Coyote Gulch

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Holtzman or Beauprez or Ritter for governor?
Rasmussen Reports: "In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey of the race for Colorado Governor, Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D) and GOP Representative Bob Beauprez remain essentially tied. Beauprez now 'leads' Ritter 39% to 37%, well within the survey's 4.5 percentage point margin of sampling error. In late March, Ritter edged out Beauprez 41% to 40%. Beauprez is the favorite to win the Republican nomination over former University of Denver President Marc Holtzman (R). Holtzman trails Ritter by five percentage points, 41% to 36%. Ritter is viewed favorably by 52% of likely voters, unfavorably by 25%. Beauprez is viewed favorably by 48%, unfavorably by 31%. Holtzman is viewed favorably by just 35% (a five-point drop since late March) and unfavorably by 33%, with 32% Not Sure what to think of him. Among Republicans, Beauprez is viewed favorably by 69%, Holzman by 51%."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

7:05:49 AM

Holtzman or Beauprez for governor?
From today's Denver Post: "GOP gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman announced his economic plan Monday, promising to give back all of the tax-surplus refund over the $3.1 billion that lawmakers originally requested when they asked voters to bail the state out of an economic crisis. Holtzman's plan would more than double the $500,000 refund supported by his opponent, Rep. Bob Beauprez, who is supporting a ballot initiative that would refund all of the money collected over $3.7 billion. Holtzman said the money would be refunded by cutting the state's 4.63 percent income tax rate. The plan supported by Beauprez would refund the money after it has been collected. Beauprez spokesman John Marshall said Holtzman didn't come out with his plan until after Beauprez supported the initiative."

Category: Denver November 2006 election

6:59:28 AM

Immigration
Here's a background article dealing with the immigration debate from the Denver Post. They write, "While the loudest voices on immigration may be heard from protesters and marchers, the majority of Americans are talking about the issue over coffee, cocktails or dinner with friends and family. And those private conversations are vastly different from the furor that has marked the debate over how to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and what to do about more than 11 million undocumented workers...

"Many support greater border enforcement but not necessarily building a wall 700 miles long. While some support a pathway to citizenship for those here illegally, others demand greater measures to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants...

"A USA Today/Gallup Poll done in April found 63 percent of those polled said undocumented immigrants should be allowed to remain in the U.S. and become citizens. Westerners led the way with 67 percent. The poll also found that a majority of those surveyed support making illegal immigration a crime, though the poll doesn't specify the severity. Eight-one percent believe increasing border patrols would be very or somewhat effective, and 84 percent support penalizing businesses that hire undocumented immigrants."

Category: 2008 Presidential Election

6:54:42 AM

Same-sex unions
Elevated Voices: "The New York Times takes a stab at analyzing the four competing legislative proposals on same-sex unions that may face Colorado voters in November. The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Responsibilities Act, known as bill number 1344, is the only proposal that for certain will be on the ballot...

"The second is the anti-1344 proposal which would present voters with a constitutional amendment to prevent the bill from becoming enacted or enforced by 'barring legal recognition of any status 'similar to marriage.' There is a third proposal which is designed to defeat the anti-1344 constitutional amendment. It would add a provision to the constitutional amendment declaring that same-sex unions are not 'similar to marriage.' The fourth proposal would make Colorado's legisative ban on same-sex marriages part of the Constitution. It should not be that difficult to get these consitutional amendment proposals on the ballot as only 5 percent of the state[base ']s voters - about 68,000 of them - have to sign petitions. The cut-off date is August 7. Are you confused yet? When in doubt, my position always has been that the Constitution is not a 'rough draft.' If it's not broke, don't try to fix it. Keep it simple. 1344 is the only proposal involving a law, not an Amendment to the Consitution. Same sex unions are a matter for the legislature. It's far easier to repeal a law than undo a provision of the Constitution."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

6:49:36 AM

Fountain Creek management

Colorado Springs is hoping to get a judge to drop the combined lawsuit against the city regarding Fountain Creek, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "Pueblo County District Attorney Bill Thiebaut contends that Colorado Springs' efforts to stop polluting Fountain Creek are not working. Thiebaut made the assertion in a new federal court filing. It opposes the city's request for a judge to throw out lawsuits of the district attorney and the Sierra Club environmental group. The lawsuits allege Colorado Springs repeatedly has violated and is continuing to violate the federal Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage, nonpotable water and chlorine into the creek. The city's request to dismiss the lawsuits 'should be denied,' Thiebaut said in Friday's filing. He and the Sierra Club, in a similar filing, argued that Colorado Springs is legally wrong in its assertion that the lawsuits must be thrown out because they are not allowed by the act. The city has asserted that the act does not allow 'citizen lawsuits' to enforce the act in situations in which government authorities already had taken enforcement action...

"The lawsuits seek court orders to stop what the DA and the club allege are illegal discharges into the creek and also seek monetary penalties. U.S. District Judge Walker Miller has given no indication about when he may decide whether to dismiss the lawsuits."

Category: Colorado Water

6:37:55 AM

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