmy Lakey bumped across a small obstacle in news from Complete Colorado that he had not been registered to vote for the past 16 months. (Though by all accounts he voted absentee in the 2008 election and has rectified what appears to be a postal error.) He explained the case to Lynn Bartels at the Spot, but it’s probably not what he’d prefer to be talking about so soon after his best week on the campaign trail yet.

Lakey was in attendance at yesterday evening’s Jefferson County Republican Party central committee meeting, along with three other CD 7 contenders: Lang Sias (who got some yard signs posted out front), Mike Sheely and Michael Deming. Frazier and his team were not in attendance but didn’t seem too conspicuous by their absence, since no opportunities were afforded to Congressional candidates to speak.

Update, 3/5: Better late than never, I guess. At least Ritter has finally named members to his “educator effectiveness” panel, for whatever that’s worth.

I don’t mean to kick a man when he’s down, especially when he’s biked his way into the hospital with broken ribs. But it was quite the experience to open the virtual pages of the Denver Post this morning and read the lead editorial raking Governor Bill Ritter over the coals for his weak-kneed half-efforts at education reform:

The governor’s executive order was quite clear: Members of a panel who were to devise ways of linking teacher evaluations to student achievement were to meet on or before March 1.

They have not.

But don’t blame panel members. Gov. Bill Ritter hasn’t bothered to appoint them yet.

The foot-dragging is indefensible, and is further evidence, we think, of the Ritter administration’s unnecessary appeasement of the teachers union, which has never been a fan of these efforts.

How better to explain it? (more…)

This post will stick to the top until March 12. Please scroll down for newer postings.

Update, 3/8: With the news that CD 7 candidate Jimmy Lakey has withdrawn from the race (H/T Complete Colorado), his name has been removed as a possible selection on the relevant questions. I hope it wasn’t anything I said giving my off-the-cuff analysis of the CD 7 GOP primary last night as guest co-host on Backbone Radio.

Time flies, so here comes another edition of the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. The deadline is next Friday, March 12, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. What are you waiting for?

Click here to take the March survey

The March edition has even fewer issue statements, but adds attention to the 2nd Congressional race, and asks participants to predict the likelihood that Colorado Supreme Court justices will be retained or removed from office in November.

Results of the survey are scheduled to be released the day before Republicans across Colorado convene in their March 16 caucuses, which this year includes a preference poll of candidates in the governor’s and U.S. Senate primary races.

Throughout the 2010 election year, the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature will re-appear the 1st Thursday of each month. So once you complete this survey, you can start counting down the days until the April edition is unveiled [though in this case, due to the Easter holiday, the next survey is slated to launch on April 8, the 2nd Thursday of the month].

Check back here by Monday the 15th for March results. Meanwhile, here’s the official release announcing the new survey (as always, click “fullscreen” for a closer look): (more…)

No political blogging this morning. Instead, a great video tribute to Michigan soldiers who served in the Civil War, with historical music provided by actor and native Michigander Jeff Daniels:

It’s hard for me not to be moved by this tribute, having studied the U.S. Civil War so extensively, having traveled to so many of its battlefield sites, having four ancestors who served in the War (including three who died in the service — one in the 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry), and having my alma mater Hillsdale College so prominently represented in the 4th Michigan and other regiments:

A higher percentage of Hillsdale students enlisted during the Civil War than from any other western college. Of the more than 400 who fought for the Union, four won the Congressional Medal of Honor, three became generals and many more served as regimental commanders. Sixty gave their lives.

Furthermore, yes, “Michigan, My Michigan” is the official song of my native state.

The 1860s were such a different time in so many ways, and yet there must be some similar sentiments shared by our military personnel on active duty today. Lend a thought or prayer to our troops serving overseas and to their families.

Is the United States ready for a new labor model, one more grounded in freedom of association and individual liberty? That’s the central thrust of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s new book — Sweeping the Shop Floor — for which I was honored to be a contributor.

EFF labor policy analyst Rachel Culbertson joined me and my Independence Institute colleague Mike Krause for a conversation to whet your appetite for the book. Click the play button below (or follow this link) to listen to the 12-minute iVoices podcast:

For more detail on the book’s argument about how we can give workers more freedom in designing a labor model for the 21st Century and how it might work in Colorado public education and other government agencies, check out Ed Is Watching.

Now that the Democrats in charge of the State Capitol have solved the budget crisis by raising taxes and raiding cash funds, the Colorado News Agency reports the Dems have set out to solve a major problem that confounds us slow-witted peon parents:

House Bill 1147 would authorize law enforcement to issue an “informational” traffic citation–a card containing safety information about wearing a helmet, not an actual ticket–to any child over 2 years old who is on a public roadway or public place and who is not wearing a helmet. The purpose of the bill is to promote helmet usage and to foster a better relationship between young people and the local police, said Kefalas.

My friend and colleague Amy Oliver isn’t sure how “I would ‘manage’ raising my kids without” HB 1147 sponsor Rep. John Kefalas.

Does anyone outside the Golden Dome really believe this bill is the best way to achieve its intended effect? Does anyone outside the Golden Dome really believe Colorado kids need more nannies?

Update, 3/2: Good news: HB 1248 is dead as a doornail. Three Democrats — Daniel Kagan, Su Ryden, and Sal Pace — crossed the aisle to help Republicans vote down the bill.

Update, 1:15 PM: Walter in Denver effectively takes down HB 1248 — a bad bill for Colorado’s small business women — here and here.

This one may be a bit off topic for me, but it does have to do with potential overreach by the Colorado state legislature. It strikes home because the lovely Mrs. Virtus sells Mary Kay products as a business to supplement our household income.

Representative Dianne Primavera’s House Bill 1248, scheduled to be heard by the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon, is an overreach that would have unnecessary negative effects on small businesses in our state. A lot more detail is available on The Winged Seed blog, which agrees it’s time to nip the bill in the bud.

If you are so inclined to follow her lead, the lovely Mrs. Virtus sent an email to members of the House Judiciary Committee on Friday (email addresses of the committee members are posted below): (more…)

You knew Democrats are very comfortable with the idea of appearing generous by spending other people’s hard-earned money. But you may not have known just how generous at least one liberal Democrat leader in Washington, D.C., is with the political careers of her minions, er, fellow members of her Congressional caucus:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her colleagues to back a major overhaul of U.S. health care even if it threatens their political careers, a call to arms that underscores the issue’s massive role in this election year.

Lawmakers sometimes must enact policies that, even if unpopular at the moment, will help the public, Pelosi said in an interview being broadcast Sunday the ABC News program “This Week.” “We’re not here just to self-perpetuate our service in Congress,” she said. “We’re here to do the job for the American people.”

Easy to say when you don’t have to fear your own re-election, Madame Speaker. Pelosi makes Senator Michael Bennet look noble by comparison. Yes, it’s still bad policy — for your liberty and your pocketbook and quite possibly your health. After all, you can almost hear Pelosi saying:

Open wide and drink your Obama Care poison, er, medicine…. It’s good for me … I mean, for you.

But even so, at least Bennet’s own short-term job on Capitol Hill actually is at stake. Then again, looking noble by comparison to Nancy Pelosi isn’t exactly something you publish on your resume.