The Colorado Index

Leadership Program of the Rockies Retreat Info

If you still believe in liberty, and strive towards an impactful life, you're not alone.   Annual LPR Retreat / March 6 - 7, 2009 / The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs Retreat Information Individual Sponsorships Corporate Sponsorships Register Now: Full packages and a la carte pricing We live in turbulent times in America when entrepreneurs are labeled as greedy, capitalism is shunned as a failed experiment, and personal responsibility is dismissed as old-fashioned. These dangerous attacks on our nation’s core principles are growing in intensity. At the Annual Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) Retreat you will energize your ideology, network with the “who’s who” in Colorado’s public policy, hear from nationally-renowned experts, and be more equipped to impact your community, state and nation. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED: RETREAT ANNOUNCEMENTS: First time $50.00 "Student Rate" Tickets to Friday Sessions, Friday General Reception, and Saturday Sessions.  There are a limited number available, so spread the word to college students. (Students must show valid I.D. to qualify. Admission doesn't include lunch or dinner events.) Jonah Goldberg will be doing a book signing of his new book, Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning(Random House/Doubleday). His first book, is a #1 New York Times and Amazon bestseller and remains the bestselling – and most controversial -- new political book of 2008.

Doug Lamborn Press Releases

January 30, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 30, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Lamborn Announces New Website Detailing  Economic Recovery Plan http://republicanwhip.house.gov/jobs WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) today announced the launch ofhttp://republicanwhip.house.gov/jobs, a new website outlining the House Republican Economic Recovery Plan. The website details the smarter, simpler stimulus plan proposed by House Republicans that will create twice the jobs at half the price of the economic package that Democrats forced through the House despite bipartisan opposition.       “The huge growth of our national debt that the Democrat spending bill  produces disturbs me greatly. House Republicans have a much more prudent alternative, focusing on business and individual tax incentives that would not only pump money immediately into the economy, but unlike one-time rebates actually give businesses the ability to make long term plans. This is what creates permanent job growth for the people of Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District.” – Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)   House Republicans are committed to an open and transparent exchange of ideas to find the best solutions to get the U.S. economy back on track. The House Republican Economic Recovery Plan contains the constructive, common-sense ideas that should be included in any stimulus legislation.   "The House Republican plan is smart, simple, and stimulative at half the price of the Democratic Majority’s proposal. It is laser focused on helping working families and small businesses while protecting, preserving and creating jobs. Our goal is to get America back on track without saddling future generations with trillions in debt or higher taxes. Let me say it again – the House Republican plan has no waste, just jobs.”—Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07), Leader of the House Republican Stimulus Working Group that crafted the recovery plan.   The House Republican Economic Recovery Plan   Immediate Tax Relief for Working Families: Rather than a refundable credit based on payroll taxes, House Republicans propose reducing the lowest individual tax rates from 15% to 10% and from 10% to 5%. As a result every taxpaying-family in America will see an immediate increase in their income with an average benefit of $500 in tax relief from the drop in the 10% bracket and $1,200 for the drop in the 15% bracket. A married couple filing jointly could save up to $3,200 a year in taxes.   Real Help for America’s Small Businesses: Small businesses (those employing less than 500 individuals) employ about half of all Americans, yet they can be subject to tax rates that siphon away one-third or more of their income. House Republicans propose to allow small business to take a tax deduction equal to 20% of their income. This will immediately free up funds for small businesses to retain and hire new employees.   No Tax Increases to Pay for Spending: The stimulus proposal pending in Congress includes record levels of government spending that will substantially increase the current deficit. House Republicans are concerned that this level of spending will result in new tax increases on American working families. House Republicans are insisting that any stimulus package include a provision precluding any tax increases now or in the future to pay for this new spending. House Republicans believe that any stimulus spending should be paid for by reducing other government spending, not raising taxes.   Assistance for the Unemployed: Incredibly, the Federal Government actually imposes income taxes on an individual receiving unemployment benefits. House Republicans propose to make unemployment benefits tax free so that those individuals between jobs can focus on providing for their families. The plan would also extend unemployment benefits for a full year.   Stabilizing Home Values: The real-estate market is paralyzed as potential buyers wait on the sidelines waiting for prices to fall even further. This is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. In order to encourage responsible buyers to enter the market and stabilize prices, House Republicans propose a home-buyers credit of $7,500 for those buyers who can make a minimum down-payment of 5%.    ### Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 28, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 28, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov STATEMENT ON LAMBORN’S ‘NO’ VOTE ON  MASSIVE DEMOCRAT SPENDING BILL Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) issued the following statement in regards to the passage of, H.R. 1, the Democrats’ massive spending bill.    “The Democrat leadership and President Obama think we can tax and spend and go into debt on our way back to prosperity. Throwing money at the problem will not work. Instead, we need swift, across-the-board tax cuts that create jobs and not just another bloated Washington spending spree that over-promises and under-delivers.    “Democrats claim this stimulus legislation will create or save three million jobs. When you do the math that means he wants to spend about $275,000 per job.  The average household income in the U.S. is $50,000 a year. That makes no sense economically. “Although the Democrat’s proposal has been billed as a transportation and infrastructure investment package, in reality only $90 billion of the bill – about 11 % – is for road and highway spending.  A recent study from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that only 25 percent of infrastructure dollars can be spent in the first year. In other words, by the time most of the spending actually happens, the economy will likely have rebounded on its own!   “Additionally, this bill is crammed full of questionable programs that do not create jobs, such as spending $335 million for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, and $6 billion for weatherization programs.    “We are facing economic difficulties and we need wise and responsible action. We must embrace the tried and true economic and market principles that gave us the greatest economy in the world. After ineffectively throwing money at the problem, it is time for a new approach. It is time truly invest in projects which will stimulate our economy.”—Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)   Despite President Obama’s personal appeal to Republicans, not a single Republican Congressman voted for this bill. The only bipartisan aspect of this legislation was the opposition to it. The vote showed every Republican and even some Democrats opposing this massive spending bill.    