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Colorado: Berry

May 21, 2009 - 10:21 am
NEWS FEED: Denver Post

Metro mayors back year delay on RTD tax vote

Denver-area mayors have reversed course and now favor a year's delay and a November 2010 vote on a sales-tax increase for RTD's FasTracks transit program.

On June 2, the Regional Transportation District board of directors is expected to back the mayors' recommendation and set the vote for next year.

In March, the Metro Mayors Caucus, which includes about 40 area mayors, backed a proposal for a vote in November in the eight-county metro area on a proposal to double the current 0.4 percent FasTracks sales tax.

Such an increase — whether this year or next — would close a $2.2 billion shortfall in FasTracks funding that has developed because of shrinking sales-tax collections and higher-than-planned construction costs.

Read More at Denver Post >
There have been 106 comments posted in response to this story.

February 26, 2009 - 02:18 am
NEWS FEED: Rocky Mountain News

State union seeks more access to employees

By Ed Sealover

State employees who unionized last year are asking for greater access to fellow workers in order to increase their organizing efforts.

Colorado WINS, the union that represents 32,000 state employees, held a lobbying and organizing day at the Capitol on Wednesday, capped by a speech from Gov. Bill Ritter.

He told the union that while raises for state employees must be eliminated next year because of the recession, he will work to safeguard against layoffs.

Several attendees at the speech said that in lieu of increased pay or benefits, they would like greater opportunities to sign up more workers.

Tax examiner Dennis Berry said he would like to get a column for the union in Stateline, the newsletter for state employees, to let people know about WINS activities.

Read More at Rocky Mountain News >
There have been 24 comments posted in response to this story.

February 24, 2009 - 06:24 pm
NEWS FEED: Colorado Independent

Big business lobby stumps in Denver to defeat ‘card check’ bill

By Erin Rosa

'Card check' ballots to determine union representation. (Photo/Old Sarge, Flcikr)

A representative with the world’s largest business federation was in Denver on Monday to decry H.R. 800, federal legislation that would give workers greater rights to unionize. At the meeting, business leaders were not only told to oppose the proposal by putting pressure on members of Congress, but they were also encouraged to make changes to state law.

'Card check' ballots to determine union representation. (Photo/Old Sarge, Flcikr)

Glenn Spencer, executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and former chief of staff at the U.S. Labor Department under the Bush administration, spoke at the offices of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry and warned of the “most radical rewrite of labor law in 70 years.

Read More at Colorado Independent >
There have been 22 comments posted in response to this story.

February 10, 2009 - 01:43 am
NEWS FEED: Rocky Mountain News

Colorado firms decry state raids into worker funds

By Ed Sealover

Colorado business owners were within two months of paying off two long-taxing workers compensation funds in 2002 when the legislature raided them to balance the budget.

So, with the funds largely depleted, businesses began paying in and building them up again, getting to the point where they are likely within a year or two now of being fully funded, and hence, of ending the fee. But once again, the governor and legislators have proposed taking $118.7 million out of them over the next 18 months, leaving businesses to start their third go-round of payments that should have been done by now.

Both Democrats and Republicans say they understand the pain of businesses that pay as much as $50,000 per year to the Major Medical Insurance Fund and Subsequent Injury Fund, only to see the money diverted.

Read More at Rocky Mountain News >
There have been 25 comments posted in response to this story.