Policy Matters

Sidebar newsletter: From CCLP Executive Director Christine Murphy

2012-01-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

An article from the winter 2012 edition of Sidebar, CCLP's quarterly newsletter.

Christine Murphy

Colorado Center on Law and Policy staff and board members took a day in September to reaffirm our commitment to this vital work and realign ourselves with the organization’s mission and values. I’d like to share some of the results of that meeting: a refined mission, and a new statement of values, both of which guide our work every day.

Mission: The Colorado Center on Law and Policy advances the health, economic security and wellbeing of low-income Coloradans through research, education, advocacy and litigation.

Values
Research integrity: CCLP conducts fact-based research that is grounded in data, not ideology. CCLP presents results of research with a perspective but will not compromise the integrity of the product to get a particular result. We present facts in context, and we acknowledge the tradeoffs inherent in public policies.

Independence: CCLP takes positions with due consideration to political realities, but CCLP is mission driven and will not compromise in order to serve an outside agenda that is perceived as contrary to the mission, history and values of the organization and the low-income Coloradans CCLP serves.

Integrity: CCLP strives to be reliable in its partnerships with other organizations and an honest broker of strategies that will help achieve the CCLP mission. CCLP will not compromise its values or its mission for a quick or easy win and will act to ensure the best possible outcome for low-income Coloradans even if it means standing alone on an issue.

Fairness and equity: CCLP acknowledges the cultural and socioeconomic dynamics that create unfairness and inequity for low-income Coloradans. Through our work CCLP seeks to mitigate governmental, societal and economic factors that foster unfairness and inequity.

Effectiveness: CCLP is strategic in the work it undertakes so that we avoid activities that will not yield measurable results in the near term or systemic change over the long term. We practice principled pragmatism, always aiming for the ideal but accepting incremental progress when necessary.

Christine Murphy is executive director of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. Reach her at cmurphy@cclponline.org.

Proposal aims at a college-to-jobs career path

2012-01-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State unemployment rate falls to 7.9 percent

2012-01-25T08:20:00.005-07:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Sidebar newsletter: Health Care Program a statewide resource as Colorado develops Accountable Care Collaboratives

2012-01-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

An article from the winter 2012 edition of Sidebar, CCLP's quarterly newsletter.

CCLP’s Health Care Program is analyzing new mechanisms Colorado is implementing to serve the hundreds of thousands of residents who participate in the Medicaid program for families with low incomes. The state’s Accountable Care Collaborative Program could help contain costs and improve the services Medicaid recipients receive. Without careful implementation, though, the ACC program risks creating new barriers to care, especially for Colorado’s poorest and most vulnerable Medicaid participants.

CCLP lead researcher on the project is Danny Rheiner, who’s working for the Health Care Program under a fellowship funded by the Rice Family Foundation.

ACC program administrators will need to ensure that newly developed health care provider networks are robust enough to meet the needs of people with complex health conditions, Rheiner said. They’ll need to avoid imposing unnecessary administrative hassles on program participants. Consumers will need clear choices or they could become discouraged, confused and less involved in their health care decisions.

“If this is successful, it could lead to real cost savings in the Medicaid program without a cut to services,” Rheiner said. “Given what a large portion of the state budget Medicaid makes up, legislators are looking for every possible way to cut costs, and this seems like a better way to do it than cutting services.”

The ACC program’s potential to improve health care delivery for Medicaid recipients and the risks for vulnerable populations show how vital it is for consumers, advocates, policymakers and providers to help shape the program’s implementation.

In the initial phase of implementing the program, which runs until July 1, the state will enroll Medicaid clients into Regional Care Collaborative Organizations, which will provide a focal point of care (a medical home) for members including coordinated and integrated access to other services. Clients have 30 days to choose whether to participate in the program before they are automatically enrolled. The enrollment goal for the ACC Program during the initial phase is 120,000 Medicaid clients.

An expansion phase begins July 1, when the majority of Medicaid recipients who are not enrolled in a physical health managed care program will be passively enrolled into the ACC program. That includes Colorado’s Medicaid expansion populations (expansion financed through the state’s Health Care Affordability Act) and people who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare.

CCLP is watching the process, issuing research papers and weighing in at key points to ensure the interests of people with low incomes are served. The Health Care Program will launch a blog early in 2012 where experts will collect documents, research and other details that will be valuable as the program is implemented.

