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Home Archives for Education

10/24/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Buescher “Favored”? Deceptive Attacks on Cancer Survivor Say Maybe Not

Today the Rocky Mountain News highlights the hottest state legislative race on Colorado's Western Slope, as Republican challenger Laura Bradford faces down Democrat incumbent Bernie Buescher in HD55:"I think her chances are great," said Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, who was among Republicans who stopped in Grand Junction while on an RV tour of the state. "One thing she said was, 'Gov. Ritter will not be whispering in my ear what to do.' People loved that." Buescher, however, says he doesn't hew that closely to Gov. Bill Ritter. "They're going after me on some issues, but it seems to me the fundamental attack is that I'm too close to the administration," he said. "The fact is I pushed the administration as much as any Democrat in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, Labor Tagged With: 527 groups, administration, Alida Messinger, attack ads, Bernie Buescher, Bill Ritter, billionaire, campaign finance reform, cancer screenings, cancer survivor, challenger, Colorado, Colorado Democracy Alliance, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Values, Cory Gardner, Democrat, desperate, Gene Kinsey, Grand Junction, HD55, headline, Health Care, health insurance, incumbent, John Bodnar, John McCain, K-12 employees, Laura Bradford, Mesa County, negative advertising, property tax hike, reports, Republican, Rockefeller heir, Rocky Mountain News, Secretary of State, state legislative races, Tim Gill, union, Western Slope

10/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Parents for School Choice Backs Libby Szabo, Holly Hansen, Shawn Mitchell

Denise at Colorado Charters has shared information on three candidates officially backed by Parents for School Choice, a group that puts its support into races that make a real difference on behalf of charter school families. In other words, these three candidates are strong supporters of charter schools, while their opponents have an anti-charter school record: Libby Szabo, Holly Hansen, and Shawn Mitchell. Speaking of Shawn, here's a creative video highlighting his record and candidacy: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: candidates, charter schools, Colorado Charters, Denise, Holly Hansen, Libby Szabo, opponents, Parents for School Choice, Shawn Mitchell, video

10/16/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Discussing Education on Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 9 PM

This evening at 9 PM (local Mountain time), I'll join state representative candidate, long-time blogger, and host Joshua Sharf (and possibly another guest) for a half-hour discussion of the latest and greatest education issues in Colorado on Blog Talk Radio. Click here to tune in. The conversation is sure to be lively and informative. And if you miss it live, you can always come back later to catch a recording. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Education, General, My Life Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, Education, Joshua Sharf

10/13/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jeffco School Tax Hike to Kick Granny Out, Create “Socialist Utopia”?

Update: The story has been picked up in the Denver Post. Conservative activist Tom Graham of Arvada is the culprit. Not the best tactical approach from my point of view. Why? Because now we have to watch and make sure that government public relations teams don't make Mr. Graham the election issue instead of the burdensome tax hike. Also, a copy of the booklet is viewable online. Voters in Jefferson County, have you seen the official published arguments for Jeffco Schools 3A, a $34 million-per-year property tax increase to fund Colorado's largest school district? I looked in vain for a copy of the voter booklet on the Jefferson County Elections Office web page, but little Eddie has helped us out by typing out a copy and providing his own … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: 3A, arguments, clever joke, Eddie, Jeffco Schools, Jefferson County, new teachers, Property Tax Increase, school district, senior citizens, six-digit salaries, socialist utopia, voter booklet, voters

10/11/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Denver Post Endorses Libby Szabo for Colorado Senate District 19

Three months ago I told readers why it was important to rally behind state senate candidate Libby Szabo, running for the open seat here in north Jefferson County outside Denver. Yesterday the Denver Post - hardly a conservative political organ - published its agreement with my endorsement:Senate District 19 (Jefferson) — The race to replace term-limited Sue Windels is this year's hottest contest. We like Republican Libby Szabo over Democrat Evie Hudak. The choice is close because both candidates are able. Hudak now serves on the Board of Education and has clear views on Colorado's budget and transportation needs. Szabo is an Arvada businesswoman with a solid community record. We lean to Szabo because we would like to see a little more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Board of Education, businesswoman, community record, Democrat, Democratic Party platform, Denver Post, Evie Hudak, Libby Szabo, north Jefferson County, open seat, Republican, Senate District 19, State Capitol, state senate candidate, Sue Windels, term-limited

10/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jeffco Teachers Union Called Out for Deception, Misuse of School Resources

