AFP Colorado Blog http://www.afpcolorado.org The online headquarters for Americans for Prosperity in Colorado Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:36:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en © info@afpcolorado.org () info@afpcolorado.org() The online headquarters for Americans for Prosperity in Colorado info@afpcolorado.org No no http://www.afpcolorado.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg AFP Colorado Blog http://www.afpcolorado.org 144 144 AFP Colorado Post Election Analysis http://www.afpcolorado.org/afp-colorado-post-election-analysis/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/afp-colorado-post-election-analysis/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:36:13 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=112 POST ELECTION ANALYSIS

Colorado didn’t play the key role in Barack Obama’s election victory that many though it would. Ohio, Virginia and Florida decided the race long before the voters of Colorado had their say. But have their say they did. Obama gained 52% of the vote to John McCain’s 45%. And we lost conservative Colorado representatives in the U.S. Senate and House. For one more election cycle, the Blue State trend in federal races has continued in our state.

But Colorado remains a strong, free-market state, and we proved it on the ballot this year.

First of all, the Colorado State Senate may have one more Republican member. In the Colorado House, two Republican seats may have moved to Republican hands. This means that the leftward shift in the Colorado General Assembly which began in 2004 has stopped, and may have begun a small reversal.

Secondly, the result of the ballot issues reminds us that Colorado voters more freedom and less government. Every measure which would have increased taxes and spending was soundly defeated. This includes Amendment 58 would have been huge increase in energy severance taxes. Amendment 59, which would have taken away the heart of our Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), was also defeated. Have given the legislature the power to increase government spending and make a case for putting a higher tax burden on Coloradans.

Unfortunately, Amendment 47 failed to pass. It would have turned back Governor Ritter’s unionization of state employees and given Colorado workers more protection from forced unionization in the workplace. Also, Amendment 49 which would have stopped the practice of having government act as the collection agent for union and other organizations also failed.

The results of this election proved that Colorado is still a free-market conservative state. As an AFP member, you can be assured that we will take a stand on your behalf when important legislation comes up in Denver. We are confident that when you gather with us to take a stand, you will have the backing of a majority of Coloradans who refuse to allow an expansion of government in the Rocky Mountain State.

There will be a decidedly leftward trend in federal policy under the Obama administration with a Democrat Congress to back him up. But the leftward trend in Colorado may be reversing. But we cannot sit back and hope for a return to fiscal responsibility and a belief in individual freedom in the legislature. We must build a strong grass roots force to make our voice heard on free-market issues in 2009. If you are able to come to the State Capitol or help us organize activists and conduct rallies in your area of the state, please contact us at infoCO@afphq.org today. We will have a busy year beginning in January of 2009, and we need your help.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2009 LEGISLATURE

Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR)

We expect the Colorado legislature this year to continue a course of greater spending and increasing government. In 2008, Governor Ritter signed into law a freeze on the mill levy which in effect raised taxes across the state. A judge blocked the measure because it violated our state constitution’s ban on tax increases without a public vote. We expect similar legislation will be presented this next year in some form as a way to challenge TABOR again. Liberals in Colorado despise TABOR because it has successfully blocked their tax and spend programs ever since it was passed. With your help, we can lead the charge for reduced government.

Transparency in Government

For the last three or four legislative sessions, bills to open up state government checkbooks to online access and available to the public have have been killed in legislative committees. We urgently need this legislation passed in Colorado so that we can hold our government more accountable.

Energy Policy

Americans for Prosperity with the help of various congressmen including Sen. Wayne Allard declared Energy Freedom Day on October 1, 2008. The ban on offshore drilling and oil shale here in the Mountain West finally expired. Now we need to move forward and develop the estimated 800 billion barrels of oil shale here in Colorado. This will take a big effort to persuade our Congressional delegation and Governor Ritter to move quickly to open up our energy resources to create the jobs and opportunities here in our own state.

We are still concerned about the effects of Global Warming Alarmism here in Colorado. It is likely that more regulation of the energy industry is on its way which will mean hire taxes, less jobs and less freedom.

State Budget

The Colorado budget last year increased more than 6.5% from the previous budget. This was about a $1.15 billion spending increase, and millions of these dollars were directed toward pet political projects. We need to call upon the legislature to cut back spending. We need your help as we urge fiscal responsibility in Colorado.

