The 2010 Colorado Legislature: Tax breaks, school funds up in smoke, pot passes

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, May 13, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

GENERAL
The Denver Post: Colo. legislative session ends in a scramble shadowed by future education woes
The 2010 Colorado legislative session closed Wednesday with lawmakers scrambling to pass bills limiting teacher tenure and eliminating a tax break for seniors.
Also: Colorado Springs Gazette: A look back: Tax breaks, school funds up in smoke; pot passes

Denver Post editorial: Tough decisions made at Capitol
With key politicians not running for office this year, lawmakers were able to pass crucial measures, such as education reform.


ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
Colorado Springs Gazette editorial: Take this jobs bill and stuff it
Sanity and wisdom prevailed this week when the Colorado Springs City Council refused to support a federal jobs bill, introduced by close friend and ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that stands only to hurt the country and cities such as Colorado Springs. Several council members blasted the whole idea of trying to create jobs with federal cash.

FISCAL POLICY
Denver Daily News: Tax credits suspended
Senior citizens and big businesses would be affected under two bills that lawmakers passed yesterday. Senate Bill 190 would eliminate part of the property tax exemptions that qualifying senior citizens get in Colorado, while House Bill 1200 would delay tax credits for Colorado’s largest businesses that operate in enterprise zones. The bills seek to help close an estimated $85 million budget gap in the state budget.
Also: Durango Herald: Legislators put tax break for senior citizens on hold

Denver Daily News: Ritter issues executive order regarding job-creation activities
Gov. Bill Ritter yesterday issued an executive order directing the Colorado Economic Development Commission to include in its annual report to the Legislature additional information about job-creation activities. The order also instructs the commission to prepare a plan to track jobs created from grants, loans and tax credits provided by the Commission.
Also: Denver Business Journal: Ritter orders tracking of tax-credit recipients after proposal dies in Legislature

Pueblo Chieftain editorial: Death tax
We firmly believe the death tax is counterproductive. Analyses have shown the government spends about the same amount in its collection efforts as the tax generates.

Denver Business Journal: Legislature cuts enterprise-zone businesses some last-minute slack
Big businesses located in enterprise zones caught a small break on the final day of the 2010 legislative session, as the Colorado General Assembly increased to $500,000 the maximum amount of income-tax credits they can claim over each of the next three years.
Also: Grand Junction Sentinel: Lawmakers amend, OK enterprise tax credit bill

Grand Junction Sentinel: House OKs bill to counter Amendment 61 provision
A bill approved 56 to 9 by the state House of Representatives on Wednesday would provide school districts an alternative way to patch funding holes caused by cash-flow shortages if Amendment 61 passes on November’s ballot.

Sterling Journal-Advocate: Logan County jail to start charging inmates fees
A resolution approving fees charged by the Logan County Sheriff’s Department for committing and discharging prisoners in the Logan County Jail and for taking, approving and returning bonds was approved. State statute authorizes the county sheriff to collect this type of fee up to $30 and Logan County is the only county in the district that has not been charging a fee according to John Johnson, jail administrator. The fee will be a first-time fee of $25 and $10 per bonding.

Vail Daily: Eagle County schools to cut $3.3M
Fifty fewer staff positions and no new buses are among cuts to operating expenses.


ECONOMY
Denver Business Journal: Colorado has 2nd-best economic outlook, says free-markets group
Colorado is said to have the nation’s second-best economic outlook in an annual report by an advocacy group representing conservative state legislators.


HEALTH POLICY
Colorado Springs Business Journal: Hospital Transfer Act answer likely to come May 25
The Colorado Springs City Council is likely to find out on May 25 whether it can receive money from the sale of Memorial Health System.

Grand Junction Sentinel commentary: Voters should consider health care’s bleak future
February 2015, I think around 9:15 a.m., in a crowded waiting room at the Michael Bennet Federal Hospital in Denver. A tired-looking man trudges in and walks to a round, red plastic dispenser. He pulls a number from the machine — 61 the slip reads. He reports the number and his name to a bored clerk and resignedly sits on the corner of a chipped white Formica table after realizing that there are no vacant chairs left in the room.