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Dan Pilcher
CACI Senior Vice
President
& Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 303.866.9600
E-Mail:
dpilcher@cochamber.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Teeters on Insolvency
In a page-one story today, The Denver Post spotlighted
what employers have known was coming: higher Unemployment
Insurance (UI) taxes to replenish Colorado’s UI Trust Fund and
to repay loans from the Federal Government that are needed to
keep the state Fund solvent and paying UI benefits to unemployed
workers:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14145922
CACI and other business organizations are discussing with the
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment details of how and
when UI taxes would be increased to replenish the state Fund and
to repay the Federal Government. Earlier this week, Loren
Furman, CACI Vice President of Governmental Affairs, and other
business organization representatives met with Ed Sealover of
The Denver Business Journal to discuss the business
perspective on the crisis surrounding the state Fund:
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/01/11/story1.html?b=1263186000^2688541
House Finance Committee Member Warns: “As Business Goes, so Goes the
State”
The ranking Republican member of the House Finance Committee,
Representative Cheri Gerou of Evergreen, today told the CACI Tax
Council that efforts by the General Assembly to eliminate or
suspend various tax incentives will harm businesses,
particularly small businesses, and thus hamper the state’s
economic recovery. “When you help business, you help
everybody,” Gerou said, because increased tax revenues are thus
available to state government for various programs.
Gerou, an architect, said that the following tax incentives put
forth by Governor Bill Ritter last November as a part of his
proposed 2010-2011 budget are of “particular concern” to her:
1.
Extending the state sales tax to the use of energy by
businesses, which is projected to force businesses to pay $48
million.
2.
Capping the enterprise zone investment tax credit at
$250,000, which is estimated to cost companies $8.9 million.
3.
Applying the sales tax for online purchases by vendors
using “affiliates” within Colorado that advertise or solicit
customers for the vendors, which would raise $5 million.
Bills concerning the tax matters must originate in the House
according to the Colorado Constitution, and the House Finance
Committee will likely be the committee where the tax-incentive
bills will first be heard. Representative Joel Judd (D-Denver),
who chairs the House Finance Committee, has publicly said that
he wants to eliminate all business tax incentives.
Gerou also discussed with CACI Tax Council members various other
tax incentives that either the Governor proposed for suspension
or elimination, such as the exclusion of certain computer
software from the sales tax, or that legislators such as
Representative Judd have said they want to terminate. She also
discussed the work of two legislative interim committees on
which she served: one dealing with Pinnacol Assurance and the
other dealing with the long-term fiscal stability of Colorado.
In May, Gerou will become a member of the Joint Budget
Committee.
Political Drama at the State Capitol Captivates Statehouse Observers
The top political story of the week, of course, was the
unexpected announcement Wednesday morning by Governor Bill
Ritter that he will not run for re-election this year. “CACI
wishes the Governor and his family well, looks forward to
working with him on business issues during the coming
legislative session and the balance of his term, and CACI thanks
him for his public service,” said Chuck Berry, CACI President.
There also have been two other recent political developments
under the Gold Dome that are worth mentioning.
First, Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) changed her
party affiliation last week to that of an Independent and,
consequently, lost her position as House Speaker Pro Tem and
Chair of the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources
Committee. Speaker Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) this week named
Representative Randy Fischer (D-Fort Collins) to chair the
Committee and Representative Buffie McFadyen (D-Pueblo West) to
become Speaker Pro Tem. The Speaker picked Representative Sal
Pace (D-Pueblo) to become the Committee Vice Chair.
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_14129532
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_14125826
Second, Speaker Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) removed the
vice-chair of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee,
Representative Ed Casso (D-Commerce City), from that position
and gave it to Representative Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada):
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_14149102
Legislative
Session Begins Wednesday
The Colorado General Assembly will convene at 10 a.m. Wednesday,
January 13th, for its 2010 session. House Speaker
Terrance Carroll (D-Denver) and Senate President Brandon Shaffer
(D-Longmont) will deliver the traditional opening-day addresses
to their respective chambers as will the two minority leaders,
Representative Mike May (R-Parker) in the House and Senator Josh
Penry (R-Grand Junction) in the Senate.
