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Home Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

5/14/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Wall Street Journal Takes Note of Bill Ritter’s Business-Labor Brouhaha

Today's Wall Street Journal takes notice of Colorado's brewing battle between Big Labor and the state's economic well-being:A labor-union campaign in Colorado to tighten restrictions on layoffs and crack down on corporate fraud could put Democrats in an awkward position as they gather here in August for their presidential convention. Unions are pushing to get a total of six measures on the fall ballot, all of them opposed by small-business owners and corporate interests. "If they pass, it would be like putting a big 'Do Not Locate Your Business Here' sign on Colorado," said John Brackney, president of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. Don't believe the unions' initiatives would harm the economy? How about this opinion … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: ballot initiatives, Big Labor, Bill Ritter, Democratic National Convention, Wall Street Journal

5/14/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Politico’s Bad and Not-so-Bad News for Barack Obama

A quick glance at Politico this morning ... Bad news for Barack Obama: A stinging blowout defeat in the West Virginia primary holds a lot of evidence that the Leftist Illinois Senator faces serious demographic challenges beyond the bellwether state. Not-so-bad news for Barack Obama: All signs point to another bad national election season for Republican candidates. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Politico, Republicans, West Virginia

5/13/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Come See Flunked: The Movie’s Colorado Debut Next Wednesday

Flunked: The Movie - an Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) production - comes to Colorado next Wednesday, May 21. The Independence Institute (where I work) is sponsoring the showing of this spectacular 47-minute film about the success stories that should inspire transformational change in our nation's education system. The film, narrated by Joe Mantegna, is more engaging and entertaining than your average documentary. Here's a preview: Also, you can listen to this iVoices podcast recorded today with EFF's Steve Maggi to learn more about the film. And go here to find out how to sign up for the May 21 event. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, My Life Tagged With: education reform, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Flunked: The Movie, Independence Institute, iVoices, Joe Mantegna, Steve Maggi

5/13/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Congressional Democrat Payback of Big Labor Marches On: Public Safety Edition

Update, Part Deux: Sources have contacted me to correct my update. The Act hasn't officially passed the Senate yet. The final vote will be later this week. The first vote was a procedural motion that appears to be a strong indicator of a final vote. Anyway, there is hope for this bad legislation to die yet. Update: Just as I was publishing this post, it looks like the Act has passed the Senate, with a lot of so-called Republicans also enabling the legislation. So goes the world... Unsurprisingly, the Democrats in Congress haven't accomplished much since they took over. Most notably, Nancy Pelosi's 2006 "plan" to bring down gas prices is still in the works. One special interest group to which Democrats have been busy pandering is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, Labor, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Alliance for Worker Freedom, Big Labor, Congressional Democrats, Employee Free Choice Act, Heritage Foundation, Independence Institute, iVoices podcast, James Sherk, John Cooke, Nancy Pelosi, Public employee unions, union coercion, Wall Street Journal, Weld County Sheriff

5/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

China Earthquake Hits Home for (at least) Two Colorado Bloggers

A major earthquake in China today strikes home with a couple of my Colorado blogging friends. Jared and his wife are waiting to pick up their new son from China. Meanwhile, El Presidente waits to hear from "friends and former students" who live in the affected region. As usual, if you are so inclined, prayers are in order. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, World Events Tagged With: China, earthquake, Exultate Justi, Slapstick Politics

5/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

At least this isn’t our teachers union…

The teachers union in Washington State turned down millions of dollars in grant money that would have gone to boosting teacher salaries. What, you say? A pair of editorials today explain the story. First, the Daily News Online:That $13.2 million grant Washington state won last year to enhance the teaching of Advanced Placement courses in math and science is history. It’s lost because of the financial incentives it would have provided for teachers who improve test scores. The Washington Education Association didn’t much like the idea of tying teacher pay to student performance on exams. Neither did the teachers union like the involvement of an outside party, the grant provider, in teacher-pay decisions. The zinger, though, comes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: anti-education, merit pay, right-to-work, The Columbian, Washington Education Association

5/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Dems Fail to Lead or Take Responsibility, Irony Lost on Dead Guvs

The Dead Governors couldn't even bring themselves to defend their majority Democrat Party for accomplishing so little. So they tried to make fun of the minority Republicans for not getting much done themselves either:How do you write a critical op-ed about how Democrats talked and Republicans acted without bothering to mention anything that you actually accomplished yourself? For example: "On health care, we tried to clear away regulatory hurdles..." Good job on trying! Do Colorado's Left-leaning online apologists get the irony here? "You Republicans are going to criticize our Democrats for not fixing the state's problems? Well, I know we were in charge, and there were only 60 of us compared to 40 of you, but you didn't get anything … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Dead Governors, Democrats, education standards, irony, Republicans, responsibility

5/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

More Scientific Doubt Cast on Man-Made Global Warming Hysteria

In Skeptic magazine, peer-reviewed Ph.D. chemist Patrick Frank comes out with the latest rational debunking of man-made global warming hysteria, complete with well-sourced footnotes. More recommended reading for Gov. Bill Ritter and Boulder U.S. Rep. Mark Udall. Meanwhile, more scientists sign on to the dissenting report. As the challenging evidence mounts, we'll wait in vain for the nightly news report. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Global warming hysteria, Mark Udall, Patrick Frank, Skeptic magazine

5/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Josh Penry: Rising Colorado GOP Star

There's no need to recount the many woes and difficulties Colorado Republicans have faced in recent years, dethroned and demoralized by a well-funded and well-planned onslaught from the Left in the 2004 and 2006 elections. Thanks especially to the principled and savvy work of several key lawmakers in the caucus, the Republicans finally held their own this year. They have set the table for a comeback in Colorado, but the road is still arduous and uphill. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel shines the light on one of the most prominent - if not the most prominent - GOP rising stars: Senator Josh Penry. The Sentinel reports on the growing speculation that their 32-year-old hometown hero will lead the Senate Republicans next year:Sen. Greg … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Andy McElhany, Colorado Republicans, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Greg Brophy, Josh Penry, Mike Saccone

5/9/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Westminster School District Negligence Makes Case for Online Transparency

I about fell out of my chair when I read this local CBS4 TV news story (video also available):An out-of-state architectural firm has billed an Adams County School District nearly $60,000, for hotels, meals and travel expenses in the last year but the district hasn't bothered to ask for, or review, a single receipt. "It's negligence," said Kevin O'Brien, a former IRS agent, CPA and business ethics professor at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. "The public has a right to expect there will be some minimum checking on those receipts because its really the public's money." Adams County School District 50 hired Healy, Bender and Associates of Naperville, Ill., last year. The school district enlisted the company to help … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life Tagged With: Americans for Tax Reform, Ben DeGrow, bond election, Brian Maass, CBS4 News, Colorado Open Records request, financial transparency, Healy Bender and Associates, Kevin O'Brien, negligence, Pueblo Chieftain, school construction, school district budgets, Westminster High School, Westminster School District

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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

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