Follow CCLP at the Colorado General Assembly

Want to know more about how we're fighting for justice and economic security for all Coloradans? Check out our work during the 2011 session of the Colorado General Assembly. New websites show the bills we're following and our positions. There are sites for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, the Health Care Program, the Family Economic Security Program and justice-related issues CCLP tracks.

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Colorado news roundup: Fixing CBMS a 'very high priority' for governor

We're glad to hear it given our long-term efforts to get the government to fix the system that manages public benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps. Check out the details, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Health reform will mean lower costs for Colorado consumers, study finds

Check out the details, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

They're singin' our song

The School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver released a report yesterday called "Colorado’s Fiscal Future: We’ll Get What We Pay For." It's a familiar theme to folks who've been following our work over the years.

“Colorado is a wealthy state. Yet as a state we have elected to keep taxes and government spending among the lowest in the nation,” the report states. “Without raising revenues, it is becoming increasingly clear that we will not be able to maintain even current service levels. Soon, the citizens of Colorado will have to decide what they want from their state government and whether they are willing to pay for it.”

It's music to our ears. Coloradans have the power to decide what kind of a state they want. Now they need to use that power.

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Colorado news roundup: Hickenlooper proposes deep cuts to education

The top of the news today isn't much fun. Check out the details and links to other public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

For some additional context, check a statement we put out yesterday concerning the governor's budget proposal: Governor's budget reflects grim reality, but there is another option.

Colorado news roundup: Obama's budget cuts don't go far enough, Colorado senators say

We're skeptical, to say the least, of efforts to reduce public investments that strengthen our economy and provide equal opportunity for everyone. Still, we welcome continued conversation about ways to restore the nation's long-term fiscal health. Read reactions to the President's budget, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

For a more context, check a statement on the President's budget from our friends at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Sensible government regulation really does make a difference

Just the word "regulation" sounds harsh to some people. Some politicians are taking advantage of that perception to cast doubt on whether government regulation is truly an effective tool for improving lives and economic security. But sensible government regulation really does make a positive difference, as our friends at the Demos think tank point out in a new paper. Here are the introductory paragraphs:

In the school of brutally hard knocks, America has relearned something about the business world: it needs rules. When we let corporate and financial insiders decide large questions of right and wrong for themselves, we invite trouble. The most devastating financial crisis since the Great Depression, the biggest mining disaster in four decades, and the worst undersea oil leak (and one of the worst environmental tragedies) ever have driven that point home.

This report documents another under-appreciated lesson of our national experience - that good rules and effective enforcement are within our power to achieve. It may be hard to look past the cascade of calamities; but if we make the effort (and turn down the volume knob on the cynical voices telling us to expect no better), a more hopeful story comes into view. That story is one of daunting health, safety, and environmental problems overcome or eased by acts of federal, state, and local rule-making; of measures that have saved lives, prevented sickness, empowered workers and consumers, spurred innovation, and advanced the common good.

The "good rules" the author points to include building codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act, car safety, banning DDT and more.

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Colorado news roundup: Federal audit targets public benefits computer system

The lead story in today's Colorado news roundup features comment from Colorado Center on Law and Policy Health Care Attorney Adela Flores-Brennan and Special Counsel Ed Kahn.

Check it out, along with links to all the day's public-policy news.

Colorado news roundup: Senate panel restores breakfast funding for poor students

It's about time. Read about it along with links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

And for more about the tough choices (we would argue they're unacceptable choices) lawmakers are making this year, listen to this piece on KUNC, the NPR affiliate in Greeley, featuring Budget Analyst Terry Scanlon.

More media coverage of our effort to change the direction of Colorado's budget discussion

As Coloradans consider the next round of cuts to vital public services like schools and parks, residents should remember they're not at the mercy of some external force. Together, we can decide the kind of Colorado we want to build for the future. We can decide to invest more in our communities.

That's the discussion the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, is working to start by advancing a ballot measure for this November's election. Here's some additional news coverage of that effort:

Denver Daily News: Income tax change proposed
Colorado Public Radio (.wav file)

Beginning a complete discussion of the options for maintaining Colorado as a great place to live

Colorado has a major long-term budget problem that is hurting our economy, costing jobs and undermining the future of our state.

We have already cut vital community services to the bone.

