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Bell supports Gov. Ritter???s school district mill levy freeze; Q&A with the Bell: Skaggs seeks collaboration between CDHE and colleges; Scott Martinez named to Bell Policy Center board of directors; Commission gets 28 health care reform proposals; Projection: 20 percent of GDP for health care by 2016; States urged to target job training funds toward low-income, low-skilled workers; Workers not boosting savings as retirement system shifts

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

Colorado's political, business and community leaders should encourage employers to use automatic enrollment for 401(k) pension plans. We should also educate workers about the value of participating in these plans and of increasing contributions over time to meet retirement needs. Automatic enrollment is allowed under federal law, and pension reform legislation passed by Congress in August provides additional incentives to do so.

The legislature should create Colorado Voluntary Pension Accounts to provide access to retirement plans for all Coloradans. These plans would reduce the cost and complexity of offering pension plans for small employers and would be portable, allowing workers to contribute to same account for each job they hold in Colorado.

The state should continue to closely monitor the financial soundness of the PERA system and take necessary action to ensure that it is able to make good on the benefits promised to public employees.

Colorado can restructure its education system for the 21st Century, ensure Colorado families can afford the health care they need, renew the promise of secure pensions and retirement plans and make strategic investments in the jobs and infrastructure that underpin a competitive economy.