Colorado Springs Chamber Legislative Watch

Legislative Watch Write Up; May 10th

2010-05-12T13:38:00.001-07:00

The Legislative Watch Council met Friday for our last meeting of the session to review legislation on behalf of the business community. The 2010 legislative session will wrap up this Wednesday, May 12^thwhich means there are only 3 days left. The Chamber would like to send a special thank you to all the members of our Legislative Watch Council for their hard work and time spent helping support and defend the business community – Thank you LWC!

LWC reviewed HB10-1430; New K-12 Ed Assessment System Representative Solano and Senator Hudak. Education is a key driver for workforce quality and for overall economic health. This bill would derail SB 191, which the Chamber’s LWC had voted to support earlier in the session, by removing the assessments that should be used to judge teacher effectiveness. The bill takes the state of our federal compliance by eliminating the 9^th grade CSAP, and instead replaces it, and the ACT, with a yet to be created "postsecondary and workforce readiness assessment." While the bill sponsors claim it will save money, the creation of an entirely new assessment program would most likely end up with an increase in costs, not a decrease. The LWC voted to oppose this bill, stating that Colorado doesn’t need to create an entirely new program from scratch when one is already in use.

The next bill up for consideration was HB10-1409; State Employee Compensation by Representative Pommer and Senator Tapia. This bill proposes to change Colorado State workers from a strictly performance-based system to a "progressive step" structure. Legislative Watch Council members believe that it will in effect take performance out of compensation, and a higher cost to keep the same numbers of employees to the state budget. After discussion the LWC voted to oppose this bill as likely to increase the cost of government while creating unfair competition between the state and private employers.

At last week’s LWC meeting we discussed HB10-1429; Legislative Review Of Tax Benefits by Representative Paul Weissmann. His proposal would have mandated that the House and Senate annually review the specific business tax credits and tax incentives to decide if they should be continued, repealed, or modified. The LWC was quite alarmed by the proposal, believing that it singled out business when there should be a comprehensive look at all of Colorado’s tax policy if anything was going to be reviewed. The LWC asked YOU to help fight that bill and the Chamber was successful! On Tuesday, the House killed HB-1429 on a 32-to-26 vote with local Representatives Gardner, Waller, Liston, Looper, Lambert, and Stephens all voting against this bill. Sadly, Representatives Merrifield and Apuan felt that it was more important to stand with the anti-business Denver leadership than with their own community and they voted in favor of passing the bill. Thank you all for reaching out and contacting Representative Apuan and others. This legislation would have created more uncertainty for business in already tough times and we are pleased to see that it failed.

In addition to HB10-1429, the State Senate also killed HB 1350, a bill by one of the toughest critics of Colorado Springs and El Paso County, Rep. Sal Pace (D-Pueblo) and trial attorney and State Senator Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora). HB 1350 was an incredibly unfriendly bill for Colorado businesses. Its original form dictated that businesses had to disclose and defend economic development incentives to determine if they really did create jobs. If they couldn’t prove that they created jobs, then the provisions would have to be eliminated. It sends a horrible message to businesses outside Colorado looking to relocate to another state. It also added to our concerns that Colorado is becoming known as an unfriendly state to business growth. The Senate is to be commended for this smart move!!!

As the session wraps up things are still forward moving at high-speed, often sneaking in under the radar as they move. In addition to all of the LWC’s efforts, the Chambers’ Director of Governmental Affairs, Ernest House, will be at the Capitol fighting for business. The Chamber continues to work on the many bills we have reviewed this session, including SB10-114; the Taxpayer Transparency Act Of 2010 which is strongly opposed by Legislative Watch Council members, and we are proud to represent the Colorado Springs Business Community at the State Capitol every day.

The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce supports business and business growth legislation. If you are interested in participating in the LWC or getting involved with the chamber’s legislative advocacy, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org or 719-575-4327.

LWC Write Up April 9th

2010-04-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Legislative Watch Council met Friday at the Chamber of Commerce to review legislation on behalf of the Chamber members and the business community. The Legislative Watch Council discussed the trip to Denver where members of the LWC traveled to Denver on Tuesday, April 6th to meet with the El Paso County delegation. The trip was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the state budget and the obvious attack on business seen this year. The LWC members were pleased to meet with Representative Mark Waller, Representative Bob Gardner, Representative Larry Liston, and Representative Marsha Looper. These busy legislators made time out of their day to meet with our group and we were honored to hear from them all.

At our Friday meeting HB10-1396; Eliminating Enterprise Zone Tax Credits by Representative Joel Judd was discussed. The Chamber has taken an aggressive stand against this bill and has already joined with a coalition of business organizations to fight it at the capitol. The Chamber’s Director of Governmental Affairs, Ernest House testified against it in the House Finance Committee. He was able to speak specifically to the region's concerns armed with information from the Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation and El Paso County's Economic Development division. The bill's sponsor seems determined to make it harder for business to survive and thrive in these challenging times.

