News reports paint mixed picture of the economy

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, April 8, 2010.

ECONOMY
The Denver Post: Mountain of foreclosures in Colorado resort communities
While foreclosure sales have been on the downturn along the Front Range, mountain communities are experiencing increases often of triple-digit percentages as homeowners from the wealthy on down lose their properties.

Colorado Springs Gazette: Rebound in housing market continues
The single-family home resale market had another solid performance last month in the Colorado Springs area.

Northern Colorado Business Report: NoCo economy hit bottom in November
November was the low point of the current recession in Northern Colorado. Monthly changes in the growth rate in Northern Colorado should be mostly positive in 2010. Thus, the Index of Economic Growth for Northern Colorado probably bottomed in November 2009 and will turn up in 2010.


FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: 139 jobs on line in CU
The University of Colorado on Wednesday announced millions in proposed cuts aimed at balancing a budget that is nearing a $50 million shortfall.
Also: Boulder Daily Camera: CU-Boulder to cut 60 more jobs, university system trying to address $22M shortfall

Denver Post commentary: The meaning of laissez faire
If two people were laid off and paid unemployment insurance, they'd have an incentive to quickly find new jobs and replace their full pay. Conversely, if rather than laying off two workers, 20 would have their hours reduced by 10 percent each, they'd likely stay at their jobs and collect the offsetting underemployment allowance. This would result in a greater total outlay of under-employment insurance payments from Colorado's already bankrupt trust fund.

Summit Daily News: Summit Schools budget cuts come into focus
The Summit School Board narrowed its list of proposed budget cuts Wednesday, steering clear of major staff reductions and big hits to athletics.


GENERAL
Colorado Springs Gazette editorial: They'll decide who eats and who begs
Now that city and county officials have made laws forbidding the homeless to camp, talk is underway to crack down on street begging and to control who gets to eat at soup kitchens. Though camping bans may have been needed, the zeal to control the homeless is getting carried away.


HEALTH POLICY
Colorado Springs Independent: Jumping the gun for Memorial
The nation's largest publicly traded general acute care hospital company, Community Health Systems based in Franklin, Tenn., has its eye on city-owned Memorial Health System.
Also: Colorado Springs Gazette: PR pro poised to help Memorial commission engage the public

Fort Collins Coloradoan: National Republicans start another small anti-Markey ad campaign
The National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday began a weeklong cable TV ad campaign criticizing Rep. Betsy Markey  for "flip-flopping" on health care.


SELF SUFFICIENCY
Colorado News Agency: From the plow to the table: Bill would create food “advisory council”
Lawmakers today mulled over a measure that would create an advisory council within Colorado government to create a recipe for farm-to-table coordinated action, intended to promote healthy eating in Colorado while giving a boost to Colorado’s agricultural industries.

Colorado Springs Business Journal: Affordable housing scarce in Colorado
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Housing reported this week that there are twice as many low-income households as there are affordable rental units in Colorado. Housing units are deemed affordable if the household pays 30 percent or less of monthly income to rent.