We are off to a busy start at Independence Institute. Jake Fogleman gives a brief rundown on what to expect from the upcoming legislative session. Kathleen Chandler shares details on her upcoming class, A Citizen's Guide to Civic Participation. Nash Herman updates readers on the looming budget shortfall. Pam Benigno has a piece on teacher licensing. Shayne Madsen makes the case for government transparency. Lastly, Rob Natelson thinks Colorado should reconsider its decision to adhere to the National Vote Compact.
The Colorado General Assembly is set to officially reconvene on Wednesday to kick off the 2025 legislative session.
When lawmakers gather, they'll be forced to confront several new challenges brought about by the state's precarious economic climate and progressive lawmakers hoping to push the state further toward the political left.
The sugar high from multiple years of over-spending aided by pandemic-era federal funding has officially worn off, and the hangover has arrived. Lawmakers will be forced to fill a nearly $700 million shortfall in this year's budget, and they're going to have to reach a consensus on which of their own government programs they're willing to cut to do it.
This high-stakes budget fight will happen against the backdrop of precipitously declining GDP, personal income, and employment growth figures that have resulted in Colorado’s economy plummeting from its previous position as a national leader, according to a recent University of Colorado Leeds School of Business analysis.
Meanwhile, there are still plenty of assembly members who don’t feel their plate is full enough in dealing with the state’s fiscal woes and waning economic dynamism. Progressive lawmakers have already announced their plans to introduce bills this year to upend the state's 80-year-old labor laws to make it easier to force workers to join a union as a condition of employment, ban all semi-automatic firearms that accept detachable magazines, take a chainsaw to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, and more.
As in past years, you can count on Independence Institute's policy team to provide updates and analysis on key bills throughout the session to keep you informed about Colorado's policy future.
The Joint Budget Committee continues to meet with heads of departments to determine where to make almost $700 million in budget cuts this year. The fiscal policy center is closely monitoring these developments.
Additionally, the 2025 legislative session begins tomorrow. To commemorate the new session, we will soon be publishing our third report on tax expenditure modifications, which are playing a decisive role in the current budget crisis. Colorado legislators are discovering that, in fact, it is impossible to have their cake and eat it too.
Did you know 46% of the voters in Colorado are unaffiliated? Have you ever wondered why? Hear from the experts at Independence Institute talk about the issues important to Colorado and how to bring some sanity to this increasingly leftist state.
Devil's Advocate with Jon Caldara is a current events show not to be missed. Each week it features lively - and sometimes heated - debates between elected officials, journalists, activists, concerned citizens, subject-matter experts, and hard-pressing host Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute. Jon is not afraid to express his "free-market" views, and his guests are not afraid to take on those opinions. It all makes for an informative, lively public affairs program.
PowerGab focuses on unique energy issues facing Colorado. Hosted by Amy Cooke, Independence Institute's Energy and Environmental Policy Center Director, and Jake Fogleman, Director of Policy. PowerGab tackles the complexities of energy policy and solutions for a broad audience to educate and illuminate all while having a few laughs along the way.
This podcast includes several series of commentaries about the Constitution. Each series will cover a different aspect of the document. This series thumbnails the lives of 14 American Founders and their specific contributions to the Constitution. It covers both well-known Founders, such as James Madison, and those who are lesser known, but who exercised an out-sized influence.
A friend recently suggested that encouraging conservative-minded individuals to pursue teaching could be beneficial. He was considering those who may want a career change or retirees looking to teach.
Generally, Colorado public school teachers need a teaching license. An exception would be if you teach in a charter school. Yet, many charter schools aim to hire only licensed teachers. Charter school special education teachers must hold the appropriate license. If you are an expert in a particular subject matter and have a related bachelor's degree, you may find a teaching job in a local charter school without going through a licensure program. The Teach Colorado website assists those considering teaching as a career. The Colorado Department of Education offers a wealth of information on its website about alternative licensure programs for people with bachelor's degrees.
I researched three different alternative licensure programs, each with its unique structure. In all cases, teaching candidates must secure a teaching job that allows them to participate in an alternative licensure program. Candidates will teach while simultaneously taking coursework and engaging in other program activities. These programs typically last one to two years. While they are undoubtedly rigorous, pursuing an alternative licensure program is worthwhile, as teaching is a noble profession that provides an opportunity to positively impact the lives of children.
Troops to Teach is a pathway for veterans or active military personnel to establish a teaching career. Financial assistance may be available to pay for the program.
Another option is to become a paraprofessional and assist teachers and students. In Colorado, there are no licensure requirements for paraprofessionals. The state leaves it up to the school district to set hiring criteria but provides some guidance for minimum competency.
If you desire to coach in public schools, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) website posts job openings. Coaches are required to take some coursework. Working in public education can be challenging, but the rewards are immense for those who fully embrace the journey. Most importantly, you could make a meaningful difference in students' lives.
Complete Colorado columnist Cory Gaines digs into the rise of ‘collaboration’ among left-leaning Colorado media outlets and how it influences the news you consume.
Xcel Energy customers are going to be paying more for heat pumps, whether or not they actually buy them. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke discuss the legislature's "Fenberg Rider" and why utility prices are going up.
A big thank you to the 19 folks who testified in person at the Legislative Executive Committee meeting on December 30, 2024, concerning SB24-157, amending the Colorado Open Meetings Laws to exclude much of what goes on at the Capitol during the Legislative Session. Another 13 people submitted written comments.
This kind of citizen and organizational advocacy is unusual, particularly at an off-session time, for a meeting that was not widely noticed. One of the issues that came up during this meeting that has not been widely covered by the media is the fact that the Republican Caucus in both the House and Senate have voted to keep their Caucus meetings fully open to the public, and the media rejected provisions of SB24-157 that allow Caucus meetings to be closed.
It is important to note that notwithstanding SB24-157, the Legislature can decide to open meetings and discussions to the public. The reason that Caucus meetings are so important is that much of the debate over issues happens in Caucus meetings. For example, when the various property tax proposals, including initiative proposals, were discussed in the House and Senate Democratic Caucus meetings last session, the Caucus leadership decided to keep those meetings closed and refused access to both the public and the media.
During my testimony to the Executive Committee on the 30th, she pointed out the problems created by keeping Caucus meetings closed. I also asked that the Democratic leadership consider taking action similar to the actions of the Republican leadership. We will be watching Caucus meetings to see what decisions will be made and will be reporting on these actions.
-Shayne Madsen, General Council, Director of Political Law Center
I published an article in Complete Colorado explaining why the state legislature should reconsider its 2019 decision to adhere to the "National Popular Vote" compact (NPV). Under NPV's terms, if the compact is adopted by enough states to control the Electoral College, every state will assign its electoral votes to the purported winner of the national popular vote.
As I pointed out in previous articles, NPV would import Third-World-style "elections" to the United States. But it's unlikely to get to that point, because NPV is also a constitutional disaster---entirely inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution and therefore unlikely to survive judicial review.
My latest article points out that two U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued since the legislature adopted NPV make it clear that the measure violates the Colorado Constitution as well as the U.S. Constitution. The only responsible course, therefore, is for the legislature to repeal it.
