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Articles: Tough Choices report calls for restructure of education system, Legislative Status Report goes live, Do we know enough about achievement gap to close it?, Educational alignment is key to ???Chance for Success," Education Trust: spending policies shortchange poor students, Medical expenses contribute to families??? credit card debt, California governor proposes health plan, Payday loans cost Colorado consumers $76 million in 2005, Voluntary accounts will bolster retirement savings

The legislature should review Colorado's current laws that regulate the payday lending industry and limit predatory mortgage lending with the goal of strengthening both statutes. We should adopt stricter standards for payday lenders, including capping finance charges, prohibiting borrowing from one payday lender to pay off another, and eliminating special protections for payday lenders. Colorado also should adopt provisions to protect families that buy or refinance their homes.

A Boulder Daily Camera commentary that asserts unless we start investing in our citizens by establishing a statewide Housing Trust Fund, the state's lack of safe, affordable homes will continue to diminish opportunities for families and communities.

The Legislature should review Colorado???s current laws that regulate the payday lending industry and limit predatory mortgage lending. We should adopt stricter standards for payday lenders, including capping finance charges, prohibiting borrowing from one payday lender to pay off another, and eliminating special protections for payday lenders. Colorado also should adopt provisions to protect families that buy or refinance their homes.

This brief uses federal student aid statistics from the U.S. Department of Education to examine student loan default rates in fiscal year 2002 at Colorado???s 82 trade schools, colleges and universities.

SB 06-136 represents a net opportunity gain for Colorado. It will help offset the shortage of nursing teachers in Colorado. The Colorado Legislative Council staff estimates that at least 16 teachers could be helped with this loan forgiveness program over the next two years.

SB 06-071 would create a positive opportunity for Coloradans. By providing more information to people whose homes are in foreclosure or are about to be foreclosed and prohibiting certain unconscionable business practices, fewer people are likely to be cheated out of their homes.