The Agenda will require a grass roots army

We need your help to hold the line on increased spending. Please join with us as we build a grass roots army for change in Colorado. Here are some needs we have:

  1. We are looking for volunteer writers and people who can do research so we can get information out in a quick and efficient manner.

  2. We need many of you to commit to showing up at rallies and other meetings as often as possible. Please let us know if you can participate in these events from time to time.

Email us at infoCO@afphq.org and let us know we can count on you as we storm the Capitol with an army for freedom from government excess in Denver.

Jim Pfaff

Colorado State Director

Americans for Prosperity

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/afp-colorado-post-election-analysis/feed/ Steve Moore from Wall Street Journal Joins Americans for Prosperity Colorado http://www.afpcolorado.org/steve-moore-from-wall-street-journal-joins-americans-for-prosperity-colorado/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/steve-moore-from-wall-street-journal-joins-americans-for-prosperity-colorado/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:18:07 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=99 Special Event with Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal

With the current financial crisis putting a shadow over our economy, is our free-market system able to turn around on it’s own? Can we put our confidence in the government to clean up this mess? With all the talk in Washington, D.C. these days, it seems the politicians in our nation’s capitol think government has the answer. Steve Moore of the Wall Street Journal thinks differently.

Join us on Tuesday, October 7th in either Denver or Colorado Springs when Americans for Prosperity hosts Steve Moore as he introduces his new book, The End of Prosperity: How Higher Taxes will Doom the Economy—If We Let it Happen.

THERE IS LIMITED SPACE FOR THESE EVENTS. PLEASE REGISTER TODAY BEFORE ALL THE TICKETS ARE GONE. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS.

Colorado Springs, Lunch:  12:30pm.  Antlers Hilton, Downtown

Denver, Dinner  7:00pm.  Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear one of the nation’s preeminent free-market economists discuss why the Reagan Revolution played a critical role in reversing our economic prosperity, how it inspired a freedom movement throughout the world and what we need to do here at home to secure that freedom and prosperity for the next generations.

To register online, click one of the links below:

Tuesday afternoon, October 7th
Colorado Springs
Luncheon. 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Antlers Hilton Downtown
Cost $15

Tuesday evening, October 7th
Denver –Southside
Dinner. 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows
Cost $25

Join us in Denver or Colorado Springs on Tuesday, October 7th where you’ll have two opportunities to hear Steve Moore explain what’s really going on with our current financial crisis and explain what we can do now to secure freedom and economic prosperity for the future.

A brief summary of The End of Prosperity from Amazon.com:

“the rest of the world is following the American economic growth model of lower tax rates, more economic freedom, and sound money. Paradoxically, one country is moving away from these growth policies and putting its prosperity at risk — America. . . . We risk losing the exceptional standard of living that has made us the envy of the rest of the world if the pro-growth policies of the last twenty-five years are reversed by a new president. “

This is a critical time for our country. Please join with Americans for Prosperity and Steve Moore as we shed light on solutions to the financial crisis during this critical time for our country.

Don’t miss this important event.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Jim Pfaff
Colorado State Director
Americans for Prosperity

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/steve-moore-from-wall-street-journal-joins-americans-for-prosperity-colorado/feed/ Salazar’s “balanced energy plan” doesn’t play well with oil and gas industry http://www.afpcolorado.org/salazar-balanced-energy-plan-doesnt-play-well/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/salazar-balanced-energy-plan-doesnt-play-well/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:18:36 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=94 Colorado Senator Ken Salazar spoke on Friday to an energy forum of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.  He called for a “balanced national energy policy” and dismissed claims he is against drilling and exploration in the United States.  He told his critics to just turn it “down a couple decibels.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FcNNeuf0E

He pointed to the fact that when he became Colorado’s natural resources director in 1990, there were 11,000 energy jobs in the state.  He claims we have been successful in building the energy industry in Colorado because now there are 36,000 such jobs.

The response from oil and gas companies:  “I think the industry feels he could be more helpful,” said Doug Hock, spokesman for EnCana Oil & Gas (USA).