Congressman Lamborn has co-sponsored a comprehensive solution, H.R. 470, The Economic Recovery and Middle-Class Tax Relief Act, which promises broad, permanent incentives for economic growth. Specifically, this bill will support families through tax relief, provide economic relief for American businesses and entrepreneurs, and save future generations from a crushing debt burden.   To see a copy of this bill, click here.    # # # Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 28, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 28, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Congressman Lamborn Fights to Protect Coloradans fromGuantanamo Bay Detainees   Congressmen Doug Lamborn (CO-05) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to keep detainees from Guantanamo Bay out of Colorado. Lamborn, whose district includes the U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum (ADX) in Florence, also known as Supermax, is concerned the detainees pose an unacceptable risk to corrections officers and the residents of the surrounding communities.   From the letter:             “The United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum (ADX) … can house 490 inmates and currently has a dedicated population of 489, leaving room for only one additional inmate. Therefore, transferring more than one detainee to ADX Florence is not possible unless criminals already located at the facility are transferred to other facilities, which are not as secure at ADX Florence. “In addition, I am extremely concerned about security risks to the men and women who would guard suspected or convicted terrorists, many of whom have sworn to kill Americans whenever and wherever possible. The risk to the communities that house these facilities would also be unacceptable.” Lamborn disagrees with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s public pronouncements welcoming the Guantanamo detainees to the state, noting also that Ritter has no jurisdiction over placement of federal inmates. Click here to read the full letter. # # # Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 27, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 27, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov LAMBORN INTRODUCES AMENDMENT TO ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL   Today, Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) offered an amendment to the House Committee on Rules to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. His amendment would strike a $6.2 billion increase to the Weatherization Assistance Program and instead dedicate those funds for defense procurement.    “I believe H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is improperly focused on the use of taxpayers’ money and does little more than satisfy a wish list of liberal spending priorities. I would rather the money go to job-creating defense projects that would mean real jobs with real benefits to our national security. My amendment would provide for unfunded or underfunded defense programs that will give our servicemen and women on the ground with tools they need to execute their missions and ensure the defense of the United States.”—Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)      This amendment would strike an increase of $6.2 billion dollars from the Weatherization Assistance Program Amendments and transfer those funds to needed defense programs. It would also require theSecretary of Defense to provide, within 30 days, a list of programs that would receive funding.    Congressman Lamborn testified before the House Committee on Rules seeking to offer his amendment to H.R. 1 on the House floor.    ### Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 23, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 23, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Congressman Lamborn Statement on Executive Order to Close Guantanamo Bay “Dangerous terrorists captured on the battlefield should not be brought to Colorado from Guantanamo Bay. They want nothing more than to kill Americans. They pose an unacceptable and unprecedented threat to the men and women who would guard them and to the communities in which they would be placed. “There is absolutely no good reason for these terrorists to be brought to any place on American soil, whether before or after trial, much less to Colorado. Anyone who does not understand the seriousness of this threat is not putting the best interest of Coloradans first and foremost.” – Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) ### Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 23, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 23, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Lamborn Statement on President Obama’s  Promotion of Overseas Abortions Last Friday Lamborn authored a bi-partisan letter, signed by 78 Members of Congress, urging President Obama not to overturn the Mexico City Policy, which separates abortion and family planning in America’s foreign aid programs. This policy, first established by executive order in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, draws a bright line between family planning activities and abortion.This ensured that United States family planning funds are not co-opted by groups that promote abortion as a method of family planning. “I am deeply disappointed that President Obama is using the opening days of his administration to overturn a long-standing ban on using taxpayer dollars to promote abortions in overseas clinics. "President Obama’s decision to kill the Mexico City Policy will allow clinics in foreign countries to fund abortions using U.S. aid dollars. The controversial debate of abortion has no business being included in foreign aid programs.  The Mexico City policy makes it clear that abortions are not to be funded overseas with US tax dollars. "Because I believe in the sanctity of human life, I will continue to oppose the practice of elective abortion, especially when taxpayer money is used to fund this abhorrent practice abroad.” – Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05)   # # # Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here. January 22, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 22, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Peterson Air Force Base on Short List for New Numbered Air Force Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) today welcomed the Air Force’s decision to place Peterson AFB on the short list for the headquarters of 24th Air Force (24th AF), a new numbered Air Force focused on protecting our military’s cyber assets.   “For several reasons, Peterson Air Force Base is the ideal location for this new numbered Air Force. Peterson is already headquarters for the Air Force cyber space mission and it makes sense to locate the 24th AF with its mission command. Additionally, Colorado Springs is home to a sophisticated defense contracting community ready to support the cyber mission.   “This honor is the result of an exceptional team effort on the part of Colorado’s congressional delegation and community leaders in the district. As the Air Force moves forward with its review process, I am confident they will see the advantages of locating the 24th AF at Peterson AFB.   “While much work remains to be done in the coming months to secure the 24th AF, I know our team is up to the job.” - Congressman Doug Lamborn (C0-05)   The proposed bases (in alphabetical order) are Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Lackland AFB, Texas; Langley AFB, Va.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; Peterson AFB, Colo.; and Scott AFB, Ill.   In selecting a base from among the six candidate bases, Air Force officials will consider cyber Numbered Air Force mission synergy (including proximity to other cyber operational missions and access to scientific and technical expertise), and communication/bandwidth capabilities.  Other evaluation criteria include facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, security and transportation/access.  The Air Force applied the two most important evaluation criteria (cyber NAF mission synergy and communication/bandwidth capabilities) to provide the final candidate basing list above.   The Air Force intends to make a final base selection no later than the end of June 2009.    # # # Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here.

