Polis cabinet member: don't use unemployment dollars as a slush fund. Forced electrification being rushed illegally? Speak up to support ranchers against wolf importation.
An update to the Assembly's effort to use unemployment funds as a slush fund to pay for their pet projects...
I posted a bit back about some legislator's efforts to use a part of the money in the state's unemployment fund to pay for their legislative projects (see the attached screenshot from the link below for a list).
There's an update to share. One of Polis' cabinet members, Joe Barela, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Enforcement, sent a letter to the Assembly saying it was a bad idea.
I would agree. Bad precedent to set, bad idea, unfair to employers, and an underhanded way to sneak your policy through (by being able to claim it doesn't need funding).
Let's hope the members of the Assembly listen.
More details below.
https://tsscolorado.com/cabinet-member-to-legislators-hands-off-unemployment-tax-revenues/
Wait, the rulemaking process to force electrification on large buildings is being rushed and is now facing a court challenge?
Color me not surprised.
I've posted in the past about the state's efforts to force new building owners(or those that do substantial remodels) to electrify.
This is not a new law, this is a rulemaking. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission is set to make a rule in response to an earlier law that mandates specific energy use reductions for buildings over 50,000 sq ft.
**For some added context, there is a specific procedure and list of steps involved in rulemaking both at the Federal and State level.
The trade associations for the kinds of buildings that are over 50K sq ft are suing alleging that the state is not following proper rulemaking procedure.
Specifically (quoting the article): "... the schedule for the rule making is being pushed ahead with unprecedented speed and in violation of state administrative procedure laws."
There is a lot more detail in the allegations which I will leave it to you to read, but I have to say that I am not surprised here.
This whole thing, our state's response to climate change has been rushed and thoughtless in my opinion. This is just another example.
I wish them luck in their suit. I think increasingly in Colorado the only way that we're to get some sanity and protection against Progressive Democrat overreach will be in the courts (and more likely than not the Federal courts since our state's courts are as progressive and left-leaning as the other two branches).
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/energy-and-environment/large-building-electrification-rule-challenged/article_9361b006-335f-5c4c-bc19-61ba72dc8dd6.html
If you want to have a chance to speak up to support ranchers during the coming wolf reintroduction, now is your chance.
I posted about the bill to hold off on wolf reintroduction until there's a 10(j) hearing in the past. That bill is up for it's second Senate Committee hearing this Friday 4/14 in the morning. See the screenshot attached.
I've already covered what the bill does and what a 10(j) hearing is. If you didn't catch that, scroll back or feel free to ask in the comments. Suffice it to say, it is a support to the ranchers who will face the burden of wolf reintroduction. It is a good thing and something you should support.
Usually Appropriations Committee hearings are not the place for advocacy, but I would say that if you are civil and polite, a show of support is not inappropriate and shows lawmakers the importance of this bill. I would especially say this to people here in the Front Range who did not support wolf reintroduction; please add your voice to the conversation because I believe it would be especially compelling. I would myself, but I am teaching then so I am hoping to catch this at a future committee hearing.
If you can't attend the hearing but want to speak up, find your legislators and contact them your thoughts. Every little bit matters and every little bit helps.
The bill's page is below if it's helpful.
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb23-256