Two Weeks in Review
Because Mike Weissman was on vacation, the first of these Week in Reviews was not sent out. I am posting last week’s and this week’s for an update. Thanks.
Week in Review – June 3-9, 2007
Press Release from the Governor on BLM Actions on Development Plan for Roan Plateau
Gov. Bill Ritter yesterday denounced the Bureau of Land Management’s refusal to provide additional time to review a Roan Plateau land-management. He also criticized the BLM for moving forward with plans for increased energy development of the Roan.
On Thursday, the BLM denied the Governor’s request for an additional 120 days to evaluate the draft Roan Plateau Resource Management Plan. Today, the Bureau issued the first of two Records of Decision for managing increased demand for energy development on the Roan.
“My request for an additional 120 days to review the draft plan prior to the Record of Decision was intended to give my administration an opportunity to ensure that the values shared by Colorado’s citizens were reflected in the Roan Management Plan,” Gov. Ritter said. “Unfortunately, the BLM’s rush to lease this special area could inhibit my ability to weigh in on this extremely important decision.”
Gov. Ritter also questioned the immediate push to lease the Roan when the BLM already has plans for approximately 40,000 additional wells on federal land in northwest Colorado over the next 15 years. The drilling activity on federal land will be in addition to the private land gas development occurring in the region.
Gov. Ritter had asked Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne on May 14 for 120 days to review the draft Roan Resource Management Plan before any decisions were made. The request cited the unique nature of the Roan Plateau and its importance to the people of Colorado and visitors to the state.
“The management of federal lands in Colorado was a central topic of debate during the gubernatorial campaign,” Ritter said. “I advocated for the reasonable, responsible development of energy and wanted to ensure that this perspective was reflected in the development plan.”
Gov. Ritter said he will continue to evaluate all options for deferring the leasing of the Roan.
Howard Dean’s Answer to the President
DNC Chairman Howard Dean delivered the Democratic radio address this week. In his remarks, Dean outlined the stark differences between the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on the Iraq War. While all the Democratic contenders are dedicated to responsibly ending the war, the Republican field continues to embrace President Bush’s ineffective escalation of the war.
Dean also re-framed the debate about the war in Iraq and the war on terror. He drew a contrast between the ineffective policies pursued by Republican leaders that have bogged us down in Iraq and Democrats who offer the American people an effective offensive strategy that puts America on the offensive against al Qaeda, by responsibly re-deploying our troops from the civil war in Iraq and into the fight with global terrorists.
Below is a copy of Chairman Dean’s remarks and click here to listen to the audio:
http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/06/dean_democratic_1.php
From U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette on Stem Cell Research
There are times when politics is personal. For me, the debate about stem cells is one of those times. My daughter lives every day with juvenile diabetes. As I watch her courageously face the challenges of managing this disease, I can give her all of the love, support, and medicine she needs to get through each day. But as a Member of Congress, I can give her and millions like her so much more - hope for a cure through stem cell research. I’m writing to you on behalf of my daughter and the countless others like her.
I have authored legislation to repeal President Bush’s unconscionable ban on federal funding for stem cell research. Rather than listen to the overwhelming will of the American people and the scientific community who support federal funding for stem cell research, the President has chosen to block it. My daughter and millions of Americans like her pay a price every day for President Bush’s obstructionist tactics and his promise to use his veto pen. But you can take action before he does.
Tell President Bush not to crush the hopes of millions of Americans by vetoing this lifesaving legislation.
Colorado Democratic Party Features Governor Bill Ritter
Come to breakfast on June 27, 2007 at the Historic Crawford Hill Mansion. From 7:30 to 9:00 A.M., we will gather poolside to celebrate Democratic progress and hear the Governor talk about the past session in the legislature. We will also raise much needed funds for communications and training new county chairs. Go online at www.coloradodems.org, to reserve a space.
A Chance to Throw the Opening Pitch at the Rockies-Yankee Game
The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has teamed up with the Colorado Rockies baseball team, a strong community partner, to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to throw the opening pitch of the highly anticipated Rockies -Yankees game on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. The auction will be launched on www.DenverConvention2008.com and the winning bidder will also receive two premier tickets, donated by Colorado Rockies co-owner Linda Alvarado. This Rockies - Yankees series marks the first time the teams have met in Denver since 2002. Please direct all questions regarding the auction to Rockies_Pitch@DenverConvention2008.com.
The Host Committee is accepting bids of $2,008 or more starting Thursday, June 7 and continuing until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2007. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, a 501(c)6 organization.
Presidential Candidates and U.S. Senators in Colorado
Gov. Bill Richardson brought his presidential campaign to Denver and Pueblo with a series of fundraisers. He had great attendance at two events in Denver and one in Pueblo. Polls in New Hampshire and Iowa have shown a gain since the last debate.
Sen. Barack Obama is making a second fundraising visit to Broomfield on Sunday. On Saturday an Obama grassroots event took place in Denver. Obama continues to attract large crowds around the country.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey was a guest of Norm Brownstein’s at a luncheon in Denver on Friday. He then went to Vail, where he was a guest of the Eagle County Democrats.
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and Sen. Jeff Bingaman were in Colorado to fundraise on behalf of U.S. Rep. Mark Udall’s upcoming Senate race. They both had a chance to talk with donors in Colorado.
