Colorado's liberal, out-of-touch House Education Committee has just voted to approve the governor's amendment to the School Finance Act that would raise taxes for most property owners in the state. The vote passed on an 8-5 party line vote, with all Democrats lining up to raid taxpayer pockets. By listening to much of the testimony, you would think that school revenues in Colorado are running dry. Nothing could be further from the truth. And whenever other possibilities for raising funds for education have been introduced, the Democrats resist - unable to dream of doing anything but hiking property taxes. The dirty little not-so-secret? The property tax increase advertised for the "children" is being used so the state government can … [Read more...]
Bill Ritter, AFL-CIO, and HB 1072: Deal Broken?
So today the AFL-CIO has officially threatened Governor Bill Ritter with throwing its weight around to move the Democratic National Convention from Denver, just because the Governor vetoed HB 1072. A bill Ritter once described as "not a big deal" is certainly much more than that to labor union leaders. Here is the statement in full: AFL-CIO Executive Council Statement March 8, 2007 Las Vegas, NV COLORADO’S WORKING FAMILIES For a decade, working families in Colorado have fought to build a stronger, more unified labor movement and create a more balanced political and economic environment – an environment responsive to working people’s needs and concerns. This extraordinary effort has produced significant progress and … [Read more...]
The Tax-and-Spend Ritter Chronicles: K-12 Education
Our Democrat Governor Bill Ritter announced today to Colorado homeowners: "No tax cut for you!" The Governor's plan is to freeze a scheduled cut in property tax rates so he can increase funding for K-12 education - already the richest, healthiest part of the state budget. The proposed funding increase (part of Senate Bill 199, this year's School Finance legislation) is primarily designed to create more full-day kindergarten and preschool slots. According to the reliable source of Colorado Senate News, Republican Senator Josh Penry correctly identified the move as a "tax increase," while Assistant Senate Minority Leader Nancy Spence rightly questioned the "one-size-fits-all approach" that trumps the Democrats' conveniently played "local … [Read more...]
Filibuster!
A good, old-fashioned filibuster is going on in the Colorado Senate today as the legislative body debates House Bill 1072. Hurrah for the Republicans taking a united stand in defense of workers' rights and good business. Kudos especially to Senators Shawn Mitchell, Josh Penry, Ted Harvey, Greg Brophy, Mike Kopp, Scott Renfroe, Nancy Spence, Tom Wiens, Ron May, Ken Kester, and Steve Ward, who have carried the brunt of the debate on a LONG series of amendments designed to mitigate the negative effects of the bad legislation. It looks like they could keep this up well into the evening. Good thing to see the GOP Senate with a full-grown spine and the willingness to delay such a bad bill by shining the light so heavily on it. HB 1072: the … [Read more...]
Lefties and HB 1072: They Just Don’t Get It
The collectivist gang at SquareState doesn't get it, but what's new? HB 1072 a victory for workers? Are they serious? I shouldn't be terribly surprised that they don't know the difference between union bosses and the rank and file. People like this commenter are living in another century: I think some of the "business community" may overestimate how in touch they are with the mainstream of Colorado. Having a very public fight where the Republicans play their traditional role of standing up for the big guy, while Democrats slug it out for the little guy, can only help the Democrats. Just look at the Republicans put up amendment after amendment that are obviously designed to screw the union in any way possible, from full blown "right to … [Read more...]
GOP Legislators Unveil New Site
The Colorado Senate Republicans have launched an official online news service. Check out Colorado Senate News. Leading the news there, not surprisingly, is the breakdown on the Democrats' efforts to ram through the pro-union bill HB 1072. Speaking of HB 1072, my latest op-ed on the topic ran yesterday in the Pueblo Chieftain as a counterpoint opposite labor professor Raymond Hogler. My piece comprises the latter half of the Web page, so please scroll down if you would like to read it. … [Read more...]
Harsanyi on Hope
Denver Post news columnist David Harsanyi tells the truth today about the manufactured "controversy" about Hope Online Learning Academy, which uses technology, adult mentors, and a research-based curriculum to reach struggling students who have fallen through the cracks of the public education system. Read Harsanyi's piece, and ask yourself why Senator Sue Windels and the Colorado Education Association want to use a more rigorous standard to judge an innovative, alternative education program than they would care to use to judge traditional neighborhood public schools. Here's one hint: Hope doesn't employ unionized teachers. (Forget whether some poor kids in Denver and Colorado Springs might thrive in the online learning environment … [Read more...]
“Should you pay for someone else’s opinions?”
That question, as raised in today's Wall Street Journal by Stephen Moore, highlights the prime importance of a major First Amendment case on the U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming docket: Washington v Washington Education Association, & Davenport et al v Washington Education Association. Moore writes: At issue is whether workers have the right to effectively declare themselves conscientious objectors to the unions' multimillion-dollar political war games. "All we are saying is that no one has the right to take our money and spend it on causes we don't believe in," insists Cindy Omlin, a recently retired speech teacher in Spokane. "If you want my money, ask for it, like private charities, political candidates and businesses do." Ms. Omlin was … [Read more...]
Mr. Ritter, inquiring Democrats want to know…
Inquiring minds want to know: How does Governor-elect Bill Ritter plan to pay for his socialized health insurance mandate? Inquiring minds include many respected members of his own Democrat Party: Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, called Ritter's proposal a "budget buster" and Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, head of the Joint Budget Committee, said it could work, "but only if you don't do the math." Hagedorn said it would cost an estimated $240 million a year just to cover the 120,000 children in Colorado who don't have insurance. "It's a budget buster, but we have to decide on our priorities. That's not doing anything but funding those 120,000 kids and getting them enrolled," Hagedorn said. He said providing health care to all … [Read more...]
Dick Wadhams Returns
A Denver Post story today has fueled the fires of speculation: could Dick Wadhams, the political genius who felled Tom Daschle, be coming home to Colorado to take the chairmanship of the state's Republican Party? Well, Wadhams is indeed returning to Colorado, but he is not ready to show his hand quite yet. Jason Bane thinks the job would be beneath Wadhams - but he can't be happy about this news. His colleague Cara Degette is more open about the terror being struck in her fellow Democrats' hearts. Right now, I'd have to admit that giving Wadhams the reins of the state party sounds like wishful thinking - even with Republican legislative leaders like Andy McElhany and Mike May making a lot of noise about the possibility. And unless … [Read more...]
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