Follow that story: We last caught up with Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, a Republican, on our weekend radio program that aired June 20. He had filed a petition with the federal bankruptcy court arguing the "prepackaged bankruptcy" of General Motors, as proposed, trampled on states' rights to regulate auto dealerships. Monday, he announced the court sided with him and dozens of attorneys general nationwide in a recent ruling.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Small Business
Follow this topic by RSS2/2: Business taxes on the rise
Did your business lose money this year? Too bad, but the state's lining up to tax you, anyway.
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9/7: Evaluating our recovery plans
It's Labor Day. Time to evaluate our country's plan for economic recovery.
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8/12: 'Cash for clunkers' not worth the cost
Showrooms are flooded with car buyers turning in their clunkers for cash.
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8/4: Will lawmakers try to raid Pinnacol?
Colorado's small businesses are in the crosshairs, again.
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Following aborted raid, lawmakers take up Pinnacol's future
A Face the State Staff Report
August 3, 2009A legislative inquiry into the operations of Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s largest provider of workers compensation insurance, could be a launching point for changes to the laws governing health coverage for injured workers.
7/16: Why are health care premiums on the rise?
Yeah, that's what our health care system needs: more regulation!
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Impacts of 2007 health insurance law now unfolding
A Face the State Staff Report
July 14, 2009A 2007 state law is being blamed for dramatically higher health insurance rates for small businesses, but lawmakers and regulators say the bill isn't the only factor driving higher costs. The bill's sponsors say premiums are increasing with inflation and compounded by the down economy, with the bill as a convenient scapegoat.
A win for states' rights amid 'New GM' boondoggle
July 7, 2009Casinos ready to cash in?
June 30, 2009Colorado's mountain casinos are poised to introduce new games and higher limits overnight Wednesday. Face The State will be on the scene covering (and perhaps participating in) the festivities; watch for our story Thursday. In anticipation of the change in law, we bring you this preview from Gene Davis at the Denver Daily News.
Colorado casinos are placing their bets that the gambling rule changes going into effect at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow will put an end to their bad fortune.
Aurora citizens look to triple fees on new home construction
A Face the State Staff Report
June 23, 2009
The City and County of Denver recently waived fees for some building permits, with citizens clearing the way for over $6 million in construction spending. Meanwhile, a group of Aurora citizens are working to place an initiative on the November ballot that would triple a recently enacted impact fee assessed on new home construction. The proposal is being made in the name of equity, but developers say the change will result in a downturn in construction spending in an already soft market.
Medved, Perlmutter want answers on Chrysler dealership closures
FTS visits with reporter Jeff Francis of Mile High Newspapers about the recent closure of a Wheat Ridge Chrysler dealership; the termination has U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat, calling for more congressional scrutiny of the beleaguered automaker.
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Economists question state's alleged 13:1 return on tourism spending
A Face the State Staff Report
June 16, 2009
The Colorado Tourism Office touts a 13 to 1 return on investment for the its $10+ million marketing budget, leading local economists to question how the state could even arrive at such a statistic.
CO tourism office not measuring results of marketing effort
A Face the State Staff Report
June 10, 2009
A report released by the Office of the State Auditor criticizes the Colorado Tourism Office for not setting more measurable goals for managing its budget, which includes $10.5 million annually for domestic advertising. The audit suggested the tourism office should "clearly stipulate its expectations" and "increase efforts to include outcome measures in contracts."
Mock election aims to boost small business voice in politics
A Face the State Staff Report
June 9, 2009
Your local elementary school isn't alone in holding a mock election to make a point about our representative democracy. In an effort to educate business owners and their employees about state and national politics, the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce is hosting a mock election in conjunction with a speaker series featuring local elected officials.
FTS Humor: Congratulations, graduates
Face The State Humor
June 1, 2009
By Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.
Welcome, members of the class of 2009, and thank you for wanting me to speak to you today. I’m sure this invitation was based solely on my prestigious role as the leader of this state, and not because your college president is trying to suck up for more education funding.
