Denver November 2004 Election
Logging and forest management are becoming an issue in the U.S. Senate race, according to the Rocky Mountain News [July 17, 2004, "Forests take front stage in Senate race"]. From the article, "Republicans Bob Schaffer and Pete Coors support the Bush administration's decision to allow states to make their own rules for roadless areas on federal lands. They also back the Healthy Forests Restoration Act - a bill by Rep. Scott McInnis, of Grand Junction, that recommends forest thinning and prescribed burns as a means to reduce wildfire danger - which President Bush signed into law last December. Democrat Mike Miles blasted both the act and the roadless decision this week as excuses for more logging on federal lands. He supports an alternative fire plan advanced by Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Ken Salazar, the other Democrat in the race, tried to strike a balance on both issues. He said the healthy forests plan needs more funding, and that Congress should draft guidelines for road building on federal land."
Bob Whitson asks, "Will we ever get healthy forests AND healthy communities?"
Here's an article about a 527 Committee that is supporting Mitch Morrisey in the Denver District Attorney's race from the Rocky Mountain News [July 17, 2004, "City's DA race tinged by soft-money politics"]. From the article, "Two Denver lawyers have created a so-called 'education committee' that can raise unlimited amounts of soft money for district attorney candidate Mitch Morrissey. Although these independent interest groups have been used since the mid-1990s in Colorado state races, 'Neighbors For An Effective D.A.' appears to be the first such group to be organized for a Denver race."
The Chairman of the State Republican Party is asking Peter Coors and Bob Schaffer to stop the negative attacks on each other, according to the Rocky Mountain News [July 17, 2004, "GOP chairman slams attack ads"]. Good luck with that one, Mr. Halaby. Maybe he could send the campaigns (and 527 committees) this link. 
Peter Blake writes, "Bob Schaffer isn't the only Republican Senate candidate with an independent expenditure committee in the wings. An employee of Phase Line Strategies, the firm running Pete Coors' Senate campaign, is the principal of a so-called '527' committee called Americans for Better Government. It told the IRS a year ago its purpose is 'to support candidates and initiatives that advocate limited government, lower taxes, private-sector solutions and environmental stewardship.'"
7:51:48 AM 
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