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January 21, 2009 Unsubscribe Update My Profile Congressman Doug Lamborn, 5th Congressional District of Colorado Website | Biography | Issues | 5th District | News | Constituent Services | Contact Doug January 21, 2009 Contact: Catherine Mortensen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office: 202.225.4422; Cell : 202.841.2653   Catherine.Mortensen@mail.house.gov Congressman Lamborn Leads Effort to Protect Life Urges President to Uphold Policy Banning Taxpayer–funded Overseas Abortions Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) is the lead author of a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to keep in place a long-standing policy that prevents taxpayer dollars from funding abortions in overseas clinics. The letter, signed by 78 Members of Congress, asks Obama to continue the Mexico City Policy, which separates abortion and family planning in America’s foreign aid programs. From the letter: “First developed in the Reagan Administration, this policy is important because it establishes a bright line between family planning activities and abortion, therefore ensuring that United States family planning funds are not co-opted by groups who promote abortion as a method of family planning. Such activities would send a wrong message overseas that the United States promotes abortion. “Under Mexico City policy, funding for family planning is not reduced by one penny. A policy against promoting abortion is only ‘anti-family planning’ if one assumes that abortion itself is a method of ‘family planning.’ This policy simply ensures that taxpayer money is not used overseas to fund highly controversial abortion providers.” # # # To see a copy of this letter, click here. Contact Congressman Doug Lamborn WASHINGTON OFFICE  437 Cannon HOB  Washington, DC  20515  Phone: (202) 225-4422  Fax: (202) 226-2638 DISTRICT OFFICE  3730 Sinton Road, Suite 150  Colorado Springs, CO  80907  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 DISTRICT OFFICE  415 Main Street  Buena Vista, CO  81211  Phone: (719) 520-0055  Fax: (719) 520-0840 To e-mail Representative Lamborn, Click Here.

