Boulder’s “Climate Action Plan”: inefficient, ineffective
Directly reducing these threat from extreme temperature, coastal flooding, hurricanes, malaria, poverty, starvation, and water stress and promoting prosperity save more lives at lower cost than attempts involving emissions reductions.
SOPA: Another Flawed Effort to Make the Internet Behave
by Barry Fagin
When a piece of freedom-busting legislation has bipartisan support, you know we’re in trouble. As one humorist wrote, “Bipartisan support is when your ex and her lawyer agree you have a problem.”
The latest pile of bipartisan waste working its way through the bowels of Congress toward its ultimate destination is the Stop Online [...]
Tim Tebow: Fans should thank home school equal access laws
Pro-Bowl linebacker Jason Taylor: “It’s important to let the kids know, and the people who are holding the kids back know, that there’s a lot of kids with a lot of potential. … They just need a chance. … Look, the parents are still paying tax dollars. If [the students] can’t play in the school system, then give the tax money back.”
Jared Polis on U.S. Postal Service: end its “monopolistic protections and special treatment”
USPS, listen to what Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, wrote ten years ago. Ending “monopolistic protections and special treatment enjoyed by USPS” would “benefit … postal customers, postal employees, and businesses in the delivery sector. …
Technocrats violate our right to buy & sell incandescent light bulbs
Published in the American Physical Society newsletter: Congressman Rush Holt’s’ support of the light bulb ban embodies an elitism that supplants people’s right to choose with authoritarian dictates of a technocratic ruling class.
Prop. 103 supporters: You can still donate more of your own earnings to tax-funded schools
Published in the Boulder Daily Camera: Don’t fret if you supported Prop. 103. You’re still free to donate more of your earnings to tax-funded schools. You just can’t force others to do so. But if you really care about quality education, you’d want to choose the school to support.
Balancing Innovation, Accountability in Cyberschools
by Pam Benigno
Technological advances are continually creating new opportunities to effectively educate Colorado’s K-12 students through online learning. Colorado needs to look forward in protecting an environment for innovation, while balancing needed accountability for cyberschool operators.
Two decades of open public school enrollment have given Colorado families a gift that continues to be unwrapped. Today, Colorado [...]
Prop 103: What Is The Cost To Colorado Taxpayers?
by Barry Poulson
In November, Colorado citizens will vote on Prop 103 to increase taxes and earmark the revenue for education K-12. Prop 103 increases the personal income tax, the corporate income tax, and the statewide sales and use tax for the years 2012 through 2016.
The Fiscal Impact Statement prepared by the Colorado Legislative Staff estimates [...]
Occupy Wall Street, corporate greed, income equality, and democracy
Published in the Boulder Daily Camera: The “Occupy Wall Street” protesters’ opposition of corporate greed and demands for democracy and income equality are misguided.
An Analysis Of Proposition 103
Colorado’s Proposition 103 will raise state taxes $532 million in the first year and about $2.9 billion in the first five years. It proposes to raise the income tax rate on individuals and families, as well as small businesses, and simultaneously to raise the state sales tax rate. Proposition 103 is the only state issue on this fall’s ballot.
Proposition 103: What is the Cost to Colorado Taxpayers?
Proposition 103 is an initiative that will increase Colorado tax rates and require the state to spend the money on government schools. Prop 103 increases the personal income tax, the corporate income tax, and the statewide sales and use tax for the years 2012 through 2016.
The Fiscal Impact Statement prepared by Colorado’s Legislative Council Staff estimates the cost of the tax increase at $2.9 billion. However, the cost for Colorado taxpayers will be significantly greater than staff estimates. Legislative Council uses static analysis, measuring only the direct impact of the higher taxes on state revenue. They ignore the negative impact the tax increase will have on economic growth and jobs in Colorado.
Governor’s Energy Office Needs a Dose of Sunshine
The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) of the State of Colorado spent a total of $121,652,884.75 from January 2008 to November 2010. This report aims to clarify and provide transparency to the GEO’s spending. Despite best efforts, the exact nature of many of the expenditures remains unclear.
