Week in Review June 10-16, 2007

Senate Needs to Pass Energy Independence Bill

Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak called on Senator Wayne Allard to stand up for Colorado’s working families by joining Democrats in passing the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This critical bill would protect working families throughout Colorado by improving energy efficiency, punishing gas price gougers, and strengthening U.S. national security by taking real steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

At a time when Colorado consumers are saddled with record gas prices, which have increased 124.83 percent since President Bush took office, Republicans in Washington continue to stand up for their special interest friends and stand in the way of real reform. This year, the average Colorado household with children will spend $4,492 on transportation fuel costs, an increase of 124.83 percent over 2001 costs. In addition to combating price gouging by oil companies, a new Joint Economic Committee report shows that the energy efficient practices encouraged in the Democratic energy plan could save Colorado’s working families $1,600 each year--$750 a year in household energy costs and $875 a year on gasoline costs. [Joint Economic Committee report, 6/14/07]

As Congress is debating the new Democratic energy plan, Governor Bill Ritter and Democrats in the Colorado legislature passed major programs in renewable energy. But Congress still needs to do its part.

Vestas Blades Breaks Ground On First North American Manufacturing Plant In Windsor

From the Governor’s office: Vestas Blades of Denmark broke ground yesterday on its first North American manufacturing plant in Windsor, becoming one of the pioneers of Gov. Bill Ritter’s New Energy Economy.

The $62 million, 200,000-square-foot facility will produce about 700 blades a year for wind turbines when the plant is operational starting in 2008. It will provide about 450 manufacturing jobs.

Ritter, Kennedy Release Accountability Report

Gov. Bill Ritter and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy yesterday announced the release of the first State Taxpayer Accountability Report. The STAR Report provides information on the state’s fiscal condition for Fiscal Year 2005-2006, the most recently available audited data.
Kennedy made a promise during her campaign to provide greater government transparency. The new report makes complicated financial information accessible and understandable. The STAR report can be viewed on the Treasurer’s website at www.colorado.gov/treasury and the Governor’s website at www.colorado.gov/governor.

Colorado Public Radio Launches new Public Insight Network

From Public Insight Editor, Dan Meyer: “We've started a new reporting project that connects directly with the public. It's called the Public Insight Network and I'm in charge of it. Basically, folks respond to questions we put on the web site or they just sign up generally to receive emailed questions in the future. We're after knowledge and experience, not taking opinion polls. But of course in the context of the elections much of it translates into political preferences.

As presidential matters take on more importance and news impact -- especially with the convention coming here -- I'm reaching out to people on all sides trying to make sure that we have good representation of, and an open channel to, all political viewpoints.

Take a look at http://www.kcfr.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=189 where you can sign up or just learn more about it. You'll see the questions we're asking now, both of which I bet will interest you: One's about returning military vets and the other about efforts and obstacles to ‘going green.’ A promise: We'll never use information for fundraising or other solicitations.” State Party Chair, Pat Waak, became the 600th person to sign up.

Colorado Democratic Party Recommends Colorado Springs For State Convention In 2008

The Colorado Democratic Party’s Site Selection Committee last evening unanimously voted to recommend that the 2008 State Democratic Convention and Assembly be held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs. The decision followed intensive work, including site visits, by leaders of both Colorado Springs and Broomfield to woo the Democrats to their respective communities. Pursuant to Party rules, the Party’s Executive Committee will vote in July on whether to accept the recommendation.

CDP First Vice Chair and Site Selection Committee Chair Dan Slater talked about the process. “The members of the Site Selection Committee have worked extremely hard over the past two months to ensure that every possible angle of these bids have been examined. While we were very impressed with the bid from Broomfield, in the end, the bid from El Paso County Democrats excelled in every area: technical, political, and in terms of community support. El Paso County’s Democratic Party has proven to be one of the most energetic in the state, and we are confident that they will be the ideal hosts for us in May of 2008.”

State Party Chair Pat Waak praised the work of the Committee. “I am very pleased that we had such a hard-working group of people willing to work on this task. I’m confident the Executive Committee will support their recommendation, and I’m excited to nominate our next United States Senator in Colorado Springs.”

Waak said that the choice of historically-Republican El Paso County meshed well with the Party’s “64-County Strategy”. “We’re competing in all parts of this state. Democrats have better ideas, are better organized, and have better candidates. To consistently win statewide, we have to be willing to take on Republicans everywhere, and we’re doing that. Colorado Springs is changing, as we’ve seen with the elections of Representative Michael Merrifield and Senator John Morse. We’re proud to honor those changing dynamics by bringing the state to Colorado Springs next May.”

This was the second time the Colorado Democratic Party had used a competitive site selection process to choose the site for the state assembly / convention. In 2005, the Party chose Greeley as its site for the 2006 State Assembly, and the resulting energy from that event is partially credited by many for Bill Ritter’s historic victory in Weld County in 2006. The Site Selection Committee is comprised of 10 members, plus a non-voting chair, appointed by the State Chair. Of the ten members, at least one must come from each of Colorado’s seven Congressional Districts, guaranteeing geographical diversity. A Request for Proposals was sent out to each county Democratic chair in April, with Broomfield and Colorado Springs submitting bids in May.