Mr. Cellophane is Raising His Profile

When I began thinking about running against Dave Schultheis (a final decision won't be made until April), I did a Google Search and started a Google Alert.

He was invisible.  He could have sang "Mister Cellophane" in the musical "Chicago" with some credibility:  

Cellophane
Mister Cellophane
Shoulda been my name
Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there...

About two weeks before I wrote my essay, Kent Lambert announced at the beginning of a meeting supporting Kay Rendleman for County Chair that Dave Schultheis would arrive late.  He never showed. During the election I heard from him exactly once, when he held a joint meeting on the Amendments with Kent Lambert and Amy Stephens. 

Since I wrote my essay ten days ago, he has become a media star. He wore a black armband at the legislature; he sang a song at a protest gathering; he is publicly opposing a bill requiring drivers with more than five vehicles following them to pull over; and he is aghast that the state would spend $15,000 on a safety message in Spanish.  The Gazette opined on Wednesday that he had introduced an absolutely wonderful bill (not coincidentally the one that would havel allowed any Tom, Dick or Harry to force public officials into court-it got killed in committee on the 28th) and on Thursday he was singled out as being THE MAN standing up for an expansion of Make My Day.

You would almost think by reading The Gazette that Colorado Springs had no other legislators.

It's pretty funny, but none of this free publicity addresses his problem:  He is quite content to be a member of the minority in the legislature if becoming a member of the majority means that someone other than a social conservative were elected (gasp) anywhere in the state. 

Denver Newspapers Self Destructing

Imagine a world without both the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News.  It isn't beyond the realm of possibility that the recession could drive them both out of business.

The recession and some bad blood.  The Denver Post is calling it a "Newspaper War."

It is being reported that while Scripps, which owns the Rocky Mountain News and one half of the Denver Newspaper Agency, was eating $11 million in operating costs last year, The Denver Post was borrowing a similar amount from the DNA to meet its payroll.

In short, it appears that the Post was being subsidized by the Rocky without the Rocky's knowledge.

Now, the Post appears to be trying to interfere with the sale of the Rocky by publicly stating that it will buy the remainder of the DNA and refuse to publish the Rocky.

Lawsuitville, here we come.  If Scripps sues The Denver Post and wins, the Denver Post will likely have to be sold or closed.  Denver could be without a major newspaper.

Of course, there is that Federal bailout.  While the Democrats apparently think condom manufacturers don't need a bailout after all, they will be sympathetic to those who are and have been sympathetic to them.  We all pay.

Twelve, Zero, Two, Eleven, And Fifty-Eight

The House of Representatives passed President Barack Obama's "stimulus" package today.  The Wall Street Journal analyzes this bill here:

In selling the plan, President [ Barack ] Obama has said this bill will make "dramatic investments to revive our flagging economy." Well, you be the judge. Some $30 billion, or less than 5% of the spending in the bill, is for fixing bridges or other highway projects. There's another $40 billion for broadband and electric grid development, airports and clean water projects that are arguably worthwhile priorities.

