Colorado Peak Politics

BLOOMBERG’S BUCKS FLOW TO MORSE: Gun Grabbing Mayor Donated Heavily To #1 Backer Of Senate President Front Group

Published on May 7, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

The group that is organizing to defend Senate President John Morse is semi-humorously named “A Whole Lot of People For John Morse.”

Wanna guess which of the whole lotta people who like John Morse like him most?

Three words…Mayor. Bloom. Berg.

A campaign finance report filed yesterday for the Morse front group shows that it’s being pretty much single-handedly funded by a national liberal organization — America Votes. The organization, which gave at least $20,000, is a collective of pretty much every left-wing special interest group in the country, from enviros to Big Labor to trial lawyers.

And Bloomberg has given big to those partner organizations.

Last year he gave $250,000 to Planned Parenthood. He’s also funded a bevy of other America Votes partners such as the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the Sierra Club Independent Action.

It’s impossible to tell how much Bloomberg might have given directly to America Votes, as it’s a 501(c)4 organization that doesn’t have to disclose its donors, but it’s undeniable Bloomberg has given big bucks to the groups that form the backbone of America Votes.

Between A Whole Lot of People for John Morse’s filing agent calling Colorado Springs a “right-wing, religious whack-job stronghold” and the Bloomberg cash pouring into the state, it’s becoming clear that it’s not John Morse’s constituents that are coming to his rescue, but special interest gun grabbers intent on protecting those that did their bidding.

BIZ ENVIRONMENT DETERIORATING ON HICK’S WATCH: Power Of “Anti-Business Forces” Nets Colorado A Business Climate Downgrade

Published on May 7, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

There goes the Hickenlooper re-election strategy.

If you have followed John Hickenlooper’s governorship, and most especially his incessant attempts to take credit for any new company or job that shows up in Colorado, you can see the outlines of his re-election effort.

Businesses are coming to Colorado. Business is good in Colorado. I am the Business Governor. So please re-elect me.

A good argument, except that unemployment is still way higher than historical averages. In the meantime, if you believe real business people, Colorado isn’t such a good place to do business anymore.

There goes the re-elect argument.

From the Denver Business Journal:

Colorado’s ranking in an annual ranking of the best states in which to do business has slipped, Chief Executive magazine reported Tuesday…

Colorado was ranked No. 13, between Utah and Oklahoma, but its ranking fell two points from the 2012 survey. The magazine’s survey dinged Colorado in one area: “Anti-business forces won 2012 elections and are delivering on promises.” [Peak emphasis]

There is no way to hide from the effects of this session. The Governor has conceded the middle. Even his profile in The New Yorker led with this fact:

“Colorado’s governor finds himself leading his state to the left.”

In between taking people’s guns and publicly dancing with pardoning a butcher, Hickenlooper seems to have fallen in disarray. His re-election arguments are beginning to crumble.

POLLING PROBLEMS FOR THE GUV: Former Democratic Party Chairman Asks If Hickenlooper Is In Trouble

Published on May 6, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

Former Colorado Democratic Party Chairman and pollster Floyd Ciruli picks up on the big question in Colorado politics on his blog today — is Governor Hickenlooper in trouble?

Noting the shocking transition Hickenlooper’s reputation has undergone — from moderate to “leader of a very socially liberal, anti-business state government” — Ciruli points out how much Hick has lost control of his own image:

Hickenlooper tried to frame the session as simply addressing major needs in a moderate fashion with a minimalist state-of-state address advocating gun registration and civil unions. But, he lost control of the messaging as national interest in the issues overwhelmed local positioning and, for example, made Colorado a gun control success story for embattle [sic] advocates…

The sheer volume of Democratic proposals on guns, gays, drugs, taxes, death penalty, spending and regulation took over and altered Hickenlooper’s moderate image to that of a leader of very socially liberal, anti-business state government. As of today, gun control, the legislature’s signature issue, is not very popular in Colorado, with only 49 percent of the public supporting either stricter laws in general or an assault weapons ban specifically.

