Strategic | Where We Engage

Each year the Colorado General Assembly considers 500 or more pieces of legislation. Are you interested in which bills Colorado Concern is tracking? Click here for an "At a Glance" status sheet, or for a real-time status sheet with additional details, click here.

Do You Know Your Legislator?

Interested in knowing who represents you at the Colorado General Assembly? Click here for more information.

United | Weekly Legislative Update

Colorado Concern produces a weekly newsletter for its members during the Colorado State Legislative Session, January through May. Click here to view archives of these newsletters.

From the President and CEO

The Week in Review: May 9, 2012

While the regular session of the 68th General Assembly came to a close last week as expected, state lawmakers are due back at the Capitol today for a Special Session called by Governor John Hickenlooper.

The state's chief executive has the authority to recall legislators for a specific time frame and to focus on a targeted list of issues. The governor chose to utilize his authority last Friday, announcing that legislators would be called back to the Capitol for a minimum of three days—the amount of time required to pass a bill through both chambers—to address civil unions legislation and a number of other bills that did not receive an opportunity for floor debate and an initial vote due to procedural efforts utilized by the House majority to prevent SB12-002—Civil Unions (Steadman-Ferrandino)—from moving forward.

One measure of specific interest to Colorado Concern that will be reintroduced is SB12-177, Unemployment Insurance Rates Revenue Bonds (Jahn-Liston), which focuses on allowing the state to bond the current unemployment insurance debt, an action that will save money for those who are ultimately responsible for paying the invoice from the federal government—employers. Click here to review a previous communique on the measure.

It remains to be seen what the political fallout will be from the actions that lead the governor to call a Special Session, or from the session itself. Whatever the results, it is fair to say both political parties will use the outcome as a tool in the upcoming primary races and the November elections. As Colorado Concern begins to focus on our role in statehouse races we will be analyzing how, and if, these recent actions impact our approach and strategy around retaining balance in the legislative branch of government. We urge you to join us for our All Member Breakfast on June 4th to discuss this very issue.

The final Colorado Concern 2012 legislative status sheet is available here.

If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me at 303-860-1201 or «tamra@coloradoconcern.com»

Warm Regards,

Tamra J. Ward
President and CEO
Colorado Concern

Archived legislative updates can be viewed here.

Committed | 2011 Member Survey Highlights

Member engagement is critical in setting our agenda. Each fall our CEOs, business and community leaders provide their feedback to a public policy survey. Following is a synopsis of results compiled in the fall of 2011.

Jobs and the Economy

67 percent believe Colorado's economic situation will be "about the same" a year from now.

57 percent state their company's economic situation is "about the same" as last year at this time.

50 percent say they will "grow and expand" in 2012; 50 percent will remain "status quo."

Colorado Taxes

50 percent say Colorado's personal income tax is "about average." Thirty-three percent say it's "lower than most states."

Colorado's corporate income tax is "about average," according to 53 percent of members. Twenty-six percent say it's lower than most states.

Colorado's corporate property tax is "higher than most states," according to 47 percent. Thirty percent call it "about average."

Tax Options and Where You Would Spend It

If taxes were to be raised, 57 percent say look at increasing the "state sales tax on goods."

36 percent say "no" to a graduated tax system. Thirty-seven percent are "undecided and need to know more."

72 percent believe higher education is underfunded.

Ease of Business Operations

57 percent say operating their business in Colorado is "about the same" as other states. Twenty three percent say it's easier.

Separation for Pinnacol Assurance?

50 percent say "yes."
30 percent are undecided.

Colorado Concern's Top Five Issues for Elected Officials

Protect and enhance business climate: 90%
Recruit / retain business, job growth: 80%
Further K-12 reform: 57%
Support higher education: 53%

Tie between:

Business regulation reform: 27%
Support early childhood education: 27%

Key Areas for Colorado Concern Focus / Engagement

Address the state's structural constitutional challenges
(52% intensity)
Electing statewide candidates who have an understanding of business issues (40% intensity)
Ballot initiative reform (37% intensity)

Little interest:

Increased funds for the state's General Fund (13.% intensity)

K-12 Reform

High:

89% say 3rd graders should be "functionally literate" before they are advanced.

Low:

17% are interested in a statewide tax measure for additional K-12 resources.

Development Focus

Reducing the availability of Tax Increment Financing (TIF's) would negatively impact redevelopment projects.
Additional construction defects legislation remains troubling.
Reclassification of agricultural lands causes concern.