Anti-health reform advocates turn in signatures; Aurora Sentinel calls measure misguided

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 Monday, Aug. 2, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

GENERAL
The Denver Post: Poll places jobs first among Coloradans
A whopping 58 percent of Coloradans say jobs and the economy are the most important issues facing the country — an increase of 3 percentage points from six weeks ago. All other issues combined — from immigration to the federal deficit — don't come close to equaling how many Coloradans put economic issues first, according to a Denver Post/9News poll.

Denver Post commentary: The cost of sidewalk democracy
Backers of the measure to block the federal government from requiring Coloradans to buy health insurance are confident they will have more than enough signatures (76,047) by Monday to put the question to voters.


FISCAL POLICY
Denver Post editorial: Wise investment in small business
Timing is everything where the nation's economic recovery is concerned. Whacking spending — which needs to be done to address the runaway federal deficit — cannot be undertaken too soon or else it could push the country into further economic distress, some economists say. Wait too long, however, and you risk racking up insurmountable debt that will drag the country deeper into economic trouble.

Colorado Springs Gazette commentary: Only crazies back Proposition 101
Proposition 101 is one of three torpedoes that have been fired at Coloradans by a gang of fringe political sociopaths. Voters will see the troika (Amendments 60 and 61 are the other two) on the general election ballot, but many may not see any danger because the measures are dressed up like Christmas gifts.

Colorado Statesman: State personnel job losses feared amidst recovering economy in the future
The state of Colorado may face a host of disconcerting personnel problems in the coming year while the economy begins to recover — the end of federal stimulus funding, massive budget cuts and the resulting possibility of lay-offs — all coming at a time when 30 percent of experienced state employees are eligible to retire and others may be looking for better opportunities in a recovering market.

Steamboat Today: Steamboat Springs School Board to consider opposing measures
The Steamboat Springs School Board tonight will consider a motion to oppose three anti-tax ballot measures that will be posed to Colorado voters in November. The measures, Proposition 101 and Amendments 60 and 61, are citizen-led initiatives aimed at decreasing taxes and government spending.


HEALTH CARE
Denver Daily News: ‘ObamaCare’ initiative
Libertarian Jon Caldara on Friday submitted more than 130,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office seeking to place a question on the November ballot asking voters to exempt Colorado from major portions of federal health reform signed by President Obama in March.
Also: Colorado Independent: Caldara submits signatures to land anti-‘Obamacare’ initiative on Nov. ballot

Aurora Sentinel editorial: The right choice is saying 'no' to Caldara's misleading initiative
Voters need to be warned that a gravely misguided group of right-wing political fringe are flirting with disaster in their latest attempt to disrupt Colorado government services.