Suthers appeals 'Lobato' school funding decision

2012-01-24T08:48:00.001-07:00

Read all about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Commentary: Welfare reform hasn't lifted people from poverty

2012-01-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Find a link to the commentary in The Denver Post, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Sidebar newsletter: Foundation funders look to CCLP to advance family economic security, access to health

2012-01-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

An article from the winter 2012 edition of Sidebar, CCLP's quarterly newsletter.

CCLP received financial support from several foundations during recent months:

The Kresge Foundation awarded a $371,000 grant over three years to CCLP’s Family Economic Security Program to strengthen poverty-reduction efforts across the state. The three-year grant is the first of its kind The Kresge Foundation has made in Colorado. It will provide unprecedented resources to enhance the capability of CCLP to lead and participate with groups working to reduce poverty.
The Chambers Family Foundation awarded the Family Economic Security Program a $50,000 grant over three years to partner in the work under The Kresge Foundation grant.
The JPMorgan Chase Foundation granted $30,000 to the Family Economic Security Program to help nonprofits serve more Coloradans through a statewide strategic plan on poverty reduction and standard measurements of economic self-sufficiency.
CCLP’s Health Care Program is a partner in a one-year, $100,000 grant from The Affordable Care Act Implementation Fund of Community Catalyst. The grant is designed to ensure Colorado’s Health Benefit Exchange serves the needs of consumers by offering meaningful, affordable choices and providing adequate consumer protections. Other partners in the grant are the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and Colorado Public Interest Research Group.

State tries to sort out rising college-tuition problem

2012-01-20T08:17:00.003-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

One step closer to tectonic change in health care

2012-01-19T13:02:00.003-07:00

Read the latest on the Colorado Springs Memorial Health System deal, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State places in middle of pack in child-welfare report

2012-01-18T08:07:00.001-07:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Sidebar newsletter: After the election, Colorado still needs more revenue

2012-01-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

An article from the winter 2012 edition of Sidebar, CCLP's quarterly newsletter.

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, was a leading proponent of Proposition 103 on the state’s Nov. 1 election ballot. It would have restored state sales and income tax rates to their levels in the late 1990s and used the revenue to support education. In an audio interview, Fiscal Policy Institute Director Carol Hedges discusses the reasons Proposition 103 failed, lessons learned from the effort, and where Colorado goes from here. Excerpts of Hedges’ remarks follow. To listen to the full interview, visit bit.ly/chinterview.

“The primary message I take away from the results of 103 is that it is much harder to build a coalition of people to vote in favor of something than it is to build a coalition to vote against something. We know that there were a lot of concerns about the actual specific measure itself that caused many people to decide to vote against more funding for schools. Not because they don’t support funding for schools, but there were people that were concerned about whether it was the right mechanism, whether we were taxing the right people, whether it was big enough, whether it addressed enough of the comprehensive fiscal problems that the state is facing.”

“We moved the conversation on a balanced approach to dealing with the state’s fiscal problems, we moved that forward in a meaningful way. 103 was an important next step in the work that CCLP and COFPI have been doing over the last 10 years to start and to keep a conversation alive about the role of the public sector in building strong communities and a strong economy. … People are beginning to sense the real costs of not making appropriate investments. They see what’s happening in their communities because our schools and other public services aren’t funded.”

“One of the other interesting and important things about 103 is it allowed us to create contacts and relationships and identify literally thousands of people statewide who understand the importance of public education, understand the importance of public investments in having a vital and strong economy. We’ve got to keep talking to those people. We’ve got to help them with tools to be the advocates in their communities, to say ‘Yes, taxes mean that each of us pay a little bit more, but think about the benefits for our communities.’”

State job subsidies get mixed results

2012-01-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Read the latest, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Sidebar newsletter: Self-Sufficiency Standard shows the true cost of living for Colorado families

2012-01-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

An article from the winter 2012 edition of Sidebar, CCLP's quarterly newsletter.

Staff and volunteers serve lunch at OUR Center in Longmont. Helping families with food enables them to stretch their budgets so they can put the money they save toward other expenses. Many people enjoy coming for meals because they appreciate the fellowship and support they receive from other folks who are also working toward self-sufficiency.

A critical part of alleviating hardship is identifying the true cost of basic expenses for Colorado families. That baseline, whether it’s annual income of $83,980 in Aspen or $43,220 in Pueblo, sets a standard families can use as a goal and lawmakers can use to guide policy.

Those are the ideas behind the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, which the Colorado Center on Law and Policy released in October. The research shows the true cost of living for various family types in each Colorado county.

Organizations across the state use the Self-Sufficiency Standard to help families move toward long-term economic security. One of them is OUR Center (online at ourcenter.org), a Longmont-based agency that provides a range of services for families in need.

