The Colorado General Assembly called an early end to the legislative session yesterday... and there was much rejoicing. Yay!!! All in all, it turned out to be an unspectacular session - thankfully - with less damage inflicted than we originally feared. Having Republican Governor Bill Owens in place played a significant role in offsetting the Democrats' new legislative advantage: with one key exception. And all state political focus now shifts to that notable exception - the November ballot's Referendum C, which is sure to provoke a costly campaign on both sides. As for me and my house, we will work actively to reject the folly of the "No Refund for You" Romanoff Rip-Off. Too bad the Democrat-controlled legislature couldn't come up … [Read more...]
Major Coffman Chooses Higher Path
The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News have put in their two cents worth about State Treasurer Mike Coffman's decision to step down and serve a seven-month stint in Iraq. The Post finds it easy to salute elected Republicans, when they decide to leave the country for awhile, even if it means participating in a military action that the Post editorial board is less than comfortable with. At least they left this stern admonition: We don't think it's appropriate for Coffman's party to use his decision to seek a partisan advantage. Coffman has our good wishes as he prepares for his second service in Iraq, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the treasurer's office. They couldn't resist leaping into the political … [Read more...]
Denver Teachers Sated
Any last outside chances that there would be a teachers strike in Denver this year all but evaporated yesterday as 1,767 members of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) voted to accept the bargained contract and only 617 voted against. Roughly 600 DCTA members did not vote. Of the district's 4,200 teachers, about 3,000 belong to DCTA. Teachers get back a lost step on the salary schedule, a pay increase, more planning time, and more say in areas of professional development and instruction. Meanwhile, the district and union have planned to phase out the salary schedule with the new ProComp performance-based pay plan, the funding of which has to be approved by voters in November. The brewing tensions within the district … [Read more...]
First Hearing on Teachers’ Union Complaint Today
Wayne Rutt and Paul Marrick, the co-founders of Parents for Truth, have their first appearance before a judge today at 1 p.m. in Denver. The hearing was originally scheduled for 9 a.m. today but was postponed in favor of hearing a series of procedural motions. Marrick and Rutt, who filed the original complaint against Poudre Education Association (PEA) - the local Fort Collins teachers' union -, for violating a series of state election laws have filed a motion to expand the complaint to include both the statewide union (CEA) and the local Poudre School District. Their lawyer also filed for a continuance (a delay of hearing), citing that the school district dragged its feet in responding to their subpoenas and Open Records request for … [Read more...]
This Might Just Leave You Scratching Your Head
I received the following report concerning the latest meeting of the Denver Metro Young Republicans: Karen Bauer, one of three people removed from President Bush’s Social Security meeting posed as a Rocky Mountain News journalist while grilling Jay Bob Klinkerman at a regular meeting of the Denver Metro Young Republicans. Klinkerman is chair of the Colorado Young Republicans, a group unaffiliated with the Denver Metro Young Republicans. Ann Imse, staff writer for the Rocky Mountain News and photographer Evan Semon, escorted Bauer into the meeting. "They were waiting in the restaurant area until our meeting began. They then joined our meeting in progress in a private room. They declined signing our guest form or to introduce … [Read more...]
Unveiling Parents for Truth in Education
Remember Paul Marrick and Wayne Rutt, the Fort Collins parents who were disgusted to see the electioneering the teachers' union did at the expense of their children and decided to do something about it? Well, these days they've taken their determined efforts even further by launching the organization Parents for Truth in Education to raise awareness and to raise funds for their formal complaint against the teachers' union. You can also get up to speed concerning the facts and issues by reading their news clippings. Check out their brand-new website. To top it all off, Wayne and Paul have been given a microphone and a platform to get the message out not only about this particular case but about any future issues that may arise. Tune … [Read more...]
True Democrat Colors Shine Through
It is fairly safe to say that Colorado voters gave Democrats the majorities in both houses of the state legislature last fall because of their promise to "fix" the state's budget problems. Events this week on two fronts show why voter trust was misplaced. First, Democrats tried to renege on a small compromise they made in HB 1194 (aka the "no refund for you" Romanoff rip-off) only a day after the House approved the bill to send to voters as Referendum C on this fall's ballot. Part of the deal to make HB 1194 more fiscally palatable involved the suspension of 19 different tax credits during the plan's five-year tenure. The next day Democrats tried to push a late bill into committee that would have instantly restored a $38 million child … [Read more...]
Schaffer and Santorum on Social Security
Former US Congressman and current Republican National Committeeman Bob Schaffer weaves his own family into a clear, straightforward, and common sense case for Social Security reform: Our five-year-old daughter Mary was named after her great-grandmother Mary who is in her nineties. It is interesting how critics of President Bush’s plan to rescue Social Security act like we must favor one Mary at the expense of the other if we support the president. It is a worn tactic perfected by people in Washington, DC who like to avoid responsibility by pitting one group against another. We sure hope it doesn’t work this time. Improving Social Security must not be delayed. The first wave of baby boomers will retire in three years. Ten years … [Read more...]
Prognosticating an ’06 GOP Comeback
It's been a few months, but the Mile High Delphi crew is back online with their insightful and statistical analyses of Colorado politics. Two interesting summary quotes from a recent Blogicus Maximus post: "...[We] put the probability of the GOP taking back the State House at 80%" and "...[We] will begin our probability of either party controlling the State Senate next year at 50%." Read the basis for their predictions. Colorado Republicans have serious reason for hope and optimism in 2006, but a lot of hard work, discipline, and funds are going to be needed to make Mile High Delphi out to be a true genius. … [Read more...]
MSM Reporter Goes Candid
Straight from the reporter's mouth Lynn Bartels, political writer for Denver's Rocky Mountain News, gives some personal insights in a long Q & A she had yesterday over at The Dead Governors website. Bartels proves to be candid, often witty and self-deprecating, but above all fair-minded. She may lean a little left of center but she's by no means an agenda-driven journalist. That being said, it is interesting to point out what Clay has already highlighted: Bartels stated flat out that Bob Beauprez can win any office in Colorado he runs for. That must have been a real downer for the Dead Governors and their "Draft Hick" campaign to get the Denver mayor on the statewide ballot. Another interesting passage in the interview is the … [Read more...]
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