On Thursday, January 14th, at 11 a.m., Governor Bill Ritter will
deliver his fourth and final State of the State Address to a
joint session of the Senate and the House in the House Chamber.
His address will air on several network television stations in
Denver as well as being carried as a Web cast by the stations.
Listeners may also listen to the address by going to the
legislative Web site,
http://www.leg.state.co.us/ and clicking on the link titled
“Audio Broadcasts of Current Proceedings.”
During the 2010 session, for the first time, the floor sessions
of the Colorado Senate will be televised. The House proceedings
have been carried on Comcast Channel 165 since 2008.
On one day, the House will be broadcast live first on Channel
165 and then the Senate will be broadcast after the House
adjourns. The next day, the Senate will be broadcast live first
with the House following Senate adjournment. Both chambers’
floor sessions, however, can be viewed live via Internet
streaming by going to the legislature’s Web site:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/
CACI’s Lobbying
Team Prepares for Session
CACI’s overall lobbying effort is led by Chuck Berry,
CACI President, who has headed CACI for almost ten years. Prior
to that time, Berry served as a member of the Colorado
legislature for 14 years (1985-1998), and for eight of those
years (1991-1998) Berry served as the Speaker of the House,
being elected four times by his legislative colleagues to the
most powerful position in the Colorado General Assembly. Berry
was first elected to the legislature in 1984 to represent House
District 21 in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.
Berry practiced in 1995-2000 as Special Counsel with the law
firm, Holme Roberts and Owen in both the Colorado Springs and
Denver offices. In January 1981, Berry was appointed El Paso
County Attorney by the Board of County Commissioners, and he
served in that position until his election to the General
Assembly in 1984. Berry earned a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) from
the University of Colorado in 1972 and a J.D. from the CU School
of Law in 1975. After being admitted to the practice of law in
Colorado in 1975, Berry was appointed a deputy district attorney
for the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties)
and began his career as a criminal prosecutor in that office.
Berry can be reached at 303.866.9652 or via e-mail at
cberry@COchamber.com
At the State Capitol, CACI’s lobbying work will be led by
Loren Furman, CACI Vice President of Government Affairs.
Loren joined CACI in January 2008, having worked the two
previous years as the Legislative Director for the Colorado
Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA). In that
capacity, she worked with the Office of the Governor and the
legislature on such issues as the state workforce, state
facilities, purchasing, collections, telecommunications,
contracts, risk management, printing and motor vehicles. On
January 1, 2009, Loren was promoted to CACI Vice President of
Governmental Affairs.
Prior to holding the DPA position, Loren worked as a lobbyist
for Floridian Partners in Tallahassee, Fla., from January 2002
to September 2005. Her clients included municipalities,
businesses and trade associations. Loren represented her
clients before the Florida Legislature, the Governor’s Office,
and state and local government entities on legislative, budget
and regulatory issues. Her work included such areas as
insurance, telecommunications, public safety, information
technology, business regulation, health care, tort reform,
education, transportation and the environment. From March 2000
to January 2002, Loren worked as a legislative/policy analyst in
the Majority Office of the Florida House of Representatives.
Loren holds a B.S. and M.S. in political science from Florida
State University.
In addition to reporting directly to Chuck, Loren oversees the
day-to-day operation at the State Capitol of the CACI lobbying
team, which includes CACI’s new lobbyist, Dan Anglin,
Governmental Affairs Representative, and contract lobbyists
Donnah Moody and Larry Hudson. Loren will staff the
CACI Governmental Affairs Council, the CACI Tax Council, and the
CACI Labor and Employment Council. Loren can be reached at
303.866.9642 (direct) or via e-mail at
lfurman@COchamber.com
In November, Dan Anglin joined the CACI lobbying team as a
Governmental Affairs Representative. One of Dan’s primary
responsibilities will be to staff the CACI HealthCare Council
and lobby health-care policy issues. Dan spent two years as a
member of the Legislative Council Staff of the Colorado General
Assembly. As a member of Legislative Council, he conducted
nonpartisan statutory research, resolved constituent concerns
for all 100 members of the General Assembly and drafted analyses
for the State Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book). Before
moving to Colorado, Dan worked in Arizona as a lobbyist for the
Tucson Association of Realtors, where he represented the
interests of more than 5,000 members on local issues facing the
industry. Prior to lobbying, he worked for the Arizona State
Legislature, serving as staff for the Arizona State Senate
Committee of Natural Resources and Rural Affairs.
