At its Annual Meeting last Friday, the TABOR Committee reaffirmed its support for the defense against the ongoing lawsuit, Lobato v. Colorado.  The TABOR Committee has retained pro bono council to file an amicus brief making The TABOR Committee "friends of the court."  Due to a recent ruling by the Court, filing is being held in abeyance.

 “The TABOR Committee is eager to become a part of this very important lawsuit,” declared Penn Pfiffner, a former state legislator who was re-elected Chairman of the TABOR Committee.  “The Directors voted unanimously to vigorously oppose this potentially very damaging case.  It is wrong constitutionally for the judicial branch to take over education funding, and would do great mischief to overturn the voters’ longstandingwishes to control the size of government and its rate of growth.”

 According to the Attorney General’s website, “Plaintiffs argue that K-12 funding is underfunded by $3 billion…”  If they win the case, taxpayer funding K-12 operations would leap annually by that amount.  They also want the state to provide an additional $17 billion for school buildings. “If Plaintiffs were to win, to meet this obligation, the state would either have to raise taxes by at least 50 percent or have to devote 89 percent of the general fund budget to K-12 funding.” (http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/departments/state_services/education/lobato)

  Of perhaps greater concern was that the state Supreme Court could put itself in a position to determine the outcome even though the state legislature and the voters have determined funding to be adequate.

The timing of an amicus filing has been a major consideration.  The judge in the case recently rejected another group’s amicus filing. The TABOR Committee is following advice of counsel to wait on filing for now.  Matters will be better served to file during the appeals process.

  “The TABOR Committee is watching developments closely,” said Bob Foland, the organization’s ExecutiveDirector.  “  At the appropriate time, we do intend to make our voice heard.”

November 7, 2011

Contact Information

Robert Foland, Executive Director

303-771-4727

ColoradoTABOR@hotmail.com

08/31/2011 – The Adams County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution in public hearing today, directing county staff to prepare a ballot question asking voters whether or not to increase the Board of County Commissioners from three to five members. This resolution represents a commitment the board made as part of the strategic reform package adopted on May 25, 2011.

"We promised citizens we would enact sweeping reforms to bring good and responsible government to Adams County," said Chairman W. R. "Skip" Fischer. "Today, we are following through on another reform measure."

The board recently conducted a public opinion poll to gauge residents' interest in restructuring county government to establish a Home Rule Charter Commission and/or change from a three to five member board of commissioners. The results of the poll, conducted by Ciruli Associates, found more support for considering a board expansion than for pursuing home rule. The survey further showed the public to be closely divided on the issue of expanding the board, with nearly one-half saying they favored the opportunity to vote on the issue.

"We said that we would bring this issue to our citizens, and now we are able to show that we are listening," said Commissioner Alice J. Nichol. "The people have spoken and we are committed to making sure they are heard."

Through the adopted resolution, the Board of County Commissioners authorized Adams County staff to take action to ensure this issue is referred to Adams County voters at the next possible election. Colorado Revised Statute mandates that this type of question may only be referred to the registered electors of the county at a General Election occurring each even-numbered year. The next General Election is Nov. 6, 2012.

 "We are following through on every promise we made to citizens in May," said Commissioner Erik Hansen. "This is just one of the many reforms we are moving forward to establish a transparent and accountable system of government in Adams County."  

Click the link called "Ballot Question Referred to Voters" under County Updates to view the resolution and survey results.

http://www.co.adams.co.us/

Join State Senator Shawn Mitchell & Denver Post Columnist Mike Littwin for a debate on the U.S. debt ceiling vote

Moderated by Eli Stokols of KDVR Fox 31

Wednesday, July 20th at 7:00pm
Doors open at 6:30pm

Northglenn High School
601 West 100th Place, Northglenn

Click here for an invite.

The event is free and open to the public.
For a map and directions, please click here.

Biography of Senator Shawn Mitchell: Senator Shawn Mitchell represents Colorado State Senate District 23 which includes Adams, Broomfield Counties along with Southwest Weld County. He was elected to the Senate in 2004 after serving three terms in the Colorado House of Representatives. He currently serves as the ranking Republican on the Health and Human Services Committee. Shawn Mitchell and his wife Yvette reside in Broomfield. They have six children, Natalie, Matthew, Kevin, Danny, Bethany, Bradley and Jeffrey. Mitchell is an avid and experienced rock climber.

Biography of Mike Littwin: I’m a columnist for the Denver Post. I came to the Post as a Page 2 columnist when the Rocky Mountain News folded and have now moved to the editorial board and the op-ed page, where I do a little less beat reporting and a little more chin scratching. I began my career covering the Virginia Squires and Dr. J in the old ABA. I worked at the Los Angeles Times and the Baltimore Sun before coming to the Rocky 14 years ago. I’ve been a news columnist, sports columnist, features columnist and op-ed columnist. In my spare time, I go home to my wife, Susie, and sometimes exchange text messages with my law-professor daughter Angie.

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

CLASSES sponsored by The North Suburban Republican Forum

[AVAILABLE FOR COLLEGE CREDIT]

This two day class will be held: June 11, 2011 & June 18, 2011  9:00a.m.-5:00 p.m. $75 per person

Colorado Christian University Adams County Campus, 10190 Bannock St, Northglenn, 80260

For more information and/or to register, please call Patty McCoy, 303-457-1291 or E-mail at heypattymac@juno.com

Class Sessions:

Attending both sessions is required in order to qualify for your course-completion certificate. The two class sessions will meet at 9:00 on Saturday mornings: June 11^th and June 18^th

Registration:

Credit: To register for three hours of credit through CU-Colorado Springs, call Penn Pfiffner 303-233-7731. You earn those hours as 400-level Political Science credits. In addition to the LRW's $80 charge, The Center for Study of the Individual charges the part-time student fee of $750 for this course and collects the money directly. You must also work with the instructor to complete writing assignments and more.

