Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Andrew Sullivan: "I have friends who are alive today solely because marijuana helped them stay on their meds during the crippling over-dosing that occurred in the early days of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV. Of course, the pot may also actually provide these people with something called pleasure as well. But despite that drawback, the health consequences alone make this a no-brainer. It frustrates me that we even have to debate this. There is no rational debate to be had." "denver 2006" 5:45:53 PM

? for president? Bull Moose: "2006 is about the past - 2008 will be about the future." "2008 pres" 7:14:17 AM

Legal Marijuana? From today's Denver Post: "Marijuana-legalization supporters threatened legal action Tuesday to temporarily halt production of the 2006 Colorado voter information booklet because they said it contains misleading information about the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative. The guide says if the initiative passes, it would be legal for adults to give less than an ounce of marijuana to anyone over the age of 15. Mason Tvert, campaign manager of SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) said Amendment 44 would allow only those age 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Amendment 44 doesn't address a loophole that does not penalize adults who give marijuana to anyone younger than 21. But Tvert said the existing law of contributing to the delinquency of a minor already bars adults from providing marijuana to anyone younger than 18. Tvert accused the Colorado Legislative Council of bending to political pressure from federal drug enforcement agencies in crafting the guide's language. Kirk Mlinek, director of the Legislative Council, said the guide is crafted to explain the measure in plain language without speculating about what other laws might apply." "denver 2006" 6:58:15 AM

Ban on molybdenum Area businesses are gearing up to meet new EPA standards for molybdenum in water, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "About 3,000 Denver-area businesses will have to pay several million dollars to meet a new ban on molybdenum in wastewater, industry engineers say. The metal, used to prevent corrosion in heating and cooling systems, will be outlawed Jan. 1 by the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District. The move is being made to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency standards, said Ted Graber, industrial-waste specialist for the district." "colorado water" 6:55:45 AM

Good Samaritan bill? Denver Post: "Colorado's senators back a bill that would encourage "good Samaritans" to clean up thousands of abandoned mines poisoning streams in the West. But environmentalists say their plan - slated for debate by a Senate committee today - could lead to new pollution disasters. Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar want to change sections of laws that discourage mine cleanups by exposing those doing the work to possible fines. But the plan backed by the senators could lead to shoddy cleanups and even allow mining companies to work old mines with fewer pollution restrictions, environmentalists fear... "The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to debate and possibly revise the Allard- Salazar bill today. It's one of various proposals before Congress to support a "good Samaritan" cleanup program under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Good Samaritan" is defined as an organization not responsible for the original pollution that volunteers to clean up a mining site. The proposals would relax federal clean-water laws for nonprofit groups, companies and local governments willing to undertake mine cleanups. Under current law, good Samaritans could be subject to heavy fines if they clean up a site to some degree but not enough to meet the strict standards of the Clean Water Act. "There are more than half a million abandoned mine sites nationwide, mostly on Western public lands. Colorado has 17,000 abandoned hard-rock mine sites. It's estimated that the old mines are poisoning about 40 percent of headwaters streams in the West with acid drainage and toxic heavy metals that kill fish and vegetation and even get into drinking-water supplies... "Cleaning them all would cost billions. So lawmakers want to turn to good Samaritans - for example, anglers willing to clean up their favorite trout streams, companies such as Coors Brewing Co. that use stream water in their products or local governments worried about drinking-water quality. And even mining companies might be eligible as good Samaritans, as long as they didn't cause the original pollution. The state of Colorado scrapped its good Samaritan work - backed by Coors and Volunteers for Outdoors Colorado - at the Pennsylvania Mine in Summit County in 1998 after a court ruling in California found that government agencies could be held responsible if they initiate a cleanup. Since then, the state has declined involvement in other projects on the advice of the state attorney general's office. Recently, Trout Unlimited tried to get a legal waiver from the EPA to do a cleanup project at a polluted mine in Utah's American Fork Canyon, said spokesman Chris Wood... "The Allard-Salazar proposal is the friendliest to the mining industry among the good Samaritan plans before Congress. Cathy Carlson, a Boulder-based policy adviser for Earthworks, said the senators' version provides more environmental-law exemptions than even the Bush administration's proposal. Allard, a Republican, rejects such criticisms, saying it's time to get something done... "The good Samaritan debate also could spill out of the mountains to Asarco's Globeville smelter in north Denver, where toxic metals have been emitted for more than 100 years. Asarco recently declared bankruptcy, prompting people such as Smith of the National Environmental Trust to wonder whether a new owner might try to take advantage of the good Samaritan legislation to reduce its cleanup burdens. Much of the opposition revolves around the question of whether a mining company can be a good Samaritan. Critics worry that exempting companies from liability and environmental laws opens the door to abuse. They say mining firms could use a good Samaritan permit to re-mine another company's old claim more cheaply under the guise of a cleanup, with less environmental oversight. On the other hand, mining companies point out they have the equipment, resources and expertise to do such cleanups." "colorado water" 6:48:50 AM

