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March 11, 2011

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Want to know more about how we're fighting for justice and economic security for all Coloradans? Check out our work during the 2011 session of the Colorado General Assembly. New websites show the bills we're following and our positions. There are sites for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, the Health Care Program, the Family Economic Security Program and justice-related issues CCLP tracks.

The weekday Colorado news roundup is a collection of links to news reports from around the state on issues of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

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Lawmakers reject measure to restrict ATM withdrawals

Family economic security
The Denver Post: Panel kills bill that would have barred strip club ATM withdrawals
A Senate panel today killed a bill that would have barred recipients of public assistance from withdrawing that money at strip club ATMs. Community activists opposed House Bill 1058, which they said stereotyped how money would be spent.

Denver Daily News: More Colorado children in poverty
The number of children living in poverty in Colorado rose by 31,000 between 2008 and 2009, according to the annual Kids Count report released yesterday.
Also: Colorado Public News: More Colorado children covered by health insurance - as poverty and aid rise
Also: Longmont Times-Call: Colo. child poverty growing fast


Justice
Denver Post editorial: Voter integrity or power grab?
We see no problem with the secretary of state verifying that Colorado voters are U.S. citizens, but HB 1252 is overly broad.


Fiscal policy
Denver Post commentary: Tax hikes not the answer
Instead of growing the economy from the bottom up, Sen. Heath is asking for additional tax increases, like he did last year. Those increases, called the dirty dozen by Republicans, will tax all of us an additional $176 million during the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Colorado Independent: Hickenlooper's budget takes aim at recidivism reduction package championed by Ritter
Gov. John Hickenlooper's budget proposal cuts programs designed to reduce recidivism, prevent juveniles from entering the criminal justice system and cut the number of repeat drug offenders in jail - programs former Gov. Bill Ritter's administration said were saving the state millions of dollars.

Associated Press via The Denver Post: Colorado tax amnesty plan passes first hurdle
Tax slackers, take heart. A plan to waive late fees and interest on overdue Colorado taxes has cleared its first hurdle and appears to have broad support in the Legislature. Including comment from Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute Tax Policy Analyst Ali Mickelson.

Denver Business Journal: Bills to trim Colorado business tax advance
Two bills designed in different ways to reduce Colorado's business personal property tax won the approval of their initial legislative committees Thursday.

Durango Herald editorial: Merging agencies
Colorado's Gov. John Hickenlooper appears to take seriously his promise to trim the size of state government. That is particularly welcome in that the way he is going about it is both smart and considerate.

Glenwood Springs Post-Independent: Mill levy override could stave off some Re-1 cuts
The Roaring Fork School District Re-1 could use some of its available reserve funds to bridge the district's budget shortfall into 2012, if officials decide to put a mill levy override question to voters this fall.


Jobs and economic security
The Denver Post: Report: Colorado unemployment worse than first thought
Colorado's unemployment rate hit 9.1 percent in January, moving ahead of the U.S. rate for the first time since the 2008 recession, according to Thursday's report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. "We seem to be still going in the wrong direction, whereas the U.S. labor market has turned around a little bit," said Martin Shields, a professor of economics at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Also: Pueblo Chieftain: State jobless rate sets record, surpasses national average
Also: Fort Collins Coloradoan: Area unemployment rate up


Health care
Huffington Post Denver: In the Chemo Room: 17 Minutes to Appeal $176,365 Bill
I go back to the chemo room later today, but this morning I sat in on a medical panel that heard my appeal of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's denial of $176,365 of radiation "benefits" I received last summer.
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