August 1, 2012
“Politics ought to be the part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and
privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national
heritage.” –
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Countdown to Election 2012: 96 Days
Colorado Political Fundraising
Current campaign contributions
Republican Candidates:
Democratic Candidates:
to Date…
and loans filed to-date in 2012:
$1,720,559.54
$1,485,108.35
Denver Post: Federal Judge Allows Legal Challenge to Colorado's TABOR to go Forward
In another defeat for the state, a federal judge Monday allowed a lawsuit challenging the
constitutionality of Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to move forward, rejecting
arguments from Attorney General John Suthers that plaintiffs in the lawsuit did not have
the right to sue.
U.S. District Judge William J. Martínez's ruling was the most recent blow to the state's
effort to derail a lawsuit challenging TABOR, with the judge already having rejected a
central pillar of the state's defense of TABOR during a court hearing in February. The
TABOR amendment, passed by voters in 1992, limits state spending and bars lawmakers
from raising taxes without a vote of the people.
The suit, filed by 33 plaintiffs who are mostly Democrats, argues that by taking away
lawmakers' ability to tax, TABOR violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee that every state
have a republican form of government, or one where people elect officials to govern rather
than in a direct democracy, where the citizens themselves govern.
Suthers' office had argued that the plaintiffs in the case, which include current and former
lawmakers, did not have legal standing to sue, saying a federal court "is not forum for
rehashing political arguments." The plaintiffs in the case suffered no "concrete injury,"
Suthers' office argued, and thus there was no court remedy.
The plaintiffs' complaint is a "non-justiciable" issue and a "political question," not one for
the courts, Suthers argued.
But Martínez disagreed, writing in a 73-page ruling, "The court holds that the plaintiffs who
are current members of the Colorado General Assembly have standing to bring this action."
His ruling added, "The Court also holds that plaintiffs' claims are not barred by the political
question doctrine."
Suthers' office, however, did win on one count — successfully persuading Martínez to
dismiss an argument by plaintiffs that TABOR violates the Equal Protection Clause of the
constitution.
The ruling means the case must now be set for trial.
Enterprise Zone Task Force Named
The Colorado Enterprise Zone Review Task Force held its first meeting on Wednesday, July
11, and will hold its second meeting on Friday, August 24. The Task Force was established
by House Bill 1241 sponsored by House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) and
Senator Rollie Heath (D-Boulder) in order to review the state’s enterprise zone program.
Critics of the program argue the state can make better use of its limited economic
development resources than what is happening under the current program. But
supporters say the program isn’t designed to favor one industry over another, or to promote
job creation over capital investment.
In 2010 Colorado granted nearly $100 million in enterprise zone tax credits to more than
5,000 firms, according to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International
Trade.
The charter of the enterprise zone program is to create a business-friendly environment in
economically distressed areas, with job creation and investment incentives and primarily
targets employers who are capital-intensive.
The task force members appointed are:
·
Kenneth W. Lund, Executive Director, OEDIT, to serve as Chair of the task force
·
John Vecchiarelli, Senior Director of Taxation, Colorado Department of Revenue
·
MaryJo Downey of Stratton, to serve as the East Central Enterprise Zone regional administrator
·
Kjersti Hudson of Grand Junction, to serve as the Mesa County Enterprise Zone regional administrator
·
DeAnne McCann of Colorado Springs, to serve as the El Paso County Enterprise Zone regional
administrator
·
Cathy Schulte of Greeley, to serve as the Greeley/Weld County Enterprise Zone regional administrator
·
Michael Wisdom of Alamosa, to serve as the San Luis Valley Enterprise Zone regional administrator
·
Tom Clark of Denver, to serve as an economic development professional
·
Ed Morlan of Durango, to serve as an economic development professional
·
Mike Harvey of Lamar, to serve as a small business owner
·
Leland Lorentzen of Fort Lupton, to serve as a mid-size business owner
·
Robert Hartman, to serve as a representative of a large-size business owner
·
Ali Mickelson of Denver, to serve as a person knowledgeable about the state budget
·
Cary Kennedy of Denver, to serve as a person knowledgeable about the state budget
·
Kevin Seggelke of Denver, to serve as a representative of a nonprofit organization
Public Trust Initiatives Withdrawn
On Monday, July 23, Colorado Legislative Council Staff notified Colorado Water Congress
that the proponents of Initiatives 3 and 45 have officially withdrawn their initiatives and
will no longer be pursuing a place on November’s ballot. The proponents are expected to
renew their efforts in 2014, the next year the measures could be placed on the general
election ballot.
