Use school stimulus money and save jobs, feds urge

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, July 12, 2010. Listing does not implly endorsement of the content.

FISCAL POLICY
The Denver Post: School districts slow to tap into federal stimulus funds
Federal authorities are encouraging school districts to spend education stimulus money to save jobs and blunt the effects of statewide budget cuts, but districts have been slow to draw their share of the funds.

Denver Post editorial: City should ax tax hike for pot
A City Council member should drop his idea of funding teen programs with an additional levy on medical marijuana.

Denver Post commentary: Where are the job killers?
Perhaps it's because Republicans are trying to deflect attention away from National Chairman Michael Steele in the wake of his Afghanistan remarks, but in recent days I often hear GOP stalwarts complain about "job-killing tax increases" or the like. Curious about the relationship between taxes and employment, I checked recent history.

Colorado Springs Business Journal: Budget woes aggravate tax season
Furloughs and a hiring freeze at the state Department of Revenue have slowed the processing of income-tax refunds in a year already plagued by delays that some blame on a new computer system.


ECONOMY
The Aspen Times via The Denver Post: Financial experts at Aspen Ideas Festival clash on whether crisis is over
David Stockman, budget director for former President Ronald Reagan, on Friday told the crowd to find a cabin in the mountains, stock it with canned beans and bottled water and prepare for even tougher times. The financial crisis will get worse instead of better, said Stockman, who labeled himself "right-wing libertarian." He was only half-joking.


GENERAL
Fort Collins Coloradoan: Surveys: Transportation major concern for city, county residents
Fort Collins and Larimer County residents believe transportation is a major issue that should be addressed more by city and county governments, according to survey results released last week by the city of Fort Collins and Larimer County.


ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Aurora Sentinel: Aurora gets $436K to house homeless vets
U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, presented a $436,272 federal grant to the Aurora Housing Authority on Friday to help homeless veterans get off Aurora’s streets and into permanent housing.