Another bill discussed is HB10-1330; All-payer Health Claims Database by Representative Kefalas and El Paso County's Senator John Morse. This bill authorizes the state to collect information on every health care transaction in the state, from hospitals to private medical records, to insurer files. This bill is too broad and does not take into consideration the privacy concerns regarding this incredibly personal data. The Chamber's LWC is strongly opposed to a bill that would require such a deep level of bureaucracy and intrusion to capture personal health data.

The group also discussed two bills that have been drafted, but have not yet been introduced. Representative Weissmann from House District 12, which spans Louisville, Lafayette, and parts of Longmont, is considering a bill that sunsets all current tax credits, exemptions, and exclusions. While it seems incredibly far-fetched that a bill that outrageous would pass, it remains a possibility that the Chamber must consider. Many businesses rely on these credits during harsh economic times, like now, and to remove them could put any on the edge out of business. This across-the-board, massive tax increase on business would be a major hardship and is foolhardy during these difficult times. The Chamber's LWC voted to vigorously oppose this irrational and damaging proposal. The LWC also discussed an election reform bill proposed by Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll. This bill would allow same day registration and voting and is being strongly opposed by County Clerk & Recorder offices throughout Colorado. The Clerks believe this bill could spark additional voter fraud and damage the credibility and reputation they have built in Colorado.

Both of those bills characterize late session bills that are often extreme and ill-considered, only to be rushed through. The LWC is hopeful that there will not be the deluge of last minute bills like was seen last year, but are preparing for a heavy end-of-session rush. The Chamber continues to strategize and take action on the many bills reviewed this session and we are proud to represent the Pikes Peak Region's business community at the state capitol every day.

If you have any questions, comments, or are interested in participating as a member of our Legislative Watch Council, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org or 719-575-4327.

Elected Official Guest Blog; Representative Larry Liston

2010-04-09T14:13:00.001-07:00

Most eyes have been on the Senate this week, where the annual state budget is being debated. However, there were several important budget bills in the House this week as well. Two proposals in particular could have a disastrous impact on Colorado Springs businesses and the Colorado economy.

House Bill 1200 would limit the tax benefits that businesses in enterprise zones receive and House Bill 1396 would essentially eliminate the enterprise zone program altogether.

The Enterprise Zone program encourages development by using tax incentives to attract investment, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. The program isn’t perfect, but every local government in the state that uses it can tell you it’s a valuable economic development tool. More than half of El Paso County is located in an enterprise zone and it has proven to be a great way to attract jobs to the Colorado Springs area.

Another enterprise zone bill, Senate Bill 162, takes a much smarter approach and as a result has not been met with the same fierce opposition from the business community. This bill makes the program more accountable and modifies the boundary of zones to make them more effective.

We can be smart and efficient in government without doing harm to our economy and job environment. I only wish more of my colleagues at the statehouse understood that reality.

By Representative Larry G. Liston
House District 16

Guest Blog - Representative Larry Liston

2010-03-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

What Not to Do During a Recession

By Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs

If the second half of the 2010 Colorado legislative session is anything like the first half, Colorado business owners need to hold on to their wallets.

The majority Democrats package of tax increases dubbed the dirty dozen, has gone into effect and is already driving businesses away from our state. With Amazon.com’s decision to terminate their relationship with their Colorado affiliates as a result of the Democrats House Bill 1193, thousands of Coloradans lost an important source of income. I am fearful that as the rest of these tax increases take effect, we are going to see even more Coloradans out of their jobs.

Statehouse Republicans stood firm against the Democrats rush to tax online sales, energy used for manufacturing, and even hamburgers and soda. Committee meetings packed to overflow capacity with Coloradans of all stripes in opposition to these bills lasted late into the evening. Despite the grassroots opposition and intense debate, ultimately these bills were adopted by our Democrat-controlled statehouse and signed into law by an outgoing governor.

Businesses and families are hurting as a result of the recession. Now is not the time to inflict further pain on our economy by way of raising taxes on businesses and costs to consumers. The actions of Democrats in the Colorado legislature, including those from right here in El Paso County, have consequences that I fear they simply ignore.

Although there is no question that Colorado is facing a significant budget shortfall, taking that money out of our local economy and into government coffers is not going to solve the problem. Republicans have pushed, for years now, the real need for true government reform and a state government that is in tune with our economy. Democrats have ignored our efforts in favor of increased government spending and a refusal to implement true budget cuts.

My message is clear. Let’s empower our small business owners to invest in our economy and get them hiring again. We can do this by rolling back unnecessary and burdensome regulations and offering incentives for new investment.

The current anti-business rhetoric and policies emerging from the offices of Democrat lawmakers is not going to get our economy moving again. Party does matter and Republicans are the Party that will stand with taxpayers and get Colorado’s economy moving again. That is why I will continue to stand up against hurtful policies in the second half of the session as much as I have in the first.

Guest Blog - Bob Stovall's Open Letter to Governor Ritter

2010-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Open letter to Governor Ritter:

Dear Governor Ritter:

I read your statement in response to Amazon.com’s decision to end its relationship with Colorado affiliates. I, too, am disappointed, not with Amazon but with your response. Can you please finish up your time as Governor with a bit of intellectual honesty?

