One of the closer races in Colorado figures to be the contest for state treasurer. If for some reason you are reading this blog and haven't voted yet, here are five reasons to support Mark Hillman, the only candidate for State Treasurer who has (as circulated by email): 1. Balanced a state budget. In the State Senate, Mark has done that seven times. He knows that the value of government must be balanced against the cost of government to Colorado families and businesses. (His opponent has never been elected by the people.) 2. Business experience. Mark owns and operates his family's farm near Burlington, where he has grown wheat for the past 13 years. He knows firsthand about hard work, long hours and sound financial planning. (His … [Read more...]
A National Education Idea We Can Support
Five years of a love-hate relationship with No Child Left Behind (NCLB) have passed now. The President's number one domestic policy initiative that started out with such great intentions, when it came to fruition looked little like the original. Most of the school choice and flexibility in the bill disappeared. Now, a sensible way to keep the beneficial accountability piece of NCLB without all the federal red tape, a way that empowers states, has emerged. Senators John Cornyn (R - TX) and Jim DeMint (R - SC) are sponsoring the A-Plus (Academic Partnerships Lead to Success) Act. What the bill essentially would do is give each state the choice to opt out of the NCLB regulations, and develop its own system to achieve educational success. … [Read more...]
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up – School Funding Edition
Wow, cha-ching! You can almost hear Nevada's education unions and bureaucrats salivating at the idea: A consultant recommended Thursday that Nevadans spend nearly $1.3 billion more per year on public education so that the state's students meet achievement standards, a figure that stunned lawmakers and education activists. The figure suggested by Denver-based Augenblick, Palaich and Associates represents nearly $3,600 more per student each year for Nevada's 415,000 public school students. Under Nevada's current funding formula, school districts get about $4,500 per student each year from the Legislature. Well, let's clarify that a little bit: The consultant's recommendation does not include school construction costs or spending … [Read more...]
Colorado Sets the Pace for GOP, Surpasses Own GOTV Records
The Republican Party's Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) program in Colorado is second to none. Having seen it function firsthand, I can honestly say that the quality and quantity of work being done here outstrips not only what was accomplished in the state in 2004 and 2002, it also is quantifiably doing the best job of any state in the country. Who will benefit the most? Statewide candidates like Mark Hillman (Treasurer), Mike Coffman (Secretary of State), and Brian Davidson (CU Regent). Congressional candidates Marilyn Musgrave and Doug Lamborn are on to victory, while Rick O'Donnell finds new life in his bid to upset Ed Perlmutter and the pundits. State house candidates like Affie Ellis (HD 29), Bill Crane (HD 27), & Ramey Johnson (HD 23) in … [Read more...]
Oral Arguments on in WEA Case
As I write, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in the monumental First Amendment case Washington v Washington Education Association & Davenport v Washington Education Association. The 9 justices will determine whether the free speech rights of union bosses or individual workers take precedence, and much more. The Colorado Attorney General submitted an amicus brief in favor of the rights of states to set policies that require organizations to obtain members' permission before using their money for political campaigns. As I wrote in the Rocky Mountain News a few months ago, this case indeed could have a bearing on Colorado. I have blogged about this case before here and here. At the forefront of the cause of freedom in this … [Read more...]
Denver Post Enables Frivolous Liberal Mud Thrown at Beauprez
The liberal wing of Colorado's Democratic party is grasping at straws to fling mud at the Republican gubernatorial candidate, but the Denver Post - whether as it was originally written or as it was edited for publication - props up the credibility of the charges by omitting relevant information. Under the guise of a benign-sounding group called Colorado Citizens for Ethics in Government (CCEG), activist Democrat attorney Chantell Taylor is taking media potshots at the integrity of Bob Beauprez's campaign without the fortitude to follow the legal channels and actually file a formal complaint. In the article, Taylor is only identified as "CCEG director." Instead of initiating a formal complaint, Taylor finds a media audience to … [Read more...]
Dems “Nervous” Today?
Rahm Emanuel told the Washington Times that he's "nervous" about his party's prospects in the House on Election Day, following the final round of polls. The expectations have been built up too big, and whatever gains the Dems do make after today will seem like a disappointment. … [Read more...]
Ritter’s Education Message Left Wanting
In yesterday's State of the State address, newly-minted Governor Bill Ritter's remarks came with little suspense and offered no surprises. But supporters of freedom and parental choice may demand answers yet. Congratulations are to be given for the positive tone and the ambitious goals, such as cutting the dropout rate in half. But the general outline for how to get Colorado there is where some problems are going to arise. First, what did he say? "We're going to align our educational programs with today's competitive global marketplace. We're going to prepare our students for 21st century industries - 21st century opportunities - like renewable energy, aerospace and biomedicine." Sounds like the preface to this new national report, which … [Read more...]
Answer to the Left’s Attempted Squelching of ABC’s 9/11 Documentary
The Left's organized propaganda machine is out in force to protest ABC's new 9/11 documentary. Mr. Bob has urged us to go use their comment space to write something more appropriate, such as a letter of support, to ABC. I think it's a fine idea. Below is the letter I wrote compliments of http://thinkprogress.org/tellabc (all you have to do is go in and change the subject line and message text to express what you want to say): Robert A. Iger President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company Dear Mr. Iger: Thank you for not caving in to political pressure from organized interest groups in your efforts to depict the events leading up to 9/11. Americans deserve the chance to see an honest, balanced historical account of what led up to that … [Read more...]
Voting Machine Issues Not Isolated to Denver
Complaints in Colorado about problems with voting machines are not isolated to Denver, despite the heavy media attention focused there. I'm hearing secondhand that complaints have been registered "across the state," including more heavily Republican areas such as south Jeffco. Why then would the Colorado Democratic Party sue only to keep Denver's polls open to 9 PM? It doesn't take a genius to figure out why. Any legally registered voter in line to vote at their proper polling location at 7 PM - no matter where across the state - has to be allowed to vote. Until we see enough evidence to compel us otherwise, the problems across the state have to be seen as manageable through current laws and procedures. Regardless, no special … [Read more...]
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