Just a reminder that Colorado Democrat State Treasurer Cary Kennedy's re-election hopes are fragile this year. Yesterday I received a fundraising email from Bill Ritter. After touting the incumbent's record, the message reads:Cary Kennedy is facing a well-funded challenger who is related to George W. Bush and has tapped into his family's national fundraising network. His campaign is funded mostly by out-of-state donors. Fortunately, Cary's grassroots fundraising network is keeping up, but she needs everyone's help to stay competitive.... I found it interesting that though there is a busy 3-way Republican primary going on to challenge Kennedy for the treasurer's position, Bill Ritter makes Walker Stapleton the bogeyman. Yes, Stapleton … [Read more...]
Bill Ritter Signs Tax Hikes Into Law, Clock Ticking on State Democrat Rule
This day was coming sooner rather than later: Governor Bill Ritter retreated to a private room to sign into law nine anti-business, job-killing tax hike bills. This action completes the trifecta of Democrat one-party rule under Colorado's Golden Dome. On February 1, all Democrats in the state house voted to push through at least one of the tax hikes (and all but one voted for a majority of them) -- including vulnerable incumbent Representatives Sara Gagliardi, Dianne Primavera, Dennis Apuan, Christine Scanlan, Jim Riesberg and Randy Fischer. Then on February 10, all but one Democrat state senator jumped on board to support the "dirty dozen" -- including Bruce Whitehead, Linda Newell and Lois Tochtrop. Two weeks later to the day we … [Read more...]
Lobbying Groups Want Taxpayers to Underwrite Their School Funding Lawsuit Against the State of Colorado
About four months ago the Colorado Supreme Court decided that judges have a role in deciding how the state's public schools are funded. In a Colorado Daily column I explained why this decision in the Lobato case was bad policy and a dangerous precedent. You also can listen to Professor Joshua Dunn bring his expertise to bear for an 8-minute iVoices podcast we recorded last October -- click the play button or follow this link: One of the big takeaways from Dunn's conversation is that most states realize the bad policy and bad consequences of adequacy lawsuits and are moving away from them. Colorado is out of sync for its courts to be sanctioning such action. So why am I bringing up the Lobato case today? It seems that the … [Read more...]
A Remarkable Political Year to Talk Seriously about Candidate Dan Maes
In case you hadn't noticed, this isn't a normal election year. If it weren't 2010, a political outsider like Dan Maes arrayed against the political establishment, tons of money and a campaign organization would be little more than a nice guy also-ran, and yesterday's Denver Post piece would be pure fantasy:Although Maes had no previous political experience, a cultural movement was forming across the country with a focus on pressuring the Republican Party to return to its core conservative values and principles. That movement played a substantial role in elevating Maes' campaign from a "no chance" to a "what if." "My base emerged while I was looking for a base," Maes said. "I had a message and they had a message, and it was the … [Read more...]
Tea Party Movement Still Rising One Year After Rick Santelli’s Famous Rant
A quick retrospective on a crystallizing moment for the still-nascent Tea Party movement that looms so large over the Colorado and American political landscape today. The grassroots upswell against Washington D.C.'s big government bailout and spending sprees already had started to take shape and pick up steam, when one year ago today CNBC's Rick Santelli delivered his famous rant on the floor of the Chicago Merchantile Exchange, delivering a name that has stuck to a movement -- and has been embraced with pride: … [Read more...]
Mr. President, Welcome to Denver
One year and one day after President Obama came to Denver to sign away hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars into generational debt for the creation of some government jobs (and in the process, taking out some in the private sector), he's coming back. This time Obama will be here to help save another job: the political career of the Appointed One, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Republicans and liberty-loving Coloradans aren't frightened by the visit. Probable GOP nominee and Bennet challenge Jane Norton shows as much, taking to the airwaves. Can anyone say Chris Christie? Scott Brown? Hey, CNN polling now shows even the President's own political future in jeopardy with the American people. The more public the appearance, the more Obama … [Read more...]
Trusted Expert Dick Murphy Endorses J.J. Ament in Colorado Treasurer’s Race
Quick update from the state treasurer's race. Dick Murphy -- former Deputy State Treasurer and one of the most respected and expert conservative figures I know in the area of school finance (and public finance generally) -- has come out vocally behind candidate J.J. Ament (official campaign release touting endorsement below the fold): … [Read more...]
Scott McInnis Endorses Mark Hurlbert … I Back Conservative Tim Leonard
How often do you hear of a gubernatorial candidate in a contested primary endorsing another candidate in a state senate primary? Oh, I haven't done any exhaustive research. But it can't happen too often. What advantage can be gained? I only ask having heard about this: … [Read more...]
All But One Colo. Democrat State Senator Enable Passage of Tax Hikes
Nine days ago I pointed out the number of vulnerable Colorado state house Democrats who voted to push through the "Dirty Dozen" tax hikes. Today it was the state senate's turn. Based on my recent projections, much of the voting activity makes sense. Take a quick look at today's Senate Journal, and what do you see? All Senate Republicans unanimously voted against each and every one of the tax hikes. Hooray for them. Too bad the Democrats have the majority and were able to pass all nine bills with either 18 (the bare minimum) or 19 votes. One Democrat running in a vulnerable seat voted No on all nine tax hike bills, giving her a singular distinction among the entire house and senate majority caucus: Sen. Gail Schwarz. You think this is … [Read more...]
Dem Priorities Fiddling with Tax Credits: Undercut, Don’t Empower, Families
Todd Engdahl at Ed News Colorado reported Friday on two educational tax credit bills (HB 1295 and HB 1296) being introduced in the legislature, and closed with this comment:While the proposals could make for interesting debate, they’re expected to fail for three reasons: 1) Democrats control the legislature, 2) the education lobby, and 3) most lawmakers don’t want to fiddle with school finance or tax credits when the state budget is in the tank. [emphasis added] The first two reasons are rather straightforward. Of course, Democrats don't want to devolve power from the education establishment. And of course, the iron triangle of CEA, CASE and CASB would oppose the slightest effort to grant authentic private school choice to taxpaying … [Read more...]
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