Boulder County residents would support sales tax hike to make up for state cuts, poll says

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 Friday, May 14, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

HEALTH POLICY
The Denver Post: Think-tank chief challenges Colorado's petition-gathering rules
A federal district judge Thursday heard testimony on a challenge to how citizen-initiative supporters may gather the tens of thousands of signatures required to make the ballot. Free-market think-tank chief Jon Caldara seeks an emergency suspension of a ban on petition circulators being paid per signature, a recent law he says drives up the cost of signature gathering and threatens an anti- health-care-reform initiative he's trying to get on the November ballot.

Face the State commentary: Politics aside, litigation to stop ObamaCare could have real legs
The lawsuit filed in March against ObamaCare was widely dismissed in the media as a no-hoper, a mere political stunt promoted by a baker’s dozen Republican attorneys general seeking higher office, or at least re-election.  Not so fast. The number of states suing has grown from 13 to 20, and the amended complaint to be filed Friday in the northern district of Florida will include significant new plaintiffs.

Canon City Daily Record: Panel dives into new health-care legislation
 Pueblo Community College-Fremont Campus and Southeastern Colorado Area Health Education Center teamed up Wednesday at the campus for a health-care discussion.


ECONOMY
Associated Press via Colorado Springs Gazette: Foreclosure filings up in Colorado in first quarter
The state Division of Housing says first-quarter foreclosure filings in Colorado rose 6 percent from the same period last year, but numbers last year were affected by efforts nationwide to help troubled borrowers avoid foreclosure.
Also: Boulder Daily Camera: Report: Boulder County posts lowest 1Q foreclosure rate in metro area
Also: Denver Daily News: New foreclosure filings up 6%
Also: Denver Business Journal: End of moratorium helps boost Colorado foreclosure sales 54% from 2009
Also: Loveland Reporter-Herald: Larimer County leading the way on cutting down foreclosures
Also: Greeley Tribune: In Weld, job losses adding up to foreclosure sales


GENERAL
Denver Daily News: Gov. Ritter looks back
Calls legislative session a success; GOP says it was ‘taxing.’
Also: Denver Business Journal: Ritter defends Legislature’s record on business issues

Longmont Times-Call editorial: Legislature set, tackled tough agenda
Measuring this year’s legislative session by lawmakers’ own checklist, 2010 was a success.


FISCAL POLICY
Longmont Times-Call: Voters quizzed on possible ballot
Most Boulder County voters would support a new 0.15 percent sales tax to replace funding the state has cut from county social services programs, according to a recent poll.

Salida Mountain Mail: Elected officials direct staff to draft county-wide sales tax resolution
Elected officials will direct their respective staff personnel to begin a draft resolution regarding possible placement of a countywide sales tax initiative on the November ballot.