But here are the facts:

  1. Ken Salazar with Congressman Mark Udall and Governor Bill Ritter worked to block leasing for natural gas exploration on the Roan Plateau.
  2. Ken Salazar has been persistently working to block development of Colorado’s vast oil shale reserves. He sponsored a bill that attempted to block the release of final regulations on oil shale development. There are an estimated 800 billion barrels of oil locked in the ground here in Colorado.
  3. In July, Salazar wrote a Washington Post editorial called The Heedless Rush to Oil Shale in which he argued that we should put off oil shale development because the energy companies developing methods to extract this oil are “still years away from knowing whether this technology can cost-effectively produce oil on a commercial scale.” What he didn’t note is that the reason they are so far away is because Senator Salazar, Congressman Mark Udall and others have been blocking regulations which would free up oil companies to do more research.

It is disingenuous for Senator Salazar to claim his is for drilling when he is against it. The You Tube video below makes it very clear that his true agenda is to block all energy development under any circumstances.

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/salazar-balanced-energy-plan-doesnt-play-well/feed/ Hot Air Tour arrives in Colorado http://www.afpcolorado.org/hot-air-tour-arrives-in-colorado/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/hot-air-tour-arrives-in-colorado/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:15:30 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=89 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 18, 2008

Group Launches Statewide Hot Air Balloon Tour to Rally Citizens for Domestic Oil Production, Energy Independence

Americans for Prosperity Balloon has a Message for Udall:  “Energy Taxes Hurt Families, Kill Jobs”

COLORADO – The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will bring its hot air balloon to Colorado beginning on August 20 for a four-day, seven-stop statewide tour aimed at rallying hundreds of citizens around market-based solutions to energy challenges. The group’s balloon, which has already made 20 stops around the country, will highlight the need for policies that would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive. Even as energy costs remain at record-high levels, AFP says many lawmakers continue to oppose commonsense solutions at the urging of global warming extremists like Al Gore.

The Tour will kick off on Wednesday, August 20, in Broomfield, before making stops in Fort Collins, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, and Denver. All events are open to the public, but citizens are encouraged to pre-register online. For more info, including a full schedule, visit www.CostofHotAir.org.

“Instead of focusing on positive, free-market solutions to energy challenges, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority are pushing for the proven-failed tax and regulatory policies of the past,” said AFP Colorado Director Jim Pfaff. “And they are cheered on by global warming alarmists like Al Gore who want energy to be much more expensive so American use less. Our hot air balloon is going to educate citizens on the hot air in the energy and global warming debates. We invite anyone who is concerned about high gas prices to join us for these events by registering online at www.CostofHotAir.com.”

The Hot Air Tour is part of AFP’s overall nationwide effort to promote free-market policies that will reduce energy costs, and oppose proposals by global warming alarmists that would lead to huge energy price spikes. AFP is also airing statewide radio ads in Colorado. The group supports expanding oil exploration and production to the Arctic coastal plain and the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as tapping into the potential of shale oil in places like Colorado.

“Lawmakers who are opposing market-based measures to lower energy costs by increasing domestic supplies are out of touch with average Americans,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “Families and businesses won’t be fooled by slick political rhetoric. They understand that the energy taxes and regulation of the 1970s are proven failed policies that won’t deliver relief from the pain at the gas pump. We are pushing policymakers to stick up for American energy consumers by supporting commonsense measures that will lower energy prices.”

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

# # #

Wednesday – August 20, 2008

Broomfield, CO – 8:30 a.m.
Broomfield County Commons Park
13200 Sheridan Blvd
Broomfield, CO 80020

Fort Collins, CO – 6:00 p.m.
Fossil Creek Park, Field A
413 South Bryan Street
Fort Collins, CO 80521

Thursday – August 21, 2008

Pueblo, CO – 8:30 a.m.
Near Langoni Sports Complex (parking lot)
West 24th Street & High Street
Pueblo, CO 81003

Colorado Springs, CO – 6:00 p.m.
Memorial Park
1605 East Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs, CO

Friday – August 22, 2008

Glenwood Springs, CO – 8:30 a.m.
Glenwood Springs Community Center (parking lot)
100 Wolfson Road
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Grand Junction, CO – 6:00 p.m.
LincolnPark
12th Street & Gunnison Avenue
Grand Junction, CO

Saturday – August 23, 2008

Denver, CO
Details to be announced

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/hot-air-tour-arrives-in-colorado/feed/ Drilling now could mean lower taxes http://www.afpcolorado.org/drilling-now-could-mean-lower-taxes/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/drilling-now-could-mean-lower-taxes/#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:50:53 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=84 Andrew Moylan of the National Taxpayers Union has an article in th Wall Street Journal today showing how we could lower taxes by allowing drilling in ANWR now. Using Congressional Reaserch Service numbers, he estimates that the federal government could bring in $2 trillion in extra revenue over the next 30 years.

