CCLP logo       
The weekday Colorado news roundup is a collection of links to news reports and other resources of interest to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. Listing does not imply endorsement of the content.

Manage your e-mail subscriptions
You can select the types of e-mail you receive from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, or unsubscribe, by clicking the link at the bottom of this message labeled "Update Profile/Email address." A full description of e-mail offerings is on our website.

Donate to CCLP
The Colorado Center on Law and Policy relies on contributions from people like you to continue its work. Click the image below to donate. 

Donate now through givingfirst.org     
Visit us on Twitter,
@cofiscalpolicy or @cclpjusthealth, on our Facebook page, and at the Policy Matters blog.

-------------------------------
Other news summaries

Grasscatcher, from the National Conference of State Legislatures

Today's Health News, from The Colorado Trust

Colorado daily news roundup, from Stateline

Daily Health Policy Report, from Kaiser Health News

Homelessness stats contradict experience on Denver's streets

Family economic security
The Denver Post: New federal homelessness stats contradict experience on Denver's streets
A new federal count of the homeless released Tuesday shows numbers declined in the U.S. and in Colorado between January 2010 and January 2011 - a finding that sharply conflicts with local groups' reports of a worsening crisis.
Also: Boulder Daily Camera: Boulder reaffirms support for homeless 'Housing First' program


Fiscal policy
The Denver Post: House votes to extend payroll-tax holiday
The U.S. House pushed through a Republican plan to extend payroll-tax cuts and provide unemployment insurance for more than 40,000 Coloradans late Tuesday.

Denver Business Journal: 10 Colorado programs have spent less than half of their federal stimulus money
Those programs with large unspent sums range from a broadband mapping effort to money to train weatherization workers to a University of Colorado effort to better develop a workforce to address changes in the energy-smart grid. Another six state programs have spent between 50 percent and 75 percent of their allotted totals, the report stated.
Also: Associated Press via Aurora Sentinel: CO agencies have $93.7M in unspent stimulus funds
Also: Education News Colorado: ARRA update

Summit Daily News: Town of Silverthorne may revise business tax incentives
The Enhanced Sales Tax Incentive Program has helped bring two businesses to town - Target and Lowe's - since it was established in 2001 and it's undergoing review tonight.


Health care
Health Policy Solutions commentary: 'Get Covered Colorado' website explains health benefit marketplace
Having more Coloradans covered by affordable and adequate health insurance plays a major role in improved health for individuals and families and can help them deal with the financial burden of an unexpected or prolonged health problem. The Get Covered Colorado website might well be the most important first step toward getting there.

Fort Collins Coloradoan: Northern Colorado health systems forming alliances
Kaiser Permanente Colorado, a health-care provider and insurance network, announced Tuesday it will partner with Banner Health to expand into Northern Colorado by the end of next year. Also on Tuesday, Poudre Valley Health System announced it had partnered with Colorado Choice Health Plans, a health insurance program for small businesses.

Durango Herald commentary: Control of health-care cost crucial to state's budget
Mandated health-care costs are taking a higher and higher percentage of state budgets at the expense of other programs, most notably K-12 and higher education. This will continue to be the case until we get a handle on rising health-care costs.


The national scene
Bloomberg News: Reid Says He Will Block Republican Tax Cut
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is vowing to block a payroll tax-cut extension that passed the U.S. House of Representatives because it includes Republican priorities that Democrats oppose.


Think tanks
Urban Institute: Do Low-Income Workers Benefit from 401(k) Plans?
Economists frequently assume that employees "pay for" employer-provided fringe benefits, such as contributions to retirement plans, in the form of reduced wages. This paper challenges these assumptions. Because low-income employees receive little tax benefit from saving in qualified retirement plans, they may not be willing to accept a one dollar reduction in their wage in return for an additional dollar contributed to their 401(k) plan. We find that employers reduce wages of high-income workers by 90 to 99 cents for every dollar contributed to a 401(k) plan, but they reduce wages of low-income workers by only 11 to 29 cents.

Government Accountability Office: Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan: Comparison of Implementation and Early Enrollment with the Children's Health Insurance Program
We found that the PCIP program was implemented in all states within 7 months, while the CHIP program rolled out over a period of nearly 3 years. In comparing the two programs, there are differences to consider that may account for the difference in implementation times, such as the different statutory requirements regarding implementation time frames, the mandatory versus voluntary nature of the two programs, the relative complexity of program requirements, the number of design decisions to be made, and different funding sources.

Brookings Institution: The President on Opportunity in America
Isabelle Sawhill examines social mobility in America, discussing barriers that the poor must overcome to achieve middle-class status. Sawhill argues that America's growing inequality is a threat to social mobility and that there is a role for government in helping individuals achieve the American Dream.
Colorado Center on Law and Policy
789 Sherman St.
Suite 300
Denver, Colorado 80203