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Home Archives for tough decisions

4/13/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Denver Tax Day Tea Party vs. Democrats’ Overreach on State Budget

It's almost time for the Tax Day Tea Party at the State Capitol in Denver (with a great idea for an official logo, compliments of Ben Hummel). Here's where it gets good: While we citizens will be standing outside, protesting government overreach and proclaiming our rights, inside the members of the state house will be wrestling with the tough decisions of a budget vote. Funny thing is, the decisions wouldn't be nearly so tough if the Democrat-led legislature had voted three years ago to create a rainy day fund (PDF) proposed by Representative Cory Gardner and Senator Josh Penry. Instead, the same day as the Tea Party takes place, the Democrats will be trying to avoid tough decisions by raiding hundreds of millions of dollars from the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, PPC, property rights Tagged With: bad name, bailout, Ben Hummel, best option, budget vote, citizens, complacent, Cory Gardner, demand, Democrat legislature, Denver, government overreach, hogwash, illegal, indirect tax, information, Josh Penry, Kent Lambert, meet-and-greet, members, mobile updates, official logo, people, Pinnacol Assurance, private, proclaiming, protesting, rainy day fund, Republican Study Committee, Republicans, rights, RSCColorado, shortage, State Capitol, state house, state legislators, successful, Tax Day, Tea Party, tough decisions, workmen's comp

4/13/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Democrats Gamble State Finances, Majority Status, on Pinnacol “Gimmick”

The budget debate at Colorado's State Capitol heads into full throttle this week. In a tough year, the linchpin to the Democrats' plan is a raid on the privately-funded Pinnacol Assurance Company. Even the Denver Post recognizes this as a bad idea:If lawmakers can't get money from Pinnacol, higher education could be cut by more than $400 million — more than half the state's allotment to colleges and universities. Pinnacol offers guaranteed workers' compensation insurance, and Republicans have argued that because the insurer's assets were funded by businesses paying premiums, the state should keep its hands off. [Attorney General John] Suthers, a Republican, clearly, agrees. The Pinnacol idea is dubious at best. It is a gimmick, a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC Tagged With: accustomed, Andrew Ripemoff, anti-taxpayer, assets, Attorney General, bad idea, budget, Colorado, court decision, debate, Democrats, Denver Post, desperate times, dubious, editorial, elected leaders, eliminating, eschewing, Face the State, full throttle, funnier take, gimmick, higher education, important connection, insurer, John Suthers, linchpin, majority party, Mary Mullarkey, newfound powers, notch, own hides, Pinnacol Assurance, plan, primary strategy, Republican, risky gimmick, State Capitol, supreme court, TABOR, tax exemptions, tough decisions, tough year, workers compensation

1/14/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter’s “Hiring Freeze” Doesn’t Include Lobbyists or Potato Inspectors

A few months ago I called out Governor Bill Ritter for his delayed hiring freeze tactic. Well, as the Denver Post reports this morning, that's nothing compared to what's happened since the alleged hiring "freeze" went into effect:A Denver Post review of hundreds of applications for exemptions shows that in three months, Ritter's office approved 326 new hires and promotions — out of 371 requests — that could cost the state more than $12 million. Ritter's rules say the freeze does not apply to health and safety positions, jobs caring for state wards or required by caseload demands, or positions that, unfilled, would disrupt an "essential state function" or present legal liabilities. Among the health care providers and criminal … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: administrative assistants, applications, Bill Ritter, blunt assessment, caseload demands, chill, Colorado, contract lobbyists, criminal investigators, Denver Post, divorced from reality, essential state function, excuses, exemptions, Governor, health and safety, health care providers, hires, hiring freeze, Jessica Fender, leadership, legal liabilities, lottery ticket salesperson, management style, potato inspectors, promotions, raising fees, state wards, tight budget, tough decisions

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Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

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