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Making Common Cause Against Teachers Unions?

Is Pete Maysmith, the man that gave us Amendment 27, interested in defending the spirit of the campaign finance laws he masterminded and supported, or will he and his group show themselves to be loyal Democrats? Now that Wayne Rutt and Paul Marrick have appealed the administrative law judge's decision in their complaint against the Poudre Education Association and Colorado Education Association, will Colorado Common Cause file an amicus brief supporting the complaint? Or will they say it's okay for Democrats and unions to coordinate on candidate campaigns but not for Republicans and outside groups? Read Peter Blake's column today in the Rocky Mountain News. Great stuff for political junkies, and for anyone interested in the rule of law … [Read more...]

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Spot-on Analysis of Government Response to Katrina

In case you missed this, here is a must-read: a Wall Street Journal editorial titled "Blame Amid the Tragedy" by Evergreen Freedom Foundation president Bob Williams. Here's a key section: The primary responsibility for dealing with emergencies does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to local and state officials who are charged by law with the management of the crucial first response to disasters. First response should be carried out by local and state emergency personnel under the supervision of the state governor and his/her emergency operations center. The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the … [Read more...]

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You Can Donate to Operation Renewed Hope Online

An update on your opportunity to donate to Operation Renewed Hope. An active online donation link is up that you can access. Click the "Donate Now" button, and you can submit your donation with the requested information. Be sure to put "Hurricane Katrina Relief" in the "Designation (Optional)" blank. More on Operation Renewed Hope can be found on its main Web site and at this SharperIron post by Greg Linscott. Whatever organization you choose to contribute to, please be sure that it is legitimate, credible, and does good work. Some examples include the American Red Cross and Feed the Children. And check out Rossputin's challenge to match some donations - you might want to take him up on it. … [Read more...]

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It’s Just “An Investment in the State”

The Tax Increase Crew has begun ratcheting up their campaign with guilt and scare tactics to kick off the Labor Day weekend. As reported by the Rocky Mountain News, the state announces that it has an overrun of revenues under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), albeit a smaller amount than projected a few months ago. "This is evidence that the economy is improving, but we still have less revenues than we did in 2001," said Henry Sobanet, director of Colorado's Office of State Planning and Budget. Next year, taxpayers will receive $15 each in TABOR refunds, an amount that figures to rise in successive years. Or you can vote for Referendum C and give more money for the next 5 years - and beyond - to state government. Go back and … [Read more...]

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Donate to Hurricane Relief: Operation Renewed Hope

Are you a Christian and still looking to donate to a good organization that is working with the relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region? Try Operation Renewed Hope. Why Operation Renewed Hope? Here are some reasons: ORH has conducted remote jungle medical clinics since 1993, helping thousands who have very limited, or no access to medical care. We are one of the few agencies who work in these remote locations. Due to our very low budgets and tremendous efficiency, we can remain in areas of need for long periods of time when other, higher budget agencies have pulled out. ORH does not use project donations for salaries, office expenses or overhead costs. Each individual working with the organization raises his own salary money and … [Read more...]

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Answering the Cries for Help

When you're hundreds of miles away from the scene of a massive disaster like Hurricane Katrina, and you know almost no one directly affected by the massive storm, it's easy to lose perspective on the human toll of such events. But then you realize how many of our fellow Americans, people with moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters, are in dire straits. The New Orleans Times-Picayune blog has been posting a series of electronically-relayed pleas from people who have lost contact with loved ones or whose loved ones are trapped and need help. Ladies and gents, this stuff is real. They need our prayers and support. You can find a list of charitable organizations at Instapundit from which to choose. But reach out and … [Read more...]

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Mere Simpletons

David Harsanyi's Post column today is a valuable read. He exposes the scare tactics and duplicity of those conducting the campaign for the forever tax increase. Money quote: One wishes legislators would have had this level of interest in the Priority Colorado report when it was released in January. Perhaps they could have saved a couple hundred million dollars. But as you can imagine, the report was almost universally dismissed by legislators. "There's a reason the Independence Institute is a political think tank," said Joan Fitz-Gerald, Democratic Senate president, at the time. "They couldn't get elected to anything. ... They have only simplistic answers." Apparently, elected officials are the only ones with worthwhile ideas. … [Read more...]

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JeffCo GOP Takes the Right Stand

Following the lead of the El Paso and Larimer County Republican Party organizations, my own Jefferson County Republican Party has taken a significant stand in opposition to Referenda C and D. Congrats to my JeffCo GOP, under the able leadership of Chair Renee Nelson, for passing the following resolution: Whereas, lowering the tax burden on Americans is one of the core principles of the Republican Party because Republicans believe that taxpayers know how to spend their own money better than the government does; Whereas, The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) was passed in by the voters in 1992 by a statewide majority; Whereas, The TABOR provides for regular, but controlled, increases in government spending in Colorado; Whereas, tax … [Read more...]

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Education Super Sleuth Joins Blogosphere

Nominee for "Best New Blog by Somebody You Hoped Would Start One"... Mike Antonucci, guru of the Education Intelligence Agency, famous for his weekly Communique, has joined the blogosphere. His vast array of sources and his tremendous insight and experience into the world of teachers unions and public education make his work a must-read. And now Mike is blogging at a site he has called "Intercepts." Check it out and add it to your blogroll. … [Read more...]