Lawmakers reject measures to expand gambling

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 Tuesday, May 11, 2010. Listing here does not imply endorsement of the content.

FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: Two proposals to expand gambling in Colorado killed
Neighborhood bars won't offer keno and the State Fair grounds won't regularly host horse races now that the legislature Monday killed the second of two bills aimed at expanding gambling in Colorado.

The Denver Post: House approves bill allowing tuition hikes
House lawmakers Monday gave a final nod to Senate Bill 3, which would give colleges greater flexibility to raise tuitions. School administrators would be given the unchecked ability to boost tuition by 9 percent annually and would be able to seek permission from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education for increases beyond that amount.
Also: Durango Herald: Tuition increase bill passes House

Denver Post commentary: Will Colorado decide to put children first?
Colorado's schools, colleges and universities are facing a funding crisis unlike any yet experienced in this state. What will that look like in the next year or two?

Denver Daily News: Late vote for late registration fees
A House committee yesterday backed legislation that would cap late registration fees for trailers at $10.

Pueblo Chieftain: State worker pay proposal clears panel
A bill that would replace the state's pay-for-performance approach to employee salaries with a 12-step system is in a race against time, but cleared an important hurdle in the Legislature on Monday. Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, the Senate sponsor of HB1409, said it aims to fix a broken system.

Pueblo Chieftain: Enterprise zone cap off, then on
A bill that would cap enterprise zone tax credits at $250,000, costing Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel in Pueblo about $345,000 annually was killed in the Senate on Monday, but promptly revived.

Fort Collins Coloradoan: Larimer County braces for budget cuts
A looming drop in property-tax revenue in 2012 has Larimer County officials looking for ways to reduce next year's budget.
Also: Loveland Reporter-Herald: Officials will look at budget cuts, asking voters to extend sales tax

Summit Daily News: Home energy loans now available in Summit County
Summit County government, the Town of Breckenridge and High Country Conservation Center partner to provide loans for energy upgrades in local homes.

Greeley Tribune: Greeley-Evans schools get a $2M surprise, will reverse some cuts
The Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education received $2 million worth of reasons on Monday why members can breath a bit easier when dealing with the 2010-11 budget.


ECONOMY
The Denver Post: Bennet turns foreclosure counselor, gets an earful about mortgage trouble
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, in Colorado for a rare Monday, took a turn listening to troubled loan holders at the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline.
Also: Colorado Springs Gazette: Many Springs-area property owners remain upside down on their mortgages, reports say
Also: Colorado Springs Business Journal: 20% of Springs properties in negative equity

Denver Daily News: Loans for Main Street
Legislation aims to help small business and Main Street by providing small banks with more liquid capital to make loans.


ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
Glenwood Springs Post-Independent: Residents finally able to move into affordable housing at Ironbridge
The 20-unit affordable housing neighborhood at the Ironbridge subdivision finally has signs of life, as a handful of units are now occupied and several more are being offered first-come, first-served without another lottery.

Colorado Statesman: Payday reform bill hits pay dirt - but not until it's muddied up with amendments
The second attempt by Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, to end the cycle of debt created with payday loans is now on its way to the desk of Gov. Bill Ritter.

Salida Mountain Mail: Housing department uses Facebook to tout programs
The council partners with USDA Rural Development to provide residents an opportunity to become homeowners. In the "sweat equity" building program, a group of four to 12 families or individuals cooperate to make home ownership a reality.


HEALTH POLICY
Aurora Sentinel editorial: More blame game played on health costs
Stories Monday about the cost of health insurance going up because of the new health care reform laws affecting college students are hugely misleading.