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Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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The relationship between religion and politics - by the numbers
The Pew Research Center: "The relationship between religion and politics is a controversial one. While the public remains more supportive of religion's role in public life than in the 1960s, Americans are uneasy with the approaches offered by both liberals and conservatives. Fully 69% of Americans say that liberals have gone too far in keeping religion out of schools and government. But the proportion who express reservations about attempts by Christian conservatives to impose their religious values has edged up in the past year, with about half the public (49%) now expressing wariness about this."
Thanks to beSpacific for the link.
"2008 pres"
6:43:53 PM 
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Healthcare
Colorado Confidential: "The number of Americans without health insurance is increasing, according to new U.S. Census data released today, based on interviews with people from 100,000 U.S. households. More than 46 million people in the U.S. lacked health insurance in 2005, which is an increase of 1.3 million since 2004. That translates to 15.9 percent of the U.S. population uninsured in 2005.
"In Colorado, over the three years between 2003 and 2005, an average of 16.9 percent of people lacked health insurance. That's about 788,000 people-more than live in the city of Denver. Only 13 states had higher rates of people uninsured."
"2008 pres"
6:38:26 PM
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DenverGov cracked
Colorado Confidential: "The website for the City and County of Denver has been [cracked]. At the part of the site reserved for the Denver Election Commission added content reads: HACKED BY ENO7 (TURKISH) NOWAR...
"The message has been included in hacks of myriad large computer systems, of which Denver is only the latest victim."
6:35:59 PM
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Immigration
Here's the latest installment of the Rocky Mountain News series on immigration. From the article, "But these American children also are a symbol of controversy. Opponents of illegal immigration call them "anchor babies" - a term considered by many to be derogatory, even racist, because it implies that Hispanics are having children as a way to stay in the U.S. The thinking is that U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants help "anchor" the parents in the country and keep them from being deported. The refrain is that "anchor babies" help their parents tap into a gamut of free or low-cost social services, burdening taxpayers with millions of dollars in medical care and services. The reality is that having a child does little to help an illegal immigrant avoid deportation, achieve legal status or gain government services for themselves, experts say. But to some extent, opponents of illegal immigration are right about the medical costs. One in 10 births in Colorado is covered by emergency Medicaid, a category of federal aid specifically designed to cover medical care for those who are poor enough for Medicaid but can't prove legal status to qualify."
"2008 pres"
6:11:53 AM
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Fall ballot issues
Denver City Council gave final approval to the ballot measure that would overhaul the city's accounting systems, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Meanwhile Monday, the council approved a ballot measure that would overhaul the city's financial structure by moving payroll and accounting functions under a chief financial officer. The restructuring has been the source of intense negotiations between city officials and the city auditor's office. But the two sides reached a compromise earlier this month. Council members praised Mayor John Hickenlooper's and City Auditor Dennis Gallagher's offices for reaching an agreement. The issue goes to voters on the Nov. 7 ballot."
"denver 2006"
6:07:42 AM
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Ritter or Beauprez for governor?
U.S. Representative Bob Beauprez and Bill Ritter debated taxes and budgets yesterday, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Democrat Bill Ritter continued to pound his theme that Referendum C - the budget-loosening measure approved by voters last year - was essential for investing in schools and roads.
"Republican Rep. Bob Beauprez offered the most startling moment when he suggested that the state scrap its current system for writing a budget. 'Don't you think it's time that we set everything aside and just imagine if you would that we could start all over again?' Beauprez said. 'What would be a better model on how we collect and budget and spend the people's tax dollars?' State lawmakers approach the annual task of writing a spending plan with their hands tied by conflicting constitutional amendments. The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, the amendment known as TABOR that was approved in 1992, limits how much money the state can keep each year. Amendment 23, approved in 2000, dictates that the state must increase school spending by a set amount each year. During the debate, Beauprez did not say whether the state should scrap TABOR, nor did he offer an alternative method for handling the budget. His campaign later said Beauprez supports TABOR. Instead, he said a Republican in the governor's mansion is an important antidote to Democratic control of the state legislature."
More coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. They quote Beauprez as saying, "We've had a water policy in this state all my life. That's: Let's hope it doesn't get dry again."
Additional coverage from Colorado Confidential. Wendy Norris writes, "The event billed as "Decision 2006: The Race for the Dome" pitted the candidates against a panel of regional journalists and audience questions that focused exclusively on business-centric issues like immigration, economic development, water rights, and transportation. While the answers were well rehearsed, the issue that served as the proxy war between the two candidates was where the real rhetorical points were made."
"denver 2006"
6:03:49 AM
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Ritter for governor?
Bill Ritter was hanging out in LaPlata county over the weekend, according to the Durango Herald. From the article, "Emphasizing a commitment to improving K-12 education and health care and balancing gas production with environmental concerns, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter spoke Sunday at the annual La Plata County Democratic picnic. The picnic, held just south of Durango, is a fundraiser, with most proceeds going to a get-out-the-vote effort. State educational efforts would be focused on reducing Colorado's dropout rate and ensuring students who graduate from high school on a college track are ready for higher education without the need for remedial work, Ritter said in a telephone interview after the picnic, which was held just south of Durango at the ranch of Sen. Jim Isgar...
"Ritter said math and science requirements should be examined. He noted that many high school students complete their math and science requirements by their sophomore years, then go two years without taking courses in those areas before entering college...
"On health care, Ritter said the first step should be creating a process where stakeholders can get together and address ideas on reform...
"On the energy boom that often clashes with environmental concerns, Ritter said he would try to ensure that his appointments to the state's water and oil and gas commissions would "be mindful" of the balance of production along with environmental impacts. In addition, he said ongoing meetings between drillers and surface rights' owners to address concerns about the environmental impacts of drilling are the best way to end up with legislation that could clear the General Assembly."
"denver 2006"
5:54:27 AM
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Public comments sought by Denver Water
Denver Water customers can learn first hand what it's like to try to get a point across to bureaucrats. From today's Rocky Mountain News, "Denver Water customers will have two chances to voice their opinions on how to make up for an expected $12.2 million revenue shortfall, which could take the form of a 7 percent increase in bimonthly bills in 2007. Some of that $12.2 million will be used to cover increased costs, some to meet shortfalls caused by conservation and some to extend a recycled water system into Stapleton and Lowry. Public comment will be taken at 9:15 a.m. Sept. 13 at the Denver Water Administration Building, 1600 W. 12th Ave. in Denver, and at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Cheesman Room at Denver Water's Three Stone Buildings, 1600 W. 12th Ave."
"colorado water"
5:40:31 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/14/09; 8:30:42 PM.
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