Will House pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it?

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, March 17, 2010

From the Washington Post:
After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate’s health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would [...]

Jane Norton barely leads Ken Buck in Colorado GOP Senate race

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:50 pm, March 16, 2010

Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton leads Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck 37.66% to 37.07% with 89.5% of Colorado’s precincts reporting, according to http://www.cologop.org. Former state senator Tom Wiens got 16.6% of the votes.
In the 14 largest counties, which account for about 80% 

Scott McInnis easy winner over Dan Maes in GOP caucus preference poll, 60.7% to 38.6%

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 11:10 pm, March 16, 2010

Former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis easily proved that his fundraising power and name recognition are making him a stronger candidate than political newcomer, Dan Maes. With 89.5% of precincts reporting, McInnis had 60.7% of the preference poll results to 38.6% for Maes. Maes had been promising that he’d get 50% and that his strong showing would stimulate his so-far lackluster fundraising. He did okay considering he ran a very low-budget campaign, but probably not well enough to boost his fundraising by much. In the 14 largest counties that account for some 80% of all votes in the state, Maes did better. He got 42% of the preference poll votes to 58% for McInnis. The 14 counties accounted for 76.6% of Maes’ votes and 66.2% of McInnis’ votes. This showed McInnis’ stronger appeal to voters in smaller, rural counties, especially in those counties around his home town of Grand Junction.
The 14 counties and how the candidates fared in the preference polls:
Denver, with 100% of precincts reporting: McInnis 57.7%, Maes 41.7%.
El Paso, 82.43%; 65% to 33.5%.
Arapahoe, 78.05%; 57.7% to 41.8%.
Jefferson, 92.59%; 53.9% to 45.8%.
Adams, 93.52%; 49.75 to 49.8%.
Boulder, 100%; 47.88% to 51.76%.
Larimer, 30.07%; 47.9% to 51.9%.
Douglas, 95.92%; 55.49% to 43.57%.
Weld, 100%; 52.8% to 46.9%.
Pueblo, 100%; 51.8% to 48.2%.
Mesa, 91.46%; 77% to 22.6%.
Garfield, 100%; 81.5% to 18.5%.
Eagle, 100%; 70.4% to 27.6%
With 89.5% of precincts reporting, http://www.cologop.org reports that 22,979 Republicans voted in the gubernatorial preference polls, which were taken at the March 16 caucuses. 
Like most online and straw polls, these preference polls are interesting but not very important in the scheme of things. The results may cause a few very weak candidates to call it quits.

Gardner, Buck and McInnis win Weld County straw poll

by Amy Oliver | 10:06 pm, March 16, 2010

Results of the Weld County straw poll:
Governor: Scott McInnis 664, Dan Maes 590, John Hickenlooper 1
Senate: Ken Buck 982, Jane Norton 213, Tom Weins 74, Cleve Tidwell 19, Steve Barton 5, Vincent Martinez 1
4th CD:  Cory Gardner 688, Diggs Brown 192, Tom Lucero 159, Dean Madere 54
2nd CD: Stephen Bailey 88, Bob Brancato 56

Colorado Caucus Results 2010

by elpresidente | 9:50 pm, March 16, 2010

**Update–3/17, 4:51pm: 98.43% reporting–Buck now leads Norton: McInnis 59.15% Maes 40.05% Norton 37.46% Buck 38.17% Wiens 16.50% Latest excel link for GOP results. Dem results here as of Wednesday afternoon–98.34% reporting: Romanoff 50.31% Bennet 41.60% Uncommitted 8.04%

Health Care Roundtable Videos: Jon Caldara

by Jon Caldara | 3:02 pm, March 16, 2010

I wrapped up the health care event with remarks on current free market activities in Colorado. I talked about my personal experience with our health care system and the Independence Institute’s Defend Colorado from Obama Care initiative.

Here is my talk in a three video YouTube playlist:

Walker Stapleton Announces Foregoing Caucus Process, J.J. Ament Responds

by Ben DeGrow | 2:56 pm, March 16, 2010

A quick update from the Republican state treasurer primary. From a new press release from the Walker Stapleton campaign:

Walker Stapleton, candidate for Colorado State Treasurer, will launch a grassroots statewide petition drive to earn a spot on the Republican Party primary ballot.
“I am really looking forward to starting the petition process,” Stapleton said. “This is [...]

