TABOR & Fiscal Policy

The Bell Policy Center strongly supports Senate Bill 13-213, the proposal to update our state's financing formula for P-12 education. Wade Buchanan, president of the Bell, testified in favor of the proposal on Monday before the House Education Committee, noting that it helps move Colorado in the direction of expanding opportunity for all students.

Future School Finance Act

Senate Bill 13-213

Wade Buchanan, President, the Bell Policy Center
Testimony to the House Education Committee

April 15, 2013

My name is Wade Buchanan, and I am the president of the Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy organization founded on progressive values.

Colorado Working Families Opportunity Act

SB13-001

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research

Testimony to the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

April 3, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to testify to the committee today.

On the first day of this year's legislative session, Senators John Morse and John Kefalas introduced the Working Families Opportunity Act as Senate Bill 1. That first-bill status reflects the importance that lawmakers place in helping low- and moderate-income families still struggling as we emerge from the Great Recession.

Colorado Work Share Program

SB13-157

Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research
Testimony to the House Business, Labor and Economic
and Workforce Development Committee

March 26, 2013

Thank you for the opportunity to testify to the committee.

Lawmakers received good news about the state's economy on Monday as economists from the legislature and the governor's office presented positive forecasts to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC).

Colorado's economy continues to outperform the national economy as we experience a growth in jobs, an improving housing market and increasing retail sales, especially automobiles. It is "among the most vibrant in the nation," according to the Legislative Council Staff.

By Kathleen Hallgren
Huffington Post Denver

It's been said that the best anti-poverty measure is a job. But for more than a quarter of Colorado's workforce, working hard isn't enough to make ends meet.

In a recent report, we found that more than 48,000 working families in Colorado lived below the poverty line of $23,021 for a family of four in 2011. Another 154,085 families – 27 percent of all working families in Colorado – lived on up to twice that amount.

By Laura Gabbay
Examiner.com

When Gov. John Hickenlooper and TBD Colorado issued a call for comments and ideas on education and transportation, state residents stepped up.  

TBD Colorado asked, and you answered – and are still answering. That's prompted TBD to add some more questions to consider.

In just a few days, more than 2,000 residents have visited www.etbdcolorado.org. Respondents from 70 towns, cities and rural areas across the state have offered more than 100 ideas and 2,200 comments.

Ed Sealover
Denver Business Journal

Two major business groups pulled their support from a bill to reform Colorado's enterprise-zone program Wednesday when its sponsor lowered the annual caps on investment tax credits, but Democrats on the House Finance Committee still passed House Bill 1142 on a party-line vote.