You are the Governor, and you have to do what you think is right. You made a decision to request then sign this House Bill 1193, along with several other bills raising taxes on certain activities. The business community in general and Amazon in particular told you that it was not a good idea, but you insisted it was necessary. If you felt it was necessary, be proud of your decision.

A better statement from you would have been:

I made the decision to sign House Bill 1193 even after being advised by the business community that it would have a negative impact. I determined that the potential gain of $5 million in additional tax revenue was worth the risk that some businesses might be hurt or even leave Colorado.

I am sorry that Amazon.com felt the need to end its relationship with Colorado associates, but that was their business decision to make. I am sorry for the jobs that may be lost, but I believe that the State will recoup sufficient revenue to make up for the loss of income in those businesses that are affected.

Unfortunately this is not the first time you have laid blame for the consequences of your decisions as Governor at the feet of others. Remember the oil and gas rules? Perhaps there you could have said:

I understand that these rules may result in a decrease in drilling activity in Colorado, but I am convinced that the environmental protections we gained are worth the potential loss of jobs and revenue.

Stop trying to portray the business community in a bad light to try to rationalize your actions. You made a decision with the facts presented to you, which is your duty as Governor.

Man up, Governor, and accept the credit and responsibility for your decisions.

Guest Blog - Stephannie Finley on HB 1205

2010-03-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Great news!! HB 10-1205 just passed on 2^nd reading. This a wonderful example of the community coming together and working through some tough challenges. Huge accolades of course need to go to Rep. Waller for being such a bulldog on behalf of our community. He fully understood the high stakes and that to send another negative message to DC was not going to be good for our community. At the same time, everyone joined with him to make sure that private property rights were protected. From the Commissioners, to members of the local HBA, to the Chamber, and most especially Reps. Mark Waller and Bob Gardner, this was the best example of how we can come together for the good, even under tense conditions.

We want to thank HBA and Chamber member Randy Case for pulling everyone together and getting the Chamber on board to be helpful in negotiating with the bill sponsor and the military. We also want to thank Rep. Gardner for meeting with us last Wednesday night and helping develop a strategy that ultimately helped with the compromise. Additionally, to the local HBA, thank you for helping the state HBA understand how important it was to reach a compromise instead of an all out kill. With 40% of our local economy being driven by the military, our member companies are grateful that the right message is being conveyed.

The Denver Chamber also joined our fight for the compromise and we appreciate their help with the Denver delegation. And Ron Teck worked like mad on the county’s behalf to ensure this outcome. Thanks to Brian and Ernest for all the work they did with the military to help bring them around. It was a great day for collective success!

It still has to go through the Senate, but the vote today was unanimous, so it looks good, especially with the state HBA remaining neutral now, from all accounts.

And one last parting thought…Mark Waller, you rock!!

Legislative Watch Write Up; March 5th

2010-03-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Legislative Watch Council met Friday at Bistro De Pinto (26 East Kiowa St, downtown) to continue our 2010 legislative review.

We reviewed several bills this week and took positions on five. The Chamber Health Care Council and the Legislative Watch Council are proud to support HB10-1160; Wellness Incentives Rewards Outcomes by El Paso County local Representative Amy Stephens. This bill will help companies encourage wellness and prevention measures that potentially could help reduce costs along with encouraging positive lifestyle changes while helping the insurance providers reward smart healthy decsions. We also reviewed HB10-1283; Patient Safety Issues which works to help physicians gain further training, allow more responsibility in hiring, and work on patient rights. The LWC voted to support this effort.

We also reviewed HB10-1281; Telco VoIP Wireless Deregulation Basic Service and voted to support it, as it will allow for a more relaxed regulation recognizing the change from Landline to VoIP or mobile service. One of the bills we looked at was SB10-155; Limitations on Gift Cards which is nothing more than pointless regulation on already burdened businesses. Consumers can choose not to purchase gift cards with policies they disagree with and the process should not be regulated. The LWC pointed out that this bill could turn business off the use of gift cards and create possible cash-losses during holiday seasons when promotional cards are offered at discounts. This bill is bad for business and the LWC strongly opposes it.

The group also reviewed the Chamber’s Annual Day at the Legislature which took place Wednesday March 3rd. Many of our Legislative Watch Council members attended to meet with our legislators directly, engaging in discussions about issues important to the state and to the region. The chance to meet in person and to talk with elected and appointed officials as well as opportunities to hear from the Gubernatorial candidates created another great year for the Quality Community Group's Day at the Legislature.

If you are interested in the Legislative Watch Council, or are curious about bills the Chamber has reviewed, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org

Guest Blog #5 - Bob Stovall

2010-03-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

Labels Are for Show.

Am I red or blue – liberal or conservative – progressive or stuck in the Stone Age? I don’t know. I had a 7th grade teacher who was considered to be a flaming liberal. He had lots of fun with us during the Goldwater-Johnson election (Okay – now you know I’ve been doing this for a long time). A few years later he was seen as a conservative, even though his position on topics of importance had not radically changed.

