Two years ago Governor Bill Ritter came right out of the gate and ran smack into a tough veto choice that caused friction with his Big Labor supporters. Ritter made up for the nixing of House Bill 1072 later in 2007 with an executive order giving union organizers a gold-plated invitation into Colorado state government. Now, to some extent, history is replaying itself. As the Denver Post's John Ingold reports, the choice Bill Ritter is confronted with now is whether to sign or veto the bad policy that is Senate Bill 180. The bogus argument used for SB 180 -- which narrowly passed the Democrat-controlled legislature -- is that firefighters need greater union bargaining rights to ensure they get needed safety equipment. … [Read more...]
Colorado Should Buck Federal Rollback of Union Financial Disclosure Rules
A few months ago I told you about rumored plans that the Obama administration and new Labor Secretary Hilda Solis would relax financial disclosure rules for labor union leaders. Well, they are rumors no longer. Listen to a new iVoices podcast I recorded with Scott Dilley about the federal disclosure rollback and what it means for workers: Check out this detailed posting at Labor Pains to get a further flavor of the hypocritical complaints from union leadership. The disclosure rollback is bad on another level, as well. As I wrote recently in the issue brief Setting the Standard for Pro-Worker Transparency (PDF), Colorado would do well to emulate the U.S. Department of Labor disclosure rules for its own public-sector unions. … [Read more...]
HB 1299 is Dead, Long Live Electoral College & Colorado’s Political Relevance
A close call: House Bill 1299 -- Colorado Democrats' attempt to subvert the Electoral College wisdom of the Founders -- happily has died. Thanks to senators on both sides of the aisle (including my own Democrat state senator Moe Keller) for putting an end to this bad idea. But HB 1299 went further and lasted longer than it ever should have ... all part of the joy (cough) of having the Democrats in charge at the State Capitol. After all, the Democrats are making progress in their other efforts to govern themselves out of the majority: the latest example is the "for the children" hypocrisy of Senate Bill 291. … [Read more...]
Ryan Frazier Out Stronger than Ken Buck – Don’t Expect to See Beauprez
If the earliest of trends are any indication, Ryan Frazier has come out of the gate looking the strongest in Colorado's Republican primary to challenge Michael Bennet for the U.S. Senate. After all, the rollout of the Ken Buck campaign could have been handled much more adeptly. But then again, the earliest of trends don't amount to much more than something for bloggers to write about. In the end, it should be a very interesting and competitive showdown between Frazier and Buck (with perhaps something to be heard from Cleve Tidwell). That's right. Count me among those who doesn't see former Congressman Bob Beauprez getting in this race. (At least as much as I can gather from a few fans on Ken Buck's Facebook page, and various … [Read more...]
Stand Up Today Against Government Health Care Takeover Attempt
Over at We Stand FIRM, Dr. Paul Hsieh brings attention to an attempt by Washington D.C. Democrats to fast-track a major expansion of government control of health care. If you've been looking for a chance to speak out for liberty, or you are just enraged by the political tactics, as well as the harmful and costly end-game on health care policy, Hsieh provides some great evidence and a couple sample letters you can use to formulate your own letter to Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet. The time to stand up is today ... not tomorrow, not next week. Make your voice heard for individual freedom, personal responsibility, and affordable, free market health care! … [Read more...]
RMA Blog Talk Radio at 8:30: Walker Stapleton, Legislative Session
Tune in tonight at 8:30 PM local Mountain time for the 24th edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Our confirmed guest for this week is Walker Stapleton, the first announced Republican candidate for Colorado State Treasurer in 2010. As the legislative session draws to an end, we also hope to have on a state legislator to talk about important issues for lawmakers still to decide. If you miss the live show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]
A ‘Nonpartisan’ Reason to Challenge California Anti-Taxpayer Media Bias
It's quite often the subtle bias in the dominant liberal media that can make a significant difference. Witness yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle piece on a California ballot initiative to impose tax-and-spending limitations on state government. Writer John Wildermuth quotes from two Colorado sources to establish views on our own state's experience with the stronger Taxpayer's Bill of Rights limit (emphases added):"Nobody disagrees that (the cap) kept government spending lower," said Carol Hedges, a senior fiscal analyst for the nonpartisan Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, which opposes the state's budget cap. "But supporters don't like to talk about the human cost of keeping government smaller."... Across the nation, anti-tax … [Read more...]
How Many Coloradans Know about Michael Bennet – and Which Republican Should Challenge Him?
Politics West points out a newly-released survey from a Democratic polling firm finds that support among Coloradans for both Barack Obama and "senior" U.S. Senator Mark Udall is slipping. The Public Policy Polling firm is slated to release results today for newly selected Senator Michael Bennet, up for re-election in 2010. What I'll be looking for first is not the favorable-unfavorable rating but the percentage of Colorado voters who know enough about Bennet even to form an opinion, and whether they ironically might view the man as indecisive. Face The State also has an online poll to see your preference for a Republican opponent for Bennet: Bob Beauprez, Ken Buck, Dan Caplis, Ryan Frazier, or (the write-in campaign for) Cleve … [Read more...]
Ryan Frazier Fires Up Crowd at Colorado Tax Day Tea Party
El Presidente has posted video of the Denver Tax Day Tea Party, but the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel has the video coverage of Colorado's largest Western Slope gathering. The apparent highlight of the event was the rousing speech of Ryan Frazier, who also announced a formal step toward a U.S. Senate campaign (watch the video below the fold): … [Read more...]
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