The effect of this strong shift to the left on Hick’s part — something also noted in The New Yorker profile of Hick today — is to submerge his approval rating under water with independents.

As the chart created by Ciruli highlights (see below), Hick’s approval among indies has gone from a positive 59-21 approve/disapprove last November to an upside down 40-48 in the April Public Policy Polling statewide survey.

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SURVEY SAYS: Despite AFL-CIO Misinformation Campaign, Douglas County Teachers Love Douglas County Schools

Published on May 6, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

The AFL-CIO-led coalition of teachers union front groups in Douglas County has been slamming the school board there for creating a hostile workplace. Based on a new statewide survey, it appears the only hostility in the workplace is that created by the unions, as Douglas County teachers report a satisfaction significantly higher than the statewide average.

Reports The Colorado Observer‘s Sunana Batra:

DENVER — Teachers in Douglas County generally have a higher degree of faith in their school leadership and enjoy greater engagement from parents and communities than do their counterparts in other parts of the state, according to the results of a recent survey.

The findings were part of the Colorado TELL (Teaching, Empowering, Leading & Learning) survey, which is described as an “anonymous statewide survey of licensed, school-based educators to assess teaching conditions at the school, district and state level.”

Some 33,000 Colorado teachers responded to a series of questions in ten separate categories. That number included more than 70 percent of Douglas County teachers, who participated at a rate 16 points higher than the state average of 55 percent.

On all nine measures in the Community Support and Involvement category, Douglas County teachers gave their district higher marks than the statewide average.

More educators in Douglas County felt that the community they serve is supportive of their school (90 percent), that parents are influential decision-makers in their school (92 percent), that their school maintains clear lines of communication with the community (94 percent) and does a good job encouraging parent involvement (94 percent), than did teachers in other districts.

It’s not as if this was a survey paid for or conducted by school board supporters. This is a massive sample (70% of DougCo teachers) and it was conducted by an organization that lists the DougCo teachers union, American Federation of Teachers Colorado, as one of the groups that administers the survey.

The survey results, with DougCo teachers reporting high levels of satisfaction with district leadership, severely undercuts the campaign that the AFL-CIO affiliates have been engaged in.

Facing a parent population enthralled with the district’s schools, and now proof that Douglas County teachers love Douglas County teachers, what is there left for the AFL-CIO to say?

Don’t worry, we’re sure they’ll find something to complain about. That, or they will just start making sh*t up.

UPDATE: In that category, take this bit of fiction from a disgruntled Doug Co teacher who got caught playing politics during school hours. The disgruntled union flack, named Brian White, argues that teachers are fleeing Douglas County. Only problem is, more teachers are leaving Cherry Creek Schools. 9News tried its best to tell the full story, but they did miss a big part – their source is a disgruntled staffer on an angry tirade.

MORSE ENLISTS DENVER DEM TO BEAT BACK RECALL: Group Leader Trashes CO Springs As “Right Wing, Religious Whack-Job Stronghold”

Published on May 6, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

Ed Hall, Chair of the Denver Democrats and designated filing agent for pro-Morse Group “A Whole Lot of People for John Morse”

The liberal front group attempting to beat back the burgeoning recall effort of Senate President John Morse is headed by the Chairman of the Denver Democratic Party who calls Colorado Springs a “right-wing, religious whack-job stronghold.”

A Whole Lot of People for John Morse has as its designated filing agent, Ed Hall, who is also chair of the Denver Dems. The insulting description of Morse’s hometown of Colorado Springs appears in the first line of Hall’s bio on the Denver Democratic Party’s website.

So much for a Whole Lot of People for John Morse (in his district).

The Denver Democrat group has been sending out highly deceptive robocalls pretending to be a public safety announcement in what amounts to petition suppression, warning recipients of the calls, without a shred of proof, that sex offenders and criminals are trying to get their personal information and urging them not to sign the petitions.

