guest columnists
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Schabacker & Ruggiero: Rep. Perlmutter must stay strong against ‘Fast Track’ for massive trade deal
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Courage is a rare attribute in today’s political climate. Indeed, with millions of dollars of dark money flooding Colorado to buy elections and unparalleled partisan bickering, it’s no wonder that so many Americans do not feel our federal elected officials actually represent their interests. Congressman Ed Perlmutter has a unique opportunity to change this perception…
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Will Bennet sponsor antibiotics legislation?
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Antibiotics have transformed the practice of medicine over the past century, allowing doctors to cure bacterial infections that once meant amputations, disabilities and often death. Now doctors are increasingly seeing patients with infections like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that are not responding to usually effective antibiotics. Widespread misuse of these curative medicines undermines their effectiveness.…
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Child abuse reporting system will ensure that no child’s cries for help go unheard
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Over the last two years Colorado’s child welfare system has undergone a swift transformation under Gov. John Hickenlooper’s child welfare plan “Keeping Kids Safe and Families Healthy.” There is improved training for caseworkers, new prevention programs throughout the state and implementation of best practices to more effectively respond to family needs. But every tragic child…
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Municipal revenues are up, but unfortunately maintenance schedules still lag behind
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It’s taken four years for the municipal revenue picture to turn around but 2012 ended with encouraging results — 47 percent of respondents to an annual Colorado Municipal League survey report increased revenue in 2012 over the previous year. Back in 2009, 46 percent reported a decline in revenue from the previous year. This encouraging…
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Vote for Amendment S and bring state government into the 21st Century
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There’s no reason for Colorado’s government to be stuck in the past. And yet it is. The rules and procedures that govern state hiring and personnel management in Colorado have not been updated or revised in over 40 years. In the context of a system that employs over 30,000 hardworking people, our obsolete management procedures…
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An education bill with economic appeal
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In Colorado today, 26 percent of our students aren’t reading at grade level, as evidenced by the CSAP. We know from research and experience that children who don’t read well by the end of third grade are far less likely to finish high school, far less likely to attend college and far less likely…
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Challenges lie ahead for municipal infrastructure
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You see it every day. Exposed rebar underneath a concrete bridge. Alligator cracking in the street ahead. The water or sewer line break underneath the road that is blocked forcing a detour on your drive home. These are all visible evidence that Colorado cities and towns are struggling to find the dollars needed to maintain…
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Cities, towns are leading economic recovery
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With all the hoopla about economic stimulus funding from Washington, it may come as a surprise that the government most involved in economic development is located right down the street at city hall. Cities and towns are deeply involved in economic development — supporting the viability and expansion of existing business and encouraging the creation…
