We Could Start By Repealing ObamaCare

by Joshua Sharf | 8:21 pm, January 18, 2011

President Obama claims in this morning’s Wall Street Journal to want to reduce the regulatory burden on American business, and so has ordered a review: This order requires that federal agencies ensure that regulations protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth. And it orders a government-wide review of the rules already on [...]

Poll results: lasting impact of Tucson

by Rossputin | 5:11 pm, January 18, 2011

Thanks to those who participated in my poll asking “Will the Tucson massacre have lasting political impact?”

Results, in brief:

1/3 of you said there would be no lasting impact
20% said it just hurts the left
20% said it just hurts gun rights
Only 10% said it just hurts the right
And nobody said it only hurts Sarah Palin

Thanks again to those who cast their votes.

New Air of Civility? Minority Leader Sal Pace Uses Fighting Words

by Mr. Bob | 4:22 pm, January 18, 2011

Speaking to a union crowd about Republicans Pace said “I’m willing to put my fist where I need to put it, I’m willing to fight. I’m willing to go and rumble to make sure we’re fighting for good jobs.”Pace also said “If we let the other si…

Knowing how your legislators vote–the most basic transparency

by Michael | 3:32 pm, January 18, 2011

Voters and residents of South Carolina move closer to finally being able to know how their legislators vote on issues critical and mundane alike, after a bill passed unanimously in the state’s lower chamber:
South Carolina law would require legislators to take a roll call on most of their votes under a proposal fast-tracked by House [...]

DMYR January General Meeting feat. State of the Union and Deputy AG Geoff Blue

by Brett Moore | 3:00 pm, January 18, 2011

Join the Denver Metro Young Republicans on Tuesday, January 25th for the first General Meeting of the New Year and the 2012 Election Cycle! This month we will be watching, discussing, and dissecting President Obama’s State of the Union Address as a group. We will also hear from former DMYR President and current Deputy Attorney [...]

Independence Institute Weekend Print Media Wrap-Up

by Mike Krause | 11:59 am, January 18, 2011

The Independence Institute scored an opinion editorial triple-play over the long holiday weekend, publishing articles by three different Independence Institute authors in three different Colorado newspapers over a three day period.
First, check out Senior Fellow Rob Natelson in Saturday’s Colorado Springs Gazette on statist politicians’ highly selective calls for civility. Next, Citizens’ Budget project director [...]

Online Schools and Otherwise, More Colorado Families Using Open Enrollment

by Eddie | 11:18 am, January 18, 2011

This morning Education News Colorado has published an important story by Nancy Mitchell on the growing number of families opting to enroll students in public education programs outside their district of residence:
This fall, 66,296 students are “choicing out” of their home district. That’s 8 percent of the state’s 843,316 pupils; in 2001, the comparable figure [...]

Ritter’s "New Energy Economy" Based on Old Fallacies

by Ari Armstrong | 10:33 am, January 18, 2011

The following article originally was published January 11 by the Independence Institute. The Institute’s Jon Caldara offered additional commentary. The article also was published by Denver Daily News and Colorado Daily.If you think corporate welfare “c…

China vs US in animation and rap

by Rossputin | 9:10 am, January 18, 2011

H/T Rusty S.

I think you’d have to agree these speak for themselves…

 

Colorado Medicaid reform: federal matching funds promote waste

by Brian Schwartz | 7:00 am, January 18, 2011

When Medicaid & the Child’s Health Plan spend $1 from a Colorado taxpayer, the federal government gives them $1 taken from a taxpayer in another state. Program administrators are rewarded for spending more and punished for spending less. Replacing matching funds with block grants would remedy this.

CO Rep Learns That People Spend Money on Things They Want

by PerlStalker | 10:15 pm, January 17, 2011

Colorado State Representative Dan Pabon is shocked, shocked!, to learn that when you give people money, they spend it on what they want and not on what you want them to spend it on.

Freshman Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, has introduced a bill that would…

When Government Pays the Bills, Patients Suffer

by PerlStalker | 9:51 pm, January 17, 2011

Right Girl points out a story from the Guardian wherein they report that the UK’s National Health Service is refusing to authorize surgeries for gallstones and tonsils, among other things, in order to cut costs. It was a comment she made, though, that …

Eric Fuller – History of Left Wing Nut Job

by Mr. Bob | 6:00 pm, January 17, 2011

#fuller #moonbat #teaparty #tcot
Fuller has a history of being an angry antagonist, especially during elections. So far we have two moonbats in the shooting, the one who did the shooting and now Eric Fuller who is threatening to do more of the same. Pe…

Surprise, Surprise: John Hickenlooper Calls Todd Shepherd On 850 KOA

by Ben DeGrow | 3:44 pm, January 17, 2011

Kudos to my friend and colleague Todd Shepherd (of Complete Colorado fame) for catching a surprise exclusive live interview with Colorado’s new governor. In the middle of hosting the Sunday afternoon show on 850 KOA, Todd’s jaw hit the floor when none other than John Hickenlooper heard his name being discussed and called in to [...]

