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State budget faces $900M shortfall as tax cuts, Medicaid and economic slowdown take toll
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

State budget faces $900M shortfall as tax cuts, Medicaid and economic slowdown take toll

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun After Colorado lawmakers passed four rounds of tax cuts in 10 months, the state now faces a $900 million budget hole. The tax cuts are kicking in as inflation, wage growth and consumer spending cool off and unemployment ticks up — all factors that will reduce state tax collections and how much it can spend under the state’s revenue cap even as demands on the state budget are growing. State economists Thursday briefed the Joint Budget Committee on their quarterly revenue forecasts, the first since lawmakers passed a new round of property tax cuts during an August special legislative session. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
GOP panel demands Treasury records on ‘potentially fraudulent’ donations through Democratic fundraising platform
Approved, National, New York Post

GOP panel demands Treasury records on ‘potentially fraudulent’ donations through Democratic fundraising platform

By Josh Christenson | New York Post A Republican-led House committee fired off a letter to the Treasury Department on Friday that demanded access to any Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) as part of a new investigation into a Democratic fundraising platform’s “potentially fraudulent” donations. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, asking for all SARs between Jan. 1, 2023, and the present that involve the political action committee ActBlue. The suspicious activities may include “money laundering, counterfeit credit/debit card, credit card or debit card fraud, false statements, wire transfer fraud, or identity theft,” Comer said. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NEW YORK POST
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says immigration surge boosted unemployment rate
Approved, Fox Business, National

Fed Chair Jerome Powell says immigration surge boosted unemployment rate

By Michelle Wells | Fox Business Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that immigration is helping push the unemployment rate higher as they enter the labor force and look for jobs. Powell was asked about whether the level of job creation in the economy, which has been a little more than 100,000 on average for the last three months, is alarming and if the labor market can continue slowing down through fewer job openings as opposed to job losses. "On the job creation… it depends on the inflows," Powell said. "So if you're having millions of people come into the labor force, and you're creating 100,000 jobs, you're going to see unemployment go up. So it really depends on what's the trend underlying the volatility of people coming into the country." "We understand the...
Kamala Harris’ tax plan could cost U.S. nearly 800k jobs, add $1.7T in tax revenue, study finds
Approved, Fox Business, National

Kamala Harris’ tax plan could cost U.S. nearly 800k jobs, add $1.7T in tax revenue, study finds

By Eric Revell  | Fox Business Vice President Kamala Harris' tax plan could cost the U.S. economy nearly 800,000 jobs, a new analysis by the Tax Foundation finds. Harris' tax plan, which contains a variety of tax increases, cuts and credits, is based largely on President Biden's budget – though the vice president has offered her own policy ideas since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee.  Overall, the Tax Foundation analysis finds a loss of 786,000 full-time equivalent jobs over the long run under Harris' plan when compared to baseline projections, as well as 2% decline in long-run GDP and a 1.2% dip in long-run wages, while bringing in nearly $1.7 trillion in additional tax revenue over the next decade. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX BUSINESS
Sengenberger: JeffCo’s politicized PTA hijacked by the left
Approved, Commentary, gazette.com, Local

Sengenberger: JeffCo’s politicized PTA hijacked by the left

By Jimmy Sengenberger | Commentary, The Gazette When Jefferson County mom Carrie Mumma challenged the Colorado Parent-Teacher Association’s hardline stance on controversial legislation, she’d crossed a line. On X, Mumma shared and challenged testimony from Dawn Fritz, COPTA’s director of legislative engagement, supporting HB1039, a law blocking parents’ guaranteed right to know about their children’s gender identity and social transitions in school. Fritz accused Mumma of spreading “personal disapproval” and being culpable for malicious online attacks against her. She complained to Therese Rednor, president of the JeffCo district accountability committee (DAC) — where Fritz represents the PTA — claiming Mumma had violated the DAC Code of Conduct. READ THE FULL COMMENTARY AT THE...
US ‘sleepwalking’ into WWIII, experts warn nation is underprepared
Approved, Fox News, National

US ‘sleepwalking’ into WWIII, experts warn nation is underprepared

By Caitlin McFall  | Fox News The U.S. is "sleepwalking" into a global war against its top adversaries united under an axis of "malign partnerships," and experts are sounding the alarm that neither the U.S. military nor the public are prepared for World War III. In late July, a body of non-governmental national security experts, first tasked by Congress in 2022 under the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, released an evaluation of the U.S.’ overall security strategy put forward by the Biden administration two years ago. The commission found that after decades of post-Cold War policies that cut defense spending and reduced investments in the security sector, Washington, D.C., is "not prepared" to counter Beijing in open conflict, let alone a multi-fron...
Ag, water and wolf bills receiving early support from lawmakers in 75th Colorado Legislature
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Ag, water and wolf bills receiving early support from lawmakers in 75th Colorado Legislature

By Shannon Mullane | Colorado Sun Bills focused on water quality, agricultural exemptions and wolf depredation claims received early legislative support Wednesday while an effort to prevent water speculation was left on the chopping block. The Colorado Legislature’s Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee met Wednesday to decide which bills will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session. The committee supported eight bills, but five drafted policies did not make it out of the meeting — including one proposed by Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Summit County Democrat, whose idea to strengthen transparency in water rights transactions did not have enough support. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado Springs leaders advocating for Back the Blue, Truth in Sentencing propositions
Approved, KKTV CBS 11, State

Colorado Springs leaders advocating for Back the Blue, Truth in Sentencing propositions

By Michelle Wells | CBS 11 News Colorado safety leaders are advocating for two ballot measures in the upcoming election, Proposition 128 and Proposition 130. Proposition 128 is called the Truth in Sentencing proposition and public safety leaders from across the state, including former state attorney general, and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, believe it will help better keep you and your family safe with the goal of forcing convicted criminals to serve more of their sentence. If you vote yes on Proposition 128 in November it would require people convicted of certain violent crimes to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence before they would be eligible for parole. If they are repeat offenders with at least two prior convictions, they would be required to serve their enti...
Crank earns endorsement of Donald Trump in southern Colorado’s 5th District race
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Crank earns endorsement of Donald Trump in southern Colorado’s 5th District race

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Jeff Crank, the Republican nominee in Colorado's 5th District in the U.S. House, has received the coveted endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump. "Jeff is a Conservative Warrior who has incredible support from his community," Trump began the endorsement on Truth Social. Opposing Crank in the general election is Democrat River Gassen. The winner of the race will follow Rep. Doug Lamborn, who is retiring from office. The Trump endorsement in the 5th District was earned in the Republican primary by GOP Chairman Dave Williams. Crank defeated Williams to earn the Republican nomination. Crank has taken to Twitter/X in support of Trump. "Tonight highlighted the clear distinctions between President Trump and Vice President Harris," ...
Denver has 35 ‘centi-millionaires,’ or residents worth $100 million or more
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Denver has 35 ‘centi-millionaires,’ or residents worth $100 million or more

By Samantha Jarpe | Fox 31 News There are 35 residents living in Denver who are “centi-millionaires” and are worth $100 million or more, according to a new report released by the consultant company Henley & Partners. According to the report, a centi-millionaire is anyone with liquid investible wealth of $100 million or more. This includes things like company and cash holdings and debt-free residential property holdings. The Mile High City was not on the top 50 list but was included on Henley & Partner’s “cities to watch” list, which are cities forecast to see a jump in the number of centi-millionaires between now and 2040. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS