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J.J. Ament’s Entry Makes Two in Colorado GOP Treasurer’s Race

Rocky Mountain Right has the scoop: J.J. Ament today officially has thrown his hat into the ring as a Republican candidate for Colorado state treasurer. I took a few minutes a little while ago to chat with the newly-minted candidate himself. J.J. Ament stressed his "hands-on experience" in previous dealings with the treasurer's office, that he "knows where the waste and inefficiency is" and doesn't have to rely on the bureaucracy like incumbent Cary Kennedy has. He also said that Colorado needs the treasurer to be "a strong independent voice", and that Kennedy hasn't filled that role, either. … [Read more...]

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Video: Health Administration Bureau Wants to Ration “The Best” for You

The YouTube hits bashing the serious problems with Obama Care just keep on coming. First, there was the Independence Institute video of the problem with health care mandates for the young, with the scene of Justin's bike getting hit by the bus. Then there was Steven Crowder's hilarious 20-minute undercover documentary of the tremendous deficiencies in the Canadian health care system. Now there's the introduction of the "Health Administration Bureau" with its effectively stylized -- read "funny because it's true" -- introductory video (below the fold): … [Read more...]

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An Even Stronger Statement from Walker Stapleton’s Fundraising Take

This past quarter's fundraising numbers look even better for Colorado GOP treasurer candidate Walker Stapleton than I reported a couple days ago. His $138,211 take was not just a record for non-incumbents, but a record for any candidate ever in a Colorado treasurer's race. Incumbent Democrat treasurer Cary Kennedy was blown away by more than two-to-one -- as she only raised $65,999 during the past three months. The result for Stapleton is a cash-on-hand advantage of more than $53,000 over Kennedy. Rocky Mountain Right further takes Cary Kennedy's campaign to task for the last-minute desperate plea for money that suggested she was near the $100,000 mark on the last day of the fundraising period (or maybe just $34,000 away):This … [Read more...]

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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...]

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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...]

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On Amy Oliver Show at 10:00 AM: Teachers Unions and Ed Reform Politics

For those who are interested and have the time to kill, I will be appearing as a guest at 10:00 this morning (Wednesday, July 15) on News Talk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver Show. The topic will be the shifting politics surrounding national teachers unions -- as explained in somewhat greater length in this recent blog post I authored for Ed News Colorado. While the National Education Association is embracing the labor union image more than it has in a long time, prominent liberal critics are making a strong statement to their NEA political allies, telling them to stop blocking effective reform and get out of the way. Click here to listen live at Noon Eastern / 10 AM Mountain. … [Read more...]

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Initiative to Protect Secret Ballot Reminder of Michael Bennet’s Hall-of-Fame Indecision

In case you need a reminder of how much Big Labor bosses hate the secret ballot, Face The State brings a story today about a simple, newly proposed 2010 initiative and the union legal challenge facing it:Unions have challenged the language of a ballot initiative that would amend the Colorado Constitution to guarantee employees' right to a secret ballot in unionization elections. Meanwhile, legislation is pending before Congress that would remove that requirement from federal law. “The purpose for this amendment is to guarantee the fundamental right of an individual to vote by secret ballot,” said Patrick Davis, a Colorado Springs political consultant backing the measure.... The 39-word proposal reads, “The right of individuals … [Read more...]

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Three Days Left for You to Chime in on Colorado’s Political Temperature

Last week I introduced readers to a one-of-a-kind, in-depth survey of Colorado's political temperature co-created by El Presidente and myself. The response so far has been great, with hundreds registering their opinions on key national and state issues, as well as candidates for national and state office. Everybody else is doing it ... why not you? Don't miss your chance -- Click here to vote in the July 2009 survey of Colorado's political temperature! El Presidente has added some enticing questions to pique your interest. Don't forget: You can only take the survey one time, but you have to take it by this Friday, July 17, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. We look forward to hearing you chime in! … [Read more...]