Face The State managing editor Brad Jones talks with Newstalk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver about Colorado's leftist Supreme Court, judicial appointments and Senate District 23.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Colorado Supreme Court
Follow this topic by RSSTrio of anti-tax petitions on deck for 2010
A Face the State Staff Report
July 27, 2009Three anti-tax petitions are being circulated in hopes of rolling back recently-enacted tax and fee increases at next year's election. Backers of the initiatives emphasize the grassroots nature of their endeavor, but Colorado's most prominent tax-cutting activists are at work in the background helping to shepherd the measures to the ballot.
FTS on 1100 KNZZ: Activist judges; new benefits for state employees
FTS managing editor Brad Jones talks state politics with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner. Among the topics discussed: An effort to turn out four Supreme Court justices at the 2010 election picks up steam, and the state extends new benefits to state employees despite a huge budget deficit.
Play audio - 12:08 minutes
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4/17: Shaking up Colorado's highest court
Is it time to shake up the composition of Colorado's Supreme Court?
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Podcast: Matt Arnold of Clear the Bench Colorado
FTS interviews Matt Arnold, director of Clear the Bench Colorado. His group is advocating a "no" vote on retaining four state supreme court justices at the 2010 election. What prompted the effort, and how likely are Coloradans to buy into such a major shakeup at Colorado's highest court?
Play audio - 19:04 minutes
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Segment 5 - Time for a shakeup at the state Supreme Court?
Denver activist Matt Arnold has formed an effort called "Clear The Bench Colorado" to advocate the ouster of four supreme court justices at next year's general election. What has taxpayer advocates and business leaders so angry as to prompt such a shakeup?
This is a condensed version of a longer, more in-depth interview on this topic; listen to the full interview here.
Play audio - 4:14 minutes
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Nannies and cabbies beware: tax credits may get the ax
A Face the State Staff Report
April 2, 2009Taxpayers who pay someone to take care of their children or businesses that use alternative fuel are at risk of losing the tax credit they benefit from under current Colorado law.
2009 School Finance Act could hurt taxpayers
FTS Opinion
April 1, 2009A recent Colorado Supreme Court decision upholding a 2007 property tax increase is causing school districts to consider reinstating revenue caps in order to keep property taxes low. The problem is, these districts could end up penalized under this year’s School Finance Act, which was introduced Monday.
3/25: Fiscal restraint in the crosshairs
More talk of tinkering with Colorado's Constitution in the name of budget reform.
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Political Cartoon for 3/20: What partisanship?
Face The State Humor
March 20, 2009Court observers are crying foul at a recent decision by the Colorado Supreme Court upholding a property tax increase passed without a vote of the people. The decision is only the latest in a long string of rulings in direct conflict with a plain reading of Colorado's constitution, including the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
But Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, regarded as one of the court's most liberal members, fails to see what all the fuss is about.
Denver Post story on Supreme Court ruling more editorial than news
FTS Opinion
March 17, 2009It’s been less than a month since the Rocky Mountain News folded, and Denver's remaining major daily already has us yearning for some competitive quality control. With its former rival gone, The Denver Post is taking strides to attract Rocky readers, but not to temper its newsroom's big-government proclivities.
Colorado Supreme Court upholds controversial tax increase
A Face the State Staff Report
March 17, 2009The Colorado Supreme Court, widely regarded as one of the most liberal in the country, has upheld a property tax increase that raised $118 million in its first year and was previously ruled unconstitutional by a Denver district court judge.
"The Buzz" on 1310 KFKA, 3/16/09 - Colorado's activist supreme court
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver about today's disappointing (but not surprising) anti-taxpayer ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court. Also: Why wouldn't state Rep. Kathleen Curry visit with over 30 constituents who came to see her at the capitol last Thursday?
Play audio - 15:22 minutes
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Segment 5 - Waiting for the Colorado Supreme Court
At a speech before Denver business leaders this week, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said there was "something strange going on" at the Colorado Supreme Court, as a decision on a high-profile property tax case languishes in limbo.
Play audio - 6:34 minutes
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Suthers: Something strange afoot at the Supreme Court
A Face the State Staff Report
February 26, 2009The Colorado Supreme Court has delayed its ruling on a controversial property tax increase for months, and at a Wednesday breakfast speech, Attorney General John Suthers speculated about the reasons for the delay.
Student group sues CU over gun ban
A Face the State Staff Report
December 12, 2008A gun rights student coalition is suing the University of Colorado over an on-campus firearms ban. Perry Pendley, lead council for the plaintiffs and chief legal officer of Mountain States Legal Foundation, maintains that CU's ban on licensed concealed carrying of authorized weapons denies the right to self defense guaranteed by the Colorado Concealed Carry Act and the Colorado Constitution.
"The Buzz" on 1310 KFKA, 12/8 - Rocky Mtn. News for sale, the lazy Supreme Court
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA radio host Amy Oliver to discuss the possible sale of the Rocky Mountain News, and an unfortunate delay in a major case before the Colorado Supreme Court.
Play audio - 14:23 minutes
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Colo. Supreme Court orders disputed mill levy rate remains status quo
A Face the State Staff Report
December 8, 2008Face The State Staff Report
The Colorado Supreme Court denied a motion from the Colorado Department of Education urging the court to speed its decision on the constitutionality of a 2007 mill levy freeze. The court further ordered that the frozen rates be preserved as the status quo until a final decision is issued in the case.
CDE to Colo. Supreme Court: hurry up!
A Face the State Staff Report
December 4, 2008The Colorado Department of Education is getting impatient as it awaits a Colorado Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of a 2007 property tax increase.
Colorado Supreme Court hears Ritter tax plea
A Face the State Staff Report
September 15, 2008Mark Grueskin, an attorney frequently used by Democrats to litigate heated political issues, is at it again. On Thursday, he tried to convince the Colorado Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that a $3.8 billion tax increase, imposed by the state legislature and backed by Gov. Bill Ritter, violated a state constitutional amendment mandating that all tax increases require voter approval.
The week in Colorado news: Ritter's tax hike at the Supreme Court, federal judges, Longmont vs. RTD
Face The State's Kate Melvin joins FTS managing editor Brad Jones, guest-hosting on 600 KCOL, for a look at the week that was in Colorado news.
Play audio - 13:11 minutes
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Larimer County GOP Banks on Labor Fatigue
A Face the State Staff Report
August 4, 2008Former Fort Collins Mayor Ray Martinez, a Republican, predicts that recent public backlash against unionization with play well for area Republicans this November.
Ritter banks on a liberal court
June 20, 2008Gov. Bill Ritter, persistent as ever when it comes to tax increases, is refusing to accept a decision by Denver District Court Judge Christina Habas, who ruled that a mill levy freeze in the 2007 School Finance Act is an unconstitutional tax increase.
6/13: Supreme Court is wrong on eminent-domain
Colorado towns now have the power to condemn land outside city limits, all thanks to the state Supreme Court.
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6/6: The Supreme Court's double standard
Why is the Colorado Supreme Court making campaign finance exceptions for unions that don't extend to businesses?
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Municipal Fascists, Labor Leaders, and the Justices Who Love Them Both
FTS Opinion
June 4, 2008If the nine black robes on the U.S. Supreme Court rule the roost, it's not for a lack of competition from right here in Colorado.