Time to get on board as opposition grows to 60, 61 and 101

When you connect the dots, it's easy to see that opposition to Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 runs from the mountains to the plains, from cities to small towns and from border to border in Colorado.

The Bell is proud to be contributing to the effort to defeat these deceptive and destructive proposals, and we are pleased to report that opposition is growing every day. Check out the list of companies, associations and organizations at www.donthurtcolorado.com. You'll also find out how you can add your group to the list.

The opposition is broad, ranging from the Colorado AFL-CIO to the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry. From Club 20 on the Western Slope to Action 22 on the Eastern Plains. From Colorado Ski County USA to the Denver Broncos.

And it is bipartisan, ranging from the Boulder City Council to the El Paso County Commission. From Josh Penry to John Hickenlooper. Democratic candidates have come out against the measures, and in a story in The Denver Post, pollster Floyd Ciruli said that virtually no Republicans at the local level have come out in support. The same story said that more than two-thirds of Republican state legislators had signed a letter opposing 60, 61 and 101.

Resolutions against the proposals have come from city councils big and small: Avon, Brighton, Centennial, Frederick, Longmont, Minturn, Montrose, Northglenn, Vail and Westminster. And a range of county commissions: Arapahoe, Douglas and Rio Grande, with more to come.

Rural school districts and big-city districts have taken a stand. Manzanola in the Arkansas Valley voted to oppose, and so did Denver Public Schools. Other school boards include Boulder Valley, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Dolores, Mapleton and Poudre.

In higher education, the list includes Aims Community College, Colorado Mountain College, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado.

Chambers of commerce from Grand Junction, Rifle and Steamboat Springs to Fort Morgan, with Arvada, Boulder, Broomfield, Evergreen, Golden, Greeley, Loveland and West Jefferson County in between.

State associations for fire chiefs, sheriffs and treasurers have weighed in, along with many fire protection districts. And state associations for homebuilders, Realtors and contractors.

Across the state, these groups and the residents, employees and constituents they represent recognize that these amendments go too far. Amendments 60 and 61 and Prop 101 are deceptive measures that will blow a gaping $6.5 billion hole in state and local services, put tens of thousands of Coloradans out of work and make it much more expensive to build roads, schools and other public assets.

The key to defeating these measures is education, and the Bell stands ready to help. We have an analysis on each proposal; we have shown the potential impact of Prop 101's motor vehicle provisions on 59 of Colorado's 64 counties; and we are making presentations to groups across the state. Please email Abigail Hinga or call her at 303-297-0456 (ext. 211) if you are interested. We also made a video that provides a basic understanding of the measures – in less than five minutes.

Also, www.LookingForwardColorado.com, a joint project of the Bell, the Colorado Children's Campaign and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, offers information on 60, 61 and 101 and tools for how to spread the word.