Pat Waak
Week in Review June 10-16, 2007
Senate Needs to Pass Energy Independence Bill
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak called on Senator Wayne Allard to stand up for Colorado’s working families by joining Democrats in passing the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This critical bill would protect working families throughout Colorado by improving energy efficiency, punishing gas price gougers, and strengthening U.S. national security by taking real steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
At a time when Colorado consumers are saddled with record gas prices, which have increased 124.83 percent since President Bush took office, Republicans in Washington continue to stand up for their special interest friends and stand in the way of real reform. This year, the average Colorado household with children will spend $4,492 on transportation fuel costs, an increase of 124.83 percent over 2001 costs. In addition to combating price gouging by oil companies, a new Joint Economic Committee report shows that the energy efficient practices encouraged in the Democratic energy plan could save Colorado’s working families $1,600 each year–$750 a year in household energy costs and $875 a year on gasoline costs. [Joint Economic Committee report, 6/14/07]
As Congress is debating the new Democratic energy plan, Governor Bill Ritter and Democrats in the Colorado legislature passed major programs in renewable energy. But Congress still needs to do its part.
Vestas Blades Breaks Ground On First North American Manufacturing Plant In Windsor
From the Governor’s office: Vestas Blades of Denmark broke ground yesterday on its first North American manufacturing plant in Windsor, becoming one of the pioneers of Gov. Bill Ritter’s New Energy Economy.
The $62 million, 200,000-square-foot facility will produce about 700 blades a year for wind turbines when the plant is operational starting in 2008. It will provide about 450 manufacturing jobs.
Ritter, Kennedy Release Accountability Report
Gov. Bill Ritter and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy yesterday announced the release of the first State Taxpayer Accountability Report. The STAR Report provides information on the state’s fiscal condition for Fiscal Year 2005-2006, the most recently available audited data.
Kennedy made a promise during her campaign to provide greater government transparency. The new report makes complicated financial information accessible and understandable
The STAR report can be viewed on the Treasurer’s website at www.colorado.gov/treasury and the Governor’s website at www.colorado.gov/governor.
Colorado Public Radio Launches new Public Insight Network
From Public Insight Editor, Dan Meyer: “We’ve started a new reporting project that connects directly with the public. It’s called the Public Insight Network and I’m in charge of it. Basically, folks respond to questions we put on the web site or they just sign up generally to receive emailed questions in the future. We’re after knowledge and experience, not taking opinion polls. But of course in the context of the elections much of it translates into political preferences.
As presidential matters take on more importance and news impact — especially with the convention coming here — I’m reaching out to people on all sides trying to make sure that we have good representation of, and an open channel to, all political viewpoints.
Take a look at http://www.kcfr.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=189 where you can sign up or just learn more about it. You’ll see the questions we’re asking now, both of which I bet will interest you: One’s about returning military vets and the other about efforts and obstacles to ‘going green.’ A promise: We’ll never use information for fundraising or other solicitations.” State Party Chair, Pat Waak, became the 600th person to sign up.
Colorado Democratic Party Recommends Colorado Springs For State Convention In 2008
The Colorado Democratic Party’s Site Selection Committee last evening unanimously voted to recommend that the 2008 State Democratic Convention and Assembly be held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs. The decision followed intensive work, including site visits, by leaders of both Colorado Springs and Broomfield to woo the Democrats to their respective communities. Pursuant to Party rules, the Party’s Executive Committee will vote in July on whether to accept the recommendation.
CDP First Vice Chair and Site Selection Committee Chair Dan Slater talked about the process. “The members of the Site Selection Committee have worked extremely hard over the past two months to ensure that every possible angle of these bids have been examined. While we were very impressed with the bid from Broomfield, in the end, the bid from El Paso County Democrats excelled in every area: technical, political, and in terms of community support. El Paso County’s Democratic Party has proven to be one of the most energetic in the state, and we are confident that they will be the ideal hosts for us in May of 2008.”
State Party Chair Pat Waak praised the work of the Committee. “I am very pleased that we had such a hard-working group of people willing to work on this task. I’m confident the Executive Committee will support their recommendation, and I’m excited to nominate our next United States Senator in Colorado Springs.”
Waak said that the choice of historically-Republican El Paso County meshed well with the Party’s “64-County Strategy”. “We’re competing in all parts of this state. Democrats have better ideas, are better organized, and have better candidates. To consistently win statewide, we have to be willing to take on Republicans everywhere, and we’re doing that. Colorado Springs is changing, as we’ve seen with the elections of Representative Michael Merrifield and Senator John Morse. We’re proud to honor those changing dynamics by bringing the state to Colorado Springs next May.”
This was the second time the Colorado Democratic Party had used a competitive site selection process to choose the site for the state assembly / convention. In 2005, the Party chose Greeley as its site for the 2006 State Assembly, and the resulting energy from that event is partially credited by many for Bill Ritter’s historic victory in Weld County in 2006. The Site Selection Committee is comprised of 10 members, plus a non-voting chair, appointed by the State Chair. Of the ten members, at least one must come from each of Colorado’s seven Congressional Districts, guaranteeing geographical diversity. A Request for Proposals was sent out to each county Democratic chair in April, with Broomfield and Colorado Springs submitting bids in May.
July 19th, 2007 at 1:57 am
Wish you luck!
google team.