Colorado news roundup: CU-Boulder tuition to increase 9.3 percent

A college education gets more and more out-of-reach for lower-income Coloradans. Check out the details, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: RTD shelves FasTracks sales tax vote

Lots of public-policy issues in the news today. Get the details at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Working or looking for work

The labor force participation rate measures the share of the working-age population that has a job or is looking for one. It is calculated by dividing the number of people with jobs or looking for jobs by the total working-age population (age 16 and older).

Historically and in 2009, Colorado’s labor force participation rate is higher than the regional or national average. In 2009, Colorado’s labor force participation rate was 70.5 percent. (Figure 5) That ranks 16th highest in the nation.
 

 
For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

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Colorado news roundup: Senate passes health insurance exchange bill

It's been a tough ride for Colorado's health insurance exchange bill, part of implementing national health care reform. Read background on the state's health exchange on our website. Get the latest developments, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Feds will cover most of the cost of upgrading Medicaid, CHIP enrollment technology

The federal government will pick up 90 percent of the cost of upgrading technology to improve enrollment and renewal for participants in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to a rule the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued last week. The rule provides an important financial incentive for states to improve efficiency and coordination with other programs, said Tricia Brooks in a blog post for the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. Brooks wrote:

What’s really important to most of us is that these systems are expected to improve enrollment and renewal by:

• Supporting accurate and timely processing of eligibility decisions and effective communications with providers, beneficiaries and the public,
• Producing transaction data, reports and performance information that contribute to program evaluation, continuous business improvement, and transparency and accountability
• Ensuring seamless coordination with the Exchange and allow interoperability with health information exchanges, public health agencies, human services programs and community organizations providing outreach enrollment assistance services.

The subsidy is welcome news given Colorado’s troubled history with major information-technology projects, including the Colorado Benefits Management System. CBMS is the computer system that manages eligibility and enrollment for Colorado’s public benefits programs, including Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). The Colorado Center on Law and Policy filed a lawsuit immediately after CBMS went online in 2004. The agency recently entered into a second round of settlement agreements with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing regarding the timely processing of welfare benefits applications. The federal funding opportunity will not only help Colorado build the infrastructure necessary to operate an effective and efficient health insurance exchange, but it should assist the state to make changes to timely and accurately deliver public-assistance benefits.

Find much more news and analysis in this week's edition of Health Law and Policy Update, to be released later today.

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Colorado news roundup: Hickenlooper touts state budget agreement

In something of an understatement, the governor said cuts that would take more than $200 million from K-12 education is "nobody's idea of 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: Plan would add $90 million for state's public schools

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

Colorado news roundup: State unemployment rate falls, but economists advise caution

Soon we'll be releasing our regular analysis of the economy, "Colorado Recovery Watch." In the meantime, check our website for background briefings on jobs and economic security. Also find the latest developments, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: What does Colorado’s workforce look like?

The labor force is defined as people with jobs and those looking for jobs. In December 2009 there were 2.6 million people in the Colorado labor force, out of a working-age population of 3.9 million and a total population of roughly 5 million. Of those in the labor force, 55 percent were men, 70 percent of workers were 24 to 55 years old, and three-quarters where white. (Figure 4) The largest minority group in the state’s labor force was Hispanics (16 percent), followed by blacks (4 percent) and Asian / Pacific Islanders (2 percent). (Figure 4)

Colorado is an educated state with an educated workforce. Compared to other states, Colorado ranks third in the number of bachelor’s degrees in the general population and ninth in the number of advanced degree holders. Nearly 70 percent of the labor force has attended at least some college, and 40 percent holds a college degree or advanced degree. Only 9 percent of Colorado’s labor force has not completed high school. (Figure 4)

While the state boasts one of the most educated workforces in the country, Colorado kids have below-average rates of college attendance and completion. That ―Colorado Paradox‖ means much of the state’s highly-educated workforce comes from other parts of the country.
 

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

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Colorado news roundup: Lawmakers look to restore some education funding

Check out website for more analysis of the state budget from the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. For the latest developments on the state budget, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, check the weekday Colorado news roundup.

On Tax Day, some truth about who pays

Tax Day arrived a little bit late this year, as many folks who haven't yet filed their returns probably know. The deadline to file is always a good opportunity to consider who pays taxes and what the money supports. A helpful article on that subject was published in the current edition of The Independent newspaper of Colorado Springs. Written by tax expert David Cay Johnston, the piece sets out convincing evidence for the following assertions:

1. Poor Americans do pay taxes. 
2. The wealthiest Americans don't carry the burden.
3. In fact, the wealthy are paying less taxes. 
4. Many of the very richest pay no income taxes at all. 
5. Since Reagan, only the wealthy have gained significant income. 
6. Among corporations, the story is much the same — less taxes. 
7. Some corporate tax breaks destroy jobs. 
8. The GOP likes taxes, too. 
9. Other countries do it better.