OUR Center uses the standard and related tools to evaluate what resources would have the greatest effect on family financial stability, said Executive Director Edwina Salazar.

“It actually is reassuring to clients that ‘there isn’t anything wrong with me, that this is why I’m struggling. I’m struggling because the cost of child care is enormous, and until I get some resources to address this I’m not going to feel successful. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with me, there are structural issues here,’” Salazar said.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011 was prepared for CCLP by the Center for Women’s Welfare at the University of Washington School of Social Work. It’s online at
bit.ly/cosss2011.

Economic experts: 2012 to be a solid year for Colorado

2012-01-13T05:17:00.003-07:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Hickenlooper, facing a budget fight, to deliver State of the State address today

2012-01-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Jobless, ill in Colorado? Don't wait for lawmaker remedy

2012-01-11T07:47:00.001-07:00

Read the commentary in The Denver Post, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Cutting red tape not tied to future tax proposal, governor says

2012-01-10T08:11:00.005-07:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Partnership on Medicare reform rewards doctors

2012-01-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Children's programs in trouble throughout Colo.

2012-01-06T08:05:00.006-07:00

Read about it in the Summit County paper, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado GOP lawmakers plan push to redirect state spending to roads, buildings

2012-01-05T09:45:00.001-07:00

It might sound benign, but according to the Denver Business Journal the idea would "overturn a 2009 state law that eliminated the 6 percent limit for increasing general fund spending, known as the Arveschoug-Bird rule." Not a good idea.

Follow Budget Works 2012 in a live chat on Jan. 13

2012-01-04T10:08:00.001-07:00

We'll be hosting a live chat from Budget Works from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13. If you can't make it to the event in person, sign up for an e-mail reminder now and join us remotely.

Health agenda: Pay now or later

2012-01-04T08:52:00.001-07:00

The website Health Policy Solutions notes "as Colorado continues to face budget challenges, number crunchers are actually floating a trial balloon that would opt for cancer over prevention." Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Wages in many of Colorado's most common occupations fall short of self-sufficiency

2012-01-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

Given how much is needed to meet basic needs for Colorado families, how many Colorado occupations provide a self-sufficiency level income? The table below compares median wages for Colorado's 10 most common occupations to self-sufficiency income in Larimer County for a family with one parent, one preschooler and one school-age child. It shows six of the 10 most common occupations in the state pay wages that are insufficient to reach self-sufficiency.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Rewarding good health choices, penalizing bad ones

2012-01-03T08:57:00.006-07:00

Four news sources examine the isssue in today's Colorado news roundup. Check it out, along with links to all the day's public-policy news.

How budget cuts lead to lost jobs, our most popular research of 2011

2011-12-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

It probably surprises no one that the Colorado Center on Law and Policy's research around jobs generated the most interest during 2011, as measured by visits to our website. The most popular publication of the year, released March 7, examined how cuts to the state budget would result in job losses. The paper, by Fiscal Policy Analyst Terry Scanlon of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, led off this way:

Hickenlooper's proposed budget cuts would costs thousands of jobs; solution can come from voters
The budget-balancing plan offered by Gov. John Hickenlooper last month relies heavily on cuts to public schools and will result in the loss of more than 3,600 jobs as services in education, mental health, prisons, health care and parks are scaled back. Most of the lost jobs will come out of classrooms and schools throughout the state as school districts cope with a nearly $500 decline in spending per student.

Colorado lawmakers have no option but to balance the state budget, and that will mean painful service reductions affecting every resident of the state. Voters, though, have the authority to consider all options for maintaining and increasing investment in their communities – including increased revenue.

Read the full issue brief on our website.

The cost of making ends meet for Colorado families, our most popular research of 2011, second place

2011-12-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado is a signature product for the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. It was the second-most popular research from CCLP during 2011, as measured by visits to our website. Released Oct. 28, the research shows many workers throughout Colorado have earnings that fall far short of what’s needed to meet basic family needs, even if their income is well above what the federal government classifies as poor. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011 offers a detailed accounting of the cost of living for different family types in each of the state’s 64 counties.

Read the full report on our website.

Legislative session saw advancements and setbacks for justice and economic security, our third-most popular research of 2011

2011-12-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

The third-most popular research from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy during 2011, as measured by website visits, was our look back at the year's legislative session. Check it out on our website for a good reminder of progress during the past year and the challenges ahead.

