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April 18, 2011

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Join us April 29 for CCLP Fun Day at the Ballpark, a day to wind down near the end of the legislative session and to celebrate our work for justice and economic security for all Coloradans.

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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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Sealing criminal records
could help some find work

Family economic security
The Denver Post: Criminal records could be made secret
The law is part of a movement in Colorado and elsewhere to soften the negative effects of a criminal record and help those convicted get back on their feet. Having a job can prevent offenders from repeating their crimes, but potential employers are often scared away by a conviction record, said Christie Donner, executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition.


Health care
The Denver Post: Veterans outpatient clinic planned
A new veterans outpatient clinic in Colorado Springs will be built on the city's west side between Interstate 25 and Garden of the Gods Park.

Steamboat Today: Tax credit could cut costs for Steamboat's small businesses
A health care expert gave a reminder last week that could help small business owners filing last-minute federal income tax returns Monday.


Fiscal policy
Colorado Statesman: Budget package, round 2: the House
The 2011 Long Appropriations Bill and accompanying budget-balancing bills landed in the House this week and on Thursday got final House approval. But the budget's trip through the House was nothing like the generally-amiable reception the package got in the Senate.

Denver Post commentary: A shotgun wedding for DOW and State Parks?
Legislation recently introduced in the Colorado legislature proposes to merge the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) with Colorado State Parks. The alleged reason is to make government more efficient. But make no mistake about it - this is all about politics.

Denver Post commentary: Treasurer's sky-is-falling rhetoric on PERA ignores last year's legislation
Last year, Colorado Republicans and Democrats put aside politics and passed legislation to protect the long-term sustainability of the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA).

Colorado News Agency: Lawmakers seek to get unemployment fund back on track
Recent strains on the state's unemployment fund that have driven it into insolvency prompted lawmakers in the House Friday to approve a measure intended to provide greater stability for the fund in the future.

Huffington Post Denver commentary: Pain May Favor a Tax Hike Come November
Carol Hedges figures Colorado voters will be ready for a tax hike by November once they begin to feel the pain of longer lines at motor vehicle offices, closed parks, crowded first-grade classrooms and much higher tuition at colleges across the state. Hedges is director of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, a project of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

Colorado Statesman: Software tax exemption likely to return
Last year's repeal of a tax exemption on downloadable software is likely to go back on the books this summer, the result of the budget deal struck by the Senate and House and contained in House Bill 11-1293. Including comment from Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute Tax Policy Analyst Ali Mickelson.

Fort Collins Coloradoan: Loveland Council looking at ways to reduce budget
The Loveland City Council heard ideas from staff members this week about possible reductions to help close a $3.5 million projected shortfall in 2012.

Sterling Journal-Advocate editorial: We can not continue to just tax to pay
Even though a number of younger and older people were shown in a poll to feel they are being taxed fairly, we must let Washington, D.C. know that we cannot make some of the people have a better life by taxing the rest of us. We also have to demand that our legislators realize they need to use the funds they have to meet the needs they have, just as we do in our own budgets.

Longmont Times-Call editorial: Be ready for next shutdown showdown
The potential shutdown of the federal government was averted at the last minute April 8, but it brought up many questions about what the effects of a shutdown might be.

Salida Mountain Mail letter: Reader no longer says no to taxes
The battle cry of many is "no more taxes." And, yes, I was a Republican for 60 years. But no longer can I honestly avoid responsibility and say no to paying more taxes. And I suspect there are a lot of others in their honest moments who feel the same way.

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