I asked before if Bill Ritter called the bluff of Big Labor with his veto of Senate Bill 180. If we're to judge by last Friday's union-organized rally, then Ritter made a mistake. To see what I mean, take a step over to Face The State's slideshow, and see signs like "Why does Ritter hate fire fighters?" and "Ritter lied to my dad" (or just Senator Lois Tochtrop's angry expression). Of course, Ritter didn't make a mistake from the standpoint of choosing good policy over bad policy. But he has made four mistakes surrounding this issue: Don't make promises you don't intend to keep. Backroom campaign promises can come back to burn you. As observed at ColoradoPols and demonstrated by the little girl's "Ritter lied to my dad" sign, … [Read more...]
Western Slope Pressure Heightens Bill Ritter’s Bad Policy SB 180 Dilemma
As the Grand Junction Sentinel reports today, the day of reckoning draws closer for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter to decide on the bad policy that is SB 180 -- a costly favor to Big Labor. The Sentinel today also editorializes strongly against SB 180 -- using many of the same arguments I've brought forward before, and even one I haven't really emphasized:Strikes would be prohibited under the legislation, but there are no sanctions listed in the bill for those who violate the provision. Now it would seem that Bill Ritter has an opportunity to start mending fences with folks on the Western Slope, where his popularity is low and heckling is a common greeting for him, by vetoing SB 180. He could listen to Grand Junction mayor Bruce Hill, … [Read more...]
Cast Vote for Best Slogan to Describe Government Borrow-and-Spend Habits
The Americans for Prosperity Foundation is concluding its Stop Spending Our Future "Give It a Name" contest with the chance for you to vote on which of the five finalists best conveys "the threat of government over-spending and/or excessive debt using 10 words or less". While you're there casting your vote, you can also sign the petition to tell Washington the common-sense truth that we can't borrow and spend our way to prosperity. … [Read more...]
Sign of Bill Ritter’s Sagging Popularity
Governor Bill Ritter is wrestling with another veto decision over a labor issue. But there are plenty of other reasons why his popularity has hit the skids with Coloradans. A faithful Mount Virtus reader snapped this photo of a sign near Highway 285 and 291 in Chaffee County: Colorado Republicans are revving their engines in search of a candidate who will lead them down the right road to victory and back to lower taxes and responsible limited government in 2010. … [Read more...]
Senate Bill 180: Another Big Labor Veto Dilemma for Vulnerable Bill Ritter
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...]
Beware Stimulus Spam from Nancy Pelosi and Congress in Your Email Inbox
You think the Nigerian email scammers are bad? Be wary if something like this shows up in your inbox. Well-timed and well-done comic relief from Big Hollywood's Ernie Mannix. Check it out. On a serious note, it isn't too late to make your voice heard about the bloated waste and economic poison most commonly known as the federal stimulus bill. If you're ambitious, you can follow Rossputin's lead and pen a letter. The least you can do is sign Americans for Prosperity's No Stimulus petition. … [Read more...]