State gets $26 million in Medicaid bonus funds

2011-12-29T08:06:00.002-07:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

The role of undocumented immigrant workers in Colorado's economy, our fourth-most popular research of 2011

2011-12-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

The effects of undocumented immigrant workers on Colorado's economy were again a hot topic in 2011, generating the fourth-highest number of visits to our website among the Colorado Center on Law and Policy's research products during the past year. Here's how the paper starts off:

Undocumented immigrant workers in Colorado play an important role in the state's economy
The number of undocumented immigrants in Colorado has increased enormously during the past 20 years. While that number has gone down since mid-decade, the issue of undocumented immigration continues to be controversial, as Colorado struggles with the effects of the worst recession since the Great Depression and the budget woes that have followed.

In that debate, some argue undocumented immigrants cost Colorado by taking jobs and enrolling in state programs. This analysis shows, however, that far from being an economic drain, undocumented immigrants who live and work in Colorado contribute significantly to the state’s economy.

For every job in the state occupied by an undocumented immigrant, another 0.8 jobs are created. And for every dollar of wages an undocumented immigrant worker collects, another 80 cents of wages are generated. Colorado lawmakers ought to keep those factors in mind as they consider immigration policy.

The latest data show unauthorized immigrants make up 5 percent of the state workforce and 3 percent of incomes. Working in the state, unauthorized immigrants create economic impact and jobs beyond their own employment as their earnings are re-spent, and their production spurs business-to-business activity.

The paper was written by Alec Harris, a former policy analyst for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of CCLP. Read the full report on our website.

State board of education joins school-funding appeal

2011-12-28T07:53:00.001-07:00

Read about the latest developments in the Lobato school-funding case, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

A study in public-policy tradeoffs, analysis of state budget our fifth-most popular research during 2011

2011-12-27T10:40:00.002-07:00

Colorado continued to struggle with the disconnect between the revenue the state government collects and the services its residents need. A paper exploring those tradeoffs was the fifth-most popular reserach product issued by the Colorado Center on Law and Policy during 2011, as measured by website visits. It was written by Terry Scanlon, a fiscal policy analyst for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of CCLP.

Proposed 2011-12 state budget contains deep cuts to services along with unwarranted tax giveaways
Public services across Colorado would be scaled back sharply under a plan to balance the state budget that legislative leaders proposed April 5. Some service reductions were inevitable, given restrictions on state lawmakers’ ability to raise revenue. But the plan cuts deeper than necessary because it also includes a number of measures that will reduce revenue that would otherwise be available to support services. The reductions will hurt vulnerable Coloradans as the resources available for child protection, health care, education and other services decline.

Read the full report on our website.

Cost of living rises faster than family wages during past decade

2011-12-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

The cost of paying basic family expenses rose 41 percent across Colorado from 2001 to 2011, while median family earnings rose only 13 percent, according to the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011. The table below shows where the costs increased in Larimer County and statewide.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

High uninsured rates impact all Coloradans

2011-12-27T09:12:00.003-07:00

Read the commentary in The Denver Post, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State vows to appeal school finance ruling

2011-12-22T07:26:00.003-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Improving budget forecast spreads holiday cheer

2011-12-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

Find the latest news about the state budget, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Western counties saw the sharpest increase in cost of basic expenses during past decade

2011-12-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

The cost of basic family expenses rose sharply from 2001 to 2011 in several counties in western Colorado including Rio Blanco, Ouray, Hinsdale, Jackson and Lake counties, according to the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011. The map below shows how the cost of making ends meet has changed during the past decade for a family with one adult, one preschooler and one school-age child.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Hickenlooper plans to restore cuts to education

2011-12-20T06:49:00.004-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Pain of Colorado poor likely to be felt in classrooms

2011-12-19T08:05:00.002-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Grant for insurance marketplace advances

2011-12-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado ranked 13th for linking new jobs, incentives

2011-12-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

The report examining job incentive programs was released in Colorado by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute and FRESC: Good Jobs, Strong Communities. Read the joint news release. Find coverage from The Denver Business Journal, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Homelessness stats contradict experience on Denver's streets

2011-12-14T07:09:00.004-07:00

Read about it in The Denver Post, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Self-sufficiency wages are considerably higher than most other benchmarks

2011-12-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

To put the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011 in context, it is useful to compare it to other commonly used measures of income adequacy. In the graph below, a comparison is made between the Logan County Self-Sufficiency Standard for one adult, one preschooler, and one school-age child and the following income benchmarks for three-person families:

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program), and WIC (Women, Infants and Children);
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for a family of three;
The Colorado minimum wage; and
The HUD median family income limits for a family of three in Logan County.