Beauprez for governor? Peter Blake looks at Bob Beauprez's proposal to end Colorado's gasoline tax in his column in today's Rocky Mountain News. He writes, "The most radical fiscal proposal by a candidate for Colorado governor this year (or almost any year) was unrolled almost casually by Bob Beauprez. No bells, no whistles, no press conference, not even an e-mailed news release. Beauprez proposed a complete overhaul of state road funding in answer to a question asked during an editorial board meeting last week with the News... "What he said he would do - voters willing - is eliminate the current state excise tax on gasoline - 22 cents a gallon - and replace the money with an overall 1-cent increase in the state sales tax. The sales tax on everything, not just gasoline. The current tax rate is 2.9 percent. (It isn't charged on groceries and prescription drugs, and Beauprez hinted these exemptions would continue.) But wouldn't this get away from the historic user-pays nature of gasoline taxes? He dismissed this notion. Even if you don't drive, he said, you depend on roads for everything you buy. Nevertheless, repeal of the excise tax would be a first in the U.S. Starting with Oregon in 1919, all 50 states imposed an excise tax on gasoline. They now range from 4 cents in Florida to 34 cents in Washington. An excise tax is generally charged to and paid by a wholesaler, but passed on to the customer at the pump. And it is levied on a quantity, such as a gallon, not on a retail price like the sales tax... "It turned out it would raise more, according to state budget experts. A penny increase in the sales tax would produce an estimated $670.5 million, considerably more than the $513 million the excise tax raised in fiscal 2006. Since Beauprez wants his proposal to be revenue neutral, at least at first, he's now suggesting the increase be 0.77 percent. Beauprez is either a little bit crazy or way ahead of his time - or both. Politically, he has a very hard sell. He's right in that everything you buy gets to you by road sooner or later, but try peddling a higher sales tax to the aging house-bound widow living on a pittance who watches gas-guzzling SUVs roll by... "Local sales taxes aren't allowed here on fuel. The cities and counties share in the proceeds to the Highway Users Tax Fund, which in addition to the gas tax is funded by motor vehicle registration fees (about $240 million last year). In Colorado, the HUTF is also supplemented, sometimes, by state sales taxes collected on auto tires, batteries, parts and accessories. 'SB 1' money, as it's called, has been around since 1997, but the proceeds go into the general fund and the legislature can't leave them alone in hard times. The Colorado Department of Transportation got $217 million in SB 1 funds in 2006, but that's the first time it's gotten even a dime since 2002. HUTF money is constitutionally protected but sales tax proceeds are not. True, they will go up as the economy rises (unlike excise taxes, which have been going down) but lawmakers will tap them. That's what happened in California, where voters in 2002 passed an initiative declaring that the sales tax on gas (imposed on top of the excise tax) should go to transportation projects except during 'fiscal crises.'" "denver 2006" 6:37:13 AM

Referendum J and Amendment 39 Rocky Mountain News: "Behind the fight over a November ballot initiative on school spending is a fundamental disagreement about what programs are necessary for education. Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, a leader of the group First Class Education, says more money should go to the classroom... "Stengel and [Sue] Windels were part of a debate on Amendment 39, which is backed by Stengel's group. The measure on the Nov. 7 ballot would require that 65 percent of expenditures by the state's 178 school districts go to the classroom. The debate airs at 9 p.m. Friday on KBDI-Channel 12. Under Amendment 39, classroom expenditures would include traditional teachers, special-education teachers, other classroom professionals, librarians and supplies, including computers and books. Windels supports an alternative, called Referendum J, which was referred to the ballot by the legislature. It requires that 65 percent of school expenditures go to educating students - but that would include services such as lunch and transportation." "denver 2006" 6:28:08 AM

Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup YourHub.com: "Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU), a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries, will lead the third annual Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup on Sept. 16, to remove trash and debris from river banks and channels throughout the state. CTU and volunteers from throughout the community will patrol designated river stretches near Aspen, Basalt, Boulder, Denver, Durango, Carbondale, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Golden/Idaho Springs, Granby, Grand Junction, Lake George, Longmont, Montrose, Pueblo, Silverthorne and Salida to remove trash and elevate the health of Colorado's water sources... "The majority of the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup events are planned for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 16, with a few events taking place on September 9, Sept.30 and Oct. 14. Visit www.cotrout.org for more information about specific cleanup events, including times, contacts, and meeting locations. With most of the cleanup efforts on a single day, CTU hopes to attract hundreds of volunteers for a large-scale, coordinated cleanup effort. CTU plans the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup for the fall season because river flow is generally lower, making access to the rivers and cleanup efforts easier and safer. "colorado water" 6:16:00 AM

Cherokee: Watering restrictions The Cherokee Metropolitan District is running short of water and is prohibiting lawn watering after September 22nd, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. From the article, "Lawn-watering will be banned starting Sept. 22 for thousands of homes and businesses in the Cimarron Hills and surrounding areas east of Colorado Springs. The area's water supplier, the Cherokee Metropolitan District, has an all-time low supply, and the outdoor-watering ban is necessary to prevent faucets from running dry, said Kip Petersen, the district's general manager. A state Supreme Court hearing today could give Cherokee access to more water in the future, but the court isn't expected to rule until December. In the meantime, people in the district should conserve, Petersen said. 'All outside irrigation needs to be stopped,' Petersen said. 'We needed to take this step or a few months down the road there would be no water inside, and that just can't happen.' Car-washing is also prohibited and no sod or seeding permits will be issued for the rest of the year, according to a letter Cherokee mailed its customers Thursday. Hand-watering of gardens, shrubs and trees will be allowed, Petersen said. Since June 1, homes and businesses in the Cherokee district have been restricted to watering two days a week. Many residents, upset at that restriction, were shocked by the outright ban... "The district's board of directors in March declared a 'water emergency' because of dry weather and a court ruling against the district. The court ruling limited Cherokee's use of eight of the district's 17 wells, knocking 40 percent out of the district's water supply, Petersen said. The district will reach its pumping limits on four more wells by the end of September, leaving the district with only five wells to pump from, Petersen said. The district will lose an additional 25 percent of its supply when the pumping limits are reached. Cherokee is a metropolitan district, which means it provides water and other municipal services. It gets most of its water from the Upper Black Squirrel Creek Groundwater Basin. "Basin managers and Cherokee are embroiled in a court battle over how much water Cherokee can pump from the basin. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments about that question today. The high court's decision will affect subdivisions in progress and planned in the fast-growing area. No new development has been approved in the area in 18 months because of the water shortage, Petersen said. Seventeen subdivisions that had preliminary approval are on hold. Another 22 developers are seeking approval to build new subdivisions, but Petersen said he won't give them the go-ahead until the shortage is solved. Existing water customers take priority over new development, said Ted Schubert, president of the Cherokee board. Cherokee provides water to about 5,250 homes and 350 businesses in Cimarron Hills. It also serves the 300-acre Claremont Ranch development under construction and other developments, primarily along Marksheffel Road. Cherokee's boundaries run roughly east of Powers Boulevard, north of Platte Avenue and west of U.S. Highway 24. Cherokee's borders extend beyond the Black Squirrel basin. Some water pumped from Cherokee's wells in the basin is exported to users outside the basin, which led to the dispute now before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Cherokee is looking for water sources outside the Black Squirrel Basin. If it doesn't find new water sources or win in court, the next step would be limiting commercial use of water inside businesses and banning hand-watering before the faucets run dry, Petersen said." "colorado water" 5:58:07 AM

Beauprez for governor? Bob Beauprez is hoping to generate some buzz around his gubernatorial campaign. Here's a short article from CBS4Denver.com. They write, "Following weeks of criticism of his campaign over his selection of a running mate and lackluster fundraising, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez on Tuesday issued a written pledge to voters outlining his agenda and asked voters to hold him accountable. The pledge included affordable health care, a privately funded preschool program, more money for rural schools, $40 million in grants for water storage projects, more open space, and a plan to reduce annual state spending by $100 million. Beauprez said voters are skeptical and he put his promises in writing to show he was serious. He called it The Colorado Accountability Pledge & Plan of Action." Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. They write, "Congressman Bob Beauprez today unveiled at five-point plan that he says specifies what his administration would accomplish if he wins the race to be Colorado[base ']s next governor. 'Colorado's future is on the line and we owe it to ourselves to put politics aside, roll up our sleeves, and get things done,' Beauprez said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site. 'The issues of healthcare, education, water, transportation, and illegal immigration are too important to settle for anything less than specific action plans.'" "denver 2006" 5:41:53 AM

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