I stay a little agitated during tax season. I begin to question things more: "How is my money being spent?" "Why do I have to financially support people who just want to do drugs and live in a tent?" "Why is it 'greed' when I want to keep the money I make but not greed when someone else wants to take it?" These are a few of the questions that rattle around my head in April. I wish I could say only April is afflicted with this kind of torturous thinking. It typically resurfaces every election season when politicians proudly unveil programs to solve problems X, Y, and Z without acknowledging these programs are funded, more times than not, with my tax dollars. And when these hair-brained programs fail, the failure is never the flawed idea but a lack of funding. "If we have more funding, it will work this time!" seems to be the mantra of a politician's failed program. The answer is always more of your money.
As anticipated, House Bill 24-1363, the anti-charter school bill, died. Five Democrats and all three Republicans voted against the bill, while three Democrats voted in support. Charter school supporters, including students, testified against the bill and articulately made the case in support of these autonomous schools. Opponents were few, but most were closely tied to the union.
Both bill sponsors stated the bill is not about closing charter schools. Did they read their own legislation?
If the bill had been adopted, it would have granted a public school district with declining enrollment the power to revoke a charter school’s charter. This is a significant concern, considering declining enrollment is a prevalent trend in Colorado and nationwide. Almost a third of all charter schools are in districts with declining enrollment, potentially putting them at risk.
The legislation would have removed the second charter appeal to the Colorado State Board of Education, leaving the final decision to school districts if new charter schools open or if they renew current school contracts. In 1993, Governor Romer (D) said during the House and Senate conference committee that he was pleased the committee preserved the State Board of Education’s authority to override local school board decisions on charter school establishment. (You can read our publication about Colorado’s charter school law history here.)
Interestingly, the bill sponsors seemed to be unaware of current state law. One sponsor claimed that charter schools don’t have accountability committees despite being legally required to have one. Another provision in the legislation mandates charter schools to post their state law waivers on their website, a requirement that already exists. Furthermore, one of the sponsors incorrectly claimed that charter schools are not obligated to be financially transparent, a statement that simply is not true.
HB 24-1363 wasn’t the first significant assault on charter schools and won’t be the last. It’s good that parents realize the fragility of school options and they should keep that in mind every time they sit down to mark their ballots.
Do you wake up each morning and wonder, how did we get here? Our liberty is draining away! Does it seem like slowly but surely our freedoms are being eroded? If you are alarmed, discouraged, and troubled about what is taking place in Colorado and around the country, YOU can be part of the solution. We want to help you feel like it’s okay to fight for the freedoms our country was founded on. Learn how to sharpen your communication skills and use them to help preserve liberty.
You’ll learn practical tips that can be put to work immediately. Use them next time you find yourself in a conversation with someone with a differing point of view, whether it’s a family member, a friend, your neighbor, or your local school board members. You will learn new skills and then get a chance to practice these talents and gain valuable insight on how to put them to use.
When: April 27th, 9:30 am -11:30 am – in person Register: www.i2i.org/local-gov Registration required. Ample parking is free in our lot just west of our building (727 E 16th Ave, Denver) .
Lastly, Cory Gaines writes an op-ed on House Bill 24-1311, the Democrats' latest attempt to raid TABOR refunds.
Podcasts *Available on all major platforms*
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.
Our newest podcast, PowerGab, focuses on unique energy issues facing Colorado. Hosted by Amy Cook, 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.
Never before have so many anti gun bills been introduced into the Colorado legislature, and with a supermajority of Democrats in charge, they could all pass. Second Amendment Scholar, David Kopel, is arguably the nation's greatest researcher on gun issues. So are these bills constitutional?
On this episode of PowerGab, Independence Institute's Energy & Environmental Policy Director Amy Cooke and Director of Policy Jake Fogleman are joined by Colorado Senator Barb Kirkmeyer to discuss removing oil and gas from energy production in Colorado and how that would affect the state and the future.
We've mentioned before that Rob Natelson, Independence Institute's Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence, is a columnist for the Epoch Times, a conservative international newspaper. What we didn't mention is that the Epoch Times selects only a tiny fraction of its columns for a print weekend edition. Each edition remains on coffee tables around the world for several days.
Rob's columns have become a fixture of the weekend print edition. Recently, the paper reprinted his entire four part series on "The Constitution and Elections," and after that one the Constitution and immigration.
All Rob's articles are reproduced on the II website a week after initial publication. You can read them without charge here.
Upcoming Events
Local Government Project Thursday, April 25 6:30pm – 8:00pm Online via Zoom (link will be sent after registration) Click here to register
Speaking Up and Speaking Out Saturday, April 27 9:30am – Noon Independence Institute 727 East 16th Avenue Denver, CO 80203 Click here to register
We will be whining about session bills and enjoying a wine pairing/tasting with a selection of appetizers. Contact Harry Paul for more information.
Date: Thursday, May 16th, 2024 Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Independence Institute 727 East 16th Avenue Denver, CO 80203
