Monday, October 2, 2006

Richardson for president? American Profile: "Richardson's level-headed position on immigration is indicative of his long-held philosophy of leadership in general: Listen to all sides of an issue, negotiate and, when possible, forge a compromise that is a win for both sides... "With a resume that includes seven terms in Congress and stints as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and the U.S. Secretary of Energy, the four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee often was the nation's go-to guy when delicate negotiations with Iraq, Cuba, Sudan and North Korea required face-to-face encounters. Although Richardson insists that he is focusing on his November re-election as governor, he has been touted as a possible presidential candidate in 2008." Thanks to The Bill Richardson Blog for the link. "2008 pres" 7:13:13 AM

Amendment 42 Mike Rosen (via the Rocky Mountain News) is recommending that voters reject Amendment 42. He writes, "Amendment 42, a proposed initiative on your ballot in November, would amend the state constitution to raise the minimum wage 33 percent above the current federal level - from $5.15 an hour to $6.85 an hour - and index it to inflation in perpetuity. It was hatched by self-interested labor unions and socialistic do-gooders who confuse private businesses with government welfare agencies. If you believe the polls, it enjoys popular support from well-intentioned citizens moved by misguided compassion but ignorant of the economic realities and unintended consequences of this foolhardy measure. It's a solution for a problem that doesn't exist." "denver 2006" 7:02:46 AM

Referendum H and Referendum K The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff is urging voters to pass Referendum H but reject Referendum K. From the article, "Should Referendum H pass, Colorado businesses would have to verify that their employees are authorized to work in the United States. The penalty? Companies that could not would forfeit a state income tax credit that lets businesses deduct wages from their tax liability. The fiscal note that was attached to the legislation could not estimate how much revenue this might generate for the state, and concluded that the amount might be negligible. And the costs of enforcement are expected to be minimal as well. The main expense would be to modify a line of the state tax code in computer programs. But Ref H does reinforce an important principle: Employers should not be allowed to game taxpayers by evading the law. Vote 'yes' on Ref H. "Meantime, Referendum K would command Colorado's attorney general to either initiate a lawsuit against the federal government or to join with other states in a similar action. The purpose: to collect reimbursement for the costs of public benefits to illegal immigrants that are mandated by federal law. At first blush, this sounds reasonable. But we strongly recommend a 'no' vote. If passed, Ref K would almost certainly squander state tax dollars. The chances of Colorado or any combination of states prevailing in a legal challenge are long indeed. The main cost to state taxpayers that Washington has ducked is the expense of incarcerating illegal immigrants. In 1994, Congress passed the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to reimburse corrections and law enforcement costs; since then it has stiffed the states. Colorado spent roughly $40 million in 2005 locking up illegal immigrants and recovered about 7 percent of that amount." "denver 2006" 6:59:49 AM

Amendment 41 The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff is urging voters to reject Amemdment 41. From the opinion piece, "But just because ethics in government are a good thing doesn't mean that a detailed description of what kind of gifts and favors can and can't be given to tens of thousands of public employees ought to be written into the state constitution. Nor is the constitution the place for complex details governing how a new state ethics commission will function, or where we should spell out a ban on certain kinds of employment by elected officials after they leave office. If Coloradans want to impose comprehensive ethics rules on their government, it should be done through a regular statute that can be adjusted over time to reflect new circumstances and unanticipated problems. But Amendment 41 provides no such flexibility. If voters pass it, we'll be stuck for many years not only with its virtues but with its far more numerous flaws." "denver 2006" 6:56:01 AM

Tamarisk bill goes to President Bush We missed this tidbit from Friday's Rocky Mountain News. They write, "Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., announced today that the U.S. Senate has passed legislation designed for the control and eradication of the salt cedar plant, also known as the tamarisk. The Senate passed the House version of H.R. 2720, a companion to the Senate Bill S. 177 that Allard cosponsored with Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M... "The bill authorizes grants worth millions of dollars to states and public/private partnerships to control and eradicate tamarisk. The legislation was approved by the U.S. House earlier this year and now goes to the president for his signature." "colorado water" 6:52:54 AM