However, none of the benchmarks are as specific as the Self-Sufficiency Standard in terms of age and number of children and/or geographic location. Note that this set of benchmarks is not meant to show how a family would move from a lower income to economic self-sufficiency. Rather, the concept of self-sufficiency assumes a progression that takes place over time. As indicated in the fourth bar from the left the graph, the Self-Sufficiency Wage for this family type in Logan County is $36,931 per year.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Federal budget fights cause frustration at hospitals

2011-12-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Read coverage from Colorado Public News, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

For some, family leave is a dream

2011-12-12T07:05:00.004-07:00

Read Dottie Lamm's commentary in The Denver Post, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Lawmakers turn 2 thumbs way down on movie incentives

2011-12-09T06:43:00.001-07:00

Good move. Read about it in the Denver Business Journal, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Mental-health care system better but far from good

2011-12-08T07:07:00.001-07:00

Read coverage from The Denver Post and other news outlets, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Tax amnesty adds more than $11 million to public education

2011-12-07T09:10:00.001-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Self-sufficiency wages in Denver are similar to D.C. and Phoenix

2011-12-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

While Denver and especially Grand Junction are less expensive than some other places with which they have been compared, families with one adult, one preschooler, and one school-age child in Denver require hourly wages that are over three times the (and in Grand Junction two and a half times) Colorado minimum wage of $7.36 per hour to meet their basic needs.

The graph below shows self-sufficiency wages for one adult, one preschooler and one school-age child in Denver, Grand Junction and other cities.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Budget battle brewing over taxes, Medicaid

2011-12-06T07:03:00.001-07:00

Find the Colorado Center on Law and Policy's coverage of taxes and Medicaid on our website. Read the latest developments, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado economy: Slow and steady course

2011-12-05T07:18:00.001-07:00

Find the Colorado Center on Law and Policy's coverage of jobs and economic security on our website. For the latest developments, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, check the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Self-Sufficiency Standard shows dramatic differences in family budgets

2011-11-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

One of the weaknesses of the federal government's official poverty thresholds is that they account only for the number of people in a family, not where the family lives or the ages of family members. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011 shows how much income is required for a family to pay basic expenses and accounts for factors the federal poverty level leaves out. Here's a breakdown of basic expenses for three family types in Prowers County.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Skills camp gives job-seeking refugees a leg up

2011-11-29T05:54:00.001-07:00

Research the Colorado Center on Law and Policy issued in June argues services for Colorado's refugee families should account for their unique barriers to economic security. Read The Denver Post's coverage, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Positioning Colorado for a better economic future

2011-11-28T06:40:00.001-07:00

Read The Denver Post's editorial, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado sees largest monthly job gain in 4 years

2011-11-23T08:04:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute analyzes the latest jobs numbers in Colorado Recovery Watch, released yesterday. Find coverage in The Denver Post and other outlets, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

The income needed to make ends meet varies widely across Colorado

2011-11-22T09:45:00.001-07:00

The 2011 Colorado Self-Sufficiency Standard for a single adult with one preschooler ranges from $24,033 to $59,408 annually depending on the county. The map below shows a noticable disparity between higher cost suburban and resort areas and lower cost non-mountainous rural counties in Colorado.

Learn more by checking out the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011, a measurement of the true cost of making ends meet for Colorado families.

Colorado to feel the pain of funding cuts after debt panel fails

2011-11-22T08:05:00.001-07:00

As if our state hasn't felt enough pain already. Read The Denver Post's coverage, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

For children's sake, don't just slash Medicaid

2011-11-21T09:16:00.001-07:00

Read the opinion column in The Denver Post, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Coloradans in Congress drift apart on balanced-budget amendment

2011-11-18T07:53:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Center on Law and Policy opposes a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and urges allies to join in asking Colorado's delegation in Congress for a "no" vote. Read the latest news coverage on today's vote, plus find links to the rest of the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Attorney general sued over HCA/HealthOne hospital deal

2011-11-17T08:06:00.001-07:00

Find CCLP's coverage of hospital conversions on our website. Read the latest coverage, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Number of uninsured Coloradans up 22 percent in 2 years

2011-11-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

Read coverage in The Denver Post and other outlets, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to health reform

2011-11-14T12:38:00.001-07:00

Colorado Center on Law and Policy Health Care Attorney Adela Flores-Brennan issued the following statement today on the U.S. Supreme Court's agreement to hear a challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

"The U.S. Supreme Court's decision today was long expected. The Supreme Court took up the major issues raised in the lower court cases. We look forward to the court's final decision, which will allow Colorado to move forward without impediment to implementing this law that benefits so many Coloradans. We're confident the court will uphold the law's constitutionality. Implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will decrease the number of uninsured Coloradans, provide greater protections for consumers and help contain costs. Already, the law has provided important improvements for Coloradans like ensuring children cannot be denied coverage, providing additional access to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and helping Colorado businesses provide coverage for early retirees. A positive ruling from the Supreme Court will move Colorado and the nation one step closer to achieving near universal coverage."