The initiatives, if adopted, would amend the state’s constitution to place all of the water
rights in Colorado into a public trust. Supporters believe that Colorado’s one hundred-plus
year-old system of prior appropriation has worked against the public’s interests. The
initiatives would replace the existing prior appropriation process with one that would
enable the state to determine what uses of water are in the beneficial public good, and
which ones are not. The doctrine would appear to apply to all such uses, whether water
rights have been adjudicated in the past, or not. In other words, the amendments, if
approved, would cause all existing water rights in the state to immediately fall under a new
review guided by the public trust doctrine.
Colorado Water Congress led the legal challenge in front of the Colorado Supreme Court,
failing to invalidate the measures based on the state’s single subject rule for ballot
measures.
Opponents of the initiatives believed supporters were only relying on volunteers to gather
the approximately 87,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot and fell far short of
that number.
Opponents of the measures had filed an issue committee, preparing to fight the initiatives
this November. They also started a website, www.coloradoswaterfuture.com, and plan to
sustain a coordinated effort over the next several years in opposition to efforts to adopt a
public trust doctrine.
Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Update
The Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board met twice during July and considered a
number of issues. The board made policy decisions surrounding Standard Comparative
Plans, Employer/Employee Choice, and Display and Pricing of Supplemental Plans. The
board voted to adopt all recommendations by staff. The details can be found at
www.getcoveredco.org.
The Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Review Committee also met to discuss a grant
proposal from the Exchange Board. The grant would be the second one to be applied for by
the Board. The first one applied for, and received, totaled just under $20 million. The
grant proposal currently pending before the exchange review committee totals $43 million.
The new grant is needed in order for the Exchange to continue functioning since current
funding is set to run out by October 31st. The Legislative Review Committee will make a
decision by August 13th with regards to moving forward with the grant application.
Denver Post: Populist Health Insurance Co-op for Colorado Wins $69 Million Grant
The state's first consumer-run, populist health insurance co-op launched Friday with a $69
million federal startup loan, opening another uncharted area of the massive Affordable Care
Act.
The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) is the sponsor of the Colorado Health
Insurance CO-OP, where policyholders will own the insurer and plow any profits into
lowered premiums or better services.
Marketing will begin next year and coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2014, when the majority of
the act kicks in. Sponsors hope for more than 10,000 insured by the first year.
Backers of health reform and insurance expansion to all hailed the co-op as a key factor in
widening consumer choice and a boon for rural Colorado, where many insurers have fled
the market.
"The idea there's a health insurance product for underserved, rural parts of the state is
really critical to the successful reinvention of the health system," said Dede de Percin,
Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. "So it's super exciting."
The highly controversial Affordable Care Act of 2010 authorized such co-ops nationwide,
but few people knew how they would work or whether they would materialize. They were
meant to compete with private insurers and bureaucratic nonprofits, adding a consumerfocused policy to the state health benefits exchanges.
De Percin likened it to the outdoors retailer REI, owned by members who help control the
direction and can receive dividends based on their purchases.
Much of the co-op's $69.4 million bankroll the Farmer's Union announced Friday will go
toward a $57 million solvency fund to back initial member claims. As premiums come in,
the co-op will use its own reserves to pay back the loan, or avoid drawing down the reserve.
Rural farmers, ranchers and small businesses have a long history of using co-ops to get
better deals and better service, said Bill Stevenson, of RMFU.
"It's the policy-holders who are running the show here. The definition of a co-op is those
that use it, own it," he said.
Other spending from the loan will hire staff, set up offices and acquire technology to run a
full health insurance plan. The plan will sell policies in all Colorado counties.
Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D) praised the co-op launch as "an important option
designed to increase independence and empower individuals when it comes to making
decisions about their own health care."
Freeze Disaster Approved for Several Colorado Counties
Late last month U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack notified Gov. John Hickenlooper
that eight of the state’s counties qualify for federal disaster relief because of freeze
conditions.
“The Department of Agriculture has reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports and has
determined that there were sufficient production losses to warrant a Secretarial disaster
designation,” a letter from Vilsack says. “Therefore, I am designating Mesa and Montrose
counties as primary natural disaster areas.”
Vilsack also named Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Ouray, Pitkin and San Miguel counties as
contiguous disaster counties.
Hickenlooper sent a letter in June to Vilsack seeking the freeze assistance.