Ritter or Beauprez for governor? Here's a story about our gubernatorial candidate's work to woo sportsmen from the Rocky Mountain News. From the article, "Hunters and fishermen are usually thought of as Republican-leaning, but Democrat Ritter has spent months courting them. 'Sportsmen tend to be on the conservative side, but the sportsmen community is in flux,' said Ivan James, vice-chairman of the Colorado Bowhunters Association. James is a Republican but said he has grown dissatisfied with the party. Ritter's opponent, Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez, has tried to appeal to sportsmen by highlighting his opposition to gun control. But many sportsmen are upset with Republican-backed policies they blame for emphasizing oil and gas development at the expense of wildlife... "Beauprez has been a strong supporter of both oil and gas and the mining industries in Congress. Last year he backed a change in mining laws that would have transferred thousands of acres of wild Colorado land into private hands. That bill outraged dozens of sportsmens' groups, prompting more than 40 state hunting and fishing organizations to band together to oppose the measure. The bill passed the House by two votes, but was killed in the Senate." "denver 2006" 6:47:31 AM

Hyatt now a union operation Workers at the new Hyatt Hotel have formed a union, just in time to help Denver's bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "The city-bonded Hyatt has been the focus of union and political attention since organized labor voted earlier this year to oppose Denver's bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention unless the hotel was unionized. Labor groups have formally pulled their opposition to Denver's bid, but today's announcement only bolsters the city's bid for the convention." "2008 pres" 6:34:30 AM

Ritter for governor? Here's a story about Bill Ritter and plea bargains that he worked out while Denver D.A. from the Denver Post. From the article, "The Denver district attorney's office under gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter approved plea bargains that prevented the deportation of illegal and legal immigrants charged with drug, assault and other crimes. The office allowed defendants to plead guilty to trespassing on agricultural land instead of the crimes they actually were accused of 152 times from 1998 through 2004. Other counties - Jefferson, Adams and Arapahoe - had only 75 convictions combined for the crime, according to court records. Former Denver District Attorney Norm Early, who was Ritter's predecessor, laughed when he heard about the farm charges in urban Denver... "A review of 15 of the agricultural trespass cases in Denver showed that heroin and cocaine charges, theft of motor vehicles and domestic violence crimes - miles away from any farm or open land - were transformed into agricultural trespass." "denver 2006" 6:30:25 AM

Amendment 38 The Denver Post editorial staff is urging voters to reject Amendment 38. They write, "Amendment 38 on the Nov. 7 ballot would weaken representative government in Colorado and could undercut state and local economic development efforts. The Post urges a 'no' vote. Alarmed by the risk of job losses, the business community has made defeating Amendment 38 its top priority in this election, as it did in the two previous times the issue went before state voters. Amendment 38 might well be dubbed 'grandson of Bruce.' It's very similar to the so-called 'Petition Rights Amendment' authored by anti-tax activist Douglas Bruce in 1994 and rejected by a 78 percent to 22 percent margin. A slightly modified version, dubbed 'Son of Bruce,' was likewise crushed in 1996. Now, two Bruce acolytes, Doug Campbell and Dennis Polhill, are making a third try to radically change Colorado's rules for initiatives and referendums." "denver 2006" 6:24:27 AM

Suthers or O'Brien for Attorney General? Here's a background piece about John Suthers and Fern O'Brien from the Denver Post. From the article, "John Suthers and Fern O'Brien come from very different professional backgrounds. Suthers, 55, has spent most of his career as a prosecutor - a two-term district attorney in Colorado Springs, U.S. attorney for Colorado and most recently Colorado attorney general. O'Brien, 54, spent the first part of her professional life in business - as an account manager for a publishing company, as manager of a modeling and talent agency and as director of marketing and manager for a group of independent filmmakers. For the past 15 years, she has practiced law, concentrating on business, real estate and securities matters. Now both are vying to be elected state attorney general. "Suthers is focused on what he believes are the urgent tasks at hand. These include preserving water from Colorado's mountains for Coloradans and not the people of Phoenix and Los Angeles; the cleanup and recovery of damages from toxic-waste sites across the state; and the stamping out of scams, whether they involve mortgage, insurance or securities rip-offs... "O'Brien says that as attorney general, a top priority would be keeping government out 'of our private lives.'" "denver 2006" 6:10:47 AM

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