I have learned over the years that labels are wonderful for political ads and talk shows, but they don’t solve challenging governance issues. Unfortunately labeling continues on the floors of our governing bodies where all too often the objective is the same as elections – to win.

There’s a problem with ideologies and agendas - they don’t work. I have watched over the years as karma runs over dogma and ideological positions got crosswise with themselves. In real life I have never seen a business decision made based on red or blue.

If I could write the rules of debate for the legislature (see – even I want power) I would require a few simple but relevant questions.

Let ‘s start with the threshold questions:

What problem is the bill trying to solve or need is it trying to meet?
Wait a minute – is it really a problem or need in the first place?
If that answer is yes, can the problem really be solved or the need be met by a law?

If these are truly yes answers, then there are practical questions:

How will this bill solve the problem or meet the need?
Better yet, how will the bill create the opportunity for the affected people to solve the problem?
Is there another solution that might work better?

Legislators always hate these questions:

Who is hurt by the problem – hopefully not just one or two friends?
Who is hurt by the solution?
How much is the problem costing?
How much will the solution cost? I don’t mean fiscal note cost, I mean costs to everyone affected.
What problems will the solution create?

Remember – I said the questions were simple; I did not say the answers were simple.

If government were ever to be run more like business, it needs to ask the right questions. If business does not identify the problem or need correctly and if it does not create the proper solution or satisfy the need in a cost effective manner, that business will not survive.

Unfortunately that is not true when it comes to government solutions – they tend to stick around even if they don’t work.

Bob Stovall
President, Gain-Stovall, Inc.

LWC Write Up February 26th

2010-03-01T15:21:00.001-08:00

The Legislative Watch Council met Friday the 26^th at Chamber Member Denny’s restaurant to discuss the ongoing legislative session. We started the morning off discussing the Tax Exemption Bills that Governor Ritter signed February 24^th business. These bills will have a serious impact on Coloradoes (see the Press Release from CSCC, Grand Junction, and Fort Collins), especially the manufacturer’s one that taxes energy and the software legislation. On the other side the Chamber is pleased to see that SB10-120; Prepaid Wireless Telephone 911 Surcharge and HB10-1289; Telecommunications Sales Tax Exemption are both moving forward with our support.

Some of the bills being presented at the capitol could have a huge impact on business and the LWC took positions on several of these bills. SB10-126; Pharmaceutical Transparency Act By Senator Morgan Carroll is strongly opposed by the Chamber. This bill will greatly impede the ability of Colorado’s promotional businesses to offer product to doctors and medical offices while adding huge fees to those business far beyond what the federal legislation on the same issue created. Several of the bills presented seemed designed by trail lawyers working only towards higher settlements at the end of the day. Those bills this week were HB10-1168; Reimbursement Limitations to Injured Person and HB10-1269; Workplace Fairness Civil Remedies Act. Both of these bills are poorly defined and leave themselves full of places for unintended consequences for business.

Another bill, HB10-1350; Requirements For Economic Incentives, is just another hoop for business to jump through. This legislation would simply create an environment where economic incentives were no longer worth giving or receiving for Colorado and it’s businesses because of the onerous reporting requirements and negative mandates. The Chamber strongly opposes HB10-1350. HB10-1263; Limit Income Tax Benefit For Comp Paid is another bill we strongly oppose. This bill limits the amount businesses can deduct from state taxes on wages paid. This bill discourage growth and expansion of small businesses, will run business out of Colorado and be a huge liability in attracting new business. The LWC also reviewed HB10-1234; Fair Settle Ins Claim Medical Benefits and HB10-1351; Deferred Deposit Loan Interest Rate and opposed both. HB10-1234; Fair Settle Ins Claim Medical Benefits simply adds an unnecessary burden onto insurers and could damage the medical industry.

There are bills which the Legislative Watch Council supports as well. For example HB10-1188; Clarify River Outfitter Navigation Rights helps with our critical industry, tourism, which is a huge economic driver in Colorado. This bill supports the rafting industry as well as protects and supports property owner rights while exempting those landowners from liability for the rafters.

legislation. If you are interested in participating in the LWC or getting involved with the chamber’s legislative advocacyThe Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce supports business and business growth, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org or 719-575-4327.

Guest Blog #4 - Mike Ciletti

2010-02-26T14:25:00.001-08:00

When I was contemplating what to write about I considered writing about happiness. The latest news reports and studies say happy people live longer and have lower rates of heart disease. When combined with the studies that say married men live longer, does it mean marriage yields happiness?

Unfortunately, I feel compelled to write about something that makes me unhappy – news coverage and polling regarding the recent Citizens United Supreme Court case. The Citizens United case pertains to campaign finance laws, specifically what and when corporations can give during an election cycle in federal races. All the news reports and polling say that the American people disagree with this ruling because it reverses the previous prohibition on corporate contributions.

The first thing that comes to mind is “so what, the Supreme Court doesn’t make decisions based on popular opinion.” The second thing that comes to mind is, “I really wish that in our 24 hour news cycle the media would report something in context.” They are leaving out critical information that most certainly skews public opinion. They want you to believe that corporations were prohibited from contributing to groups that influence elections and because of Citizens United that corporate cash will now be used to buy elections. Guess what? It already was.

