TARP. Stress Tests. Bankruptcies and bailouts. We’ve heard plenty about the national financial services meltdown, but how are Colorado banks involved and what impact is it having on our economy? On Independent Thinking I discuss the state of banking in Colorado with Don Childers, CEO of the Colorado Bankers Association, and Al Lewis, business columnist with the Denver Post. Tune in this Friday night at 8:30 p.m. on KBDI Channel 12; repeated the following Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.

Just how messed up is the Colorado Legislature? So messed up that a leading Democrat on the Senate floor called me a “Great American.”  Being surrounded by Democrats all the time, I can see how Sen. Chris Romer could make the mistake. 

At the well of the senate he said, ”We have thoughtful libertarians like Jon Caldara, great American, who fights hard for the true ability to look at government for what it should be.”

Weeks earlier Romer came to our event on sentencing reform. Excited by our work he publicly wrote a check for a $150 donation to us.  He carefully wrote “for sentencing reform work” on the memo section of the check. He asked us for a photocopy of the check to prove to liberals he wasn’t supporting everything we do.  I whited-out the memo line and wrote in “for defending the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights” before we copied it to him.  Now it’s Romer who is the great American.

***With Obama-care seemingly around the corner and an at-large clamoring for our health care system to more closely resemble the “free” Euro kind, Health Care Policy Center director Linda Gorman co-authored this piece to dissect the issue: when it comes to health care policy, do other countries have the answers?

***It seems like every time I turn around, Jessica Corry is on some big media outlet… WITHOUT ME! First Mike Rosen, then this: take a look at her latest outing on the Fox News Channel’s “Fox Box.”

***Speaking of Jessica, she just finished up our latest Issue Paper taking on property rights, titled From New London to Telluride and Beyond: Legal Developments Surrounding Eminent Domain in Colorado from 2004-2009.

***Head on over to iVoices.org. We’ve got a few new podcasts on several topics, including charter schools and labor unions.

***It’s no surprise that nearly every underage college student is in favor of lowering the drinking age. (isn’t that what college is all about?) But this particular student happens to be an intern of ours, and also happens to have an argument that goes a lot further than, “drinking rules.” Under the guidance of Mike Krause, intern Joe Carr makes the case for lowering the drinking age in the Colorado Daily, where it was – surprise! surprise! – very warmly received.

***And finally, my campaign for governor is so secret, even I didn’t know about it.

© 2008, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.

The legislative session is over. How did your civil liberties fare? How about your wallet? Unions? Transparency? Education? Transportation? Lynn Bartels of The Denver Post and Patty Calhoun of Westword join me on Independent Thinking to discuss who and what were the winners and losers of the 2009 legislative session. That’s this Friday night at 8:30 p.m. on KBDI Channel 12; repeated the following Tuesday evening at 5 p.m

***Justice Policy Center director Mike Krause and his mintern (minion-intern) Joe Carr wrote an op-ed on why the DNA bill is flawed (that’s putting it nicely). If you haven’t heard yet, Senate Bill 241 requires DNA samples to be collected from all those ARRESTED (not convicted) for a felony. Also known as, DNA before proven guilty. Or as I call it, disgusting. While we’re at it. Why not just scrap the 4th amendment? That would also make law enforcement’s job a lot easier. Sheesh.

***Mike was also quoted in a recent American Conservative piece on federalism as it pertains to medical marijuana.

***Jessica Corry, our Campus Accountability Director, has been a thorn in the side of CU’s top brass, essentially “outing” their enormous salaries in the midst of CU’s current budget crisis. In March, she called on CU President Bruce Benson to cut all six-figure salaries by 5 percent. Benson responded with 5 percent cuts–but only to a handful of the university’s most expensive salaries. While Benson’s plan is expected to save $155,000. Ours could have saved taxpayers more than $4 million–all without cutting a single job. Read our latest Issue Paper, “An Academic Arms Race: The catastrophic rise of taxpayer-funded salaries at the University of Colorado and its peer institutions,” where Jessica outlines the case for slashing executive salaries in higher education.

***Or if you’re like me with chronic ADHD, read the shortened, op-ed version here.

***Over on our podcast page, iVoices.org, Ben has a new podcast with Scott Dilley of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. They discuss how the Obama administration is doing its best to let public sector unions off the transparency hook. While their counterparts, private unions, must disclose certain financials to their members, public sector unions curiously don’t have to… hmmm…

***Speaking of transparency…. Nothing gets Amy Oliver more excited than some good ol’ fashioned transparency legislation. (sorry Sheriff Cooke). Fortunately for her, House Bill 1288 – The Colorado Transparency Act – passed both the House and Senate and is heading for Governor Ritter’s desk as we speak. Let’s hope the good Gov’s pen doesn’t run out of ink…

I’m told this appeared in the Chicago Tribune in 1934…. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
(Click to enlarge)

© 2008, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.