Online sales tax could be a boon, Post editorial board says

2011-11-14T07:10:00.001-07:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Legislative budgeters to higher ed: Let's talk turkey

2011-11-10T07:58:00.002-07:00

A preview of tough decisions to come during the 2012 legislative session. Read coverage from Colorado News Agency, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Budget cuts make reform difficult, school officials tell governor

2011-11-09T08:10:00.001-07:00

No kidding. Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Meetings across the state give residents a voice on health exchanges

2011-11-08T08:18:00.001-07:00

Meetings across the state to discuss Colorado's health insurance exchange are part of a collaborative effort among the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, the CoPIRG Foundation and the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. Read about it in The Durango Herald, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Companies said they were owed $75M in tax credits, but created only 564 jobs

2011-11-07T06:35:00.005-07:00

Find links to The Denver Post's coverage, plus links to the rest of the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Columnist notes facts about refusing to understand the value of taxes

2011-11-04T08:06:00.004-06:00

Sharp words, but we think appropriate, from the editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Read the column, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Leading the way on Colorado budget fixes

2011-11-03T08:12:00.001-06:00

The Denver Post editorial board knows Proposition 103 wasn't the end of the discussion on Colorado's fiscal policy. Read the Post's opinion, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

CCLP seeks an office assistant

2011-11-02T10:49:00.001-06:00

The Colorado Center on Law and Policy seeks a part-time office assistant to work with its Family Economic Security Program. Details and application instructions are on the job announcement.

Tax hikes for education in Colorado lose big

2011-11-02T08:20:00.000-06:00

Of course we're disappointed. But we agree with state Sen. Rollie Heath, the main backer of Proposition 103, that Colorado needs to keep working on a way to adequately fund education and other public services. The Colorado Center on Law and Policy will be a part of that conversation. Read all the news coverage, plus find links to the rest of the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Millionaire Denver Republican Terry Barr: Raise my taxes

2011-11-01T08:01:00.001-06:00

Don't be too surprised. Plenty of wealthy people understand what a fair tax system looks like. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Haven't mailed your ballot yet? Hand-deliver it to election officials

2011-10-31T10:28:00.003-06:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup. Election Day is tomorrow. The Colorado Center on Law and Policy recommends a "yes" vote on Proposition 103.

Study shows the true cost of making ends meet in Colorado

2011-10-28T06:02:00.004-06:00

Read the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011 on our website. Find news coverage, and links to all the day's stories, at the Colorado news roundup.

Boulder Chamber, Farmers Union advise 'yes' vote on Proposition 103

2011-10-27T07:07:00.001-06:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Obama visits Denver to unveil plan to ease students' debt load

2011-10-26T08:06:00.000-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Boulder County quizzes voters about taxes

2011-10-25T08:07:00.003-06:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Give state schools a funding bridge with Prop. 103

2011-10-21T08:50:00.002-06:00

Check out the endorsement from the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Seniors are not just numbers in the budget

2011-10-20T08:43:00.004-06:00

Check out the commentary on seniors and the congressional "super committee" in The Denver Post, plus find links to the rest of the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Supporters, foes make cases on education-tax ballot issue

2011-10-19T06:43:00.001-06:00

The Colorado Center on Law and Policy endorses Proposition 103. Read the latest developments, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado hospitals' merger mania

2011-10-18T07:14:00.001-06:00

Read CCLP's coverage of shifts in hospital ownership on our website. Find the latest developments in a report from KCFR-radio, plus links to all the day's public policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

A closer look at Loveland's poverty numbers

2011-10-17T07:28:00.001-06:00

Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado's tax and budget policies hinder economic recovery and prudent planning

2011-10-14T14:31:00.000-06:00

Colorado’s tax and budget policies have hindered the state’s economic recovery and make it difficult to prepare for the future, representatives of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute told a conference of city finance specialists Friday.

Carol Hedges, director of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, noted unique constraints on Colorado’s public investments. One of the tightest constraints is the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), an amendment to the state Constitution that sets arbitrary limits on public funds the government is allowed to collect and spend. TABOR is one of several measures that limit Colorado’s ability to respond to changing economic conditions, Hedges said.

“It’s important to see Colorado’s fiscal arc and understand that each policy is part of a continuum,” she said. “There are no independent or individual challenges.”

Hedges spoke at a meeting in Denver of the Society of Municipal Analysts.

Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute Rice Fellow Benjamin Felson discussed the rising need for public services in Colorado as fallout from the Great Recession continues.

“As poverty has increased across the board, so has the reliance on and need for public assistance,” Felson said. “Colorado has responded at a minimum level.”

Colorado’s spending on key public services ranks near the lowest among the states. Colorado ranks 49th in education spending, for example, yet it has the second-highest concentration of people educated with a bachelor’s degree or higher. One attendee suggested it is good Colorado can import an educated labor force, maximizing its resources.

“Yes. It is good. But is it sustainable?” Hedges asked. “How long will we be able to bring people to the state if we are unable to provide a quality education for their children?”

The Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute is a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and advocacy organization promoting justice and economic security for all Coloradans.

Attorney general approves sale of state's largest hospital system

2011-10-14T08:12:00.000-06:00

The Colorado Center on Law and Policy lobbied for adjustments to the deal to protect the public, most of which were included in the final approval. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Indicators suggest continued recession, economist says

2011-10-13T08:06:00.003-06:00

Grim words from an economist speaking in Craig on Wednesday. Read about it, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Health insurance and the changes you should know about

2011-10-12T08:19:00.000-06:00

Check out the Colorado insurance commissioner's advice in The Denver Post, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, in the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Productivity – Working harder for the same reward

2011-10-11T12:22:00.000-06:00

Colorado’s decade of income stagnation occurred despite gains in productivity, as measured by state domestic product per capita. That means even though Colorado workers produced more at the end of the decade, they earned the same.

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

'Never a bad time to do the right thing' on Proposition 103

2011-10-11T07:14:00.000-06:00

Some folks are worried it's a "bad time" for stopping the irresponsible cuts to state education funding. Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute Director Carol Hedges addresses that argument and more in an interview with the Vail Daily. Read the story, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Eligibility crackdown on Old Age Pension cuts costs

2011-10-10T08:25:00.004-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado's tax code hinders people with lower incomes

2011-10-07T15:42:00.000-06:00

Legislators and governors have several tools they can easily implement into state tax codes to help lift families out of poverty, new research from the Institute on Tax and Economic Policy shows.

Colorado's tax code includes many of the recommendations in some form: earned income tax credits, property tax “circuit breakers,” targeted low-income tax credits; and child-related tax credits. ITEP recommends redesigning those policies to improve the lives of Colorado’s lower-income constituents.

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is widely recognized as an effective anti-poverty strategy, and 24 states have an EITC modeled after the federal policy. Colorado suspended its EITC in 2002 due to budget constraints. To help fight poverty, Colorado should re-enable and fully fund the state EITC, according to ITEP.

Property tax “circuit breakers” protect low-income residents from a property tax overload. Similar to an electrical circuit breaker, the tool rebates property taxes when a tax bill exceeds a certain percentage of a taxpayer’s income. Colorado has a quasi-circuit breaker for homeowners and renters who are age 65 and older or disabled. To provide a greater benefit to families and individuals with lower incomes, Colorado should consider raising the maximum benefits and expand the policy to include homeowners and renters of all ages, ITEP said.

Low- and middle-income working parents frequently spend a significant portion of their incomes
on child care. The federal government allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to help offset child care expenses. Colorado has a limited refundable child and dependant care credit available, and ITEP suggests it should increase the credit to help poorer families.

Additionally, Colorado should create a refundable low-income tax credit. Because the EITC is targeted to low-income working families with children, it is not always the best approach for reaching older adults and adults without children. Refundable low-income credits are a good complementary policy to state EITCs. The credits can also be used to mitigate the regressive nature of state sales taxes.

In 2010, the taxes as a share of income for Coloradans in the lowest 20 percent was more than double that of Coloradans in the top 1 percent. Implementing the recommendations would help ease the tax burden on the many Colorado families and individuals struggling with poverty.

“Lawmakers try to leverage the tax code to do all kinds of things – lure business, reduce health
costs,” said Matthew Gardner, ITEP’s executive director, “but too few use it to ease the effects of poverty.”