The official campaign against Colorado Amendment 49 - also known as Protect Colorado's Culture of Corruption Future - has set a pattern of blatant deception. But this week one group that has funded the anti-49 political campaign with teacher dues money found a way to step over the line a couple of ways at once, reports the Rocky Mountain News. First, by using official school district resources for electioneering purposes:A teachers union improperly used the Jefferson County School District's e-mail system to urge a "no" vote on three ballot measures, including one that would impact union dues. The Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) also stepped over the line by using false, ridiculous scare tactics in its anti-Amendment 49 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, ballot measures, blatant deception, Blue Book, campaign, Colorado, deception, dues money, email system, ethical reform, Ethical Standards, good idea, heavily-funded, Independent Thinking, JeffCo, Jefferson County Education Association, Jefferson County School District, Jon Caldara, Kerrie Dallman, onslaught, pensions, Protect Colorado's Future, scare tactics, school communication systems, teachers, Unions, whistleblower

9/29/2008 By Ben 3 Comments

Introducing Ben’s Guide to the Colorado Ballot 2008

Due to the unrivaled success of providing a guide to Colorado's 2006 ballot measures, and an even larger slate of Initiatives and Referenda to consider, I give you Ben's guide to the Colorado ballot for 2008. The author is solely responsible for the opinions contained therein. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life, property rights Tagged With: 2008, ballot initiatives, Colorado, legislative referenda

9/25/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Cory Gardner Spearheads Grassroots Defense of Colorado Charter Schools

To his credit, State Rep. Cory Gardner is spearheading a grassroots effort to support public charter schools and the families they serve. Recently the Adams 12 school board unanimously decided to support legislation unfriendly to charter schools (see Resolution 1.3). Adams 12 effectively wants to beef up its own authority to deny charters, to limit parents' authority to appeal rejected charter school applications, and to undercut charter schools' already sub-par funding. But Cory Gardner (R-Yuma), a rising star in the GOP, took the initiative to craft a letter alerting charter school parents and supporters to the attack and urging them to get involved in the fight. In all, 17 Republican state representatives and 9 Republican state … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Adams 12, Charter School Champion Award, children, Cory Gardner, Democrats, denial, funding, grassroots, legislation, Nancy Spence, parents, public charter schools, rejected applications, Republican Party, rising star, school board, state representatives, state senators, Yuma

9/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Teachers Union Spreads Fear and Disinformation about Amendment 47

Michael at Best Destiny, a Jefferson County teacher by day, writes:Yesterday, the union representative at one of my schools came back from a district-wide meeting in breathless distress over this year's ballot. She said that, based on what was told to her in her meeting, there was the potential that the passage of Amendment 47 could mean the "end of teacher representation, and the school district would no longer have to follow any rules about how they ordered you to spend your time." She even went so far as to say that the passage of 47 would be more devastating for schools than the failure of either the Mill Levy increase or of the Bond election. Another anecdote that shows the teachers union - in this case, the Jefferson County … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, American Idol, ballot initiative, Best Destiny, Blue Book, deception, Democrat, disinformation, district-wide meeting, Evie Hudak, facts, fear-mongering, hair loss, independent thought, infertility, JCEA leaders, Jefferson County, Jefferson County Education Association, labor organization, Michael, my union said so, National Education Association, nonsense, party platform, Political contributions, Protect Colorado's Future, public educators, right-to-work, sad commentary, school, state senate candidate, teacher, teachers union, think for themselves, union dues, union representative

9/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter’s Judicial Hubris Continues As Anti-Taxpayer Case Proceeds

Three months ago I asked the question: "What does Bill Ritter know about the Supreme Court to gamble taxpayer dollars?" Yesterday, the same sort of hubris was on display, following the oral arguments that were held before the state's highest court to hear Gov. Ritter's appeal in defense of his unconstitutional property tax hike. The Denver Post reports:Ritter's office has downplayed the need for any contingency plans in the event the high court throws out the mill-levy freeze. Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Ritter, gave a low-key response. "This is a complex case, and it is now in the hands of the court," Dreyer said. "We appreciate that the court heard oral arguments so quickly, and we look forward to the court's decision so we can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Colorado Supreme Court, contingency plans, Denver Post, dreaming, Evan Dreyer, hubris, mill levy "freeze", partisanship, property tax hike, state constitution, statehouse, taxpayer dollars, Taxpayer's Bill of Rights

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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
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