The federal assistance includes Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Farmers in
eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for emergency
loan assistance. FSA will consider each emergency loan application on its own merits,
taking into account the extent of production losses, security available and repayment
ability.
Local FSA offices can provide farmers with more information.
Office of Community Living Established
Gov. John Hickenlooper last month signed an Executive Order to establish the Office of
Community Living and the Community Living Advisory Group in the Department of Health
Care Policy and Financing to help meet the growing need for long-term services by people
with disabilities and aging adults.
"This approach seeks to offer Coloradans easier, less cumbersome access to services,"
Hickenlooper said. "This will make the most efficient use of available financial resources to
serve a growing number of people and their families."
The Office of Community Living will improve outcomes, reduce complexity, increase
capacity and access, leverage existing resources and promote self-direction and personcentered care. Impacted consumers, families, advocates, providers, communities,
legislators and agencies will work with the Office through the Community Living Advisory
Group to ensure that necessary coordination and integration of services and supports is
achieved.
The Office of Community Living will prepare Colorado's long-term services and supports
system for the coming "wave of wisdom," when the nation's population age 65 and older is
projected to double. The need for services is growing in other areas as well. Colorado
needs to use its funds efficiently to better serve more people:
·
As of March 2012, approximately 2,000 adults and 500 children with developmental disabilities were
waiting to receive services through Medicaid waiver programs. Another 5,500 families are waiting to receive
Family Support Services, which assist with the costs of caring for children with developmental disabilities.
·
Waiting lists also exist for other home- and community-based waiver services. Approximately 425,000
people nationwide sustain moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year. Adults age 75 and
older sustain the highest rates of hospitalization associated with TBI.
·
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. The costs for lifelong care for a child with autism
can be reduced by 66 percent with early diagnosis and intervention services.
Gov. Hickenlooper Signs Executive Order to Promote Colorado with International Students
On Thursday, July 12, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an Executive Order to attract more
international students to Colorado colleges and universities by creating StudyColorado, a
partnership between the state, institutions of higher education and the business
community.
“International students further economic and cultural ties between Colorado and other
countries,” Hickenlooper said. “They diversify our campuses and help our students learn to
compete in a global environment. StudyColorado will promote Colorado and its diverse and
high-quality study opportunities to students around the world.”
StudyColorado is housed at the Department of Higher Education and includes public and
private colleges and universities from throughout the state as members. In academic year
2010-2011, more than 7,000 international students from more than 100 countries were
studying in Colorado. In supporting the international recruitment goals of the member
institutions, StudyColorado will seek to increase the number of students and to diversify
the countries of origin of students, most of whom currently come from China, Saudi Arabia,
India, South Korea and Taiwan.
International students in Colorado now contribute over $200 million annually to Colorado’s
economy, according to an analysis done annually by NAFSA: Association of International
Educators.
Hickenlooper Announces Boards and Commission Appointments
The Auraria Higher Education Center Board of Directors manages the operational affairs of the
three-school Auraria campus. The member appointed for a term expiring July 13, 2015 is:
·
Maria de Lourdes Garcia Berry of Denver.
The State Personnel Board adopts, amends and repeals the procedures which implement
those sections of the state constitution concerning the state personnel system. The
appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The member appointed for a
term expiring June 30, 2017 is:
·
Teresa R. Salerno of Denver.
The Colorado Board of Veterans' Affairs studies the problems facing veterans and makes
recommendations to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Division of Veterans’
Affairs, concerning programs needed to assist veterans. The appointments must be
confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The member appointed for a term expiring June 30,
2016 is:
·
Dana Louise Niemela of Denver, a Democrat and a veteran who has been honorably released or separated
from the armed forces of the United States.
The mission of the Charter School Institute Board is to foster high-quality public school
choices offered through institute charter schools, including schools for at-risk students.
The appointments must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The members appointed for
terms expiring July 1, 2015 are:
·
Patricia M. Hayes of Aurora, to serve as a member with experience as a charter school board member or
founder of a charter school, experience as a public school administrator with experience working with charter
schools, other board or public service experience, and as a Republican, reappointed.
·
Anthony Scott Lewis of Longmont, to serve as a member with experience as a charter school board
member or founder of a charter school, experience as a public school administrator with experience working
with charter schools, other board or public service experience, and as a Democrat, reappointed.
·
Donahue Cassius Quashie of Colorado Springs, as a representative of a parent of a student who is, or
who has been, enrolled in an institute charter school, and as a Republican, reappointed.