Dear Wichita: Look to Colorado for Financial Transparency Examples

by Eddie | 1:22 pm, January 17, 2011

Today is one of those terrific days when I’ve discovered a great new education blog. I’m talking about Education Debate at Online Schools, authored by the mysterious Matthew. He got my attention by linking to a post I wrote and calling me “the sharpest 5 year old in the entire education debate.” Let me tell [...]

NTU’s Stephenson Visits Colorado

by Ari Armstrong | 9:48 am, January 17, 2011

John Stephenson from the National Taxpayers Union recently addressed Liberty In the Books in Denver.Following are some of his remarks:”We are the nation’s oldest, and one of its largest, grass-roots taxpayer advocacy groups.”"We’ve been focused a lot o…

SOTU: United we sit?

by Rossputin | 8:09 am, January 17, 2011

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/01/17/united-we-sit

Colorado Democrat Senator Mark Udall has put forward the oh-so-Boulder idea that politicians of both parties should intermingle for their State of the Union address seating on January 25th. Udall, and his letter’s cosigners suggest that “partisan seating arrangements at State of the Union addresses serve to symbolize division instead of the common challenges we face in securing a strong future for the United States” and further that “the choreographed standing and clapping of one side of the room – while the other side sits – is unbecoming of a serious institution.”

Please read the rest of my article at the web site of the American Spectator:
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/01/17/united-we-sit

Colorado House Bill 1025: repeal hospital provider fee

by Brian Schwartz | 7:00 am, January 17, 2011

Colorado Springs Representative Jakek Joshi has introduced House Bill 11-1025, which would repeal the hospital provider tax created by HB 1293.

Slipshod Reporting on Rare Earths & Solar

by Joshua Sharf | 11:39 pm, January 16, 2011

The Denver Post this morning reports that a lack of rare earths may be inhibiting the domestic solar cell industry.  How this is so, they never quite describe.  There’s no calculation, for instance, of what percent of a solar panel’s production cost comes from rare earths.  Possibly, this is because rare earths aren’t actually used in the [...]

I Volunteer Cheri Jahn

by Joshua Sharf | 7:47 pm, January 16, 2011

Governor Hickenlooper has deservedly won praise for his idea of a “regulatory impact statement” for new regulations.  Such a statement would estimate the costs to business of new regulations, and be a good step towards an actual cost-benefit analysis of new rules.  Legislative Council already does something similar in the form of fiscal notes to [...]

1/13 Pt 1 – Heritage Foundation’s J.D. Foster on tax cuts

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 7:00 pm, January 16, 2011

In Part One of the 1/13 edition of Seng Center, host Jimmy Sengenberger is joined by Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow J.D. Foster to break down the relationship
between tax cuts and economic growth. Just why are tax rates so
important when it come…

1/13 Pt 2 – Sheriff Grayson Robinson on the Tucson Tragedy

by Jimmy Sengenberger | 6:00 pm, January 16, 2011

In Part Two of the 1/13 edition of Seng Center, Sheriff Grayson Robinson gives host Jimmy Sengenberger his take on the Tucson Tragedy.  The Arapahoe County Sheriff reacts to Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s accusations against talk radio, exp…

Backbone Radio, January 16, 2011 – Immigration, state budgets, education, and goat cheese

by Rossputin | 9:21 am, January 16, 2011

Audio archives for this show:

Segment 1 – Intro, Udall’s SOTU Seating Chart; Helen Krieble and the Red Card Solution
Segment 2 – Helen Krieble; Michael Amen of the Ugly Goat Milk Company
Segment 3 – Bill Moloney discusses education reform
Segment 4 – Krista’s thoughts
Segment 5 – Penn Pfiffner on the Colorado Citizens’ Budget (in studio)
Segment 6 – Jeannie Schroder with band Devotchka; closing thoughts

Please join Krista Kafer, guest-hosting for Ross Kaminsky, on this week’s Backbone Radio. We have a full lineup of fascinating guests and intriguing topics.

