State & Local Issues

By Kent Holsinger, Contributing Editor
Colorado is cracking down on conservation easements. At the same time, Governor Ritter has endorsed a plan to raise severance taxes to fund – conservation easements. With all due respect to G.K. Chesterton, perhaps the ridiculous can be ridiculed.

By Jon Anderson, Contributing Editor
If you are planning a trip to Las Vegas after November for some high stakes gambling, you may not need to leave Colorado. The Colorado Gaming Association has submitted a 2008 ballot initiative that would pave the way to raising existing bet limits by 475%, allow for 24-hour gambling operations, and add Vegas style craps and roulette to the existing gaming options. Essentially, they want to turn Colorado’s limited gaming towns into a western themed Atlantic City.

By Bob Beauprez
Doug DelForge gave his life to his country. He started working at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons plant at age 20, and stayed at the plant for 21 years. DelForge had his first surgery for brain tumors – meningioma – when he was 31, but continued working at the plant. His father was also Rocky Flats veteran.

By Colorado House Republican Leader Mike May
We are now less than a month away from the 2008 legislative session and House Republicans are once again committed to working diligently to protect Colorado’s economy, our children and our future. We have heard plenty of promises and have had plenty of time to study: It is time for real solutions. The following is just a brief look at how we intend to better our state. Some of our first goals involve our youngest residents.

By Bob Beauprez
During the 2007 session of the Colorado state legislature, the Democratic leadership rammed through Governor Ritter's proposal to "freeze" the residential property tax levy in the state, projecting that it would raise $48 million. Never mind that because it increases revenue to the state, this move appears to be a direct violation of TABOR, and thus is unconstitutional. Well, it looks like global warming – or at least the light of full disclosure – may be melting the ice caps on the governor's "freeze" scheme, too.

By Bob Beauprez
It's disgusting and shameful. Thousands of workers faithfully showed up every day at the former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant for more than 50 years. During the Cold War, they were on the front line as we matched nuclear muscle with the communists. Many of them have died of cancers connected to the exposures they endured, more are battling disease today, and countless more wait and wonder if they will be next. Yet, on June 12, the Federal Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) denied their petition requesting the federal government accept responsibility and provide coverage for their job related suffering.

By State Senator Andy McElhany
Our freshman governor complained at a news conference the other day that the recent Senate debate over his plan to raise Coloradans' property tax bills had turned into a "partisan fight." You bet it did, and we make no apologies for it.