The State Housing Board works to establish uniform construction and maintenance
standards for hotels, motels, multiple dwellings and factory-built housing. The Board also
develops for submittal to the General Assembly and units of local government
recommendations for uniform housing standards and building codes. The appointments
must be confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The member appointed for a term expiring Jan.
31, 2015 is:
·
Barbara Cleland of Aurora, to serve as a member from the 6th Congressional District and as a
Republican.
The member appointed for a term expiring Jan. 31, 2016 is:
·
Britta E.M. Fisher of Wheat Ridge, to serve as a member from the 7th Congressional District and as an
Unaffiliated.
The Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice is comprised of experts in criminal
justice, corrections, mental health, drug abuse, victims’ rights, higher education, juvenile
justice, local government and other disciplines. The commission was formed to engage in
an evidence-based analysis of the criminal justice system in Colorado and annually report
to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The members appointed for terms
expiring June 30, 2015 are:
·
·
·
·
·
·
Norman Ray Mueller of Denver, to serve as a criminal defense attorney.
Kathleen Horn-Murphy of Thornton, to serve as a representative of victims’ rights organizations.
Evelyn Leslie of Denver, to serve as a mental health treatment provider.
Alaurice Marie Tafoya-Modi of Denver, to serve as an at-large member, reappointed.
Charles Fredrick Garcia of Denver, to serve as an at-large member.
Kelly Lee Weimer of Granby, to serve as an at-large member.
The members appointed to serve at the pleasure of the governor are:
·
·
James H. Davis of Westminster, to serve as Chair.
Douglas K. Wilson of Pueblo, to serve as Co-Chair.
The Colorado Pay Equity Commission is responsible for determining the scope of pay inequity
based on gender and race in Colorado, identifying policies and practices that help produce
it and suggesting areas of reform. The member appointed for a term expiring July 1, 2014
is:
·
Nancy J. Reichman of Denver, a representative of higher education who has expertise in pay equity
issues, reappointed.
The Private Activity Bond Allocations Committee reviews requests and makes recommendations
to the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs on the distribution of
industrial development bonds. The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2015
are:
·
·
·
Matthias M. Edrich of Denver, a member of the public, reappointed.
William L. Long of Las Animas, a municipal or county official, reappointed.
Joseph C. Prinster Jr., of Boulder, a member of the public, reappointed.
The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee annually reviews proposed projects for
expenditure of Colorado wildlife habitat stamp funds and makes recommendations to the
Director and the Wildlife Commission. The appointments must be confirmed by the
Colorado Senate. The member appointed for a term expiring December 31, 2014 is:
·
Luke B. Schafer of Craig, to serve as a representative of national or regionally recognized conservation
organizations whose missions are focused on nongame wildlife and whose membership is composed primarily
of nongame wildlife users.
The Hazardous Waste Commission makes rules and regulations for the handling, storage and
transportation of hazardous wastes in Colorado. The appointments must be confirmed by
the Colorado Senate. The members appointed for terms expiring August 1, 2015 are:
·
Michael K. Dempsey of Denver, to serve as a representative from the regulated community and as a
Republican.
·
Charlotte Sophia Pitt of Denver, to serve as a representative of the government or academic community
and as a Democrat.
·
Joseph C. Prinster Jr. of Boulder, to serve as a member of the public and as a Republican.
The Parks and Wildlife Commission is responsible for perpetuating the wildlife resources of
the state, providing a quality state parks system and providing enjoyable and sustainable
outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to
serve as active stewards of Colorado natural resources. The appointments must be
confirmed by the Colorado Senate. The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2013
are:
·
Jeanne Horne of Meeker, as a representative of sports persons and outfitters and west of the Continental
Divide.
·
James C. Pribyl of Boulder, as a member at large.
The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2014 are:
·
·
·
John Singletary of Pueblo, as a representative of sports persons.
Kenneth "Mark" Smith of Center, as a member at large.
Robert "Dean" Wingfield of Vernon, as a representative of agriculture.
The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2015 are:
·
Christopher James Castilian of Denver, as a representative of outdoor recreation and utilizes parks
resources.
·
William G. Kane of Basalt, as a representative of outdoor recreation and utilizes parks resources.
·
Gaspar Perricone of Denver, as a representative of sports persons.
The members appointed for terms expiring July 1, 2016 are:
·
Robert William Bray of Redvale, as a representative of agriculture and west of the Continental Divide.
·
Michelle Zimmerman of Breckenridge, as a representative of a non-profit organization that promotes
conservation and recognizes non-consumptive wildlife use, and west of the Continental Divide.
