The Post's David Harsanyi hit another homerun today, assailing Governor Ritter and most Democrats in the state legislature for shoving a tax increase down the voters' throats. Here's a taste of the brilliant, sharp analysis: Ritter claims he was elected to solve problems. And by "solve problems," politicians mean spending more money. In this case, Ritter says the funds are needed to help cash-starved schools - despite evidence that offering blank checks to wasteful school bureaucracies does not help children. But let's consider for a moment that the governor is right. Why is Ritter so terrified of bringing such a no-brainer to the people? The governor is no dope. Maybe he feels that Coloradans have heard one too many apocalyptic … [Read more...]
“You touch my grandchildren, and I get really angry”
Yesterday at an Independence Institute women's luncheon, State Sen. Nancy Spence told the crowd (including my wife and several other Institute colleagues) the latest on the investigation re the threatening email she received in April: A state lawmaker who received an e-mail containing a threat to her grandchildren said Tuesday it was sent from a computer at a metro-area hotel. Agents from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reviewed the hotel's security tape but couldn't determine the e-mail's author, said Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial. The security tape had been improperly inserted, Spence said Tuesday at a political luncheon. She has vowed to press charges if authorities catch the culprit, who was upset over an education … [Read more...]
Who Should Replace Allard?
Please note the change in appearance on my site: I'd appreciate your vote in the straw poll to your right. Who do you think is the Republicans' best choice to run for U.S. Senate here in Colorado in 2008? And it's one vote per person (this is a Republican straw poll, after all). Your input is greatly appreciated. Update: Where's the poll, you may ask? Yes, I notice it's not there. Blame Blogpoll for its sudden disappearance. That's what you get for having a poll hosted outside your site. I hope it's just a brief technical glitch that will quickly be fixed, but if not, well, it was fun while it lasted. If the poll is there, please disregard the previous paragraph (obviously). … [Read more...]
A Chance to Do Even More for Colorado’s Foster Kids
Ideally speaking it is the hard job of a legislator to prioritize the distribution of scarce resources to programs based on their deserving and effectiveness. Representative Cheri Jahn (D - Wheat Ridge) is laudably pushing to ensure that foster children receive their share of state social services funding. But the Democrat majority in Denver could do significantly more to provide these children greater stability and an opportunity for success: provide publicly-funded scholarships allowing foster kids the ability to choose a stable education program, whether the school be public or private. Foster children frequently are shuttled from home to home, and in the process transferred from school to school - often moving into educational … [Read more...]
WorldNetDaily Notices Merrifield’s Infernal Remarks
More than a month after Colorado's Face the State launched onto the Internet map with its exposure of a hateful, anti-charter school email by Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, the well-trafficked pioneer site WorldNetDaily recounts the story to its vast conservative audience. To the chagrin of the education status quo defenders at the Colorado State Capitol, this story continues to have good traction. Kudos, Face the State! … [Read more...]
Four Weeks Since Ritter Hiked Your Property Taxes
Four weeks have passed since Governor Ritter signed into law a bill that raises property taxes. As one dissenting elected official pointed out in yesterday's Denver Post: Gardner called Ritter's "defining bill" the mill-levy tax freeze that will let school districts keep an extra $64 million per year by freezing property-tax rates. "It sets the tone for his first four years as governor," Gardner said. "What do the people have to look forward to? Probably more tax increases." Since I agree that it's definitely the Governor's defining bill, I will continue reminding readers about it at regular intervals. Today seemed a fine opportunity to do so. To learn more, if you missed any of my observations and analysis the first time around: - … [Read more...]
When is a Tax Increase Not a Tax Increase?
How do you sell a tax increase as something other than a tax increase? These days Colorado Democrats are even having a hard time with it. Last week Governor Bill Ritter announced the unveiling of the cleverly-named "Colorado Children's Amendment," which somehow would do two things simultaneously: 1) Freeze scheduled property tax rate reductions, raising next year's tax bill for homeowners and business owners in many of the state's school districts - ostensibly to save the State Education Fund (created by Amendment 23 to finance only certain K-12 expenses). Of course, this is not an entirely new idea - one that has been shot down before because it violates TABOR by changing tax policy without a vote of the people, but it has been … [Read more...]
Democrats Can’t Spare $250,000 for Education that Works
Colorado Democrats continue to show their true colors. They voted to create a fund to accept donations for after-school math and science tutoring programs but shot down an attempt to give even a token amount of state funds as seed money. Senator Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) proposed contributing $250,000 from the State Education Fund for the program, which has a proven track record of success: “This amendment would augment strength within the program by moving money to fund the proposal,†said Kopp when proposing his amendment. “I think $250,000 is a reasonable amount to help these kids achieve their goals. (The program) has a 100-percent graduation rate, and some of these kids are doing types of mathemathics I haven't even heard of … [Read more...]
Schaffer Website Up
It sure seems early, but the campaign for the most competitive 2008 U.S. Senate race in the country is underway. Republican Bob Schaffer has started rallying the party faithful and commonsense independents and Democrats to his cause with his new campaign website. Check it out, donate, sign up to volunteer, whatever you're able to do: and be sure to spread the word! The race against Boulder liberal Mark Udall is on. Cross posted at Schaffer v Udall … [Read more...]
Senator Spence: Charter School Champion
Senator Nancy Spence (R-Centennial) deserves Colorado's Charter School Champion Award. A few weeks ago she led the charge to flip a highly regulatory, anti-charter school bill upside down. Today, she got the School Finance Act amended to prevent charter school students from being shortchanged. Spence's nemesis in both cases has been Senator Sue Windels (D-Arvada). After winning Round Two, the state senate's Charter School Champion expressed her frustration: “Frankly, I’m getting sick and tired of these repeated attempts, bill after bill, year after year, to undermine charters,†Spence said. “Parents want them because their kids obviously aren't being served by traditional schools. After trying for years to reason with lawmakers … [Read more...]
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