success from the session

We believe that access to post-secondary education is a critical component in the Cycle of Opportunity. Advanced education is increasingly necessary for earning family-sustaining wages, and the benefits of greater access extend well beyond students and their families. Helping more students complete post-secondary studies will lead to a more highly qualified and educated workforce, which is the foundation for our state's economic strength and competitiveness.

Years of hard work paid off yesterday when Gov. Bill Ritter signed the payday lending bill into law.

We view this as a long, overdue victory for consumer protection in Colorado.

In 2002, the Bell identified predatory lending as a crippling practice that holds back too many families, preventing them from building wealth and achieving self-sufficiency.

It appears that Colorado is moving toward SMARTer budgeting.

Yesterday, Rich Jones, director of policy and research at the Bell, testified in favor of HB 1119, the "State Measurements for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act."

The SMART legislation would apply performance-based measures to budget decisions for every state department. It would be a useful tool for lawmakers -- but it also would make budgeting more responsive and accountable to state residents.