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Dan Pilcher
CACI Senior Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 303.866.9600
E-Mail:
dpilcher@cochamber.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
Bills to Eliminate or Suspend Critical Business Tax Exemptions,
Exclusions and Credits “Read Across the Desk” This Afternoon
Here are the assigned bill numbers of the introduced bills, and
CACI members are urged to go to the legislature’s Web site to
read the bills once they have been posted:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/
·
HB-1192, elimination of software sales-tax exclusion;
·
HB-1199, three-year limit on net-operating-loss (NOL)
carry-forward to $250,000;
·
HB-1190, two-year suspension of the exclusion of energy for
industrial and manufacturing use;
·
HB-1200, three-year-limit on the corporate enterprise-zone
investment tax credit;
·
HB-1194, non-essential containers for food services; and
·
HB-1191, candy and soft drinks.
The bills have been assigned to the House Appropriations
Committee, but today’s House Calendar does not have any meetings
scheduled for this Committee. The bills are sponsored by
Representatives Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) and Jack Pommer
(D-Boulder), both of whom are members of the Joint Budget
Committee. Representative Pommer chairs the House
Appropriations Committee, and Representative Ferrandino is the
Vice-Chair.
CACI members interested in testifying against the bills should
contact as soon as possible Loren Furman, CACI Vice President of
Governmental Affairs, at 303.866.9642 (office), 303.888.9387
(cell) or via e-mail at
lfurman@COchamber.com
It’s Back: Mandated Sick-Leave Bill Returns
Although the bill has not yet been introduced, the 15-page bill
draft mandates that employers provide one hour of paid sick
leave for each 30 hours worked by an employee up to the
following limits for these sizes of firms:
·
72 hours maximum if the firm has ten or more employees; and
·
40 hours maximum if the firm has nine or fewer workers.
The bill will be sponsored by Representative Cherylin Peniston
(D-Westminster) and is being mainly advocated by 9to5, the
National Association of Working Women:
http://www.9to5.org/
Traditionally opposing governmental mandates on employers, CACI
specifically opposes this draft legislation for a number of
reasons, including the following:
·
The bill draft notes that a worker could take sick leave to care
for other “family members,” but the definition of family members
is overly broad;
·
The bill draft would allow a worker to roll over unused sick
days into the following year;
·
A CACI survey of members last summer found that 83 percent
already have sick-leave policies;
·
Businesses would face an additional administrative cost to
comply with the law;
·
The draft bill will apparently apply to part-time workers, which
would hit the restaurant, lodging and retail sectors hard;
·
Companies should have the flexibility to devise sick-leave
policies that are unique to each firm’s economic circumstances
and workforce without being forced by State Government to adopt
a “one-size-fits-all” model.
During the 2009 legislative session, CACI strongly opposed a
similar bill, which died in the first “committee of reference”
where it was heard: the House Business Affairs and Labor
Committee, chaired by Representative Joe Rice (D-Littleton). On
Wednesday, the CACI Business Affairs and Labor Committee
discussed the draft bill and unanimously voted to oppose it.
CACI Annual Business Day at the Legislature Scheduled for Next
Thursday, January 28th
CACI’s Annual Business Day at the Legislature Luncheon will
feature two state legislative leaders:
·
House Speaker Terrance Carroll (D-Denver)
·
Senate Republican Leader Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction)
In addition, Eric Sondermann, the well-known political analyst
and communications consultant, will provide an overview of the
state’s political races and issues, including the legislative
session. Sondermann heads up the firm, SE2:
http://www.publicpersuasion.com/about_us/people/staff_detail/?sid=10&view=pro
The Luncheon is scheduled from 12 Noon until 1:30 p.m.,
Thursday, January 28th, at The Brown Palace Hotel.
In addition, the 2 p.m.--3 p.m. CACI session in the Old Supreme
Court Chamber at the Colorado State Capitol with CACI members
will feature a panel of minority and majority legislators from
both the Senate and the House who will discuss business issues
and bills. CACI has invited both majority and minority party
legislators. Confirmed panelists include Senator Greg Brophy
(R-Wray), Senator Rollie Heath (D-Boulder), Senator Paul
Sandoval (D-Denver), Representative Joe Rice (D-Littleton),
Representative Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) and
Representative Amy Stephens (R-Monument).
For more information on the Business Day at the Legislature and
sponsorships, contact Denise Reeves, CACI Vice President of
Events and Programs, at 303.866.9622 or via e-mail a
dreeves@COchamber.com
Upcoming CACI Council Meetings
Council meetings will be held at the CACI Office beginning at 12
Noon. Council members who would like to sponsor lunches for
Council meetings should contact Misty Fox, CACI Office Manager,
at 303.866-9652 or via e-mail at
mfox@COchamber.com
·
Governmental Affairs Council,
Tuesday, January 26th; lunch sponsored by Matthew
Block, Ameristar Casino, whose Web site is:
http://www.ameristar.com/Black_Hawk.aspx
·
Tax Council,
Friday, February 5th, and the confirmed special guest
is Representative Joel Judd (D-Denver), Chair, House
Finance Committee. Senator Paula Sandoval (D-Denver),
Chair, Senate Finance Committee, has been invited; lunch
sponsored by Jamee Allen, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.,
whose Web site is:
www.fmi.com
·
Governmental Affairs Council,
Tuesday, February 9th; lunch sponsored by Chris Howes,
The Howes Group, whose Web site is:
www.chrishowes.com
·
Energy and Environment Council,
Thursday, February 11th; lunch sponsored by John
Jacus, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, whose Web site is:
www.dgslaw.com
·
HealthCare Council,
Thursday, February 18th; lunch sponsored by Jamee
Allen, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc., whose Web site is:
www.fmi.com
·
Governmental Affairs Council,
Tuesday, February 23rd; lunch sponsored by Marie
Patterson, AngloGold Ashanti N.A., whose website is:
www.anglogold.com
·
Labor and Employment Council,
Wednesday, February 24th; lunch sponsored by Mark
Moses, Outback Steakhouse, whose website is:
www.outback.com
For the complete meeting schedule of CACI Councils during the
legislative session, please visit the CACI Web site:
http://www.cochamber.com/newsandevents_calendar.asp |