Add the roughly $20 billion for business tax cuts, and by our estimate only $90 billion out of $825 billion, or about 12 cents of every $1, is for something that can plausibly be considered a growth stimulus. And even many of these projects aren't likely to help the economy immediately. As Peter Orszag, the President's new budget director, told Congress a year ago, "even those [public works] that are 'on the shelf' generally cannot be undertaken quickly enough to provide timely stimulus to the economy."

 Only twelve cents of every dollar are on actual stimulus projects.  No wonder the Heritage Foundation rebranded this "stimulus" bill as The Pelosi-Obama-Reid Trillion Dollar Debt Plan.

Exactly zero Republicans voted for this bill.  Kudos to the two Representatives from Colorado who opposed this bill: Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn.  President Barack Obama did make this a bipartisan vote on the bill.  After all, eleven Democrats voted with the Republicans against this bill.

In any event, the bill passed 244-186, a fifty-eight vote difference.  Elections have consequences, and the consequence here is that the President and the Democrat House leadership can pass any bill with no Republican support whatsoever.  However, they now have complete ownership of this expansion of government and the economic consequences thereof.

by Civil Sense

More Legislature Watch

Two good bills died yesterday in committee.

Recall last year when the unions put four poison pills on the ballot and then withdrew the on the promise of $3 million from business?

Rep Amy Stephens put forth a good government bill that would have made that illegal.  It died on a 6=5 party line vote, although one Democrat voted for it.

Likewise, a bill to require identification to register to vote died in another committee on a 4-3 party line vote.

I've been making the point for two years that the greatest power of the majority party is the power to stack the committees in the legislature.

When social conservatives want to "thin the ranks" of "weak Republicans," they forget that if those "weak Republicans" are in the legislature at the time the legislature is organized, the social conservatives will have more power, not less.

We all pay dearly for the losing strategy that social conservatives have insisted that the Republican Party play.

Another Issue That Dave Schultheis Didn't Think Through

The Denver Post reports that Senator Dave Schultheis is objecting to the Colorado Department of Transportation spending $15,000 for Spanish language seat belt ads.

"All these ads are going to do is provide one more assimilation off-ramp for new arrivals," Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, said today. "Bilingualism in our buckle-up ads — just like bilingualism in our schools — will only encourage the further balkanization of our culture, reduce the pressure on new immigrants to learn English and make it harder in the long run for immigrants to become Americans."

While I am not in favor of bilingualism in schools, I think that bilingual seat belt ads are a good, cost effective idea.

The department is holding a press conference to announce the TV ad campaign, its first ever Spanish ad campaign, on Tuesday. According to agency spokeswoman Stacey Stegman, 23 percent of all fatal-accident victims last year were Latino.

And of a total 80 Latinos who died in accidents last year, 59 were unbuckled.

"It's clear that expanded efforts are needed to increase safety-belt use within the state's Hispanic community," Stegman said.

The department said the ad campaign is aimed primarily at Latino men and urges them to protect themselves and their families.

[ Stacy ] Stegman said the ad cost about $15,000 to produce, and the agency hopes Spanish TV stations will run it for free.

Federal law says that anyone who shows up at an emergency room must be treated even if they don't have insurance.  If any of these 59 unbuckled Latinos were uninsured and lived long enough to get to an emergency room, and the odds are that some did, it cost Colorado insurance payers much more than $15,000 to treat him before he died.

We all pay for those "free" emergency room visits.

Spending $15,000 on effective bilingual safety ads has the potential to save a lot of money if it keeps even one uninsured Hispanic accident victim out of the hospital.  Ineffective ads in any language are a waste of money.

This is just another situation where Dave Schultheis allowed his poorly concealed prejudice against Hispanics to color his judgement.  

This kind of stuff hurts ALL Republicans because it makes Hispanic voters think we share Dave Schultheis" open prejudice.  In 2004 44% of Hispanics voted Republican.  In 2008, that number was down to 32%.  Dave Schultheis won't care if it drops another 12 points.