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/drilling-now-could-mean-lower-taxes/feed/ Udall switches stand on offshore drilling? http://www.afpcolorado.org/udall-switches-stand-on-offshore-drilling/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/udall-switches-stand-on-offshore-drilling/#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:03:22 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/udall-switches-stand-on-offshore-drilling/ Vince Carroll points out that even Mark Udall can’t ignore the facts. Americans want us to begin to expand energy exploration now. But is Udall’s sudden change of heart to support drilling offset by his consistent opposition up to this point?

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/udall-switches-stand-on-offshore-drilling/feed/ Grand Junction Town Hall: Energy Crisis and Environmental Alarmism http://www.afpcolorado.org/grand-junction-town-hall-environmental-alarmism/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/grand-junction-town-hall-environmental-alarmism/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:47 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=79 Join us for a Town Hall event in Grand Junction:

Colorado: The Energy Crisis and Environmental Alarmism

High gas prices and domestic energy development is the number-one issue in the minds of voters this election. It’s abundantly clear that $4.00 per gallon gas has Coloradans concerned and ready for an increase in domestic drilling. And Coloradans are also ready to tap into the vast reserves of oil in our state in an environmentally friendly way. It’s time to stop talking about the problem. We need to take action now.

On Thursday, August 14, we will be holding a Town Hall forum to discuss how Colorado can take the lead in turning back high energy prices and overcoming the threat environmental alarmism poses to our national security.

We hope you can attend our event:

Colorado: The Energy Crisis and Environmental Alarmism

Mesa County Courthouse
General Meeting Room
544 Rood Ave
Grand Junction, CO

6:30 Reception/Registration
7:00 – 9:00 Event

Speakers:

Jim Pfaff, Americans for Prosperity

County Commissioner Janet Rowland

County Commissioner Craig Meis (invited)

Other invited guests

We launched our Colorado state chapter saying that our first goal would be to educate and mobilize grassroots taxpayers in support of the removal of artificial, government-imposed barriers to energy development, which will help lower prices for cash-strapped citizens. This includes the vast oil shale reserves in our own state. It will take a grassroots army of activists to turn the tide of environmental alarmism. Can you join us on Wednesday, August 14th as we discuss these important issues and how we can take action to push back the roadblocks to domestic energy development?

RSVP using one of following:

email: info@afpcolorado.org

Or use our contact form:  www.afpcolorado.org/contact/

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]]> http://www.afpcolorado.org/grand-junction-town-hall-environmental-alarmism/feed/ Twitter Updates for 2008-08-12 http://www.afpcolorado.org/twitter-updates-for-2008-08-12/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/twitter-updates-for-2008-08-12/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:59:59 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/twitter-updates-for-2008-08-12/
  • Preparing for the Hot Air tour next week. Hot air balloon, hot dogs and telling everyone that we need to stop Global Warming alarmism #
  • Check out details about our Hot Air tour at http://www.CostofHotAir.com #
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    ]]>     http://www.afpcolorado.org/twitter-updates-for-2008-08-12/feed/     RTD scheduling system putting patients at risk http://www.afpcolorado.org/rtd-scheduling-system-risk/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/rtd-scheduling-system-risk/#comments Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:20:23 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/?p=75 It seems that the RTD Access-a-Ride scheduling system is causing problems for people with medical needs who are missing their doctors’ appointments.

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    ]]>     http://www.afpcolorado.org/rtd-scheduling-system-risk/feed/     House bill threatens Piñon Canyon expansion http://www.afpcolorado.org/house-bill-threatens-pinon-canyon-expansion/ http://www.afpcolorado.org/house-bill-threatens-pinon-canyon-expansion/#comments Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:32:44 +0000 Jim Pfaff http://www.afpcolorado.org/house-bill-threatens-pinon-canyon-expansion/ Congressmen Marilyn Musgrave and John Salazar have taken one step closer to their goal of stopping expansion of Piñon Canyon.

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    ]]>     http://www.afpcolorado.org/house-bill-threatens-pinon-canyon-expansion/feed/