transportation funding
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Q&A with Tim Jackson: ‘America’s love affair with the car continues to thrive’
Tim Jackson isn’t just another trade association rep who does standup for his industry, puts in long hours at the State Capitol and hobnobs in political circles. Sure, he does all that and more as the longtime president of the low-key but highly influential Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. But as we were reminded in this…
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It’s time for Colorado to come up with a tax reform of its own
Tax policy is a conversation that makes taxpayers’ eyes glaze over, especially when the politicians responsible for protecting them against runaway confiscation demonstrate a weak comprehension of economic realities. Academic tax debates examine concepts like efficiency, suppression, avoidance and tax fairness. When “sin” taxes grow too onerous, for example, black markets emerge for cigarettes, alcohol…
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Trump’s first State of the Union touches on Colorado concerns
President Trump used his State of the Union address Tuesday night to seek unity after a divisive first year, while Colorado’s undocumented immigrants and highway builders listened closely. He upped his promise of $1 trillion for infrastructure to $1.5 trillion by promising to leverage local and state dollars and private investment. He called for…
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We need to ‘think big’ on transportation — and then go to the voters
During the dozen years since Colorado voters lifted TABOR spending limits by approving Referendum C in 2005, legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle have performed an annual charade in which they profess their support for expanded transportation funding. 2018 has proven no different. Yet the record shows, that with the exception of the…
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NOONAN: What will it take to launch Hick’s presidential bid?
Commentators on Chris Matthews’ Hard Ball gave Gov. John Hickenlooper a laughing shout out recently, referring to his possible run for POTUS. Matthews appeared doubtful, especially with Oprah Winfrey on the radar. So what would it take for Hickenlooper to move from dubious to highly likely? Gimmicky commercials won’t work. He has to pull together…
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Rubber will hit the road — without a tax hike — via GOP plan to fund transportation
Coloradans and voters across the state agree that Colorado’s roads are in terrible shape and that improving and maintaining our state highways and roads needs to be Priority One for the state’s lawmakers. The mystery is why in the face of this broad, statewide consensus, from Grand Junction to Colorado Springs and Aurora to Alamosa,…
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Republican Doug Robinson rips Hickenlooper’s ‘myopic focus on spending’ in address
Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Robinson unloaded some harsh criticism for the man he wants to replace, calling term-limited Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s final State of the State address the embodiment of what Robinson, a former investment banker, calls the Colorado state government’s problem with spending. “Gov. Hickenlooper’s address betrays the ‘spend-first’ mentality that has become…
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Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Robinson releases legislative priorities as session starts
Republican Doug Robinson, one of nine candidates in a primary for governor, on Tuesday released his legislative priorities as Colorado lawmakers were set to kick off the General Assembly’s 2018 regular session. On the retired investment advisor’s list: long-term funding for roads, adequate career training for students, solutions to the opioid epidemic and long-term stability…
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Survey of Colorado cities and towns finds rising efficiencies delivering public safety services, rosy economies
Colorado municipalities are delivering public safety services – police and fire departments – more efficiently in the last year, according to a survey released Thursday, though most cities and towns are finding it hard to recruit and retain officers. The 2018 State of Our Cities & Towns Report, conducted by the Colorado Municipal League, also found…
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Insights: Where does Colorado go next on transportation? The ballot or to gridlock
It’s a long road from November to April, and the journey of a thousand political statements began on the first day of this month when Gov. John Hickenlooper rolled out his annual budget request. He sent a message, now I’m sending one, too. We’re headed for gridlock in every meaning of the word. The governor’s…