·
James Vigil of Trinidad, as a representative of agriculture.
The Colorado Natural Areas Council advises the Executive Director of the Department of
Natural Resources on the administration of the Colorado Natural Areas Program and
approves the registration and designation of natural areas by Department of Natural
Resources. The member appointed for a term expiring June 30, 2016 is:
·
Dorothea Farris of Carbondale, to serve as a member with interest in the preservation of natural areas.
County Court Judge Appointments in Jefferson County Announced
On Thursday, July 12, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced the appointment of Jean
Woodford to serve as a county court judge in the 1st Judicial District (Jefferson County).
Woodford will fill a judgeship created pursuant to House Bill 12-1073, “Number of Judges
in Judicial Districts,” sponsored by Representative J. Paul Brown (R-Ignacio) and Senator
Ellen Roberts (R-Durango).
Woodford currently works for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office as the First Assistant
Attorney General, a position she has held since 2004. Woodford is responsible for the
Financial Fraud Unit, which investigates and prosecutes securities fraud, insurance fraud
and auto theft. Previously, she worked as Acting District Attorney for the 7th Judicial
District and as Assistant District Attorney.
Woodford earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and J.D. from the
University of Colorado Law School.
Woodford’s judicial appointment is effective immediately.
Gov. John Hickenlooper also announced the appointment of Ryan James Stuart to serve as
a county court judge in the 1st Judicial District (Jefferson County). Stuart will fill a
judgeship created by the retirement of the Honorable John A. DeVita II.
Stuart is currently a District Court Magistrate in the 1st Judicial District where the majority
of his docket consists of domestic relations cases and some dependency and neglect cases.
Prior to becoming a Magistrate Judge, Stuart was a Deputy District Attorney in the 1st
Judicial District Attorney’s Office. He also practiced civil litigation as an associate at Davis
Graham & Stubbs and Brownstein Hyatt & Farber.
Stuart earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a M.Ed. from Harvard
University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Stuart’s judicial appointment is effective August 31, 2012.
Candidates Sought for DA in Moffat, Routt and Grand Counties
The Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions has announced it is seeking applicants
to serve as District Attorney in the 14th Judicial District, which includes Moffat, Routt and
Grand counties.
Elizabeth Oldham, the current District Attorney in the 14th Judicial District, has resigned
to take a job at the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office. Candidates interested in
the position should go to www.colorado.gov/governor or e-mail boards@state.co.us.
Governor Accepts Resignations of Appointed Public Trustees
On Tuesday, July 10, Gov. John Hickenlooper accepted the resignations of the 10 public
trustees he appoints. The trustees are in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso,
Jefferson, Larimer, Mesa, Pueblo and Weld counties.
“We all have to stand for good government,” Hickenlooper said. “That means maintaining
the public’s trust and wherever possible avoiding even the appearance of any impropriety.
We appreciate the service these trustees have given to their communities.”
The Governor’s Office is working with each trustee to establish an appropriate transition so
there is no interruption in service to the public. The Governor’s Office will begin accepting
applications through the Office of Boards and Commissions. For more information, go to
www.colorado.gov/governor or e-mail boards@state.co.us.
Last week, and in response to reports about questionable spending among the appointed
Public Trustees, the Governor’s office issued new guidelines for the 10 Public Trustees
appointed by the Governor. Those guidelines are:
·
Submitting a conflict of interest disclosure each year and disclosing any professional licenses.
·
Following state rules on the use of any vehicle owned by the Public Trustee’s office. That includes not
using state vehicles for personal use.
·
Receiving approval of all purchases greater than $5,000.
·
Following state rules on official functions.
·
Restricting the gifts purchased for employees.
Each of the Public Trustees received Amendment 41 and ethics training last year.
The Denver Post reported on Friday, July 27, that at least five of the former appointed
Trustees have reapplied for their positions. The five Trustees cover Arapahoe, Douglas, El
Paso, Jefferson and Larimer Counties.
Public Trustees oversee the foreclosure process in Colorado. In most counties the job is
held by the elected Treasurer. In a legacy of Colorado's mining past, trustees in ten of the
largest counties, except Denver and Broomfield, are appointed by the Governor and operate
with fiscal autonomy.
Larimer County Commissioners have asked the Governor to allow them to merge the
positions of Public Trustee and County Treasurer. Combining the positions would save
about $200,000, Commissioner Tom Donnelly said.
