At least 30,000 Coloradans could be affected as Senate debates unemployment benefits

Good morning. Here's a look at news reports from around the state on issues of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy for Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: Taxes paid by Colorado casinos rise
Tax revenues paid by Colorado casinos during the fiscal year that ended June 30 increased 13.4 percent from the previous year, the state Division of Gaming said Monday.

Denver Daily News: Unemployment vote & Colo.
At least 30,000 Coloradans affected by Senate vote as spending debate continues.
Also: Colorado Springs Business Journal: Unemployment fraud on the rise in Colorado

Colorado Independent: Buck budget proposals would do little to limit ‘out-of-control spending’
Cutting the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities doesn’t do much to the federal budget. The NEA had a $167.5 million budget for FY 2010, and President Obama requested $161 million for NEH. Put together, that’s $328.5 million out of a $3.7 trillion budget, or 0.0089 percent of the federal budget (and 0.023 percent of the federal budget deficit for FY 2010).

Fort Collins Coloradoan editorial: Unspent earmarks for transportation should be returned
Markey's bill calling for funds to be put toward deficit deserves support.

Grand Junction Sentinel: West Star more competitive with a sales tax exemption
It may mean fewer sales tax dollars. But the benefit to the local business economy will be worth exempting aircraft parts installed in Grand Junction from sales tax, according to Grand Junction City Councilman Gregg Palmer.


HEALTH CARE POLICY
Pueblo Chieftain: McInnis calls health care changes ‘very painful’
He says ‘ObamaCare’ will cause education funding cuts, other program losses.

Pueblo Chieftain editorial: Fit for fraud
Guess what? Medicare is rife with fraud. Last week 94 people, including several doctors and nurses, were charged in scams totaling $251 million. And the feds say that’s only a drop in the bucket compared to the breadth of the problem.

Greeley Tribune editorial: Battle between GMC and NCMC will bring changes in care
The gloves have apparently come off in the battle between Greeley Medical Clinic and North Colorado Medical Center. Problem is, we don't really know what that means for patients.