Face The State Article Feed

PERA wants help in 'closing the gap'

bradj — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:48:14 -0500

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 to its obligation to pay benefits. The General Assembly this spring directed PERA to develop proposed law to address the shortfall, which has left the pension only 51% funded.

New coal plant equal to 2,000+ wind turbines

bradj — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:22:51 -0500

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 power of Comanche versus two large wind and solar projects.

Xcel ad campaign shows it's hard to serve two masters

bradj — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:43:32 -0500

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 the company’s rebates. To encourage saving money by reducing consumption while at the same time raising rates at the meter has us scratching our heads.

FTS Humor: Can you hack it?

bradj — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:09:45 -0500

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 Shaffer reads through some resumes, feet on his desk.

In Denver, Pelosi promises no deficit spending for health care

bradj — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:06:50 -0500

Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Denver Thursday to tout congressional Democrats' health care and economic stimulus policies. Flanked by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, and Jared Polis, D-Boulder, Pelosi argued for prompt passage of a universal health care plan when the Congress reconvenes next month.