It’s clear that with such scorched earth tactics, Democrats from Denver to downtown Colorado Springs are beginning to worry.

So much for the party that claims it wants to improve participation in the political process.

But, in the end, it’s not really surprising. Morse has a history of over-the-top antics with his political opponents, even once threatening the home of a citizen who filed an ethics complaint against him for abusing his per diem allowance from taxpayers.

Morse’s ego and disregard for his constituents is something that his local newspaper summed up pretty succintly two weeks ago:

We’ve learned to expect this kind of tone-deafness from Morse. His disregard for the best interests of his own community is well-established. So, it’s hardly surprising to see him thumb rural Coloradans in the eye on the premise that it’s for their own good.

This time, though, Morse will have to face not only his critics but the voters should the recall succeed. And he’s not starting on the right foot with his group’s leader trashing the very people he needs support from.

GIVE IT UP, MIKEY: Statewide Poll Shows No Appetite For Tax Hike In 2013

Published on May 6, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

State Senator Mike Johnston, the better looking version of failed Prop 103 tax hike leader Rollie Heath, is pushing a $1.1 BILLION dollar tax increase for the ballot this year. A new survey by Magellan Strategies indicates Mikey would be better off staying at home than wasting his time pushing a tax hike when Colorado voters have no intention of supporting it.

Magellan polled 675 respondents from April 24-25 and found an overwhelming opposition to income tax hikes, with 55% of respondents opposed to the idea of raising the state income tax from 4.63% to 5.35% to only 36% supportive of the idea.

When asking about a graduated income tax hike, with those making less than $75,000 seeing their taxes go up 1%, while those making over $75,000 would see a 3% hike, the opposition increased slightly with 56% opposed and 35% in support.

Those results are close to the last tax hike attempt in Colorado, Prop 103 in 2011. That ballot initiative lost 2-1 across the state — a crushing defeat for Rollie Heath and his team.

Based on Magellan’s survey, it doesn’t look like this year’s tax hike attempt will fair much better.

The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.77%. The sample reflected the conservative leanings of odd year elections — historically low turnout affairs — with 39% Republican, 36% Democrat and 25% Unaffiliated. It used a combination of cell phones and landlines to reach respondents.

There was a bright spot in the poll for tax hikers — people are positive about the general idea of raising taxes for education 50%-43%. The problem for the tax hike set is that as soon as you ask about specific proposals, the bottom falls out.

It seems people like the idea of spending more money on education — as long as it’s someone else’s.

Long live TABOR!

UPDATE: An interesting note from the polling memo: The sample used is slightly more Democratic in its makeup than previous off-year elections, giving the pro-tax hike side a slight bump. And they are still getting crushed. See the partisan makeup of the electorate in 2009 and 2011 below:

WRONG TARGET: Aurora Sentinel Editor Takes Rhetoric to Ridiculous Level

Published on May 6, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

Goons. Liars. Terrorists. These are not words that Aurora Sentinel editor Dave Perry used to describe the Boston Marathon bombers in a column last week, but rather these were modifiers that he attached to his description of the National Rifle Association. Here’s another excerpt:

“No, no, no. Not the wannabe sick kid who blew up the Boston marathon or the freak that’s mailing ricin-laced letters to the president. I’m talking about the real terrorist threat here in America: the National Rifle Association.”

Those who cannot support an argument with reasoned thought, usually resort to name calling and ad hominem attacks. Perry takes this to a whole new level with the extreme language that he uses to describe the NRA, its leadership, and its membership.

Just to make sure that readers did not mistake his language for hyperbole, Perry takes the step to emphasize that this is what he truly thinks of the NRA, and suggests that our judicial system sends “the guilty monsters directly to Guantanamo Bay for all eternity and let them rot in their own mental squalor.” How enlightened.

Perry seems upset that the U.S. Senate did not pass a law to expand background checks, although these types of questionable checks and gun registries would not have prevented Sandy Hook, the Aurora Theater shooting, or many of the 500+ murders that occur on the streets of Barack Obama’s home town last year.