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Colorado news roundup: Sealed criminal records could help some find work

Lots of factors contribute to family economic security, including removing barriers to finding work. Read about one idea for improving access to jobs, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: State budget softens education cuts, restores some tax breaks

Colorado's state budget is almost final for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Cuts to a range of programs will mean a difficult year for many of the state's low-income residents. Check out website for lots of background analysis on the state budget, and an update we sent yesterday. Also check the weekday Colorado news roundup for the latest developments, plus links to all the day's public-policy news.

The false lure of easy answers on the federal budget

A proposal making the rounds in D.C. would limit total federal spending to 20.6 percent of gross domestic product. While that might sound attractive to some, implementing the idea would produce a range of undesirable consequences, according to a new paper from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

"It would inevitably force enormous cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and possibly Social Security," the paper says.

It's hard enough for government leaders to respond to changing economic and social conditions. Funding public services according to an arbitrary, inflexible forumla only further ties their hands. Easy answers like spending caps often sound good until you dig into the details.

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Colorado news roundup: Colorado budget gets initial OK from House

Keep an eye on your e-mail. Later today we expect to release an update on the state's budget-approval process. In the meantime, check out our recent analysis of the state budget. And of course get the latest news reports on the state budget along with links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: State's health exchange bill headed for second hearing

Check out our coverage of Colorado's health insurance exchange proposal in the April 1 edition of Health Law and Policy Update. For the latest developments, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, check out the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Industry employment – winners and losers

While overall job growth in Colorado did not keep up with population growth during the past decade, changes in employment varied widely by industry.

Education and health services proved to be the strongest large state industries this decade. Combined, they have seen consistent, strong growth in employment that has continued since the economic downturn. Government employment growth has also been strong. That was to be expected in a decade with two recessions—demand for government services is counter-cyclical, meaning demand increases during economic downturn. Both industries were large players in the state economy, employing 12 percent and 18 percent of Colorado’s workforce, respectively.

Hardest hit in the state were manufacturing and construction, both of which experienced large declines in employment since 2000. Colorado’s construction sector saw most of its employment losses kicked off by the 2001 and 2007 recessions, whereas manufacturing has seen a more steady decline through the decade.
 

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

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Colorado news roundup: State budget passes Senate, heads to House

The passage of Colorado's 2011-12 budget isn't exactly a happy occasion, especially considering all the cuts to vital services that will likely be imposed next year. But still it's been heartening to see a little compromise on both sides. The long-term solution to Colorado's downward spiral of cuts to public services remains more revenue. In the meantime, follow the latest back-and-forth over the state budget, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Longmont considers suspending affordable housing program

The cost of housing is a top consideration in CCLP's research on the resources required to achieve family economic security. Check out the latest developments with Longmont's affordable-housing program, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Ending the decade where we started

At the end of 2010, Colorado had 40,000 fewer jobs than in 2000, despite having almost 900,000 more residents. From 2000 to 2010, the state experienced huge swings in employment driven by the 2001 and 2007 recessions. Of the two, the more recent recession was by far the worst. Since the onset of that downturn (December 2007), Colorado has lost 140,900 jobs, or 6 percent of its non-farm labor force. That loss ranks 18th worst in the country. Colorado has yet to recover.

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

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Colorado news roundup: Lawmakers move forward with cuts to services

For our take on Colorado's proposed 2011-12 budget, check out an issue brief we released yesterday. Find the latest developments, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Federal government shutdown would have broad effects in Colorado

No kidding. For our take on the federal budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan, check out an issue brief released yesterday. Preview: It ain't good. And for the latest developments on the federal budget, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, check today's Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: State lawmakers finally have a budget to debate

That's a relief. If you're a subscriber to our e-mail list (and if you're not, well?), look out for an issue brief we'll release soon analyzing the state's budget proposal. In the meantime, read our previous analysis of the state budget. And of course check out the latest developments, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Stalemate on Colorado budget continues

It all sounds like just politics until you remember the children who need to be educated, the families that need help buying food, the roads that need repair and the police officers who need to get paid if they're going to continue keeping us safe. Check out our analysis of the state budget on our website, and check the latest developments with links to all the day's public-policy news at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Partisanship snags 'emminently reasonable' health exchange bill

Can't help but agree with the Durango Herald's editorial board on this one. Read about it, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Identity of Yo! JBC Raps revealed

Colorado news roundup: 'Poison pill' amendment threatens state health exchange bill

We'll have some analysis of the health exchange bill later today in the Health Law and Policy Update newsletter. In the meantime, check out the latest news on the exchange, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, in the weekday Colorado news roundup.