The main change brought about by the Citizens United decision was to lift the ban on spending corporate contributions received by 527’s and c(4) organizations in the 30 days before a primary and the 60 days prior to the general election. Citizens United did not strike down the prohibition on corporations giving directly to candidate campaigns, that remains intact.

In the world of politics before Citizens United, 527’s and c(4)’s like Move On.Org or Swift Boat Veterans, could accept and spend corporate contributions so long as they did not spend those contributions influencing elections in the 30 and 60 day windows. There is nothing sacred about the 30 and 60 days windows. These were arbitrary timeframes created to limit political speech and when speech is limited, incumbents have a distinct advantage. Regardless of political persuasion that is bad for our country.

I for one am glad that the Supreme Court struck them down in the name of free speech. I will save the discussion of whether or not it is a wise business decision for corporations to give to political causes for a future posting.

~Mike Ciletti

LWC Write Up February 19th

2010-02-23T09:48:00.001-08:00

The Legislative Watch Council met Friday, February 19^th at Delta Solutions and Strategies for a satellite feed with Representative Marsha Looper from House District 19 sponsored by the Holden House Bed and Breakfast. Representative Looper described the legislative session environment as much faster paced and more brutal than in years past – already the legislators have had to cut millions of dollars from the state budget and they haven’t even gotten started on the budget for the upcoming year.

Though they were pushed through the House and Senate with record breaking speed, the tax credit eliminations legislation faced heavy opposition. Representative Looper specifically thanked those Colorado Springs businesses and employees who came to Denver to testify, or who spoke out against these tax increases. Hearing directly from those businesses facing serious impacts was very valuable to our legislators. These bills will be on the Governors desk by next week for his signature.

She also spoke about one of her current bills, HB10-1049 Motor Vehicle Dealer Franchise, a protection for Colorado car dealerships who were closed by the manufacturer. Representative Looper spoke about after the bailouts last year, when car manufacturers were told to close some dealerships, they turned around and offered those franchises to out of state dealers. This bill requires those manufacturers to offer the current dealers the right-of-first refusal. The bill is already facing stiff opposition from the manufacturers. (Article on Opposition).

Representative Looper also spoke about the bills supporting Colorado’s military and their families, HB10-1104 Veterans Treatment Court and HB10-1175 Endorsement Competency Continuing Education. The Chamber strongly supports our military in Colorado. The Veterans Treatment Court bill was inspired by a federal bill and has been driven strongly by two Chamber members, Kelly Roth of Delta Solutions and Buddy Gilmore of Shape Technologies.

The LWC also reviewed, discussed and chose to support SB10-108 Higher Ed Core Courses – a higher education bill that will help students transfer their credits between schools. This bill will make it easier for students to pursue their degrees, creating a better and more qualified workforce. In addition, the LWC reviewed bills that the Chamber had already taken positions on, including SB10-164 Blue Print For A Leaner Government Act by Senator Kopp. Colorado greatly needs regulatory reform and Senator Kopp had begun working towards it with this bill. Sadly, the bill died in committee during the past week, leading one of the LWC members to state “Partisan politics won the day, and Colorado lost.” The chamber plans to continue working towards creating a healthier regulatory environment in spite of the loss of this bill.

If you are interested in more information, or in getting involved in the LWC, contact Jessica McMullen 575-4327 or jmcmullen@cscc.org

Guest Blog #3 - Representative Bob Gardner

2010-02-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

What do you believe? The debate in the General Assembly this session has forced each member to answer that question in very fundamental ways.Earlier this week, we voted in the House on the repeal of tax exemptions, as amended by the Senate. Today, we are voting on the supplemental appropriations bills—really “de-appropriations”, as they are the bills that cut this year’s budget even further to bring it into balance.And we haven’t even started the debate on next year’s budget.

The debate on each of these bills has placed political philosophies in stark contrast.My Democratic colleagues, all good and decent people who want to do the best for Colorado, believe that K-12, higher ed, Medicaid, public safety, and other essential services have been cut to the point that anything further will destroy our State’s future. My Republican colleagues and I, along with a handful of Democrat crossovers, have opposed these repeals (particularly the repeal of the manufacturing energy exemption and the tax on software sales) in the belief that new taxes in a recession will kill jobs by driving manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and other primary employers from the State or discourage them from coming here in the first place—and destroy our State’s future. (As you know, the Democrats are carrying the day by two or three votes on all of these issues.)

There is no place to hide on these issues—no extra money to find, nothing else to defer, and everything is on the table and has to be. We have to balance the budget and that means that we either cut the spending further or do something to bring in more revenue—or some combination of those. Either way, real people—constituents, friends, neighbors, our own families—are affected. Each and every one of us not only knows that this legislation affects our constituents in the abstract. We personally know people that have been hurt by the need to make cuts in our State’s budget—and we all personally know people that may lose their jobs or at the very least, have less money to support their families next year because of the repeal of the tax exemptions-which all rhetoric aside, are going to transfer money from private sector (consumers and businesses) to the State budget.

