Ever since Governor Bill Ritter signed the executive order laying out a welcome mat to unionize state government, I've wondered if and when the Colorado WINS labor organizing coalition would lobby for the Democratic majority in state government to entrench their status through legislation. Given the state of the budget and the tons of political capital Democrats are spilling to push through their series of tax hikes -- one of which is even opposed by Pueblo labor interests -- prospects for comprehensive union legislation have faded dramatically. But Colorado WINS has other means to extend its reach, and grow its dues-paying membership base, inside Colorado government. As Dave Ohmart of Colorado LOSES points out, reluctant state … [Read more...]
Tax Foundation on “Dirty Dozen” Tax Bills: Seven Are Bad and Two Are Good
Update, 2/2: It seems that HB 1198 in particular was too good -- so good, Colorado's legislative Democrats had to kill it. As Government Underground skillfully reports, the Democrats accidentally had a bill drafted that would repeal not only the AMT credit but the AMT itself, and thus are "not even competent enough to raise our taxes as they would like." If it weren't our tax dollars at stake, it would be downright hilarious. I have tried to make the point before -- if inartfully -- that some of the "dirty dozen" tax hikes are worse policy than others. The fact they are being rammed through so quickly with so little deference to the concerns of large numbers of citizens showing up in protest has earned them all the "dirty" … [Read more...]
Colorado Democrats Dig Themselves Deeper on Dirty Dozen Tax Hikes
At this point, ramming through the Dirty Dozen tax hikes has Colorado Democrats in such political hot water, why not just go ahead and swim in it? That must be the reasoning behind the effort to make things even worse by changing the temporary tax hikes into permanent tax hikes. It used to be about half the bills would eventually reduce the respective tax rates to their current level. Not anymore:Republicans believe that Democrats are using the current budget crisis as an excuse to permanently raise taxes on Colorado families and businesses. “If the tax increases are only meant to help the state fill the budget gap, as Democrats claim, then why aren’t we making them all temporary?” asked Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield. Then … [Read more...]
Barack Obama: Get Out of Debt by Maintaining Out-of-Control Spending?
What do I think of Barack Obama's so-called "spending freeze"? Imagine someone you know who's in a little bit of debt increasing his household spending until he maxes out all his credit cards, then reassuring the bank that he's going to stop increasing his spending rate for 3 years. Yeah, I guess it's good that he's not going to try to outlive his means any more than he already does. But then again, it doesn't really address the problem, does it? Check out this Red State diary for a more detailed and down-to-earth deconstruction. Or Al Maurer and the Cato Institute article he cites pointing out the true "smoke and mirrors" behind the "spending freeze" pronouncement. Then I recommend you go over to Hot Air and vote in Ed Morrissey's … [Read more...]
37 Years of Roe v Wade: Time for Hope, Renewal to Continue Fight for Life
One day after a refreshing U.S. Supreme Court victory for free speech, today we mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade -- a somber occasion for our nation. I recommend to you a well-written "In Memoriam" by Red State's Erick Erickson. A couple key passages:The truth that these children are biologically human and biologically distinct from their mothers is beyond question to anyone who believes in the most basic tenets of science. Why, then, are they declared so totally bereft of rights in our society? The fact that a woman can, with the protection of the law, kill her child on the day of its planned full-term delivery, indicates clearly that the only answer to this question is “physical location within their mother’s womb.” If a child is … [Read more...]
Palin Crushes Huckabee in Righty Blogger Poll: Whom Did I Vote For?
Update, 1/26: The correct answer is Mitch Daniels. Sadly, no one guessed the correct answer by 6:00 PM. "Why did I pick Daniels?" you might ask. At this point in the game, all I can say is: "Why not?" John Hawkins at Right Wing News earlier today released the results of his conservative blogger survey "on which candidate they'd support if the 2012 Republican primaries were today." Yours truly was one of 69 to cast a vote. Sarah Palin won a 29 percent plurality in a crowded field of 12 candidates, while Mike Huckabee edged out Ron Paul for last place and 0 votes. The latter finding is especially interesting in light of the first poll to show a Republican candidate beating Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 general election matchup: … [Read more...]
Craig Becker Confirmation Vote: Michael Bennet Not Off Hook on Card Check
Last night on my guest co-hosting gig for Backbone Radio, we discussed not only the growing trend of government workers beginning to dominate the union movement. But the subject also came up about the Obama administration's efforts to backdoor the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (aka card check) through the appointment of SEIU lackey Craig Becker. One advantage of this approach? Fellow Democrats in Congress like the indecisive appointed junior U.S. Senator Michael Bennet wouldn't have to take an obvious position that either offends the Obama administration or the overwhelming number of Coloradans (and a majority of Colorado union members) opposed to this destructive proposal to re-write labor laws. It would just add to the … [Read more...]
Fiscal Analysts: Total Price Tag of Dems’ Dirty Dozen Tax Hikes = $337 Million+
The dirty dozen tax hike bills scheduled to be rammed through Colorado's Senate Finance Committee tomorrow? Legislative analysts released fiscal notes for 11 of the 12 bills this afternoon -- they estimate a total net tax increase of $20.4 million for the rest of the current fiscal year (through June 30, 2010), and a total net tax increase of more than $337 million between now and the end of FY 2011-12. While that wouldn't solve all the legislators' budget problems, passing the package of bills would shift a good share of the hard decision-making from the State Capitol to many a business and household in Colorado. And don't even ask how it might lead to creating stable, private-sector jobs.... … [Read more...]
Watching State of the Union? Engage Republicans on Your Mobile Phone
Are you a political junkie who is planning to tune in to tonight's State of the Union address (9 PM Eastern / 7 PM local)? Why not have more fun by making it interactive? This sounds like a potentially interesting opportunity:For those on or off the same political page, they are invited to participate in the NRCC's live chat via SMS during President Obama’s State of the Union address. To participate, consumers can text either keyword, SOTU or STATE, to the short code 777218. After opting-in, consumers receive a text message that reads: "Thank you for participating in NRCC's State of the Union Text Chat. Look here on Wednesday 1/27 for the link to participate." Several hours before the State of the Union address, consumers will … [Read more...]
Could Republicans Really Gain Eight U.S. Senate Seats this November?
Take a careful look at Friday's detailed analysis by liberal Nate Silver. Then add in news that Democrat Beau Biden won't run in Delaware and new data from Rasmussen showing conservative Mike Pence beating incumbent Evan Bayh in Indiana, and it sure looks like an eight-seat pickup is well within reach. Of course, politics remains a fluid and fickle game. All could change. And if you really want to believe that former governors George Pataki and Tommy Thompson would run in New York and Wisconsin, respectively, then perhaps one can also imagine the GOP taking over the Senate. A pipe dream? Likely, and not one to get terribly excited about anyway. But just to be able to see such a potential result as anything but crazy has got to be … [Read more...]
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