economic

Earning a decent living and building wealth is our next important gateway to opportunity. A job with benefits that pays at least enough for a family to be self-sufficient and to build assets is the surest path into the Cycle of Opportunity.

Articles: Ballot count on TABOR measures down to three states, Budget impacts differ dramatically for two 65 Percent Solution ballot measures, Amendment 39 and Referendum J, Minnesota mulls mandatory percentage school spending plan: Is third time the charm or three strikes and you???re out?, Colorado???s economic future: three votes for continued growth, one for recession

JBC starts budget process $30 million in the hole, Club 20 focuses on a fiscal fix, News analysis: Taking the initiative in Colorado, Denver Chamber: Colorado low on taxes, higher ed funding

Articles: Legislature works on health care system, Are kids ready for school?, ID developmental delays early for school readiness, High quality child care: costly but valuable, Initiative aimed at success for Latino students, Colorado poll: education drives economic growth, NCSL surveys state investments in higher ed, Bell's White Papers hit the press, Fewer employers offer health insurance, Minimum wage hits new low, Recovery leaves average workers behind

Articles: The Bell Policy Center releases Colorado: The State of Opportunity 2005 Report, National studies document the benefits of child care, Congress considers legislation to limit funding for child care, Interim committee offers ideas to expand health insurance coverage, U.S. health care system: costly and disorganized, The rich get richer as income gap widens, Despite headwinds, economists predict Colorado economy will add jobs

Articles: Treating Mom???s mental health helps the kids, Early childhood education good for economic development, Colorado Preschool Program ranks in the middle of the pack, Well-being improves for kids , Study shows binge drinking rising among girls, Literacy gaps persist through college, Low- and middle-income families use credit cards as a safety net, CBPP: Making federal tax cuts permanent will benefit the rich, What???s behind the trend in pension freezes?, Incentives promote savings . . .

Issue Brief examining Colorado's recent economic conditions and projections for the future of the state's economy.

The legislature should create and fund a state micro-enterprise development authority to award grants to qualifying organizations, leverage additional funding sources, and be an information network and state advocate for micro-enterprise organizations and micro-business owners.

Colorado should continue to carefully target economic development incentives to create jobs that pay self-sufficient wages, provide health insurance and retirement benefits and contribute to the overall economic well being of the state. Let???s also make sure economic development incentives continue to be transparent, so we know which businesses receive incentives, how much they get, and how many and what kind of jobs they create.

A Boulder Daily Camera article countering Governor Owens' recent assertions that the state's economy was swiftly recovering from the recession.