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State Policy News
CACI New Legislative Candidate Interviews Underway
The new legislative candidate interview process is well underway at CACI. On Wednesday and Thursday, CACI and its members interviewed 24 candidates and will finish off the process next Tuesday, July 12th, with nine more candidate interviews scheduled.
Members who contributed at least $550 to CACI’s political committee, the Colorado Business Political Action Committee are able to participate in this three-day process. About 75 CACI members, who have opted to participate, represent a wide array of Colorado companies and industries.
In preparation for the interviews, a questionnaire was sent to each new candidate who agreed to be interviewed. Each candidate’s response is shared with those CACI members who participate in the interview. Along with the candidate’s response, participants are provided with a highly detailed report analyzing legislative races that includes such information as party registration in a district, a candidate’s profile and fundraising and district voting patterns, among other factors that the CACI lobbying team put together.
After a 30-minute interview, the lobbying team and the CACI members discuss a candidate and vote on whether or not to endorse the candidate. This discussion and vote will help determine the lobbying team’s slate of recommended endorsements that will go to the CACI Executive Committee and the CACI Board of Directors for consideration in mid-July.
For more information about CACI’s candidate-endorsement process, contact Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations, at 303.866.9642.
CACI Urges Members to Oppose Oil-and-Gas Ballot Initiatives
An issue committee, which is registered with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, is fighting two ballot measures that, if approved by the voters this November, would effectively strangle the state’s oil-and-gas industry.
Last week, the CACI Board of Directors voted to oppose Initiatives 75 and 78. The two proposals are in the signature-gathering stage. Petitions are due at the Secretary of State’s Office August 8th.
The issue committee is Protecting Colorado’s Environment, Economy, and Energy Independence. The Secretary of State’s ID number is 20145026709. An issue committee may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, companies and other political entities. Contributions are not tax deductible. Contributions are subject to disclosure under Colorado campaign finance law.
Here is a statement to CACI members from Protect Colorado, as the committee is known by its short name:
A broad coalition is actively working to defeat any attacks against the oil and natural gas industry. Two potential initiatives, #75 and #78, may appear on this November’s ballot that would allow for local control of oil and natural gas as well as impose a 2,500-foot setback.
Protect Colorado is here to make sure Colorado continues to be a leader in responsible energy development, and we oppose any efforts that would destroy energy production in our state, including any ban or restrictions on fracking.
We support responsible oil and natural gas development, which is vital to Colorado’s economic future. We promote the numerous benefits that fracking provides to Colorado communities. Oil and natural gas production in our state:
- Supports hundreds of thousands of Colorado jobs
- Strengthens our country’s energy security
- Protects Coloradans’ property rights
- Generates over $1 billion in tax revenue, supporting schools and other vital services
CACI urges its members to contribute to Protecting Colorado’s Environment, Economy, and Energy Independence. Contributions can be mailed to:
Protecting Colorado’s Environment, Economy, and Energy Independence
PO Box 1776
Denver, CO 80203
CACI members who have questions about contributing to Protect Colorado should contact Mark Truax at 720.724.0298
Initiative 75 would transfer the authority to regulate oil-and-natural gas development from the State to local governments. This would result in a Balkanized system of regulations across the Colorado and also would also allow local governments to take private property without compensating property owners. This could lead to years of expensive litigation and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Initiative 78 would establish a 2,500-foot setback from occupied structures and areas of “special concern.” Homeowners would not be able waive the required setback distance for their own home, and this initiative would interfere with a homeowner’s ability to do what he or she wished with their own land. Such an extreme setback would make it impossible for companies to reach a great deal of available natural resources.
For more information about the two initiatives, CACI members also can contact Dan O’Connell, Director of Governmental Relations, at 303.866.9622
AT&T’s Robinette Named Finalist in “Outstanding Women in Business” Awards
CACI Board Member Roberta Robinette, AT&T President-Colorado, External Affairs, has been named a finalist in this year’s “Outstanding Women in Business” awards competition by The Denver Business Journal in the technology and telecommunications segment.
From a pool of 240 nominations for 190 women, The Denver Business Journal’s judging panel winnowed the field down to 36 for the 2016 “Outstanding Women in Business” awards.
The women are being honored by The Denver Business Journal for accomplishments in 13 categories: architecture, engineering and construction; banking, finance and accounting; communications, media and public relations; education, government and nonprofits; energy; health care; large business owners (more than 20 employees); law; lifetime achievement; Mile High Leaders; real estate; small business owner (20 or less employees); and technology and telecommunication.
The Denver Business Journal will announce the winners at a luncheon on August 25th at the Marriott City Center in downtown Denver, and Colorado’s new Lieutenant Governor, Donna Lynne, will be the keynote speaker.