Yes, Barbara Paden, the famous Girl in Right, is officially a candidate for the Golden City Council. Thanks for your support in helping Barbara get the needed petition signatures to reach the ballot! While several members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance have already touted her candidacy, Barbara has also won a key Minnesota endorsement: that of Fraters' Saint Paul. Her fame spreads far and wide through the blogosphere - even to some of its darker corners - but how well will that translate into success in the special Golden election? We wish you all the best, Barbara. If you want to find tangible ways to help her campaign, check out the website. … [Read more...]

Still think there's no difference between the Republicans and Democrats at the State Capitol? Chew on this: Republicans understand economics; Democrats understand feel-good policy platitudes. For those who need an economic refresher to see why the Democrats are so misguided on the outsourcing issue, please read this publication from the Heritage Foundation. And bookmark Joshua's site for further continuing economic education. … [Read more...]

Even the Denver Post had to chide Colorado's Democrat legislators this time. A pointed editorial in today's Post calls on the House Transportation Committee to kill Senate Bill 61, which has already passed the Senate floor. Regrettably, Republican Senator Norma Anderson abandoned the party's principles to join the unanimous Democrat caucus and give SB61 a 19-16 victory on Feb. 14. The main problem with the bill, as the editorial indicates, is its proposed reduction of private contracting services in the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The result is $143.5 million more in taxpayer costs over the next 12 years to maintain existing services. Rather than searching for ways to provide services at more efficient costs, the … [Read more...]

The release of a poll by the Denver Chamber of Commerce confirms what an earlier poll commissioned by the Independence Institute and Colorado Club for Growth revealed: the citizens of this state do not support Speaker Andrew Romanoff's plan to resolve its budget problems. Any proposed plan that is passed through the legislature must be approved by Colorado voters, and according to the Chamber's poll only 37 percent like Romanoff's solution. Governor Owens' plan, which isn't much better insofar as it wants to modify the TABOR limits, receives 55 percent of support in the same poll. House Minority Leader Joe Stengel (R - Littleton) reacted quickly to the news, saying there was no chance the Republican caucus would cooperate with … [Read more...]

The verbal fracas that erupted on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives a couple days ago has made the Drudge Report. The Rocky Mountain News speaks common sense when it calls on both Rep. Bill Cadman (R - Colorado Springs) and Rep. Val Vigil (D - Thornton) to apologize rather than waiting for the other to step forward. I don't know what Vigil said to provoke Cadman's response, but neither acted appropriately. And I hope Cadman has already or will soon take the high ground, showing the good grace to apologize first. There are plenty of important issues the Republicans need to stand up and fight for during this legislative session (have you looked at some of those awful bills?). Let's not allow the personal squabbles to … [Read more...]

The excellent local blogger (and friend of the Rocky Mountain Alliance) Girl in Right is throwing her hat into the ring in a special election for the Golden City Council. But she needs some help! Do you live in Ward 2 of the City of Golden (Ward 2 is mainly the south side of US 6 west of US40/Colfax, but follow the link to the map to make sure), or do you know someone who does? Your signature on a petition will help ensure that Barbara (Girl in Right) makes it on the ballot. Go to the volunteer web page on her campaign website if you can help. We need more solid and successful citizens like her to run for local offices like City Council! Thanks to Clay for bringing this important matter to our attention. … [Read more...]