I had the rather surrealistic experience this week of arguing against the passage of HB1190 (manufacturing energy tax) on behalf of the business and the United Steelworkers local in Pueblo while watching my Democratic colleagues from Pueblo vote for a bill that their core constituency ardently opposed. They clearly believed something very different than I when it comes to which choice to make.

So, due to the economy, we are down to the core question: When there is no more money; when unemployment is at the highest in decades; when all the easy, hard, and even harder cuts in State services and government have been made and we still have to do more to balance the budget, do you believe that raising more revenue (taking more money) from consumers and the private sector is the best course of action or do you believe that making more cuts is the better course of action?

Will raising more revenue from individuals and businesses, even though they are already hurting, be best for the State because it preserves education, essential services, public safety, and transportation? Or will this only end up bringing in less revenue than expected while costing jobs and making it more difficult for working families to get by?

Each side holds its position honestly, sincerely, and in all good faith and believes that its course of action is the best for the future of Colorado. But, the choice must be made and both cannot be right. What do you believe?

Guest Blog

2010-02-12T12:27:00.001-08:00

When you finish a hard day or a hard week do you question why you do what you do? Do you still love what you do? Perhaps your job has simply become an ends to a means. It allows you to afford a life style. Do you go to work dreading what you have to do that day? At what point is the trade-off between the lifestyle and the grind become too much and something breaks?

What about the saying “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life?” Is it true that if you love what you do that each and every day is as rewarding as the prior day and you wake up ready to go to work? Perhaps for some but I suspect most of us have lost a bit of that passion we had when we started out, similar to losing the passion you had on your honeymoon. We take the same route, we drink from the same mug, we see the same people and our only excitement is when the snack cart salesmen comes by. Could it be that we have settled into our jobs just as most Americans settle into marriages and life. Why is it that when we get comfortable we settle in? Is the stress of life and the world so great that it wears us down to the point that we cannot fight any more and we just go along? Do we settle in marriage because it is easier than the alternatives?

What if you awake everyday with a fresh commitment to yourself, to your family and to your job. Just as you have settled into your routine settle into making a fresh commitment. Decide that instead of being frustrated with your lot in life, take a moment and ask yourself “What do I want?” If you are like most of us you want something you do not have and getting it requires that you change. For single people wanting to get married, ask yourself “Would I marry me” If not, why? For those of you who are married, stop focusing on what your spouse does or doesn’t do and ask yourself “what do I do or don’t do.” When it comes to work be honest with yourself, do you work hard enough to deserve that promotion or raise?

I believe that Plato was onto something when he said “know thyself”. That can be a hard thing to do in this day and age but I challenge you to try. I am willing to bet that there was a time when you did. You tried to make your spouse happy not because it was expected or because you expected something in return but because you wanted to. You tried at work because it gave you personal pride. As you finish this week and head into the next take a moment and try, you might like the results.

- Mike Ciletti

Guest Blog

2010-01-29T13:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome, friends, to the inaugural Guest Blog post of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Watch Council. We are excited to offer this new forum to not just our members but to the entire community as a medium for sharing information, exchanging ideas and, for some (myself included!), to get your political fix. The great (or dubious, depending on your perspective) honor of kicking off our blog has fallen to me, and I hope I'll do it justice.

These are unprecedented times in Colorado and, indeed, across these United States of America. The economic crisis we face as a state and as a union is driving the political debate in profound ways. The work that will be necessary to navigate this time in our history is substantial and not for the faint-hearted. Our elected representatives face incredible decisions that will impact Coloradans of all political, social and economic stripes. Yes indeed, these are unprecedented times.

There are a whole host of issues that deserve attention-I'll focus on one that's near and dear to me.

I've long believed that public policy here in our great state must surely be done in a vacuum. This is not an indictment of our elected representatives, but is, perhaps, a statement on our political system.
Our system is characterized by term limits for our elected representatives, a state constitution that more resembles an over-decorated Christmas tree than the foundational document that enumerates the powers and functions of our government, unnecessarily complicated and conflicting tax policy that isn't always aligned with Colorado priorities, and a lengthy annual legislative session that has the potential to produce hundreds of new laws each year. Amid these conditions, there is little opportunity to contemplate public policy in a comprehensive, even strategic way.

One perhaps inevitable result of these conditions is an unnecessarily complex and burdensome regulatory environment. To put it mildly, Colorado is in need of regulatory reform. The time is now, particularly given the State's economic straits, which, by the way, look unlikely to abate anytime soon. We need not spend desperately precious resources on compliance to regulations purely for the sake of compliance.

Regulatory reform is neither a Republican nor Democratic issue. It's a Colorado business issue of significance. It is also a core priority for the Legislative Watch Council. We acknowledge-and even embrace-the need for sensible, well considered regulation. We believe in the need for basic consumer protections. Regulation is not a dirty word! However, we also believe that when regulation becomes more a function of unnecessarily bloated bureaucracy, there is a need to take a close and careful look at what makes sense and what doesn't. Now is such a time.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Weigh in, and let's get this blog going.