One has to wonder if Perry even consulted with NRA educational materials, press releases, or voter information before he published that bizarre column. While the NRA is against useless measures such as expanded background checks, it is focused on improving our communities through meaningful actions such as “swift and certain prosecution of violent criminals; securing our schools; and fixing our broken mental health system.”

If you can bring yourself to read the entire article, it is worth it, even if just to grasp the utter contempt that the left holds for citizens advocating for their rights.

RUSH FOR THE EXIT: HiViz First to Announce New Out of State Location

Published on May 5, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

HiViz Shooting Systems, a company that creates and markets luminescent sites for handguns, rifles, and shotguns in Ft. Collins, is the first company to announce its new, out of state location in response to anti-business laws passed by democrats in the state legislature and signed by Governor Hickenlooper this year.

HiViz employs 200 and is headquartered in Ft. Collins. The company announced that it will relocate its operations to Laramie, WY, and management believes that most of its employees will remain with the company. Laramie is approximately 60 miles from Ft. Collins. With Colorado’s persistently high unemployment under Governor Hickenlooper, many HiViz employees would be hard pressed to find new work in the state in the case that they did not want to make the out of state move with the company. According to the press release from the Wyoming Governor’s office:

“According to Howe, HiViz leadership selected Laramie because of its strong support of shooting sports manufacturing and supply chain industries and also because of its close proximity to the present HiViz facility. This proximity provides existing employees the opportunity for a manageable commute while they evaluate relocation options.”

In addition to the benefit of operating in a state that values its relationship with the outdoors industry, Wyoming has no individual state income tax, and was ranked #1 in the nation in the Tax Foundation’s 2013 Business Tax Climate Index.

According to a press release, Wyoming’s Governor Mead and the economic development folks in Laramie are thrilled:

“We are happy to welcome HiViz to Wyoming. Our culture and people make Wyoming a great fit for the company. I thank Phil Howe and all of the employees of HiViz for choosing Wyoming as their next home,” Governor Mead said. “I believe this state has so much to offer all citizens and businesses, but moving is never easy. I want to assure HiViz and its customers that we will work diligently to make sure this transition is a smooth one.”

Good thing Coloradans are all safer for having driven from the state yet another business. Oh wait, they’re not? Nevermind.

PEAKFEED: Sen. Brophy Asks for a “No” Vote on Election-Stealing Bill

Published on May 3, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

Republican Sen. Greg Brophy asks his colleagues in the Colorado State Senate to vote no on HB13-1303, the bill that would open the door to voter fraud in our state. The bill passed on a party line vote in the Senate. Bravo Sen. Brophy for breaking it down so simply for Coloradans.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY CLOSES RANKS BEHIND DRILLERS: State’s Job-Makers Speak Out Against Anti-Energy Legislation

Published on May 3, 2013 by ColoradoPeakPolitics

This week’s edition of the Colorado Statesman has an interesting new development on, of all places, the advertising page. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association is running an ad that features the logos of just about every major business and trade group in the State of Colorado which are all opposing the Democrat’s attempt to turn oil and gas regulation to the extractive equivalent of a sex offender registry.

The optics of this are pretty rough for the Democrats. No longer is legislative Democrats’ war on energy just a special interest fight between wing-nut enviros and the Big, Bad Oil and Gas Industry. The political argument about fracking in Colorado is taking on a very different feel…it is wing-nut enviros vs. the entire state of Colorado.

Yesterday we wrote about a similar predicament for Governor Hickenlooper over the Renewable Energy Mandate Act of 2013. Groups opposing this bill have filled the airwaves to beat-up supporting legislators, and beg the Governor to intervene.

Democrats have managed to hold sway in this state the last several cycles…as Eli Stokols daily reports…because they at least faked concern for business. This year they aren’t even faking it. Apparently more and more businesses and trade organizations are beginning to notice.