Health Care Roundtable Videos: Sen. Shawn Mitchell

by Jon Caldara | 2:55 pm, March 16, 2010

Colorado State Senator Shawn Mitchell gave us an update on what was going on in the Senate in terms of health care legislation, both good and bad (but mostly bad).
Here is Sen. Mitchell’s talk in two video YouTube playlist:

Health Care Roundtable Videos: Dr. Linda Gorman

by Jon Caldara | 2:51 pm, March 16, 2010

Dr. Linda Gorman, director of our Health Care Policy Center spoke on the true cost of Obama’s health care “reform.”
Here is Linda’s talk in a three video YouTube playlist:

Health Care Roundtable Videos: Dr. Jill Vecchio

by Jon Caldara | 2:45 pm, March 16, 2010

Dr. Jill Vecchio, radiology oncologist and founder of Docs4PatientCare spoke on emerging issues, particularly protecting the doctor/patient relationship.
Here is her talk in a two video YouTube playlist:

Health Care Roundtable Videos: Peter J. Fotos

by Jon Caldara | 2:41 pm, March 16, 2010

Director of Government Relations for the Heartland Institute Peter Fotos kicked off our Health Care Roundtable event last Wednesday, March 10th.
If you were unable to attend, or would just like to see his talk on consumer-driven health care again, here are the videos in a YouTube playlist:

Colorado Caucus Open Thread

by elpresidente | 12:55 pm, March 16, 2010

The long road to November formally begins tonight . . .

The Hillman Test

by Jon Caldara | 12:13 pm, March 16, 2010

Pop quiz: When is urban renewal not urban renewal? When the land up for “renewal” has no buildings, no cracked sidewalks (if any sidewalks), no manhole covers, or anything in the way of store fronts at all.  Instead the land in question has grass fields, lots of open space, a silo or two, [...]

The media continues to portray Obama as the Messiah

by Rossputin | 10:22 am, March 16, 2010

Here’s a note from BrokenCountry.com discussing the remarkable NY Times image of Barack Obama below.

The Times’ caption for the picture, which is attached to an article about Obama waiting for the health care vote, gives credit for a photograph and an illustration.

So, just to be clear, the New York Times is now functioning as the in-house political propaganda cartoonist for the Obama Administration.  Not that any of us expect better from the official newspaper of the Democratic Party, but still it’s a pathetic statement about American “journalism” today.

American Federation of Children: Tell Me Where to Sign Up for This New Group

by Eddie | 10:12 am, March 16, 2010

Education employees have their powerful lobbying interests representing them — to a lesser extent school board officials do, as well. So isn’t it about time we kids pay our dues and band together for a good education? That’s why I’m so excited about the brand new organization called the American Federation for Children.
Okay, well, it’s [...]

Reconciliation: Disdain For The Public, Disregard For Democracy

by Mr. Bob | 9:28 am, March 16, 2010

#teaparty #tcot #socialism #obamacare
I have said this probably 50 times, I knew the Democrats would over reach but I had no clue as to how far and how fast they would run with their majority…..they are tearing the Republic apart, I am praying that the American electorate’s usually short memory won’t be so short this time.

For certain this will change the face of the Democratic party forever.

From M. Medved; The legislative tactic known as “reconciliation” uses a soothing word to mask an ugly reality. Far from the dictionary definition of “restoring to friendship and harmony,” the Congressional term “reconciliation” suggests the spurning of cooperation and the brute use of partisan power. Worst of all, in the case of Obamacare, it also involves a dangerous, destructive violation of democratic principle.
The original idea of reconciliation, first employed in 1980, involved desperate efforts during the Carter era to bring the exploding federal deficit under control –a goal embraced by both political parties. As the New York Times described it (March 7, 2010): “Reconciliation was intended to be a narrow procedure to bring revenues and spending into conformity with the levels set in the annual budget resolutions.” Appropriately, the earliest examples of the procedure drew overwhelming bi-partisan support. READ THE REST

Support Clear The Bench Colorado at your Precinct Caucus tonight!

by CTBC Director | 9:12 am, March 16, 2010

Tonight is the night that Colorado citizens of all political persuasions (at least those registered with a political party) have the opportunity to make their voices heard and influence their respective party’s choice of candidates in the elections, at their local precinct caucus.  The precinct caucuses are the most direct interaction that the majority of [...]