We’ll talk with Helen Krieble, businesswoman and philanthropist, who has devised a possible solution to the immigration dilemma. Creator of the Red Card Solution, Ms. Krieble was a participant in the Centennial Institute debate on immigration this past Wednesday.  You’ll hear why she generated both applause and skepticism.s

Penn Pfiffner of the Independence Institute will talk to us about the Colorado Citizen’s Budget. The new governor and members of the Colorado General Assembly would do well to follow this roadmap as they drive into the wilderness of budget cuts.

Given the lean outlook for this year’s revenues, former Education Commissioner Bill Moloney will talk about his recent Centennial Institute policy brief “Much Better Schools on Much Lower Budgets: A Primer for Colorado Policymakers.” He believes the current budget shortfall may provide an unforeseen opportunity to make real changes in the state’s stagnant public school system.

We’ll also hear from Jeanie Schroder, the beautiful and talented string base and sousaphone player from Colorado indie band Devotchka, one of the bands that played at the inaugural concert. Praised by the new governor, Devotchka will release a new album on March 1. What makes this unique band tick? We’ll find out.

We’ll also take a short time out to hear from a small business owner on what it’s like to start a dairy and poultry farm from scratch. The Ugly Goat Milk Company is where I go for the yummiest cheese and free range eggs. The secret is out.  [Note from Ross: I didn’t know goats laid eggs!]

In between we’ll find some time to talk about newly proposed legislation, Senator Udall’s goofy “let’s all sit together” proposition, liberal efforts to squelch free speech, and whatever else tickles our fancy.

Please join the show by listening to (and calling in to) this week’s Backbone Radio program from 5 PM to 8 PM on 710 AM KNUS in Denver and 1460 AM KZNT in Colorado Springs.

If you’re not in range of the radio waves, you should be able to listen to the show online by clicking HERE.

Again, we hope you’ll actively participate in the conversation by calling the studio at 303 696 1971.

Backbone Radio, January 16, 2011 – Immigration, state budgets, education, and goat cheese

by Rossputin | 7:22 am, January 16, 2011

For a preview of this Sunday’s edition of Backbone Radio, please visit the Backbone web page here: http://rossputin.com/blog/backbone.php/backbone-radio-january-16-2011Link to Original post at Rossputin.com.

Colorado Medicaid reform: federal matching funds promote waste

by Brian T. Schwartz | 12:48 am, January 16, 2011

When Medicaid & the Child’s Health Plan spend $1 from a Colorado taxpayer, the federal government gives them $1 taken from a taxpayer in another state. Program administrators are rewarded for spending more and punished for spending less. Replacing matching funds with block grants would remedy this.

Isenberg Doesn’t Run

by Joshua Sharf | 9:11 pm, January 15, 2011

According to the Denver Post, Sage Hospitality CEO Walter Isenberg has decided not to run in the upcoming Denver mayoral election.  Isenberg would probably have tried to use the route that Hickenlooper pioneered: businessman who knows how to create jobs and understand financials.  It would have been unique in this field of candidates, with all [...]

Blame and Hate

by PerlStalker | 4:23 pm, January 15, 2011

I haven’t blogged about the tragedy in Tuscon last week for a couple of reasons. The first was simply that there’s wasn’t enough information for any meaningful discourse when it happened. The second was a crazy week at work that included 15 and 16 hour…

Colorado State of the Judiciary: “lean and efficient” courts or “Judicial Hellhole?”

by CTBC Director | 4:11 pm, January 15, 2011

Newly appointed Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender (who was retained in office by the most narrow margin in Colorado history for an incumbent state supreme court justice along with his colleague, and ideological ally, Alex Martinez) delivered his first “State of the Judiciary” address before a joint session of the Colorado General Assembly on [...]

A high price for access

by Amy Oliver | 2:03 pm, January 15, 2011

Denver Post political investigative reporter Chuck Plunkett asks a thousand dollar question: Is $1,050 an unreasonable amount to pay for access to public records? As a diehard proponent of open, transparent government obviously I think the cost is out of line.
In my experience with open records request, I have found that charges vary from agency [...]

The Chairman, the Party, and the Candidates

by Joshua Sharf | 3:59 pm, January 14, 2011

After the election, Dick Wadhams sent out an email discussing the role of the party in vetting candidates for office.  Dick was roundly criticized for the mess that the Republican side of the governor’s race became, largely for his failure to properly “vet” candidates for that office.  He makes the point – rightly – that [...]

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