By the way, a big shout out to my Legislative Watch Council posse.
These are some pretty incredible people whose commitment to our region and the business community is second to none. As well, props to both Stephannie Finley and Jessica McMullen. These two extraordinary women are friends to the business community like none others, and it's my privilege to know and work with them.

David Ervin

Energy/Sustainability Bills

2010-01-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

SB10-074
PUC Electric Util Encourage Natural Gas
PENRY--(NONE)
Concerning incentives for the generation of electricity from cleaner-burning fuels.

SB10-096
Transparency In Gas Elec Utility Bills
RENFROE--DELGROSSO
Concerning a requirement that utilities disclose costs associated with customers' utility bills.

HB10-1001
Renewable Energy Stds Solar Certif
TYLER--(NONE)
Concerning incentives for the installation of new distributed renewable energy generation facilities in colorado, and, in connection therewith, increasing the target percentages under the electric utility portfolio standard to encourage colorado utilities to generate five percent of their retail electricity sales from distributed renewable sources by the year 2020, and adopting standards for the installation of distributed solar electric generation equipment.

HB10-1052
Recycle Resources Econ Opportunity Fund
SOLANO--NEWELL
Concerning the recycling resources economic opportunity fund, and, in connection therewith, extending the life of the fund.

HB10-1018
Reduce Waste Tire Stockpile Risks
LOOPER & ...--GIBBS
Concerning increased authority to regulate waste tires.

Transportation Bills

2010-01-27T11:18:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

HB10-1088
Devolve State Commuter Hwys To Loc Govs
VAAD--(NONE)
Concerning devolution of state highways that are commuter highways to local governments.

SB10-057
Nonmotorized Veh Late Registration Fee
CADMAN--(NONE)
Concerning the repeal of the increased penalty for late vehicle registration of a nonmotorized vehicle enacted by senate bill 09-108.

HB10-1088
Devolve State Commuter Hwys To Loc Govs
VAAD--(NONE)
Concerning devolution of state highways that are commuter highways to local governments.

SB10-004
Repeal Late Regis Penalties Of SB09-108
WHITE--(NONE)
Concerning the repeal of the increased penalties for late Vehicle registration enacted by senate bill 09-108.

HB10-1074
Consumer Protection Automobile Insurance
SOPER--HUDAK
Concerning measures to protect consumers with regard to automobile insurance policies.

Job Creation/Economic Development and Vitality Focus Group Bills

2010-01-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

HB10-1011
DOR Employee Criminal Check
KERR J.--SCHULTHEIS
Concerning authorization for the department of revenue to obtain fingerprint-based criminal record checks for employment purposes.

HB10-1132
Business Production Of Records
GARDNER B.--HODGE
Concerning the production of records by a business in a criminal matter.

SB10-028
Work Share Program
HEATH--(NONE)
Concerning the establishment of the colorado "work share program" to allow payment of unemployment compensation benefits to eligible employees who have received a reduction in work hours.

SB10-085
Exempt Personal Prop Tax Pilot Program
SCHEFFEL--PRIOLA
Concerning the creation of a business personal property tax exemption reimbursement pilot program.

Entrepreneurship/Small Business

2010-01-27T11:16:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

HB10-1023
Employer Liability Negligent Hiring
WALLER--HUDAK
Concerning clarifying civil liability regarding negligent hiring practices for an employer that hires a person with a criminal record

HB10-1111
Low-profit Limited Liability Companies
MIKLOSI--(NONE)
Concerning the creation of low-profit limited liability companies.

HB10-1049.
Motor Vehicle Dealer Franchise
RICE & ...--ROMER & ...
Concerning the franchise rights of motor vehicle dealers.

Higher Education Bills

2010-01-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

SB10-003
Higher Education Flexibility
MORSE--FERRANDINO
Concerning higher education flexibility.

SB10-026
Duties Of College In Colorado
ROMER--(NONE)
Concerning providing to the public information to facilitate successful participation in postsecondary education, and, in connection therewith, transferring the college in colorado division to the department of education.

SB10-064
Institutions Apply For COF For Students
BACON--(NONE)
Concerning authorization for an institution of higher education to apply for stipends from the college opportunity fund

SB10-061
Medicaid Hospice Room And Board Charges
TOCHTROP--SOPER
Concerning medicaid payments for inpatient care for hospice recipients

Health Care Bills

2010-01-27T11:14:00.000-08:00

More Information on these and all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

SB10-002
Medical Ins Coverage Denials Appeals
STEADMAN & ...--LOOPER & ...
Concerning the denial of benefits by health coverage plans, and, in connection therewith, increasing recoveries to the medicaid program and establishing a long-termcare ombudsman office.

SB10-020
Covercolorado Financial Viability
BOYD--MASSEY
Concerning measures to address the financial viability of the covercolorado program.

SB10-109
Medical Marijuana Dr Patient Relations
ROMER & ...--MASSEY & ...
Concerning regulation of the physician-patient relationship for medical marijuana patients.

HB10-1004
Standardized Health Ins Information
MASSEY--FOSTER
Concerning standardization of health insurance information provided to consumers.