Funds Donated for Aurora Shooting Victims Reaches Nearly $2 Million
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday, July 24, announced contributions to GivingFirst.org,
which is accepting donations for victims and families of the Aurora movie theater shooting,
has reached nearly $2 million.
“We are very grateful and encouraged by the support so far for the victims in Aurora,”
Hickenlooper said. “The needs will be great and we look forward to seeing the fund grow
exponentially. This money will help those impacted by this tragedy begin to recover and
rebuild their lives.”
Donors include Warner Bros., which is encouraging support from others in the
entertainment industry, as well as Legendary Pictures. Many other individuals, families,
corporations and foundations have donated. Most donors have asked to remain
anonymous.
Organizations profiled on www.GivingFirst.org, which is a program of the Community First
Foundation, are offering direct support to those affected. Nonprofits featured on the
website that are supporting the victims and their families include Aurora Mental Health
Center, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network, Mental Health America of Colorado,
Bonfils Blood Center Foundation, Metro Crisis Services, Inc., Colorado Organization for
Victim Assistance, Safe2Tell and Denver Center for Crime Victims.
Donations may be made at www.GivingFirst.org.
Colorado Fire Relief Fund Tops $1 Million in Pledges
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Tuesday, July 17, announced the Colorado Fire Relief Fund
2012 has received more than $1 million in pledges to support intermediate needs of wildfire
victims this year.
The Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012 is administered by the Denver Foundation and chaired
by David Miller. A board composed of CEOs at community foundations in the areas most
affected by the fires this year will determine how funds will be awarded.
“We are committed to making sure this fund is advised by local communities and that the
money gets to those who need it most and where other resources are not available,” said
Miller, President and CEO of the Denver Foundation.
The fund was created on June 28 and is actively connecting with local communities to
identify needs, to determine a process to receive proposals and to distribute funds.
“We are learning a lot from the people who handled donated funds for victims of the San
Diego fires in 2003 and 2007,” said Jamie Van Leeuwen, Senior Advisor to Hickenlooper.
The grant process is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012, which is designed to handle gifts of $1,000 or more, is
partnering with El Pomar Foundation and other funding partners to ensure that award
distribution between different wildfire support funds is coordinated. More information
about how to donate directly to an organization or how to help can be found at
www.helpcoloradonow.org.
Denver Post: Denver Business Officials not Happy with Mayor Hancock's Tax Proposal
Mayor Michael Hancock's plan to ask voters if the city can keep property taxes that should
be paid back under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights comes with a sales-tax break for
businesses.
But some business owners say that's not enough of a carrot to justify supporting the ballot
proposal that would allow Denver to keep about $68 million in revenue each year.
In a meeting with the City Council's Government and Finance Committee on Wednesday,
Hancock said he's confident voters will support the so-called "de-Brucing" proposal because
it will help the city restore services cut during the budget crisis of the past few years.
But he also acknowledged taxes are heavier for business and industrial properties than
residential property and said the proposal includes relief in the form of a four-year
moratorium on taxes typically levied on new equipment purchases.
"That makes no difference at all," said Tony Gagliardi, Colorado State Director for the
National Federation of Independent Businesses. "Businesses aren't even buying equipment
right now because they have no capital to make purchases."
"(Residential) property owners don't pay their far share of taxes now," he said. "Businesses
have always paid the lion's share of taxes, and now this."
According to Gagliardi, the assessment rate for commercial and industrial property in
Colorado is set at 29 percent. The residential rate is 7.96 percent.
Gagliardi said he is positive the tax bill will rise for businesses if the ballot proposal is
successful. "It will absolutely go up. We just can't say by how much right now."
He said he expects business owners to rally against the ballot proposal.
In his pitch to the City Council committee, Hancock said given the current state of the city
budget, de-Brucing will allow Denver to narrow the budget gap, estimated at about $90
million for 2013.
"This allows us to catch up on ground lost during the recession," Hancock said.
Hancock is requesting City Council approve the measure for the November ballot in the
following weeks.
Currently, $68 million is returned every year to taxpayers under the Taxpayer's Bill of
Rights, or TABOR, as a credit against property taxes.
Eliminating the refund will cost residential taxpayers about $111 a year on a $225,000
home.
According to Hancock, 232 of the 271 cities in Colorado have voted to remove themselves
from TABOR, which keeps government from increasing taxes without a vote of the people.
Denver Councilman Charlie Brown told Hancock the measure may not be welcomed with
open arms as voters will be asked for other tax increases this fall, including a $49 million
mill levy override and $457 million bond issue being contemplated by Denver Public
Schools.
