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Home Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

8/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Hot Air Tour to Highlight Global Warming Debate Comes to Colorado

Watching hot air balloons might never have been so much fun as this: Americans for Prosperity's Hot Air Tour is coming to Colorado, starting tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at Broomfield County Commons Park (13200 Sheridan Blvd). What am I talking about?Climate alarmists have bombarded citizens with apocalyptic scenarios and pressured them into environmental political correctness. It’s time to tell the other side of the story. Americans for Prosperity is working hard to bring you the missing half of the global warming debate. What will the impacts of reactionary legislation be for you, your family and our economy? Be among the first 50 to pre-register online for the Broomfield event tomorrow - or for events later this week in Fort … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Al Gore, Americans for Prosperity, Broomfield COunty Commons Park, climate alarmists, Colorado, Colorado Springs, Denver, energy record, environmental political correctness, Family, Fort Collins, free T-shirt, future savings, Glenwood Springs, global warming debate, Grand Junction, hot air balloon, Hot Air Tour, Jim Pfaff, Mark Udall, Pueblo

8/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

AG John Suthers’ Taxpayer-Friendly Brief Unlikely to Sway Political Court

Mike Saccone reports some pleasing but unsurprising news: Attorney General John Suthers has submitted a friendly brief to the Colorado Supreme Court on behalf of the people of the state, and the district court decision that upheld their rights to vote on a tax increase. But Governor Bill Ritter is probably resting easier than he should, knowing that the political High Court has every reason to favor the Democrats who appropriated them money to construct a new courtroom building. Color me cynical, and hope that I am surprised. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: amicus brief, Attorney General, Bill Ritter, Colorado Supreme Court, courtroom building, Democrats, Denver District Court, Grand Junction Sentinel, John Suthers, Mike Saccone, money, TABOR, tax increase

8/18/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

‘Blockers R Us’

I came across a great site that features anti-democratic tactics of Leftist organizations: blocking efforts to collect signatures, frivolous lawsuits, and other threats to free speech. Occasionally highlighted is the efforts of a group called By Any Means Necessary to try to shut down Colorado's Civil Rights Initiative. The radical fraud group ACORN is also regularly featured there. Stay tuned to this site, especially as the election approaches. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: ACORN, Amendment 46, Blockers R Us, By Any Means Necessary, Civil Rights Initiative, Colorado, fraud, Free Speech, frivolous lawsuits, Leftists

8/18/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Union Members and Fee Payers Foot Bill for Leaders’ DNC Invesco Suites

From Bloomberg.com (H/T Mike Antonucci):Seven unions, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, have stepped in to help pay for the Democratic National Convention in Denver after the host committee announced in June it was $10 million short of its fundraising goals. The host committee, as a private organization, can accept unlimited corporate, union and individual contributions. And while presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee are refusing contributions from registered lobbyists, the ban doesn't apply to the convention. Mike Antonucci also cites a Los Angeles Times piece that indicates donors can get "stadium skyboxes" to watch the Obamessiah's big … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor, National Politics, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: agency fees, American Federation of Teachers, Barack Obama, Bloomberg, Democratic National Committee, Democratic National Convention, Democrats, Denver, executive suites, fatcat, fundraising, host committee, Invesco Field, labor bosses, labor unions, Los Angeles Times, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Obamessiah, registered lobbyists, stadium skyboxes, teacher unions, union members

8/18/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Barack Obama: Question of Human Life “Above My Pay Grade”

Not only is Barack Obama's record on human life atrocious and frightening, but he seems utterly unable to give a clear, honest, or reasonable answer on the topic: "Above my pay grade"? So the buck stops where? More Americans need to wake up to the hollowness of the Barack Obama candidacy, and to think seriously about what kind of leader they want. Perhaps Barack Obama is genuinely confused about when human life begins and should be protected. After all, in some cases his confusion seems to extend beyond the point of birth (Scott Johnson at Powerline has more). No matter how he tries to dress it up, it's hard to deny that Obama is in the pocket of the abortion absolutist lobby. Meanwhile, one Red State diarist is just thankful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: "above my pay grade", abortion, abortion absolutist lobby, agnostic, Barack Obama, Born Alive Infants Protection Act, evangelicals, forum, hollow candidacy, human life, irresponsible leadership, John McCain, megachurch pastor, Powerline, Red State, Rick Warren, Scott Johnson, William Lobdell, YouTube

