Constitutional powers the states have, and the feds do not
The Constitution enumerates the power of the federal government—but are there authoritative lists of those powers reserved to the states with which the federal government may not interfere? Yes—many. During the period 1787-1790, while the public was debating whether to adopt the Constitution, the document’s opponents (“Anti-Federalists”) argued that the Constitution would grant the federal […]
Devil's Advocate: Blended Learning and Disrupting Class
Tune in to Devil’s Advocate as guest host Pam Benigno is joined by the Innosight Institute’s Michael Horn, co-author of the groundbreaking book Disrupting Class, and Jefferson County Public Schools director of student online learning Judy Bauernschmidt to discuss the fast-growing trend of K-12 blended learning. More and more students are enrolled in educational programs that combine brick-and-mortar schools and teacher face time with distance learning and computer-directed instruction. Find out what some of these programs look like, and how effective they are.
FOX 31 Fair and Balanced on Education? We Report, You Decide Part Three
On FOX 31 last night, political reporter did a sit-down with Governor John Hickenlooper for one of the School Cuts 101 series segments. The result? Unremarkable. Hick has been focused on budget issues, rightly so, and education reform barely shows up on his radar screen.
How Colorado Has Raised $300 Million in Debt Without Asking Its Citizens: The Colorado Bridge Enterprise
Colorado’s citizens are supposed to have a final say before our state can borrow money. But the 2009 FASTER law subverted citizens’ rights to vote on tax and debt issues. The law allows an unelected group of bureaucrats to appoint an unelected administrator and together borrow whatever amounts of debt can be backed by FASTER funds. On December 1, 2010, they did just that. And now Colorado’s citizens are burdened with $300 million of newly issued debt—with the promise of more to come. Because of the borrowed money, it is unlikely a future legislature can ever repeal the FASTER tax. All this, and we weren’t asked!
Three Years of Five-Year-Old Blogging: Great Time to Appreciate Teachers
As usual, I’m taking the weekend off for extra Lego time and lots of playing outdoors in the beautiful Colorado sunshine. Since tomorrow is an important anniversary, I decided to observe it today. On May 7, 2008, I began my three years of blogging here as a 5-year-old with a post titled “Denver Parents Want […]
Colo. SB 11-200: Don’t get mugged by a politically controlled insurance exchange
In the Denver Post: “Say a street thug breaks your nose, robs you, and then offers to “help” by driving you to the hospital. Would you accept? But some Colo. legislators are accepting – by supporting the Washington-controlled health insurance exchange in Senate Bill 11-200.”
Summarizing the legal case against ObamaCare
The Cato Institute has published a new white paper (22 pages) by its chairman Robert Levy: The Case Against President Obama’s Health Care Reform: A Primer for Nonlawyers. It summarizes why mandator insurance is unconstitutional.
Obama’s Reauthorization Proposal
Over the next six years, the Obama administration proposes to spend $253 billion on highways; $119 billion on mass transit; $53 billion on “high-performance” passenger trains; $28 billion on “livability”; and $25 billion on an infrastructure bank. At least, those are the numbers that can be found in a copy of an undated bill representing […]
FOX 31 Fair and Balanced on Education? We Report, You Decide Part Two
Maybe it’s impossible for FOX 31 to ignore the groundbreaking educational changes emanating out of Douglas County. In any case, I’m pleased to see their coverage of the suburban school district’s Choice Scholarship Program, along with a great example of how the program expands options for parents.
Everybody Else is Posting the Mitch Daniels Ed Reform Speech: Why Can’t I Do It?
My mom really doesn’t have much tolerance for the “But everybody’s doing it” excuse. I’m hoping she makes an exception for this posting. What am I talking about? Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (who, today, I might add, signed into law “the nation’s largest voucher program”…. HIP, HIP, HOORAH!) gave a big education reform speech at […]
Xcel Energy’s Versatile, Profitable Carbon Tax
To my knowledge, Colorado is the only state in which regulators allow utilities to incorporate a carbon tax into the economic models used to make resource acquisition decisions (see here and here). Ratepayers can’t see it in their monthly bill, but the tax is used in the models, and the models dictate spending. It’s the […]
FOX 31 Fair and Balanced on Education? We Report, You Decide
Local FOX 31 Denver News and reporter Eli Stokols are to be commended for wanting to look at the effects of K-12 education spending cuts and innovative ideas for addressing the challenge. But the first edition of the televised series cries out for context and correction. First of all, it’s important to stress that yes, for the past couple years Colorado schools have been experiencing real budget cuts — after years of steady increases in per-pupil funding. And of course, the cuts will have an impact, albeit an impact that can be heavily mitigated and overcome in the long run by re-thinking how our school system does business. That being said, the “crisis” trumpeted in Stokols’ piece is painted in a dubiously overstated light.