Our families, our communities and our economy require a balanced approach to solving our problems so that we don’t end up:

• firing thousands of teachers from our schools,
• making tuition unaffordable for Colorado families,
• taking patrolmen and snowplows off the roads,
• asking seniors to pay more in property taxes
• sacrificing basic health care and
• abandoning state parks. 

Colorado voters are the real decision makers about how we prepare our communities for the future. It is time to start the complete conversation about how to solve these problems. It's important that we find fair solutions that make our economy competitive and protect and improve the vital services that make Colorado such a great place to live and work.

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, began that dicsussion last week by filing several measures with Colorado Legislative Council to start working toward a ballot measure for voters to decide in November. Here's some of the media coverage:

The Denver Post: Group resubmits ballot initiative aiming to raise taxes and state revenue
Durango Herald: Ballot ideas target income taxes

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Colorado news roundup: Ballot measures would increase investment in communities

Saturday's Denver Post had probably the most detailed account yet of our agency's efforts to ask Colorado voters to modernize the state's tax system and increase investment in our communities. Check it out, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Further cuts to public services could harm state's economy

Many states are considering additional deep cuts to important public services as they formulate budget proposals, according to a report out today from our allies at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"Thirty-one states have released their initial budget proposals for fiscal year 2012 (which begins July 1 in most states), and, for the fourth year in a row, these budgets propose deep cuts in education, health care, and other important public services — in many cases, deeper than previous cuts.1 These cuts will delay the nation’s economic recovery and undermine efforts to create jobs," the report says.

Among the highlights from our state:

• Former Colorado Governor Ritter, in a budget submitted before leaving office, proposed extending a suspension of certain tax and fee exemptions; current Governor Hickenlooper is expected to largely follow Governor Ritter’s plan.
• Former Colorado Governor Ritter’s budget would underfund by $123 million the state’s K-12 education formula, which is designed to ensure that funding keeps pace with the growth in the number of students and inflation. This amounts to a $40-per-student reduction.

All this just underscores our view that additional revenue must be part of the solution to maintaining vital services.

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Colorado news roundup: Officials support shifting provider fee to shore up Medicaid

We noted the value of Colorado's Hospital Provider Fee in a blog post yesterday. Today, news reports show some officials are considering changes to how the fee money is used to bolster the Medicaid health care program for Coloradans with low incomes. Read about it, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Hospital Provider Fee getting results

On Feb. 10 (that's a week from today), the House Health and Environment Committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would force Colorado two steps backward in health care access.  The bill aims to repeal 2009's hospital provider fee.  The Colorado Center on Law and Policy is now being joined by other strong voices in opposing this bill, as it would only hurt low-income patients and the affordable health care gains the state has made.

Simply put, the provider fee allows more people to receive health care.  That's because it reduces the financial loss for hospitals.  In a recent opinion piece from The Bell Policy Center, the Colorado Hospital Association reports, "operating losses for 13 hospitals in 2010 would have been nearly 40 percent greater," if the provider fee didn't exist.   Dede de Percin of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative calls the legislation that created the fee a "godsend for many children and parents struggling with the high cost of health care coverage."

Those sentiments reflect the work done by the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, which finds about 100,000 low-income Coloradans will lose health services if the effort to repeal the provider fee is successful.  Insured Coloradans could also see higher bills as costs get shifted to private insurance payers.

The bill is scheduled to be heard in on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Online tool lets you make the budget decisions

An interesting online tool is making the rounds in Colorado right now.  It's called the "Colorado Backseat Budgeter", and it puts you under the golden dome, making calls on how the state's money should be spent.

Unlike the real budget world, you get the luxury of beginning with a perfectly balanced budget.  However, start exploring how the state spends its money: kindergarten through 12th-grade education, human services, higher education, etc.  You'll see how returning some of these programs to the funding levels they had a few years ago, or bringing them in line with the national average, starts to put the state deep into the red.  Cut or spend where you like, but remember, your final budget has to be balanced.  You might find yourself turning to the revenue side of the equation to fund your priorities.  Start playing with taxes and watch the "Constitutional Warning" get set off.

The Backseat Budgeter was created by Engaged Public, a policy group.  Its members picked a very fitting way to start connecting us to Colorado's difficult budget conversations.

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Colorado news roundup: Website lets users search for state budget solutions

If you haven't checked out the Backseat Budgeter yet, now would be a good time. Read about it along with links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Lawmakers debate tax breaks, maintaining vital services

Check it out, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.