Colorado Capitol Report

The Colorado Chamber to Announce Legislative Candidate Endorsements August 8th


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State Policy News

CACI to Announce Legislative Candidate Endorsements August 8th

On Friday, August 8th, the slate of incumbent and new legislative candidates endorsed by CACI for election to the Colorado General Assembly will be carried in a special announcement in The Colorado Statesman.

The July 18th issue of CACI’s Colorado Capitol Report carried an article that listed the 34 new candidates who were recently interviewed by the CACI lobbying team and a special Advisory Group of more than 55 CACI members.

CACI members who contributed $550 to CACI’s political committee, the Colorado Business Political Action Committee, were eligible to participate.

After each interview, the lobbying team and the Advisory Group discussed the candidate and then made the decision on whether or not to recommend the candidate for endorsement.

The CACI Executive Committee on Monday will consider the slate of new candidates recommended for endorsement.

The Board delegates to the Executive Committee the authority to make the endorsements of new candidates based on the recommendations of the CACI lobbying team and CACI members who participated in the interviews.  Once the Executive Committee has approved the slate, it will be sent to the full Board for final review.  After the Board’s review, the slate will be sent to the Advisory Group.

The CACI Board has approved the slate of incumbent candidates for endorsements, based on recommendations of the CACI lobbing team.  Incumbent legislators running for re-election were not interviewed (since they were originally interviewed when they first ran for the legislature) but have been evaluated based on their voting records and other considerations on key CACI bills during the 2013 and 2014 sessions.

Finally, each endorsed candidate may receive up to $400 in support from the Colorado Business Political Action Committee.

Following the August 8th announcement of the slate of CACI-endorse candidates, the CACI lobbying team will begin walking legislative districts with select candidates in key races to help them with their campaigns.

Finally, CACI wishes to thank CACI member Hall and Evans, LLC, for hosting in its beautiful new office the four days of interviews because the CACI Office is undergoing expansion and renovation.  In particular, thanks go to Bob Ferm and Danny Furman.

For more information about CACI’s legislative candidate endorsement process, contact Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations, at 303.866.9642.


U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Sponsor Denver Rally Tuesday, July 29th, to Protest EPA’s Proposed Regulations Increasing Electricity Costs

The Institute for 21st Energy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Denver rally on Tuesday, July 29th, to protest proposed EPA regulations that will increase energy costs for Colorado companies.

The rally will begin at 12 Noon at the Veterans’ Memorial in Lincoln Park, which is located between Broadway and Lincoln and Colfax and 14th Avenue. The Memorial is directly west of the Colorado State Capitol.

CACI members are urged to attend the rally.  CACI and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are mutually affiliated.

For news media coverage of this issue, read:

Left, right target Denver next week during EPA hearing on power plants,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, July 25th.

Business groups fight EPA plan rules, eye legal action,” The Washington Times, July 22nd.

For more information on this issue, contact Carly West, CACI Governmental Affairs Representative, at 303.866.9622, or Leah Curtsinger, CACI Federal Policy Representative, at 303.866.9641.


Update: CACI Office Construction Project

Two weeks of demolition and construction in the CACI Office have been completed.  Next week will be a “catch up” week for work before the first two full weeks of August, when the painting and carpeting will take place.

During this two-week period, CACI staff will not be allowed in the office.  Staff should be allowed back into the office on Monday, August 18th.

Here are the major developments concerning CACI’s ability to communicate with its members:

  • The fax machine is down and CACI cannot receive faxes until a new telephone line is installed in a different location;
  • The voice-mail system for CACI phones has gone down, but staff is working with the provider to get it up and running again; and
  • The email system may not be accessible for some CACI staff, depending on how they access the “cloud,” early next week when the IT “rack” is moved from its old location to a new location.

 


News Media Coverage

Below is recent news-media coverage of business, political, policy and governmental issues of interest to CACI:

’Flat Earth” fracking ad on ‘radical activists’ insults some voters,” by Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post, July 25th.

No, cities can’t just ban fracking,” editorial, The Denver Post, July 24th.

Boulder County judge strikes down Longmont fracking ban,” Scott Rochat, The Longmont Times-Call, The Denver Post, July 24th.

Fontneau says she’s leaving Connect for Health Colorado in a good place,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, July 24th,.

Colorado health insurance exchange CEO Patty Fontneau leaves for Cigna,” by Electa Draper, The Denver Post, July 24th.

Hickenlooper unveils backing of 120 business leaders for re-election bid,” by Ed Sealover, The Denver Business Journal, July 22nd.

McLachlan vs. Brown – A rematch in HD 59,” by Peter Marcus, The Colorado Statesman, July 18th.