HB10-1008
No Gender Individual Health Ins Rates
SCHAFER S. & ...--CARROLL M. & ...
Concerning a prohibition against consideration of gender in setting rates for individual health insurance policies.

HB10-1021.
Required Coverage Reproductive Services
FRANGAS & ...--FOSTER
Concerning required coverages for reproductive services for health insurance policies.

Taxes/Regulation/Mandates

2010-01-27T11:11:00.000-08:00

HB10-1126
Priority-based Budgeting For CO
VAAD--BROPHY
Concerning the implementation of priority-based budgeting in colorado.

More Information on all bills is available at www.leg.state.co.us

HB10-1087
End Automatic Employer Tax Withholding
SWALM--CADMAN
Concerning the elimination of the requirement that an employer withhold colorado income tax.

HB10-1094
Deadly Force Intruder Businesses
GARDNER C.--HARVEY
Concerning the use of deadly physical force against a person who makes an illegal entry into a place of business.

HB10-1017
Vol Agrmnt Affecting Rent Pvt Res Prop
KAGAN--BOYD
Concerning authorization for certain public entities to enter into voluntary agreements affecting rent on private residential property

SB10-033
Fair Legal Employment Act
SCHULTHEIS--BAUMGARDNER
Concerning the verification of the work eligibility status of new employees through the federal electronic verification program.

Military Bills

2010-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

More information on all bills can be found at www.leg.state.co.us

HB10-1104

Veterans Treatment Court

LOOPER--WILLIAMS

Concerning authorization for the establishment of a veterans treatment court program in judicial districts.

HB10-1140

Veterans Trust Fund Guard Armories

NIKKEL & ...--SHAFFER B. & ...

Concerning using moneys in the colorado state veterans trust fund to construct national guard armories

HB10-1205

Local Land Use Planning For Mil Install
RYDEN—SPENCE

Concerning land use planning by local governments to address the impacts of land use development upon military installations in close proximity to such governments.

News Articles to Think About

2010-01-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Gov. Bill Ritter wants to move up elimination of several tax breaks to balance budget
Gov. Bill Ritter wants to move up elimination of several tax breaks to balance budget - By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post

Gov. Bill Ritter wants to hasten the removal of several tax breaks to help balance the state budget in the current fiscal year. View Full Story

2010-01-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Chamber Legislative Watch Council (LWC) is a group of Chamber members comprised of business owners, operational directors, CEO’s, middle managers, and others who meet to discuss, debate and make recommendations on the Chamber’s stance on different bills during the legislative session (January 13th, 2010 through May 12th, 2010).

Through discussing, debating, and analyzing each bill to find which bills the Chamber should support or oppose, the LWC works to promote public policy that helps business and our region. The Chamber force then fights for business by testifying at the capitol, sending member e-alerts, and advocating for business.

Through monthly visits in the off session and satellite feeds during session as well as trips to Denver, our members stay connected to our legislators. Letting them know what concerns business is one of the best ways to prevent harm to business and identify opportunities.

Beginning January 22^nd, 2010 the Chamber will have a guest blogger from our LWC or our elected officials weekly to start conversations on high priority bills and idea’s. These posts may not reflect the opinion of the Chamber, but are meant as a starting place for civil discussion. Please check in often and add your thoughts and comments!

To learn more about the Legislative Watch Council, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org or 575-4317.

Chamber Legislative Watch Council

2008-12-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

The Legislative Watch Council (LWC) will work from a strategic standpoint towards sound public policy that enhances local private enterprise and promotes the promise of our region towards healthy economic opportunities. This program will allow the Chamber to be a pivotal force in helping to shape the state’s public policy agenda on key issues relevant to our Membership.

Members of the LWC participate in the following mission:

1) Review legislation to analyze the negative impacts to business and ourcommunity or to identify opportunities to grow business;

2) Participate in the debate about the different pieces of legislation.

3) Discussing what the Chamber’s position should be going forward.

4) Participate in the strategic discussions about how to proceed.

5) Assist in crafting the report on how the legislation that is signed into lawimpacts business and our community.

To learn more about the Legislative Watch Council, please contact Jessica McMullen at jmcmullen@cscc.org or 575-4317.

Colorado Springs Chamber Legislative Watch

Legislative Watch Write Up; May 10th

LWC Write Up April 9th

Elected Official Guest Blog; Representative Larry Liston

Guest Blog - Representative Larry Liston

Guest Blog - Bob Stovall's Open Letter to Governor Ritter

Guest Blog - Stephannie Finley on HB 1205

Legislative Watch Write Up; March 5th

Guest Blog #5 - Bob Stovall

LWC Write Up February 26th

More Articles to review

Guest Blog #4 - Mike Ciletti

LWC Write Up February 19th

Guest Blog #3 - Representative Bob Gardner

Guest Blog

Guest Blog

Energy/Sustainability Bills

Transportation Bills

Job Creation/Economic Development and Vitality Focus Group Bills

Entrepreneurship/Small Business

Higher Education Bills

Health Care Bills

Taxes/Regulation/Mandates

Military Bills

News Articles to Think About

Chamber Legislative Watch Council