Colorado Vote Swings a problem for Republicans?

The fight for votes between Republicans and Democrats in Colorado is taking on new shapes and forms in recent years. Take Garfield County, for example. This once Republican stronghold is now balanced between moderate to liberal Carbondale and conservative Rifle. And Glenwood Springs, sandwiched in the middle, has seen a great increase in unaffiliated registered voters as in all the county who are trending Democrat.

The challenge this year for Republicans is to register every Republican and get them to the polls. Democrats, on the other hand, are benefiting from the trend toward unaffiliated voters which are increasingly going their way.

Fort Collins Town Hall: Energy Crisis and Environmental Alarmism

Join us for a Town Hall event in Fort Collins:

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 Wednesday, July 30, 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

Fort Collins Elks Club
General Meeting Room
140 E Oak
Fort Collins, CO

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

Speakers:

Jim Pfaff, Americans for Prosperity

State Rep. Kevin Lundberg

State Rep. Scott Renfroe

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, July 30th 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/

Colorado Springs Town Hall: Energy Crisis or Environmental Alarmism

Join us for a Town Hall event: 

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 Wednesday, July 30, 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

Pikes Peak Library District
Ruth Holly Branch Meeting Room
923 North Murray Boulevard
Colorado Springs, CO

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

Speakers:

Jim Pfaff, Americans for Prosperity

Paul Prentice, PhD, Limited Government Forum, UCCS Economist

Colorado Rep. Marsha Looper

Colorado Rep. Bob Gardner

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, July 30th 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/

Ritter wants to close off drilling on Roan Plateau

Gov. Bill Ritter and the head of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources wants to close major portions of the Natural Gas rich Roan Plateau and open up future drilling leases in a slow, incremental pattern.  He says of the plan outlined today:

“We are making steady progress on what I believe is a uniquely Colorado solution, a solution that strikes an important balance and will benefit our environment, economy, communities and energy industry,”

According to the Denver Post:

The 52,000-acre development plan was hammered out by the BLM and the state’s Natural Resources Department after years of negotiations. It limits drilling operations to no more than 1 percent of the plateau’s surface land at any given time and requires that area to be restored before a new area can be drilled.

Ritter: “Uniquely Colorado solution” possible for Roan - The Denver Post.

Pelosi stands firm against offshore drilling

Nancy Pelosi continues to stand firmly against offshore drilling.

She and Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, appear intent on holding the line against calls to approve drilling in areas now off limits. They mount the counterargument that the oil and gas industry is not aggressively exploring large expanses it has already leased on land and offshore. They also have urged Bush to pour some fuel from national reserves into the commercial supply chain in an effort to lower prices.

Pelosi cited the 1969 Santa Barbara, CA oil spill which eventually led a ban on offshore drilling in 1981.  But, in reality, Mother Nature is the biggest polluter of oil. Read more »

Legislator seeks CO2 shortened work week

From the Denver Post:

The workweek for state employees should be changed to four 10-hour days, Rep. Don Marostica said Tuesday, noting the move would cut greenhouse gases, reduce traffic, and save money on road maintenance and energy. Marostica, R-Loveland, said he planned to push legislation next year to make the change. “What I see is on Mondays or Fridays (employees getting another day off),” he said. “It gives a lot of people with kids the chance to go visit their kids at school and take time with their families.”

Colorado loses MillerCoors HQ

From the Denver Post:

MillerCoors has selected Chicago as its headquarters site, rebuffing pleas from metro Denver and Milwaukee to locate the lead corporate office in the historic homes of Coors and Miller beer.
In a consolation prize of sorts, the Coors brewery in Golden will get a $100 million capital infusion to update its brewing and packaging equipment.

Americans for Prosperity Responds to Sen. Salazar’s Oil Shale Op-ed

This morning’s Washington Post carries an op-ed by U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, in which he repeatedly talks down the promise of oil shale exploration in his home state, which could create thousands of new jobs and significantly increase domestic oil production, thereby easing gas prices.

In response, Americans for Prosperity’s new Colorado State Director, Jim Pfaff, has submitted the following letter to the editor for publication in the Post:

To the Editor:

In his recent op-ed (“Heedless Rush to Oil Shale,” July 15, 2008), U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar pessimistically and cynically disparages the idea of opening up Colorado’s vast oil shale reserves as a way to lower the price of gasoline for American drivers.

Read more »

Schaffer, Udall spar over energy

Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall traded jabs over energy policy at Monday’s first U.S. Senate debate.

Bob Schaffer proposed reduced taxes on energy production as a way to make it more profitable to do so.  Mark Udall blamed high oil prices on oil and gas companies which he claims do not need tax breaks.

Rocky Mountain News

Colorado state parks division guilty of waste

A recent audit conducted by members of the Colorado parks division and Great Outdoors Colorado found rampant waste and abuse of funds.