8/16/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Sara Gagliardi’s Do-Nothing Record Puts a John Bodnar Sign in my Yard

Michael at Best Destiny points out the inconsequential, do-nothing record of his and my state representative Sara Gagliardi - and the representative for most of Arvada, Colorado:Among things she did NOT sponsor, she did manage to join her party voting to extend unionization into the state government (which had to be vetoed, only to reappear via Executive fiat . . .er, order); she did manage to vote against increasing academic requirements for graduation, but vote to create standards for Sex Education in the schools. So the entire track record of Sara Gagliardi's first year in office as a part of the majority was: --no academic standards --Sex Ed standards --banned smoking in casinos, which encroaches on personal rights and hurt … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: academic requirements, Arvada, Best Destiny, Colorado, do-nothing record, John Bodnar, Michael, Sara Gagliardi, sex education, smoking, state representative, unionization, yard sign

8/16/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Hank Brown on Video: “Amendment 49 Keeps Lobbyists in Line”

Earlier I linked to the audio of former Governor Bill Owens and former U.S. Senator Hank Brown giving their endorsements of Amendment 49, Colorado's Ethical Standards initiative. Compliments of Ethical Standards Now, here is a longer version of the Hank Brown Amendment 49 radio ad set to YouTube video - "Amendment 49 keeps lobbyists in line": (Full disclosure: I also happen to work for the Independence Institute, which has provided the intellectual ammunition behind Ethical Standards.) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Amendment 49, Amendment 49 keeps lobbyists in line, Bill Owens, Colorado, endorsement, Ethical Standards initiative, Ethical Standards Now, Hank Brown, Independence Institute, YouTube

8/16/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado’s Amendment 49 Better Version of Idaho Clean Government Law

The latest edition of Budget & Tax News highlights an important case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court about a clean elections law from Idaho:In 2003, the Idaho Legislature passed the Voluntary Contributions Act, which banned the collection of political contributions through government payroll systems throughout the state. Nothing in the law prohibits union members from contributing to candidates by choice, and nothing in it prohibits unions from engaging in politics. Policy experts view the law favorably. Noted Ben DeGrow, an education analyst with the Independence Institute, "Governments should be focused on performing vital services for taxpayers, not on acting as a bill collector for private groups--especially groups that are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 49, Ben DeGrow, Budget & Tax News, clean government, Ethical Standards, government, Idaho, Independence Institute, lobbyists, payroll systems, policy experts, political candidates, Political contributions, special interests, U.S. Supreme Court, union members, Voluntary Contributions Act

8/15/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Colorado Education Association Reports Zero Dollars Spent on Politics?

The Colorado Supreme Court may have given the Colorado Education Association (CEA) a pass from the state's electioneering laws, but the Landmark Legal Foundation has taken the same evidence to file a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service that the union violated its tax-exempt status. In other words, CEA spent members' general dues money on union employees to coordinate political campaigns but reported zero dollars spent on politics to the IRS. Listen to Landmark's Pete Hutchison tell the story on this newly-released iVoices podcast. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Bob Bacon, campaign coordination, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Supreme Court, electioneering laws, Internal Revenue Service, iVoices podcast, labor union, Landmark Legal Foundation, legal complaint, Pete Hutchison, political campaigns, tax-exempt status, union dues

8/14/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

American Victory Coalition Patriotic Rally in Denver on Sunday, Aug. 24

It's good to see a breath of fresh air and common sense coming to Denver to counter the sea of Moonbat protesters drawn to the Democratic National Convention like moths to a flame. The American Victory Coalition is holding a patriotic rally in support of our troops and victory at Denver's Pioneer Monument Park on Sunday, August 24, from 10 am to 2 pm. Go here to find more details on speakers, security, suggestion for what to bring, and other details like parking and transportation. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: American Victory Coalition, common sense, Democratic National Convention, Denver, fresh air, moonbat protesters, patriotic rally, Pioneer Monument Park

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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
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  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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