Denver businesses see danger with the Bad Three

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 Wednesday, May 12, 2010. Listing here does not imply endorsement of the content.

GENERAL
Denver Post editorial: Hits and misses under the dome
From higher ed funding to union dues and even the Capitol itself, the 2010 legislature took on a wealth of thorny issues.

Colorado Springs Gazette: Douglas Bruce must appear for deposition, district court says
A Denver district court judge has issued an order requiring anti-tax advocate Douglas Bruce to appear for a deposition in connection with campaign finance complaints filed against the backers of three statewide measures that will be on the November ballot.


FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: Bill would partially restore home tax break for seniors
Colorado seniors still could get a partial break on their property taxes the next two years — rather than nothing — under a House proposal that must still survive Senate review.

The Denver Post: Roads to be less traveled with taxpayer funds
Public employees driving taxpayer-purchased cars would have to reimburse the state for the miles they travel to and from work in the vehicles if lawmakers continue to give approval to House Bill 1287.
Also: Colorado News Agency: Applying the brakes to personal use of state vehicles

Denver Business Journal: Denver businesses blast Nov. ballot issues
The Denver business community Tuesday jumped into the battle over three massive spending-reduction amendments on the November ballot, arguing that the measures would make Colorado an "investment-flight state."

Durango Herald: County commission drops road fees
La Plata County will not impose road-impact fees on new development after county commissioners failed to come to an agreement on the proposal.

Glenwood Springs Post-Independent: Silt board follows through with further budget cuts
The Silt Board of Trustees took formal action Monday to ratify a series of drastic budget cuts agreed to last month, including the elimination of the town's two-person planning department.


HEALTH POLICY
Pueblo Chieftain editorial: Straw men
Let us review. Perhaps the most controversial policy of this president’s tenure in the White House has been over health care. But did the president — and his fellow Democrats in Congress — allow Republicans to help craft any compromise or even participate in democratic deliberation? No, they allowed no Republican amendments to see the light of day. And now they are surprised to find a large majority of Americans are unhappy with ObamaCare?


ECONOMY
Colorado Springs Business Journal: Colorado buffered from worst construction industry job hits
“As (this) report makes clear, the impacts of the stimulus are now being felt across a much broader section of the construction industry,” he said, adding that the industry’s unemployment rate had sifted down slightly to 24.9 percent from a high of 27.1 percent during February.


Steamboat Today: Steamboat economist weighs recession
A diverse economy allowed Routt County to weather the worst of the recession better than most areas, a local economist said Tuesday, adding that financial forecasts appear to be brightening.

Vail Daily: Vail Valley ‘smart loans' program hits roadblock
County officials had found money and laid the legal groundwork for the “smart loan” program — which will provide loans for energy-efficient home improvements to local residents. The program was supposed to start taking applications this month, with work on projects starting this summer.