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Home 2009 Archives for February 2009

Archives for February 2009

2/10/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Watchdogs, Face The State Launches Investigative Reporting Award

Face The State is looking for aspiring journalists and assorted government watchdogs to ply their skills for the chance to win some cool cash:From the governor’s office to the local waste water office, government must be held accountable. And why not win a cash prize while doing it? That’s why Face The State is excited to announce its monthly Investigative Reporting Award. Here’s how it works. If you spy government misdeeds that should to be exposed, roll up your sleeves, do your homework, and write it up. You could just win our monthly $400 grand prize. There will also be cash prizes for finalists. Your report should abide by basic journalistic principles relating to sourcing, verification, and libel. As we’ve learned, truth … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, General, PPC Tagged With: aspiring journalists, Brad Jones, cash prizes, cool cash, deeper look, exposed, Face the State, fiction, finalists, government misdeeds, government watchdogs, homework, idea, Investigative Reporting Award, journalistic principles, libel, lure of money, make up, Michael Roberts, skills, sourcing, truth, verification, Westword

2/10/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Growing Labor Clout Puts Michael Bennet in Bind Over Card-Check Bill

The first big line in the sand this year for Colorado's selected U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and not-so-senior partner Mark Udall was the vote in favor of the massive federal spending (so-called "stimulus") bill. Next on the docket is the poorly-named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would take away employee secret ballots in workplace election and impose costly binding arbitration procedures. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Al Sharpton, Ariella Bernstein, article, bailout, ballot measures, binding arbitration, boondoggle, campaign contributions, candidates, card-check, co-sponsor, coercive, Colorado, Congress, costly, cynical, data, decline, Democratic, Denver Post, docket, EFCA, Employee Free Choice Act, employees, failing businesses, failing labor unions, federal spending, George McGovern, government, independent backbone, influential voices, John Holcomb, Karen Crummy, kowtow, Labor Department, labor leaders, line in the sand, listen, Mark Udall, members, Michael Bennet, National Institute on Money in State Politics, party line, political dynamics, poorly-named, pressure, private sector, procedures, professor, public sector, researchers, secret ballots, selected, senior partner, stagnant, state-level races, statistics, stimulus, U.S. Senator, union membership, Unions, University of Denver, vote

2/10/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Rocky Mtn Alliance Blog Talk Radio at 8:30: Cory Gardner, Leondray Gholston

Tune in starting at 8:30 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the sure-to-be-lucky 13th edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Tonight's scheduled guests are state representative Cory Gardner, a rising legislative star to talk about transportation and other issues at the State Capitol, and Leondray Gholston, Republican activist and candidate for Colorado state GOP vice-chair perhaps most well-known for his stirring speech at last year's State Assembly. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC, transportation Tagged With: activist, Blog Talk Radio, candidate, Colorado, Cory Gardner, issues, Leondray Gholston, live broadcast, Mount Virtus, podcast, Republican, Rocky Mountain Alliance, scheduled guests, show, sidebar, state, state assembly, State Capitol, stirring speech, transportation, vice-chair, widget

2/10/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Outrage: Senate Stimulus Costlier

While many now are justifiably irate about Senators Arlen Specter and Susan Collins for their politically and economically destructive behavior, and President Obama sets up strawmen to make the case for Democrats' massive spending spree, it's important to remember that the so-called compromise Senate version of the so-called "stimulus" bill is actually more costly than the version that united Republican opposition in the House. Outrageous ... No Stimulus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Arlen Specter, Barack Obama, behavior, compromise, Democrats, destructive, economically, grumbling, House, irate, justifiably, massive, more costly, outrageous, politically, President, Republican opposition, senator, so-called, spending spree, stimulus bill, strawmen, Susan Collins

2/9/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

The Case at Cherokee Trail, and Cracking Down on “Zero-Tolerance”

Over at Ed News Colorado, I authored a post today titled "The Absurdity of Zero-Tolerance Zealots" - about the incident at Cherokee Trail High School. (Just in case you wanted to see my thoughts on the matter.) Mr. Bob wonders if the crackdown is coming on the Color Guard next. Meanwhile, the state senate minority office reports proposed legislation may be coming to address the overreach of "zero-tolerance" policies on students in military-oriented youth groups: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, PPC, property rights Tagged With: absurdity, Berthoud, Cherokee Trail High School, Color Guard, crackdown, Douglas County, Ed News Colorado, Kevin Lundberg, legislation, Marie Morrow, military-oriented, minority office, Mr. Bob, policies, post, state senate, titled, Young Marines, youth groups, zero-tolerance

2/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Beware Stimulus Spam from Nancy Pelosi and Congress in Your Email Inbox

