Will a unified platform benefit the GOP in 2010?
[...]FTS takes a critical listen to remarks made by junior U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet on the Senate floor this week. Of particular interest: Bennet's assertion that the bill will actually reduce the federal deficit, a claim made in a recent CBO report that's engineered to Democrats' benefit.
' [...]Should the federal government legislate issues of virtue? No, according to Kevin Miller of the National Freedom Initiative. Though social conservatives have worked hard to elect representatives reflective of their values, the effort to impose societal values through government has also backfired in many cases. Miller argues his fellow [...]
This week's show begins with a look at the week in Colorado politics with an eye toward the likely endorsement of GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis by former rivals Josh Penry and Tom Tancredo. Republicans are rallying around a so-called "Contract for Colorado," a unified platform for the 2010 election [...]
Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, this week presented his 2010 budget proposal to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee. Face The State has audio from his presentation as well as analysis from GOP budget hawk Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs.
[...]Fort Collins city councilman Diggs Brown is back from a tour of duty with the U.S. Army and will make official his run for the 4th congressional district. Brown joins an increasingly crowded Republican field alongside CU Regent Tom Lucero and state Rep. Cory Gardner.
[...]State Sen. Josh Penry on his decision to end his bid for Colorado governor in 2010.
[...]An interview with Independence Institute policy analyst Ben DeGrow regarding a lawsuit alleging Colorado's school funding system is "irrational." In a recent op-ed, DeGrow says such questions are best handled by elected representatives, not the courts.
[...]FTS Radio host Brad Jones is back from his month-long trip to Europe - hear about the big changes in Croatia, Ukraine and the capitalist/soviet dichotomy in Russia.
[...]A programming note about FTS radio in October: Brad Jones is on vacation, but KNZZ weekend show host Rick Wagner will be in on the FTS Weekend Edition to talk state politics. Speaking of the weekend program, we're happy to announce KVRH in Salida, already an affiliate of the' [...]
Face The State managing editor Brad Jones will be a panelist on KBDI Channel 12's "Studio 12" program tonight at 8pm. The topic: on the one year anniversary of the Democratic National Convention convening in Denver, what are the long-term impacts? Is Colorado a player on the national scene [...]
FaceTheState.com is on break while we restructure; stay tuned to this space for more details in the month ahead. In the meantime, Face The State Radio will continue to air new content on its network of 8 stations around Colorado. FTS's offices remain open; contact us at newstips@facethestate.com or [...]
Trustees of Colorado's Public Employees' Retirement Association, the pension fund covering over 435,000 current and retired state and local government workers, are asking for help in closing a $17 billion gap in its balance sheet. That "unfunded actuarial liability" represents analysts' estimate of the difference between PERA's future assets compared [...]
Yeah, we're on vacation, but we can be roused to the call of work, especially when the call comes from Mike Rosen at 850 KOA. Tune in at 11 am Wednesday when FTS managing editor Brad Jones will join Mike to discuss the Public Employees' Retirement Association, its dismal financial [...]
Face The State is on vacation through August 24, 2009. Have a great week!
[...]Face The State has obtained a letter (PDF) in which state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, asks U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey to take part in his town hall meeting planned for Aug. 19 in Fort Collins. Garnder is one of two Republicans hoping to take on Markey in next year's' [...]
As the Comanche unit 3 coal plant near Pueblo is scheduled to start commercial operation this fall, utilities are also seeking ways to comply with a 2004 ballot measure that requires 20 percent of the state's electricity to come from "renewable" sources. A Face The State analysis explores the relative [...]
Twitter, the social networking site where users post updates covering everything from politics to what they had for lunch, can also keep you on the right side of the law. The Denver Police Department (@DenverPolice for the Twitter-savvy) posts blotter entries interspersed with occasional citations to the Denver municipal [...]
State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, still has a long way to go before possibly facing Congresswoman Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, at the ballot box next year. But that's not stopping him walking the congressional walk.
Markey has been reluctant to hold open town hall meetings with her constituents during the [...]
The Public Employees' Retirement Association, Colorado's public-sector pension fund, held the first of eight planned "listening tour" hearings Tuesday night in Denver. Staff presented facts about the fund's current fiscal status to a packed house, and those in attendance - mostly public employees and retirees - were given an opportunity' [...]
As described earlier today, Face The State's Brad Jones was juxtaposed against liberal writer David Sirota on a news package aired yesterday on Denver's Fox 31 news. Sirota says conservative protesters are part of the "khaki pants offensive" carrying out "white backlash" against Pres. Barack Obama. FTS's Jones talks [...]
Xcel Energy has proposed raising energy rates on consumers while at the same time spending an undisclosed sum of money on a self-serving ad campaign. The “Responsible By Nature” ads seen online, in print and on the air encourage consumers to save money by decreasing consumption and take advantage of [...]
In June, Gov. Bill Ritter hired Maranda Pleau as the "Minority Outreach Coordinator" for his office coordinating the spending of federal stimulus money. She was tasked with “helping state agencies set goals and procedures regarding minority contracting and outreach to minority communities.”
[...]Face The State is excited to introduce the newest member of its radio network, 1230 KEXO in Grand Junction. Listeners in Mesa County may now hear the Face The State Radio Minute Monday-Friday at 7:50 am, and select evenings at 5:50 pm.
[...]Last night, FTS managing editor Brad Jones was interviewed for a Fox 31 news package exploring the debate over government-run health care. Representing the left was David Sirota, a well-known liberal columnist and cheerleader of President Barack Obama's "public option." Face The State was on hand to make the case [...]
Be sure to tune in tonight at 9 pm to Fox 31 News (available along much of Colorado's Front Range and in the high country on cable/repeaters) to see FTS managing editor Brad Jones talk about the tone of the health care debate unfolding during the August congressional recess. We [...]
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Denver last week to promise capped health premiums and unlimited benefits. Only government can get away with that kind of new math. FTS managing editor Brad Jones and 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver kick around her logic [...]
The Denver Post reported recently that resumes had poured in for the vacant assistant press secretary position for Colorado Senate Democrat caucus. A highly-placed mole at the state capitol has relayed to us a transcript of one of the interviews.
The scene: A lazy Tuesday afternoon, where State Senate President Brandon [...]
Face The State takes you to Denver, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was busy touting the President's plan for health care "reform." Plus, a union rep gets hypocritical in his criticism of conservative activists.
[...]Face The State's Brad Jones and Kate Melvin look at the week in Colorado news. CU students cash in on the stimulus act, and one apartment complex goes overboard on restricting minors' playtime. Plus, Breckenridge has good intentions with its wildfire planning proposal, but personal responsibility still has a role' [...]