The Rule of 72 Can't be Repealed

It is very likely that few people have heard of the "rule of 72."  It deals with compound interest but it can be used to analyze the growth of government when elected officials try to grow government every year.

If you have a bank account that pays compound interest, you can quickly figure out how long it will take your money to double by dividing 72 by the interest rate.  Funds invested at 1% compounded will double in 72 years.  It only takes 12 years for the funds to double when the 6%.  They redouble every 12 years.  If you can manage to invest money at 6% for 72 years, your funds have grown to 64 times what they were at day one.

That same rule applies to the growth of government.  When, year after year, the governor of Colorado proposes a 6% growth in the size of government, he is saying that in 72 years he wants the government burden on taxpayers to be 64 times what it is today.

Tom Lucero Press Release

January 25, 2009

 

 

You did it! You passed Amendment 54 and in so doing are keeping Colorado ’s government clean, accountable and transparent.

 

Well, stemming from our success, I have been encouraged to run for Congress in Colorado ’s 4^th District. As you might recall, the 4^thDistrict Congressional seat was highly contested resulting in a turnover from Republican to Democrat.

 

And, yes, I have agreed to start campaigning again!

 

Since 1998 I have served as a state-wide elected member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. In 2004 I was re-elected to this post with 72% of the vote. As you may know, I am focused on a pro-growth agenda of limited government, economic prosperity, education excellence and energy independence for Colorado . I have filed the paperwork, established a website and gathered a few staff members to get things going.

 

Due to your help with Amendment 54, I’d like to include you as a supporter for my Congressional campaign. If you would like to learn more or agree with my intentions to help regain Republican control of the 4^th Congressional seat, please register your support with my campaign:

 

Tom Lucero for Congress

www.lucero2010.com

info@lucero2010.com

Tel: 970-660-4412

 

I am genuinely grateful for your time and consideration and hope to see you at the polls in 2010.

 

 

Appreciatively yours,

 

 

 

 

Tom Lucero

 

 

 

Don’t forget to contribute, everything helps!

 

Paying Attention to the Legislature

Newspapers are having a hard time financially.  Their model is labor intensive at a time when businesses that used to buy full page advertisements no longer do.http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2009a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/F0AE8982FBA5D4F287257539006586D4?open&file=083_01.pdf

Blogs can fill the gap.

Last evening, I spent some time reading bills whose titles or sponsors intrigue me.

I was amazed by one bill sponsored by Dave Schultheis, SB 09-083. 

Titled "Concerning restrictions on the use of public resources in political campaigns," it restricts speech by public officials and employees in a way that to call it draconian is an understatement.  

Under its provisions, public officials can only respond to unsolicited written questions about initiatives and they can spend no more than five dollars responding.  That isn't five dollars per question.  It is five dollars for all questions they may receive.

They can't do "analysis" on government time.  Their minds must be a complete blank slate until the initiative passes.  It is hard to see how that is enforceable.

Do we really want to silence public officials on the bad aspects of initiatives?  I think not.  We came close to having the initiative process destroyed when politicians didn't speak up about Amendment 43 and how bad it was until after it passed.

If anything, the public should have more information about initiatives, not less.

It is not clear that Dave Schultheis has thought through how it would impact him. Last year, he and two other local legislators had a public meeting where they gave their opinions on various proposed Amendments and Referenda.  That meeting was attended by two state employees who gave an introduction and short analysis of the Amendments.

That meeting would have been unlawful on several levels.  They couldn't have involved state employees.  They couldn't have allowed the legislative staff to attend or even study the initiatives well enough to explain them to the public. They couldn't have sent out a press release.  They could have responded to verbal questions because there is an "elected official" get out of jail paragraph, but that is all.

Best of all, if this meeting were repeated, the bill would make it easy to make Schultheis spend money defending in court what he did, and even what he didn't do.  There is no provision to prevent or discourage meritless complaints.

The bill is not well thought out and deserves an early death.  It is hard to believe that it was authored by a Republican.