Are we lying? Judge for yourself
It was fun to watch RTD go into anaphylactic shock this week when the Independence Institute released a study that merely publicized federal data. Unfortunately that data showed that Denver not only had the most deadly light-rail system in the nation, but the most energy-inefficient.
Senate Bill 145: Not the Answer for Colorado's High School Students
The Colorado General Assembly is debating Senate Bill 145 sponsored by Senator Peter Groff (D-Denver). The bill would require public school students to complete a state-imposed minimum set of core curriculum classes for high school graduation. The rhetoric surrounding the bill has been deceiving. On the surface it appears to make school districts align their graduation requirements with new college admission requirements for Colorado public colleges and universities.
Social In-Security Numbers…
The Colorado legislature is on track to pass some kind identity theft bill this session. And while giving the government better tools to prosecute ID thieves and empowering victims to restore their good names is all well and good, what ID theft and fraud laws, at both the state and federal level, have failed to do is actually prevent the crime itself.
Keep schools out of teacher politics
Many public school teachers and school districts are about to learn the truth of Pericles’ statement, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.”
Rail Transit Reduces Urban Livability
A Rail Livability Index shows that rail transit has reduced the livability of every urban area that has it. The index assesses the impact of rail transit on transit ridership, congestion, taxpayers, safety, energy consumption, and other measures of urban livability. The results show that urban areas that are building rail transit would be better off spending their limited transportation funds on road improvements and bus-rapid transit.
Tax and Spending Limits: Theory, Analysis, and Polic
Tax and spending limits (TELs) are budgetary rules that determine how much taxes and/or expenditures can increase from one year to the next. TELs can be statutory or constitutional rules. Statutory TELs can be modified by legislative action, while constitutional TELs can only be modified by a majority vote of citizens. TELs may originate through a legislative statute or referendum, or they may be initiated by citizens in states that provide for this form of direct democracy. TELs are now in place in 26 states.
The False Panacea of Renewable Energy
IB-2004-B (February 2004) Author: The Center for the American Dream PDF of full Issue Backgrounder Scribd version of full Issue Backgrounder Renewable energy — wind, solar, hydro, and biomass — is advertised as superior to coal, gas, and other non-renewables. But renewable energy comes at a high environmental and economic cost. Moreover, government subsidies to […]
Should it be legal for illegal aliens to attend public instructions of higher education in Colorado at in-state tuition rates?
In a number of states, public institutions of higher education allow illegal aliens to attend college at in-state tuition rates even though they have no legal right to be in the United States. There is some evidence that this has been done in Colorado.
Take Public Funds off the Negotiating Table: Let Teachers’ Unions Finance Their Own Business
Colorado school districts reroute many thousands of taxpayers’ dollars into the hands of the teachers’ unions every year, by granting paid release time for representatives to attend union activities and by financing union presidents and other officers to take extended leave from regular duties. This funding is done primarily through collective bargaining agreements but also through school board policies and administrative practices.
The False Panacea of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, and biomass are viewed by many as superior to coal, gas, and other non-renewables. Eventually, some or all of these forms of energy may be viable. However, government subsidies and incentives for renewables can create more problems than they solve.
Reforming Higher Education in Colorado
Today the only way most Colorado citizens can benefit from public subsides to higher education is to attend a public university or college. Students are attracted by subsidies that enable these institutions to charge lower tuition than their private counterparts. The larger the subsidy the more likely students will choose public institution over private colleges and universities. This is true even when the private colleges and universities allocate more resources to their education. Thus, at least some students end up investing less in their college education than they would have in the absence of the direct subsidy.
The Mobility Plan for Denver
DRCOG’s 2025 transportation plan would increase the amount of time the average metro-area commuter wastes in traffi c from 50 hours a year in 2001 to 87 hours by 2025. Even with FasTracks, the time wasted per commuter would increase to 83 hours. As an alternative, the Center for the American Dream proposes a Mobility Plan for Denver that would reduce annual delay to less than 45 hours per commuter. Without increasing taxes, the plan would also reduce air pollution, increase transportation safety, and provide greater mobility for low-income and transit-dependent people.