Hospitals make pitch for Colorado Springs health system

2011-10-07T08:11:00.001-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Older adults hit hard by housing costs, recession

2011-10-06T15:34:00.000-06:00

Housing costs are increasingly burdensome for Colorado’s older adults since the housing crisis and recession began in 2007. Older homeowners and renters routinely have a tougher time affording the rent or mortgage payments, and many low-income households face more unsustainable housing costs, new research shows.

AARP’s "State Housing Profiles 2011" shows nearly 35 percent of Colorado homeowners age 50 and older pay at least 30 percent of their incomes for housing costs. More than half of renters age 50 and older pay at least 30 percent for housing costs. These numbers show a dramatic rise in the housing burden since 2000.

AARP report echoes CCLP’s findings that neither median income nor Social Security allow for elder economic security. According to CCLP’s Elder Economic Security Index, a single person age 50 and older needs to bring in at least $28,260 a year solely to meet expenses, a significantly higher amount than the $10,890 federal poverty level. The Elder Economic Security Index is explained in a CCLP policy brief, Elders Living on the Edge.

More data shows older adults are being disproportionally affected by the continuing effects of the recession, and Colorado’s low-income elders face financial challenges that threaten their economic security and the health of their communities. Elders face increasing expenses while their fixed incomes are eroded by weaknesses within the economy.

Colorado news roundup: Poor students could lose out under new nutrition rules, official says

2011-10-06T08:47:00.004-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Reports show a fuzzy outlook for jobs and economic security

2011-10-05T08:12:00.002-06:00

Tech jobs are down, but the Colorado's concentration of those positions remains high. The overall jobs outlook is better, but business confidence hasn't caught up. Sort through the latest reports on jobs and economic security, plus find links to all the days public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Twice the Federal Poverty Level – A better count

2011-10-04T12:43:00.000-06:00

Many experts maintain the Federal Poverty Level can be improved simply by changing the definition of "poverty" to a multiple of the FPL. A common approach is 200 percent of FPL, which represents more realistic poverty cutoff. That compromise allows the most current poverty statistics (based on FPL) to be used, while adjusting for some shortcomings of the federal measure.

Twice the Federal Poverty Level shows a bleaker picture of recession and poverty in Colorado. While more than one in 10 Coloradans live with incomes of less than the Federal Poverty Level, more than one in four are poor under the adjusted standard.

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

Colorado news roundup: Panel on state taxes wants TABOR, Gallagher gone

2011-10-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

Yipe. This should spark some interesting debate. Check out the story, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Proposition 103 is a solid investment in state's future workers

2011-10-03T08:01:00.003-06:00

Check out the point-counterpoint in The Denver Post over the weekend on Proposition 103, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Food assistance

2011-10-02T12:59:00.000-06:00

The 2007 recession accelerated Coloradans increasing reliance on food assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Since 2001, food stamp use in Colorado has nearly doubled. All told, state enrollment has increased 280,000 people, or 190 percent since January 2001. In November 2010, 435,000 Coloradans were enrolled in SNAP. Coloradans’ increased reliance on food assistance highlights the continued pain of the recession.

Food stamp enrollment does not fully reflect hunger in Colorado. The most recent count showed that only 52 percent of Coloradans eligible for SNAP were enrolled. That ranks 48th in the country among states.

Many in Colorado are not able to access the food assistance they need because of problems with the state’s system of administering the food assistance. Eligible clients are required to complete a 26 page application, show multiple forms of identification and lawful residence documents, and verify income every 3 to 6 months.

The Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) presents additional difficulties. CBMS is used to administer many of Colorado’s assistance programs, and problems with the system create barriers to access of benefits for families at poverty level. Introduced in the middle of the past decade, CBMS has consistently failed to deliver timely application processing, and has exhibited unreliable performance. Colorado needs to improve CBMS and its administration of assistance programs to ensure that eligible families get the help they need when they need it.

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

Colorado news roundup: GOP stalls application for grant to set up insurance exchange

2011-09-30T08:40:00.000-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Families and food stamps – Different needs for different families

2011-09-29T13:02:00.000-06:00

Among Colorado households three distinctions emerge with respect to food stamps. First, single-parent homes have higher food stamp recipiency rates than married-couple homes. Second, among single-parent homes, single-mother households have higher rates than single-father homes. Finally, across the board households with children have dramatically higher rates of food stamp recipiency than childless households. In 2009, single-mother families in Colorado relied on food stamps at five times the rate of the state average.

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

Colorado news roundup: More young Coloradans insured, reforms aim for further improvement

2011-09-29T08:32:00.000-06:00

Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.