A bill to protect the children! (kidding, it's more to give your tax $$ to driver's ed companies), how did we get to where we are with Xcel Energy, & an update to the bill about gov't NDA's.
Special interests getting policy passed to line their pockets.
My last post yesterday was about what I think was a media campaign by a special interest group (go back and read if curious--it's right below this one).
Here's another story about special interests. The difference this time? Instead of just being an example of a takeover of news by a union, this one is going to be both annoying AND will cost you money.
I have written in the past about public choice theory. The idea being that it takes time for people to understand laws and that time has a cost. Often it's easy to not pay attention so as to conserve that limited resource.
The cost of that choice is that special interests who have a big enough stake in something to make it worth spending their time sneak in policy that ordinary folks might miss.
The bill covered in the article is one such example.
Here's the short version: AAA has a new driver's ed program. Gosh, it'd be great if there was a way they could force people to pay for this program.
Enter the government! Why they could require people to take a new driver's safety program. A program whose requirements just so happened to align with a new program offered by AAA.
Now, others could also offer similar, but they have to start one up and build it. AAA's ready to go and start cashing in right now.
What's that? What about people who don't have the money to afford such an expanded class?
No worries, it's set up so that your tax dollars will refund the cost.
In even shorter terms, read the screenshot.
By my check on the bill it's one step from going to the Senate as a whole, having passed committees on party line votes.
I've added it to my list to watch and will (I hope) have a chance to speak up when it gets to the House committee. I'm not too happy about a direct gov't transfer of my money to a private company.
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2023/02/10/teen-drivers-license-bill-to-cost-taxpayers-millions-some-supporters-to-benefit-financially/
9News and others are finally paying attention to Xcel and how they make their money, but there are some who have been writing about it for a while now.
To wit, Mr. Caldara.
If you are curious at how Xcel makes their money and the history behind the system that got us to where we are now, give the op ed below a look.
https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2023/02/15/caldara-colorado-media-catching-on-to-energy-monopoly-cronyism/
An update on the bill to restrict government non-disclosure agreements (NDA's).
I posted in the past about the bill that would curtail the use of NDA's in our government. It's the perennial attempt by Kirkmeyer to bring some needed transparency to something that has been fraught with abuse.
I testified on the bill at committee and heard quite a few others testifying in support as well. I knew the committee it was in front of so I'm happy to report that it actually passed out of committee and is moving along.
It took a while (there was some delays and etc. in the vote), but it's out.
If you're interested in supporting this one further, the next step would be to get in touch with your state senator.
See below for more.
https://coloradofoic.org/measure-to-restrict-ndas-for-state-and-local-government-employees-passes-senate-committee/