“Countrywide Chris” Dodd introduces financial “reform” bill

by Rossputin | 8:44 am, March 16, 2010

In an apparent attempt to get one last piece of financial market destruction (as if his championing, along with Barney Frank, of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hadn’t done enough damage), Senator Chris Dodd proposed over 1300 pages of financial regulatory “reform” yesterday, abandoning any pretense of bipartisan cooperation.

Dodd’s work carries on a consistent Democrat theme:  Big is bad, except for Big Labor.  Big Insurance is bad.  Big Energy is bad.  And now Big Finance is bad.

Dodd’s bill would allow the government to break up large healthy financial firms if some unelected bureaucrat thinks the firm could some day pose a systemic risk.  All this after we watched the destruction of Lehman Brothers, one of the most interconnected firms on Wall Street, happen with almost zero ripple effect that would be noticeable to the average citizen or the economy.

Dodd’s bill increases the power of the Fed to regulate large banks.  Let me make this clear: This is a terrible, terrible idea.  The Fed must, to be credible, remain in all aspects as free from politics as possible.  Bernanke has already presided over far too much politicization of the Fed.  The last thing we need is an area as politically explosive as the regulation of large, politically powerful banks being put in the hands of the Fed.

In effect, the bill penalizes a firm for becoming successful.  It also directly attacks firms which make money from proprietary trading, i.e. trading and risk the firm’s own money.  If there is anything good to be said here, it is harkening back to the parable of the frog and the scorpion.  Goldman Sachs would be one of the biggest victims of this  law…and they’ve been one of the biggest supporters of Democrat politicians, including The One and Chris Dodd.  If their anti-capitalist politics come back to damage their profitability, it would be hard not to see a little karmic justice involved.  Unfortunately, the cost to the nation is too high to let that tidbit of pleasure cause me to support Dodd’s latest government power grab.

Dodd also plans to set up a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, something which would almost instantly become a massive conservative (in the sense of opposing innovation) sclerotic bureaucracy which would accomplish little of benefit but come at great cost, both direct and indirect.  As if the concept of CFPA isn’t bad enough, Dodd wants to make it a division of the Fed.

Chris Dodd is a perfect example of a politician with little grasp of reality and a huge desire for a legacy with his name on it.  Now that he’s decided not to run – knowing he’d probably lose, in part because of his apparent corruption in getting a sweetheart mortgage deal and his involvement in the real estate bubble which became the financial panic and collapse of 2008.

Ken Buck, Andrew Romanoff look strong in tonight’s caucuses, but so what?

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 7:15 am, March 16, 2010

Republican and Democrat activists may give Ken Buck and Andrew Romanoff minor upset victories in the preference straw polls at their parties’ caucuses tonight, but unless they can raise a lot more money than they have so far, the caucuses probably won’t mean much. Politico quotes several Colorado political observers who all downplay the significance of the caucuses for Buck and Jane Norton, the Republicans, and Romanoff and appointed Sen. Michael Bennet, the Democrats. What they don’t point out, as I have several times, is that underfunded candidates like Buck and Romanoff, never have won the gubernatorial or Senate contests in Colorado. Click on this story’s headline to see the impact graphs:

Colorado House Bill 1021: Mandatory maternity coverage

by Brian Schwartz | 1:30 am, March 16, 2010

Colorado Democrat politicians continue their assault on affordable insurance, this time mandating more coverages that policy holders may not want or need.  From the Denver Business Journal:
Insurance providers will be required to offer contraceptive coverage in all policies and maternity care in a majority of policies under a bill that received final approval [...]

How much do public schools really cost?

by Brian T. Schwartz | 11:06 pm, March 15, 2010

An eye-opening video from Cato:

For more, see Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom.
Cato did a very good job here of communicating research results in a quick and digestible way that appeals to those with either visuals or auditory learning modalities.