State gov't lease props up Arvada urban renewal project
A Face the State Staff Report
May 29, 2009Face The State has learned the state judicial department leases over 30% of the taxpayer-subsidized Grandview Plaza urban renewal project in Arvada, providing $250,000 in revenue for the site's developer the first 18 months. But the arrangement does little for local tax coffers, for which increased revenue was a major selling point in pursuing the project. The state's contribution to the project's finances are on top of an estimated $800,000 in direct local subsidies, detailed in a recent FTS investigation into the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority.
Denver Chamber will likely look within for new CEO
May 28, 2009
With Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Joe Blake slated to take the helm at Colorado State University this summer, the business group has commenced a search for his replacement, with insiders saying the likely pick will come from within the organization.
Ritter light on fees, energy talk at chamber lunch
A Face the State Staff Report
May 8, 2009At a Thursday lunch hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Bill Ritter summarized recent gains relating to job creation and his oft-promoted "new energy economy." Missing from the speech: any mention of millions of dollars in new fees or regulations coming out of this year's legislative session, which ended Wednesday.
The business tax that just won't die
A Face the State Staff Report
May 6, 2009For decades, the business community has lobbied for the demise of the business personal property tax, only for every attempt come up short.
4/28: A 'most hated' tax
A proposal has been made to rid Colorado of a "most hated tax." But over 40 years?
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FTS Humor: Obey. Or Else.
Face The State Humor
April 24, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
We’ve been really busy here lately at the Colorado Department of How to Run Your Life, where our philosophy is, "If we let people make their own decisions, they’ll just screw it up."
Senate votes to phase out business tax...over 40 years!
April 21, 2009Some of us might be dead before the elimination of the most hated business tax in existence. We are, of course, referring to Colorado’s business personal property tax.
Proposed law may encourage lawsuits from out of state
A Face the State Staff Report
March 30, 2009House Bill 1305, which opponents charge encourages out-of-state lawsuits against Coloradans, sailed through the Colorado House of Representatives last week.
3/30: Growing the state's unemployment rolls
The state's unemployment insurance fund is on the brink of insolvency.
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Segment 4 - Ritter's 'new energy' hypocrisy
At a recent ribbon-cutting in Pueblo, Gov. Bill Ritter spoke approvingly about a new water treatment company's job creation potential. But it turns out his economic development office didn't have time to respond to the company's proposal for state aid. What's going on here?
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Pueblo firm touted by Ritter gets cold shoulder from state
A Face the State Staff Report
March 26, 2009
In the past week, Gov. Bill Ritter has traveled across the state for ribbon cutting ceremonies and press conferences touting clean energy companies creating jobs in Colorado. But during a stop in Pueblo to applaud the efforts of The Water Company, he neglected to mention that his Office of Economic Development ignored the company's request for funding, meaning the firm received no state support for its expansion.
Bill requiring prompt payment on construction invoices stalled
A Face the State Staff Report
March 23, 2009Despite the fact that many small contracting firms are struggling to pay their bills, a bill that would have required prompt payment of construction invoices didn't get a lot of attention as it moved through the legislature last month. And now the legislation, known as the Construction Prompt Payment Reform Act, has stalled after one of its key sponsors said he'd rather see it die than have it watered down.
Segment 3 - State supreme court upholds tax increase without public vote
The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling Monday upholding certain provisions of the 2007 School Finance Act which allow the state to collect increased property tax revenues without a public vote. FTS takes a look at the decision, with reaction from the plaintiff's attorney, Richard Westfall, Independence Institute president Jon Caldara, and Nina Lopez of the Colorado Children's Campaign.
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Stimulus bill includes painful surprise for Colorado small business owners
A Face the State Staff Report
March 19, 2009While the $787 billion federal stimulus bill included billions of dollars to bailout failing corporations, the expansion of health care benefits for displaced workers could have a devastating impact on some Colorado small businesses.
"The Buzz" on 1310 KFKA, 3/16/09 - Colorado's activist supreme court
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver about today's disappointing (but not surprising) anti-taxpayer ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court. Also: Why wouldn't state Rep. Kathleen Curry visit with over 30 constituents who came to see her at the capitol last Thursday?
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