Rocky Mountain Right reports that GOP state treasurer candidate Walker Stapleton made a very impressive showing during his first quarter of fundraising: … [Read more...]
Time to Tell Mark Udall and Michael Bennet ‘No’ on Hate Crime Bill S.909
A couple of the questions on our survey of Colorado's political temperature (still open through Friday, July 17, at 5 PM) relate to the concept of hate crimes legislation currently before Congress. Well, I guess it's not a mystery where I stand on the issue. With the Sotomayor confirmation hearings eating up what little media oxygen exists for national political issues, these days, S.909 can be easily overlooked. But as Carter Clews explains at Net Right Nation, it shouldn't be:That's right, S. 909 -- aka, the "hate crimes bill" -- being pushed through by the Obama Administration as one of its highest legislative priorities would make it a federal crime to commit a violent act against anyone based on race or gender orientation -- unless … [Read more...]
Ethically Challenged Ed Perlmutter?
Hats off to the Washington Times for the scoop on what my representative in Congress has been up to:Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado inserted a provision into the recently passed House climate change bill that would drum up business for "green" banks, such as the one he has invested in and his family and a political donor helped found in San Francisco. The bill calls on bank regulators to promote green banking and says federal dollars should be used to support energy-efficient home improvements at government-funded housing projects. Mr. Perlmutter, a two-term Democrat, has two investments in the 3-year-old New Resource Bank, which calls itself the nation's first green bank. Among other environmentally conscious banking products, the … [Read more...]
Buck and Frazier Fundraising Numbers: Be Not Dismayed, but Pick Up Pace
Fundraising numbers are out in Colorado's U.S. Senate race. While the indecisive Michael Bennet has awed observers once again with his million dollar-plus cash intake, numbers for the two most highly-touted Republican challengers Ken Buck ($330,000) and Ryan Frazier ($140,000) were significantly less overwhelming. Given their different positions, statuses, and backgrounds, one cannot reasonably hold the same expectations for the three candidates. Still, at this point it's clear that the appointed incumbent Michael Bennet is winning this phase of the game. Frazier wisely is using the opportunity to transition from the exploratory committee phase to an officially declared campaign. His first quarter fundraising numbers doubtless have … [Read more...]
Bizarre Self-Parody: Michael Bennet Hiding from Denver Post on Card-Check
The chronic inability of Colorado's appointed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to take a position on the union card check bill (also known as EFCA) has moved deep into the realm of bizarre self-parody. It's a political joke that has lasted so long that the label of "Both Ways Bennet" has been branded permanently on his (hopefully brief) career. A member of the Denver Post editorial board, Chuck Plunkett observes that the long-awaited seating of Al Franken as Minnesota's U.S. Senator has once again ratcheted up the pressure that EFCA could come to a vote and force Michael Bennet into the uncomfortable position of, well, having to take one:I’ve asked Bennet’s office whether he wants to come on with his position on card check. (We oppose … [Read more...]
Make Your Opinions Known, Help Reveal Colorado’s Political Temperature
It's the middle of the summer. The limelight surrounding Colorado politics is hazy. Blogs like this one experience a yawn in their already modest traffic. It's time for something new to talk about. And if you can't report the news or comment the news, it's time to make a little news. And time to take the online temperature of Colorado political activists about the leading issues and candidates of the day -- in our state and nationwide. El Presidente and I have commissioned and fashioned a survey that we hope you will take 10 minutes or so to complete -- especially if you're from Colorado. We didn't want to make another run-of-the-mill quick-hit poll. We want to take it a little more in-depth. Click here to take the July 2009 Colorado … [Read more...]
Bill Ritter Not Alone in Credibility Taking a Hit over Stimulus No-Bid Story
Under the headline "Governor gave no-bid deal to former partners", the Denver Post's Karen Crummy reports today:As the first stimulus money flowed into Colorado, it was doled out to shovel-ready transportation projects — and some of Gov. Bill Ritter's former law partners. Ritter hired the politically connected firm of Hogan & Hartson three months ago to work on issues surrounding the state's disbursement of federal stimulus funds. The firm has been paid $40,000 through June and is expected to file monthly bills. Did Bill Ritter do anything illegal? Almost certainly not. Unethical? Well, if he were a Republican governor, you can be sure Colorado Ethics Watch would have filed a complaint by now. Ritter's cronyism aside, this story … [Read more...]
Making a Case for Limited Government: Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission
A Thursday afternoon hearing of something known as Colorado's "Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission" doesn't sound like a spectator event for which you might grill a few steaks or even pop up some popcorn. In most cases you'd be right. But yesterday brought an alternatively cutting, humorous and genial showdown between the intellectual heft and fiscally sound policies of economist Barry Poulson, representing the Independence Institute, and the silver-tongued sob stories of Wade Buchanan from the Left-leaning Bell Policy Center. Okay, so it still doesn't sound like action-packed, thrill-a-minute viewing entertainment. But since we're talking about what to do to keep our state budget sound, revenue stable, services efficient, and taxes … [Read more...]
Slumming
Due to a security breach (since fixed), visitors to my own site, View from a Height, are receiving a message that claims that it's suddenly turned into the blog equivalent of Cujo. I've cleaned off the offending files and am reloading the new version of Movable Type, but until I can persuade Google that there's nothing to see here, Ben's graciously letting me co-blog here at his place. Ben started in on the Bell Policy Center's Wade Buchanan's comments to the TABOR Repeal Fiscal Stability Commission on Thursday, but I wanted to point one of the rhetorical devices that he used to justify once and future extravagance on the part of the state government. The title of this post actually applies to Mr. Buchanan's comments. During his … [Read more...]
Spinning Their Wheels (or, I…Am Not…a Spoke!)
At the beginning of Wednesday's session of the TABOR Negation Fiscal Stability Commission, Chairman Rollie Heath asked the commission members to introduce themselves. HD-6 Rep. Lois Court, who was a strong supporter of Amendment 59, and campaigned on the repeal of tax and spending limits, had this to say (I'm doing this from memory, but it's very close): I teach political science at a local community college, and I always tell my students that society is like a wheel, and the people are the spokes. And it's the job of the government to keep the wheel balanced. This statement followed a theme of the day: that the job of the commission is to determine what kind of society we want to have, and then figure out how to fund … [Read more...]
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