"Laurie Kadrich, city manager for the City of Grand Junction, has a PR piece published in the Daily Sentinel. She writes:

If you include seasonal and part-time workers, the city is one of the largest employers in the Grand Valley, third only to School District 51 and St. Mary’s Hospital. We dedicate 40 percent of the annual budget, including capital spending and debt service, to personnel.

The city is the third largest employer in the entire Grand Valley.

Dr Watson, I think we have found a clue."

"The Grand Junction City Council voted to 5 to 2 against putting a tax hike on the November ballot. Council members seem to think that residents would not vote for a tax increase in the middle of economic hard times.

Falling tax revenues have been a problem. Hopefully, the council also realized that raising tax rates often results in decreasing tax revenues. When goods are more expensive, people buy less."

"The Democrats have accused any one who opposes health care as a scaremonger. Opponents of government health care warn that the government will ration health care whenever the government has a money problem.

Enter the good Democrat and Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter. Faced with a budget problem, Governor Ritter closes the skilled-nursing facility at the Grand Junction Regional Center."

"The local TV station is covering Obama’s visit. Apparently Obama's staffers overestimated the seats available and gave out too many tickets. As a result a young pregnant lady and her friend were among many left standing in the sun - even though they had tickets."

"Air Force 1 is scheduled to land in Grand Junction, Colorado, Saturday, the 15th of August.

Why here?

Grand Junction and Mesa County is not a stronghold of Democratic activity. We have an excellent healthcare system. The opportunities for treatment include two first class hospitals, urgent care centers, plenty of medical offices, and a two Marillac Clinics."