Officials in Routt, Pueblo and Mesa counties report more people seeking public assistance

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 Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo welfare numbers surge
Social Services says 13,000 are collecting food stamps. The director of Pueblo County’s Social Services Department says that the agency is weathering the downturn in the economy, “but we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Grand Junction Sentinel: Schools serving more breakfasts in summer
The number of lunches served each day at District 51 extended learning sites dipped this summer, as did the number of sites offering meals, while breakfast numbers increased.


FISCAL POLICY
Denver Business Journal: Colorado spared loss of Medicaid funds
Colorado health-care activists and business leaders haven’t teamed up on a lot of things this year. But on Wednesday, both groups got some news they could cheer.
Also: Durango Herald: Senate eases pain for budgets

Durango Herald editorial: Reimbursing FLC
A bill introduced by Rep. John Salazar would provide federal funding to cover tuitions for Native Americans from out of state attending Fort Lewis College. It is a good idea that would save Colorado taxpayers millions of dollars.

Fort Collins Coloradoan: Tax credit could be put on hold
Budget shortfalls might force the state to suspend its 50 percent tax credit for child- care programs, a big selling point for nonprofits seeking contributions.

Summit Daily News: BOCC to hear revised Keystone tax-increase proposal on Tuesday
Harsh criticism led Keystone residents to reduce by half a tax-increase proposal for the November ballot to beautify the Highway 6 corridor.


HEALTH CARE
Grand Junction Sentinel editorial: A mandate for high-court action
The individual mandate — that controversial provision of the new health care law that requires nearly every individual to have health insurance or pay a fine — suffered two significant setbacks this week. The mandate is far from dead, however. But the confusion over its status makes it imperative that the U.S. Supreme Court resolve the issue, sooner rather than later.

Steamboat Today: Medicaid numbers rising in Routt County
More people in Routt Coun­ty are receiving public health care benefits this year as the cost of private health insurance premiums increases and unemployment numbers remain high. According to the county’s Department of Human Services, the number of Medicaid recipients in the county has increased 41 percent during the past 18 months.