What Old Media Looked Like, Sen. Mitchell on Sentencing Reform

by Jon Caldara | 10:20 am, April 20, 2012

Tune in on this lovely Friday evening to your favorite public access TV show – Devils Advocate – on Colorado Public Television channel 12 at 8:30pm. Tonight my guests are Dusty Saunders and Sen. Shawn Mitchell. First up, Dusty takes me back in time when the news media consisted of news print and 3 TV [...]

VIDEO: Teachers Matter Education Reform

by Jon Caldara | 10:16 am, April 18, 2012

Last week, our Education Policy Center hosted its first ever brown bag lunch with presentation on the research that informs educator effectiveness policies. The presenter was Manhattan Institute senior fellow and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor Dr. Marcus Winters. He shared with our audience the findings from his new book, Teachers Matter. After [...]

“Proud” to Pay? The GSA’s Proud to Accept

by Jon Caldara | 9:43 am, April 17, 2012

Perusing the Denver Post opinion section this morning, a bizarre headline caught my attention, “Proud to Pay Taxes in Colorado.” What a strange statement, especially in light of the recent scandals involving taxpayer subsidized Solyndra (and soon Vestas) and the General Services Administration (GSA). Why would anyone be proud to pay for those debacles? Anyway, [...]

Campaign Finance Laws, Local Denver Music Scene

by Jon Caldara | 3:56 pm, April 9, 2012

Attorney Mario Nicolais joined me to talk about defeating Colorado’s campaign finance laws.

David Barber joined me to talk about his new book, “Gigging.” In it, he tells stories about the local Denver music scene as it unfolded over …

By All Means Hick, Strike Away

by Jon Caldara | 1:39 pm, April 6, 2012

I read in the Post this morning that Governor Hickenlooper seems to be telegraphing his disapproval and potential veto of SB 124. SB 124 is a GOP sponsored bill that would expand Colorado’s tourism projects and allow for tax-increment financing (TIF) to fund all 6 pet projects at once. Not exactly the most free market [...]

Teachers Matter Education Event – 4/12

by Jon Caldara | 3:37 pm, April 5, 2012

You’re invited next Thursday, April 12, to our new Denver Freedom Embassy home for a special Brown Bag Lunch event on an important Colorado K-12 education issue. Dr. Marcus Winters, author of the new book Teachers Matter, will share his expert insights into the research on “educator effectiveness.” While that phrase makes me think of [...]

VIDEO: Rep. Swalm on Auditing RTD, Wayne Laugesen on Tebow and Manning

by Jon Caldara | 2:34 pm, April 2, 2012

Here’s Rep. Spencer Swalm on auditing RTD:

As if you hadn’t had enough Tim Tebow, here’s Wayne Laugesen on Tebow, Manning, and the Broncos season coming up:

Rep. Swalm on Auditing RTD, Wayne Laugesen on Tebow v. Peyton

by Jon Caldara | 10:54 am, March 30, 2012

Friday night means the Independence Institute’s public affairs TV show Devil’s Advocate on Colorado Public Television 12. First, state representative Spencer Swalm sits down with me to talk about his recent request for an audit of the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Then Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette swings by to [...]

VIDEO: Dave Kopel on CNN

by Jon Caldara | 9:42 am, March 30, 2012

Dave woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to make an appearance on CNN to discuss the ever so popular topic, Stand Your Ground laws. In the video below, Dave makes the point that in the case of George Zimmerman shooting Treyvon Martin, Florida’s Stand Your Ground law (which sets the same standard [...]

Welcome to the Party… We’ve Been Here For Years

by Jon Caldara | 10:35 am, March 29, 2012

Independence Institute research director Dave Kopel reminds everyone on his website that the Independence Institute was some of the first to attend the “Obamacare is unconstitutional” dance party. Thankfully, many more of have joined us since those early days, but it’s worth taking a look back at the scholarship we’ve amassed for the last two-plus [...]

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