"We are not the only governmental entity this November to have its hand out," Brown said.
The Denver Fire Department union will support the measure.
"We have done our part," said Mike Rogers, President of the Denver Firefighters Union.
"Hopefully, citizens see that and realize it is time for this to happen and support it."
In the following weeks, Council will discuss the proposal and hear from the community.
City Legislative Director Skye Stuart said Aug. 13 is the soonest the city could vote to
approve the measure for the November ballot.
Where the money will go
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says if city voters OK keeping $68 million in taxes
annually, it will be poured back into city services cut during the budget crisis. Key areas
include:
·
Children: Funds to be invested into swimming pools, recreation centers and after-school/summer
programs.
·
Libraries: Funds may allow Denver libraries to expand hours of operation from 32 per week to 48.
·
Public safety: Denver has not hired any new police officers in four years. Also, equipment, including
patrol cars, is in need of replacement.
·
Construction: Plans to repave 300 lane miles of city streets.
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Seniors/disabled: Increase city property tax credit to $400 from $200. About 4,000 low-income seniors
and people with disabilities qualify for the credit.
Politico: Governors Agree: Washington broken
The nation's Governors are unnerved by the course that's being set in Washington, and
many dread that neither party will be able to fix what's broken after November.
The anxiety is bipartisan in scope, with deep worries about sequestration and
'taxmageddon,' the shorthand for federal spending cuts and tax increases scheduled to
automatically go into effect at the end of the year.
There's confusion about what federal education standards will look like when Congress
finally reauthorizes No Child Left Behind and hesitation about whether to expand Medicaid
- one of the biggest expenses in every state's budget - in the wake of the Supreme Court's
health care decision that gives Governors the choice. Farm state Governors worry about
how the final ag bill will look when it's finished.
Then there's everyone's other fear: that the fragile economy will slip back into recession.
The level of "uncertainty" - a word that came up repeatedly during interviews with 13 chief
executives at the summer meeting of the National Governors Association - has left the
Governors with a sense of impotence, derived from their frustration that so much is beyond
their control right now.
The dominant outlook, rarely mentioned on the record, is that neither party will be able to
fix D.C. after November, at least not for the foreseeable future.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee said he feels "a lot of pessimism" about the future. The
former Republican Senator, now an independent supporting President Obama's re-election,
had just emerged from a lunch focused on the ballooning national debt.
"You could get this economy going if you just gave the business community some
confidence that we're willing to take on the hard issues, but everyone's just hunkered
down," Chafee said. "So there's a lot of uncertainty, and that affects the economy. And it's
going to be very slow, and I'm not overly optimistic until I see bipartisan action in
Congress."
He said he does not see that happening.
"We're divided, and we're likely to remain divided," added Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy
(D), who warned that Democrats are unlikely to send more money to help states but
Republicans would find a way to slash support.
"It's a huge headache, but the bigger issue is the country's momentum," said Colorado Gov.
John Hickenlooper (D). "It reminds me a little bit sometimes of kids in... the old cartoons of
taking the pigtails of the little girl in second grade who's ahead of you and putting it in the
ink well. And throwing spit balls. And teasing. They can't resist poking the other person
across the aisle and causing a little bit of a ruckus. We're getting closer to the point where
we don't have that luxury anymore. That's both parties."
"It needs some cathartic event of something, and I don't know what that cathartic event is
going to be," he added. "I thought it was going to be that budget crisis we had last year...
This is a grim perspective, but historically it's taken war. What really got us out of the
Great Depression was World War II."
With everyone's eyes fixed on the presidential election, most Governors have now adopted a
wait-and-see approach until November. Some are more hopeful than others.
"Everywhere you go, whether it's with the business sector or the political elites... folks are
uncertain," said North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D), who is not running for re-election.
"I believe that by 2013, once we get through this national election, and once we can have
some indication that the Congress - dear God, please - comes together and begins to make
some really important decisions, then those of us at the state level will feel more
optimistic."
"Right now the mood of Governors is probably focused on November of this year and what
happens in the election," said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R). "I'm focused on this
because it has a great impact on health care. It could have a great impact on education
and the most important part is I think it has a great impact on the economy."
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and several others expressed concern about defense cuts.
Because the super committee failed to reach agreement last year, automatic cuts - called
sequestration - are set to begin taking effect on Jan. 2. Trying to spur Congress to avert
this, defense contractors have announced plans to send notices to hundreds of thousands
of their employees on Nov. 2 warning that they could lose their jobs 60 days later.
