Yes, Numbers Look Smaller When You Subtract 1/3

by Jon Caldara | 1:28 pm, November 2, 2012

The education funding mafia is making a sport of touting false education spending numbers in order to scare voters into voting for higher taxes. They continue to spread the lie that Colorado ranks near the bottom in per pupil funding, and often cite the statistic “$6,500 per pupil.” Meanwhile, if they cared to look at [...]

Report Challenges K-12 Tax Hikes

by Jon Caldara | 4:03 pm, September 27, 2012

School districts seeking tax increases face the challenge of persuading voters whose incomes have taken a harder hit in recent years. Senior education policy analyst Ben DeGrow’s colorful, two-page issue backgrounder “Colorado K-12 Tax Hikes Challenged” shows four of the five largest school districts with mill levy and/or bond issues on the ballot increased per-student [...]

2012 Transparency Legislation

by Amy Oliver | 9:59 pm, January 22, 2012

Transparency is still an issue at the state capitol. Early in this 2012 legislative session, three bills could provide taxpayers with additional transparency in government.
HB12-1009 Federal Funds Transparency Act
House Sponsors: Cheri Gerou (R-HD 25)
Senate Sponsors: Kent Lambert (R-SD 9 )
This bill seeks additional information than is currently provided on how each department and agency of [...]

Audio/Visual Presentation: K-12 Education – Follow the Money $$$

by Jon Caldara | 11:54 am, December 2, 2011

I bet you’ve long wondered how Colorado funds its K-12 education. Well, wonder no more my friends. If you’ve got a spare 20 minutes, I encourage to listen to our Education Policy Center’s Ben DeGrow break the whole thing down here. While you’re listening you can follow along with a PowerPoint presentation as well. Audio [...]

Using “for the kids” to sell tax increases in Colorado

by Kelly Maher | 11:48 pm, October 28, 2011

Tax increase proposals in Colorado often seem to come under the guise “for the children,” as is the case with Proposition 103, the proposal on the Nov. 1 ballot to raise taxes $2.9 billion over the next five years.

School Voucher Forum: Independence v. ACLU

by Jon Caldara | 3:00 pm, September 29, 2011

I want to alert my readers of an event happening this Wednesday, October 5th from 8 to 9:15am. The South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce will be holding a forum on the real world impact school vouchers have on education. On one side will be our Education Policy Analyst Ben DeGrow and on the other [...]

NEW LOCATION/NEW TIME FOR AUG. 15 MEETUP!!!

by redrocks | 5:53 pm, August 9, 2011

August 15th Meetup is 5:30 – 7:30 pm at Rock Rest Lodge!
Jessica Peck Corry – from the Center of the World!
The “We’re a AAA Country” Party!
We can’t wait!!! A new “crib” and two powerhouses in the world of political analysis! We’re hoping you love the new venue we’re trying out — Rock Rest [...]

Ben DeGrow On The Budget Battle In Madison

by Mike Krause | 12:15 pm, February 22, 2011

Over at the Education News Colorado website, Independence Institute education policy analyst Ben DeGrow takes up the side of Wisconsin taxpayers and fiscal sanity in a point/counter-point debate about the ongoing and momentous political battle over the future of public-sector union influence in Wisconsin.
Money quote from Ben:
The proposals championed by Governor Scott Walker [...]

Independence Institute Writers In The News

by Mike Krause | 11:25 am, January 26, 2011

Independence institute writers have opinion pieces published today on both education innovation in Colorado, and the prospects for repealing a health care tax not so cleverly disguised as a fee.
First, in today’s Colorado Springs Gazette, education policy analyst Ben DeGrow writes on innovative ideas at Falcon District 49 designed to “empower families, to streamline bureaucracy [...]

Look for Me at Mount Virtus

by Night Twister | 10:31 pm, April 25, 2010

Because I don’t have time to post regularly, I’ve decided to put my own blog on hold for awhile. It will remain up so you can view previous diaries, but I won’t be posting new content here any more, at least not for a long time. My friend and fellow blogger Ben Degrow [...]

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