Course Materials:

"Commanding Heights" – a 3-part PBS production (available in DVD or VHS). If you enjoy access to a major Internet connection, you may download it for free from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/hi/story/index.html

Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell, Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-08145-2

How Capitalism Saved America: The Untold History of Our Country from the Pilgrims to the Present, Thomas DiLorenzo, Three Rivers Press, ISBN 1-4000-8331-1

It is important to understand that this class is designed to be rigorous and challenging. Even if you are not earning college credit, we ask that you please prepare by completing the outside videos and books when assigned. Students have received a far greater benefit from the course by doing the homework.

To that end, we ask that you please view at least the first two tapes in the "Commanding Heights" series before the first class. If you do not wish to purchase the series, many public libraries have the series to lend.

A NOTE FROM PENN PFIFFNER:

You have a strong love of freedom. It’s a natural part of being human. But too few of today’s adults were taught the fundamentals of a free society. We have a wonderful seminar to offer you. It pulls together the basic principles of liberty and a free market, showing you that these cohesive fundamentals allow society to work well, and to honor the individual. The course material springs from the great thinkers and achievers who shaped America. It is designed for business and community leaders and the general public as well as for college students.

The course makes the moral and philosophic case for free-market capitalism. One of the most important concepts of Western Civilization is the acquisition of property as an unalienable right. The course develops the relationship between economic liberty and political liberty. Participants learn the principles behind wealth-creation. They are introduced to the philosophy of the Austrian School of Economics and its connection to the founding ideas of the American experiment. Participants are awakened to their heritage of economic liberty. It will be more than worth your time.

Classes will meet for two Saturdays. The course is designed for business and community leaders, college students, and the general public. If desired, you may obtain three college credits through the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs by paying the usual college per-credit fee.

Come if you love liberty. Come if you love collectivism, but need to understand the libertarian position. Come if you want to receive an inexpensive, thorough, and energetic exposure to the founding principles of economic and political liberty.

Further questions? You may call the instructor, Penn Pfiffner, at 303-233-7731, or reach him at constecon@hotmail.com.

Does money buy influence in politics?  That is a rhetorical question of course as money talks with many elected officials and it always has. A look at state campaign finance documents submitted by Adams County Commissioner Alice Nichol reveals she has accepted contributions from many of the same people tied to questionable dealings in the county.

Nichol’s last election was in 2008 when she ran for and won the Board of Commissioners seat for District 2.  Prior to that she held office as a state representative and state senator. 

In the months leading up to her most recent run, Nichol accepted sizeable campaign contributions from those involved in the Quality Paving scandal.  As a county commissioner, Nichol was one of three to have the final say in awarding no-bid contracts to the company.  We now know, Quality conspired with Adams County employees to defraud taxpayers out of $1.8 million worth of roadwork. 

Jerry Rhea, the former principal at Quality Paving who is now charged with 23 felony counts, contributed heavily to Nichol’s 2008 commissioner run.  Another figure in the scandal, the former head of Adams County’s Public Works Department, Lee Asay, also contributed to the Nichol campaign.  Asay is close friends with Rhea and was responsible for recommending the awarding of the bogus contracts to Quality.

Another notable contributor includes attorney Manuel (Manny) Solano, husband of House District 31 Representative Judy Solano.  While his campaign contribution was small, Manny Solano is representing Quality employee Heath Russo who is facing 33 felony counts for his part in the affair. 

In Sunday’s Denver Post story that broke this story wide open, we also learned the name of Robert Fleming.  Fleming is a planning consultant who brings a great deal of business before Adams County boards, including the Board of Adjustment that Ron Nichol, Alice’s husband, sits on.  Mr. Fleming contributed heavily to Alice Nichol’s last campaign as well.

Lastly, Larry Valente, contributed as well to Nichol’s campaign.  Valente is the son of former commissioner Elaine T. Valente (a cousin of Nichol’s) and currently sits on the Board of Adjustment.

Are any of these contributions a ‘smoking gun?’  Absolutely not.

However, putting these together with all of the other recent revelations highlights what is at best the appearance of impropriety and almost certainly represents a conflict of interest. 

Yesterday when Commissioner Erik Hansen presented a five-point plan to help clean up Adams County, Nichol had absolutely no comment.  She however needs to address these questions head on as an explanation is the least of what is owed Adams County taxpayers.

In an open letter to his fellow Adams County Commissioners this morning, Erik Hansen takes the first step in getting in front of the scandals that have enveloped the county.  Hansen proposes a number of much needed reforms that the other commissioners should embrace – see complete letter below.

The give point plan would address many of the problems that have come to light in recent months.  It would help to increase transparency in Adams County government while removing the nepotism and cronyism that has plagued the county.

It will be interesting to see the reaction of the other two commissioners, Alice Nichol and Skip Fischer.  Nichol is herself currently under a cloud of suspicion after it was revealed yesterday that she may have used her power to unduly influence county business.

Hansen should be applauded for trying to reign in the corruption that has apparently permeated Adams County government.  All of the commissioners should embrace these reforms with open arms and start the hard task of restoring the public trust in Adams County.

As Hansen writes, “It is time for the Board of County Commissioners to confront head on the continuing stain on the reputation of Adams County.”

1/31/11 – Adams County Commissioner Erik Hansen calls for needed reforms