You think the Nigerian email scammers are bad? Be wary if something like this shows up in your inbox. Well-timed and well-done comic relief from Big Hollywood's Ernie Mannix. Check it out. On a serious note, it isn't too late to make your voice heard about the bloated waste and economic poison most commonly known as the federal stimulus bill. If you're ambitious, you can follow Rossputin's lead and pen a letter. The least you can do is sign Americans for Prosperity's No Stimulus petition. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: ambitious, Americans for Prosperity, bad, Big Hollywood, bloated waste, economic poison, email scammers, Ernie Mannix, federal stimulus bill, inbox, letter, Nigerian, No Stimulus, pen, petition, Rossputin, serious note, sign, voice

2/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dick Wadhams Talks Up Ryan Frazier and Mark Hillman for U.S. Senate Race

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams recently sat down with the Colorado Statesman for an extended interview. There isn't much in the way of new information, but there is one passage worthy of comment. Namely, it's interesting to see whom Wadhams is talking up for the U.S. Senate race to challenge the newly-selected Michael Bennet: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Bob Beauprez, candidate, chairman, Colorado Statesman, Dan Caplis, Dick Wadhams, different information, elected official, excellent choice, Governor, humble opinion, interview, Josh Penry, leader, legislature, Mark Hillman, Michael Bennet, Republican Party, Rocky Mountain Right, Ryan Frazier, selected, senator, statewide candidate, straw poll, third, U.S. Senate, young

2/7/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Tom Lucero Touts a Few Big Name Supporters in Contested 4th CD Race

Update: I forgot to mention Fort Collins city councilman Diggs Brown as another candidate being touted to run as a Republican in the 4th CD. Thanks to Night Twister for the reminder. Will Republicans have an interesting primary in Colorado's 4th Congressional District? Who knows, but it won't be for lack of trying. Names like Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and State Representative Cory Gardner (Yuma) have been floated as leading contenders to take on newly-elected Betsy Markey. But CU Regent Tom Lucero yesterday released the names of his policy advisors and finance team. The list of campaign advisors and fundraisers features some notable and influential names, including business leader Steve Schuck as well as leading radio … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: 4th Congressional District, aggressively, approach, Betsy Markey, business leader, campaign, clean, Colorado, contenders, conventional wisdom, Cory Gardner, CU Regent, District Attorney, fundraisers, Hugh Hewitt, influential, Ken Buck, Mike Rosen, names, newly elected, notable, policy advisors, primary, race, radio business, radio talk show, rates, Republicans, state representative, stay tuned, Steve Schuck, Tom Lucero, underdog, Weld County

2/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Legislation to Shine Light on Colorado School Spending Still Alive and Kicking

Good news heading into the weekend: School district financial transparency is still alive at the Colorado State Capitol. Also, the Denver Post's Jessica Fender highlighted my recent Independence Institute report (PDF) in an article on the topic today. The fight led by citizens and state senator Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, for Senate Bill 57 (PDF) and shining the light on school spending resumes Monday. From the Greeley Tribune:“I anticipate it will be a very close vote — one vote either way — to take it back to mandatory,” said Harvey, before continuing later, “I am encouraged by the conversations I’ve been having with the senators.” Keep your chin up, and don't forget to remind your taxpayer-supported … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, General, My Life, PPC Tagged With: alive, article, citizens, Colorado, conversations, Denver Post, financial transparency, government officials, Greeley Tribune, Highlands Ranch, Independence Institute, Jessica Fender, light, Monday, report, school district, school spending, Senate Bill 57, senators, shining, State Capitol, taxpayers, Ted Harvey

2/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Unions Lobby State Democrats to Slow Down School Building Inspections

Who's in charge at the Colorado State Capitol these days? Big Labor:A bill whose only aim was to make it easier for local school districts to get their new buildings inspected was blindsided today on the Senate floor by union-led opposition, with all but two of the chamber's Democrats voting to kill the measure. Three of the Democrats who voted with the majority against Senate Bill 64 [PDF]--Sens. Bob Bacon, of Fort Collins, Rollie Heath, of Boulder, and Evie Hudak, of Arvada--had voted in favor of it in the Senate Education Committee only two weeks earlier. What changed their minds? The bill's sponsor, the GOP's Sen. Keith King, of Colorado Springs, says it was the fact that the Journeyman Plumbers and Gas Fitters Union began lobbying … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor, PPC Tagged With: Arvada, Big Labor, bill, Bob Bacon, Boulder, buildings, California, chamber, clean-up bill, clout, Colorado, Colorado Senate News, Colorado Springs, committee, cool, Democrats, efficient, Evie Hudak, exchange, flabbergasted, flip-flops, Fort Collins, General Assembly, hearing, inspections, Journeyman Plumbers, Keith King, lobbying, Michigan, New Jersey, opposition, Republican, reserved, Rollie Heath, school districts, school inspections, Senate, Senate Bill 64, Senate Education Committee, sponsor, State Capitol, union, union interests, voting, wow

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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.

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