Tuesday @ noon: Honk against health care takeover

by Brian T. Schwartz | 10:39 pm, March 15, 2010

From Americans for Prosperity:
1.  Go to Honkno.com and sign up to take part in the ”Honk Against the Health Care Takeover” event at 12 Noon your time [Tuesday].  It’s simple and fun.  You go to the website, punch in your zip code and up pops the closest congressional district offices to you.  You can print [...]

Health care “reform” bill is immoral & won’t work

by Brian Schwartz | 9:50 pm, March 15, 2010

[[If your on Patient Power's front page, scroll down for more recent posts.]

Here’s a summary of arguments against so-called health care “reform,” specifically, the Senate Bill, HR 3590.  It might be useful when contacting a member of Congress (e.g., those on the fence).   The bracketed numbers refer to the reference list at the end.  (To [...]

Two Democrats on an Escalator

by Al Maurer | 8:15 pm, March 15, 2010

Tuesday is caucus night in Colorado.  We’ve been working toward this for months and I’m really excited to see it go well.  This is when we begin to pick those candidates who will replace the leftists in Denver and Washington.
No time to focus on anything else, so here’s a bit of levity. This apparently isn’t [...]

Channel 9News gives Jane Norton’s ad its ‘Truth Test’

by Donald E. L. Johnson | 7:59 pm, March 15, 2010

On FaceBook, U.S. Senate candidate Jane Norton says the negative ads that backers of Ken Buck are running against her have been found by 9News to be untrue. And she links to 9News’ ‘Truth Test,’ which doesn’t discuss the ads that are attacking Norton. Instead, the ‘Truth Test’ evaluates a TV ad being run by Norton. In that ad, she claims that she controlled spending in Colorado, but 9News says, “This isn’t true and here’s why.” Read the whole post and you’ll probably conclude that Norton has stretched to find “savings” that she could claim in response to Taxpayers for Liberty’s ads, which falsely accuse her of inflating government budgets. Both Buck and Norton need to be honest with voters. Basically, 9News is saying Norton hasn’t had the power to increase or cut government spending during her bureaucratic and political careers.

Obama’s Progressive Fatal Conceit

by Brian Schwartz | 12:00 pm, March 15, 2010

Writes George Will:
Progressives are forever longing to replace the governance of people by the administration of things. Because they are entirely public-spirited, progressives volunteer to be the administrators, and to be as disinterested as the dickens. …
Professor Obama, who will seek reelection on the 100th anniversary of Wilson’s 1912 election, understands, [...]

Peak Freedom Fest!

by Jon Caldara | 11:55 am, March 15, 2010

The Limited Government Forum and The Center for the Study of Government and the Individual present…
PEAK FREEDOM FESTIVAL!
This great freedom event is a day long celebration of the ideas that made America great. Festivities will be held in Colorado Springs at the swank Cheyenne Mountain Resort on May 8th, 2010.
Click here for the flyer.
Guest [...]

National Council on Teacher Quality Affirms Me on Colorado’s Race to the Top

by Eddie | 10:16 am, March 15, 2010

No need for me to rehash my concerns about Governor Bill Ritter’s Council on Educator Effectiveness. My views hardly have changed over the weekend.
But since I have to wake up on a Monday morning, the only thing better than a snow day is seeing my views validated by an important expert group like the National [...]

Contact Congress to vote “No” on health care “reform”

by Brian T. Schwartz | 8:18 am, March 15, 2010

Big week for health care.  The U.S House of Representatives is likely to vote this week in a bill that includes the Senate Health Bill, HR 3590.  Paul Hsieh M.D has written an update on the recent political machinations with links to contact information & summary arguments.  Remember, Markey and Degette from [...]

March Pre-Caucus Survey Winners: Ken Buck, Dan Maes, Citizen Action

by Ben DeGrow | 8:13 am, March 15, 2010

On the eve of Colorado Republican caucus gatherings, which this year include a preference poll of statewide candidates (governor, U.S. Senate), here’s a possible glimpse ahead with the release of our March survey results from the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. Major headlines:

Ken Buck Wins Majority of Votes, Widens Lead Over U.S. Senate Field
50 Percent [...]

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