More Coloradans line up against the "Bad Three" ballot initiatives

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 Monday, May 24, 2010. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY
The Denver Post: Denver homeless connect with medical care, legal advice at Coors Field
On Saturday, 1,000 volunteers helped those in need maneuver through the many booths that offered services from free legal advice, a job fair, vision and diabetes screenings to clothing, food, Colorado identification cards and resources for hundreds of state and local agencies.
Also: Denver Post commentary: Halfway home: Is Denver's 10-year homelessness program working?

Fort Collins Coloradoan commentary: Chamber helps pave 'pathways past poverty'
Here at the United Way of Larimer County, we have spent the past several years focused on issues related to the growing rate of poverty in our community. Through the Pathways Past Poverty initiative, we have looked at the contributing factors, pulled together hundreds of community volunteers and experts, and explored best practices from around the nation.


GENERAL
Denver Post commentary: Colorado's ballot process alienates business community
Here is something that may not be apparent about Colorado's comparatively easy initiative petition process: It makes it harder to recruit businesses to come to the state. And it may even drive some away.

Colorado News Agency: Want to kill a bill without voting against it? Study it
High school civics teaches us there are two possible fates for a bill introduced in the legislature: pass or fail. In reality, there’s a third option–amending the bill into a study. And some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will tell you it can be a fate worse than death; it enacts empty verbiage in order to spare the egos of sponsors while giving cover to opponents who don’t want to go on record with a “no” vote.  They all can embrace a study.


HEALTH CARE POLICY
Denver Post commentary: Uncomfortable health care decisions
But there is help. April 16th was National Healthcare Decisions Day, and there are many resources available to help all of us begin the conversation about end of life planning.

Colorado Springs Gazette: School health centers keep kids healthy, improve learning
Entrada Health Care Center at Carmel Middle School ... serves Harrision School District 2 students and their siblings from infancy to age 21 who don’t have access to affordable health care.


FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: Political rivals in Colorado seek alliance against three ballot initiatives
Colorado's business and political leaders are searching for ways to mend fences and join forces after a divisive legislative session.

Grand Junction Sentinel: Opponent to ballot measures emerges
The issue committee that has fought several revenue-limiting ballot questions over the past decade and a half is gearing up for yet another battle.

Steamboat Today editorial: A close look at ‘anti-tax’ measures
The November election is almost six months away, but that hasn’t stopped local government officials from sparking discussions about three citizen-led ballot initiatives that we think would have a devastating effect on the ability of state and local government to provide core services for residents.

Denver Daily News: Hick would nix tax hikes?
If elected governor, Mayor John Hickenlooper would make it a priority to eliminate a series of controversial tax increases that were signed into law by Gov. Bill Ritter “as soon as economically feasible,” his campaign said Friday.

Denver Business Journal: $17M stimulus grant to fund Colorado student-data program
Colorado is receiving $17.4 million in federal stimulus funds to help it create a statewide system to track student data from preschool through college and on to the workforce, Gov. Bill Ritter announced Friday.

Grand Junction Sentinel: Fewer dollars for District 51
School District 51 has identified $4.4 million in cuts for 2010–11 so far.


ECONOMY
Denver Business Journal: Colorado unemployment rises to 8%; 9,600 more residents working
Colorado's unemployment rate rose to 8 percent in April, even though 9,600 more Coloradans were working than the month before, the state Department of Labor and Employment reported Friday.

Craig Daily Press commentary: Rebuilding consumer confidence is key step
As the local and national economy continues its slow recovery, I am more convinced than ever that consumer confidence is one of, if not the only, indicator that can predict where things are going.

Longmont Times-Call: ‘A change’: City sales tax revenue up
The last time the city’s sales tax revenue went up was in August of 2008.