You have to love this tidbit caught by Rocky Mountain News political columnist extraordinaire Peter Blake: You've seen the TV ad a dozen times by now. A couple of teachers are promoting the Vote Yes on C and D campaign. While a teacher identified as Elizabeth Henry is talking, the yellow caption on the ad says: "Kids takes [sic] the hit." Better vote yes. Maybe the state will collect so much extra money there will be enough left over to subsidize the return to syntax school of big-time copywriters and media producers. Fodder for ScrappleFace or some other talented Web satirist? The ad's producers could have been less subtle and said: "Vote for C and D so the state can spend more money on remedial education." Though, of … [Read more...]
Update on Teachers’ Union Complaint
While I plan to blog on this more at length later this week, I wanted to pass on the information about today's hearing of the complaint by Fort Collins parents Wayne Rutt and Paul Marrick against the teachers' union. A good summary update can be found over at "From the Desk of...." Let me just add these observations of the tedious all-day affair: the CEA / PEA legal team passed up the chance to cross-examine the complainants' campaign expert Rich Beeson and instead filed another motion to dismiss, mostly on flimsy charges (the judge ruled against them on all but one count). It was a sight to see when Marrick's and Rutt's attorney Scott Gessler unloaded both metaphorical barrels on the union's political expert Craig Hughes. The … [Read more...]
Referendum C: A Sinking Ship
Vincent Carroll of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Referendum C campaign has hired radical activist LeRoy Lemos as a consultant. As Carroll aptly describes him: Here's a fellow who can hardly open his mouth without accusing authorities somewhere, anywhere, of bigotry, coverup or some other lurid offense and whose October recreation includes joining the likes of Ward Churchill in suppressing the constitutional rights of those who march in the Columbus Day parade. I don't think your average, shrewd, middle-of-the-road tax hike supporter wants Lemos to be the face of his cause. Of course, though, he's not there to appeal to the independent or moderate voters who the pro-C campaign should be targeting at this point for support. … [Read more...]
Stengel Leads Colorado Toward “First Class Education”
While most of Colorado's political observers have their eyes fixed on this year's fight over Referendum C or towards next year's gubernatorial race, a highly important new development was scheduled to emerge at a press conference this morning at the State Capitol. House Minority Leader Joe Stengel (R - Littleton) and several of his Republican colleagues have unveiled an initiative they are promoting to put on the ballot in the November 2006 general election. "First Class Education for Colorado" would encourage every school district in the state to spend 65 cents on every dollar (excluding capital construction projects) in the classroom. Most people may be startled to learn how little of their designated K-12 education tax dollars … [Read more...]
No Surprises Here: A “Can’t-Do” Reaction to First Class Education
Yesterday I asked to see what the CEA's reaction would be to the "First Class Education for Colorado" proposal that would put 65 cents of every dollar of current education expenditures into the classroom. Well, the Rocky Mountain News got the scoop on that one this morning: "The Colorado Education Association, the union of teachers, views the proposal as more political than educational, spokeswoman Deb Fallin said. "What is valuable for kids is a lot bigger than what Rep. Stengel is proposing," Fallin said. "It includes counselors, school nurses, teacher training and curricular development. "School counselors are very key to student achievement and success and to reducing the dropout level." Interesting analysis. Ask the … [Read more...]
Legislation for the Birds
Does the Colorado General Assembly have any serious issues to tackle during the upcoming legislative session, or do our state lawmakers need to take their lead from the Michigan legislature and find something to crow about? Only a little more than two weeks to go before debates reopen in Denver's statehouse. Incidentally, as a native of the Great Lakes State, my vote is to stick with the robin. No need to swap state birds mid-flight. Do you think anyone out here in my adopted home state is that attached to the prairie lark finch? … [Read more...]
Could You Define That, Please?
The same week as several Republican state legislators launched their "First Class Education for Colorado" ballot initiative proposal, following a national organization's lead in calling upon school districts to spend at least 65 percent of their operating budgets in the classroom, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education makes this declaration under the announcement of its proposed 2005-2006 budget: DPS Budget Facts 69.1 percent of every dollar spent is allocated to instruction and instructional and pupil support. This includes the learning support provided by counselors, librarians, nurses and others, in addition to books, supplies, computers and other classroom equipment. 23.4 percent of every dollar covers school … [Read more...]
The Post and Democrat Candidate Recruitment
The Denver Post might want to make a second attempt to get to the bottom of this story: Forti's counterparts at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are not actively recruiting military veterans, spokeswoman Sarah Steinberg said. "They absolutely serve a very good contrast against Republicans," she said. "But in every district, our goal is to recruit the best possible candidate we can." To read Jim Hughes' article in today's Post is to get the impression that military veterans are spontaneously coming forward as Democratic Congressional candidates - as opposed to what has been documented as really happening: a purposeful national strategy to shore up the Donkey's Achilles' heels of national security and military … [Read more...]
Praise for Coffman, Endorsement for Beauprez
Yesterday, a crowd of friends and supporters gathered in Littleton for a farewell send-off to Major Mike Coffman, our truly honorable State Treasurer who has temporarily resigned his post to spend a tour of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps. The ceremony was simple but poignant, with former State Senate President John Andrews leading the invocation, an older Army veteran leading the Pledge of Allegiance (while he stood surrounded by all the veterans in attendance), and Miss Colorado 2004 Laura Tobey singing a beautiful rendition of our national anthem. Former Ambassador Sam Zakhem gave Mike Coffman high praise, comparing him to a modern day Nathan Hale ("I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.") … [Read more...]
Weaker GOP Bends to the “Moderate” Faction
The Rocky Mountain News follows up on yesterday's published announcement of senior Republican State Senator Norma Anderson's announced resignation in advance of her scheduled final legislative session. Term limits were set to end her nearly 20-year legislative career, but we also can get a little better picture why she decided to step down early. Four GOP candidates had already filed to take her place in the heavily Republican district in southern Jefferson County, but insiders know that one is the handpicked, surefire winner. The vacancy committee meets within the week to decide on the replacement among the following: Justin Everett: a native of the district, a credentialed & principled conservative with strong political skills, a 2004 … [Read more...]
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