"I would say that the mood here is one that is very much of concern," McDonnell said.
"There's not clear guidance now from [the Department of Defense] on where those cuts are
going to take place... The problem is that everybody pretty much thought sequestration is
not really going to happen, 'It's simply the sword of Damocles, equal pain for everybody.
Hang that out there, and it will work us to force something out.' Well, it's been five
months, ain't nothing worked out and everybody's interested in re-election."
McDonnell maneuvered behind the scenes as the host of the meeting to get Democratic
Governors to sign a joint letter to put pressure on both the President and Congress to act
before the lame duck session. If Democrats don't sign on, a group of GOP governors has
already committed to send one.
"We don't want another cliff that we're about to get pushed over like you did with the super
committee and the debt ceiling," said McDonnell, the Chairman of the Republican
Governors Association. "We're not interested in more drama on New Year's Eve. We'd like
you to get it fixed now."
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) spent two terms in the U.S. House before being elected in
2010. So she's seen it from both sides.
"I've always known that congressional [action] causes havoc to state budgets, but I'm really
seeing it now," she said. "The continuing resolution has not been done. The Bush tax cuts
expire. The alternative minimum tax is set to expire. So you've got a lot of tax cuts that
could possibly hit people who aren't expecting all that."
"There's a lot of things up in the air," she added. "A lot of companies are telling me they're
sitting on the sidelines and not willing to invest, not willing to expand, because there's so
much uncertainty on the federal scene. That's affecting companies and businesses and
employees in our states."
Questions surrounding implementation of the Affordable Care Act also occupied the
Governors' time as they were hounded over the course of the three-day meeting for their
latest thinking on whether they'll join exchanges or accept new Medicaid money that comes
with strings attached.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) is still trying to figure that out. He said preparing for
exchanges that may end up not going into effect if the federal health care law gets repealed
could be a big waste of time. But he's earnestly trying to figure out whether it makes
financial sense, especially because the Volunteer State already has its own program.
"The truth is the Obama administration doesn't know the answers to a lot of these
questions," he said. "There's a lot of really big questions that nobody knows the answers
to."
Hickenlooper said Republicans privately realize that the federal health care law will not be
repealed no matter what happens in November, but that election year politics force them to
stay noncommittal.
"There is a real belief among Republicans and Democrats that after this election, no matter
what happens, everybody's going to roll up their sleeves and work together," he said.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Democratic Governors privately share GOP concerns that
the federal government will leave states holding the bag if they go ahead with Medicaid
expansion.
"After the elections, I think a number of Democratic Governors might be a little more
candid than they are now," he said. "We look at the track record already on things like
special ed [funding]... Medicaid expansion would be 100 percent covered for three years. It
goes down to 90 percent of that. Lord knows where it goes in the future. If you've got
tough budgetary times, the federal government's already in over its head to begin with... So
for a lot of us, it's a question of saying, why would anyone take on more potential risk?"
The National Governors Association tends to be relatively nonpolitical, a place for candid
discussion about best practices, but the already-bitter national election put a cloud over
proceedings, which ended Sunday.
"It's hard for me to imagine a Congress that's worse than the one we have now," Vermont
Gov. Pete Shumlin (D) said after a Democratic Governors Association press conference.
"I'm the eternal optimist," said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R). "I always think things can get
better, and I believe that having President Mitt Romney, who is a former Governor... will be
a good change."
Malloy from Connecticut said the "the big X-factor is Europe."
"There's things beyond the craziness of American politics," he said.
"Listen, if you're talking about the world economy, you have to be nervous... We're in a
mixed period of time, where we're getting some good signs. We're getting some weak signs.
And we've got to do the best we can... You have to manage what's thrown at you."
Aurora Chamber Board Votes Unanimously to Support Tax Extension
The Aurora Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to support what will be called
Initiative 2B at their annual Board Retreat July 25. The ballot measure will ask Aurora
voters to extend a 2.048 mill levy originally approved to finance the Alameda interchange on
I-225. The revenue will allow the City to complete a large number of infrastructure projects
including the extension of 6th Avenue to the 6th Avenue Interchange on E-470, widening of
Gun Club and Arapahoe Roads in critical areas, extension of Tower Road from Colfax to the
Buckley AFB main gate and several others. The Board emphasized the initiative would not
increase the tax burden on residents but would have a substantial impact on Aurora and
the Eastern Metro area’s quality of life. Additional information is available at
AuroraMoves.org.