Dan is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served from
1988 to 1992 and during “Desert Storm,” the first Gulf War. He
holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona. Dan can be reached
at 303.866.9641 or via e-mail at
danglin@COchamber.com
At the end of 2008, Donnah Moody left the full-time
employ of CACI to become a contract lobbyist, and one of her
primary clients for the 2009 legislative session was CACI.
Before that, Donnah lobbied three prior legislative sessions for
CACI. Donnah will staff the CACI Energy and Environmental
Council and its various committees. Prior to joining CACI in
October 2005, she worked the four years prior as the lead
lobbyist for the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Donnah can
be reached at 303.562.4551 or via e-mail at
capitolcorps@comcast.net
Larry Hudson
is devoted full-time to lobbying and is “Of Counsel for
Governmental Affairs” with the law firm of Greenberg Traurig,
LLP. Larry lobbies for CACI on labor and employment issues and
information technology issues. Larry previously worked in the
policy office of Colorado Governor Bill Owens. This will be
Larry’s fourth session to lobby for CACI. Larry can be reached
at 303.685.7403 or via e-mail at
hudsonl@gtlaw.com
CACI Councils
Saddle Up for Session
CACI’s five councils are critical to CACI’s success in
representing the statewide business community at the State
Capitol, whether before the Governor’s Office, the General
Assembly, or state agencies and departments. The councils
provide CACI members with the opportunity to directly
participate in CACI’s policy-making process, given that the
final say on broad CACI policy rests with the CACI Board of
Directors. CACI members have the best insight and knowledge
about how current and proposed legislation and regulations
affect their companies. The views of CACI members--expressed in
CACI council meetings--inform other CACI members, the CACI staff
and elected public officials and state government workers.
CACI members are urged to join and participate in these
councils. Members who register will receive meeting notices and
agendas, Issue Alerts and other relevant communications. Please
go to the CACI Web site and click on the Calendar to see when
the councils meet. To join the councils, contact Bonnie Finley,
CACI Program Director, at 303.866.9643 or via e-mail at
bfinley@COchamber.com
Tax Council
The Chair is Rhonda Sparlin, a Director with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Council is staffed by Loren
Furman. The Council represents the interests of CACI members on
both state and local tax issues. It provides detailed expertise
on legislative and regulatory proposals that would increase the
burden of business taxes, feels and regulations on businesses.
The Council works closely with the Colorado Department of
Revenue, the legislature and the Governor’s Office to equalize
or reduce the state and local tax burden on companies and,
therefore, to maintain a competitive business climate in
Colorado.
Labor and Employment Council
The Chair is Sybil Kisken, Of
Counsel with Davis Graham and Stubbs LLP, and the Council is
staffed by Loren Furman and Larry Hudson. This Council will
protect businesses that are affected by such labor and
employment issues as the following:
1.
Efforts to mandate restrictions on employers that increase
business costs;
2.
Initiatives to increase the costs of workers compensation and
unemployment insurance;
3.
Steps to implement legislation on organized labor initiatives,
such as attempts to repeal or weaken the Colorado Labor Peace
Act; and
4.
Administrative actions by the Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment.
Governmental Affairs Council
The Chair is Loren Furman. The Council is comprised of members
of the business lobbying corps at the State Capitol. It meets
every other Tuesday for a working lunch during the session for a
strategic and tactical discussion on bills that affecting the
business community. The CACI lobbying team presents CACI’s
Legislative Agenda. Council members discuss the bills and
issues that they are lobbying on behalf of their companies,
clients or trade associations. CACI’s lobbying team and Council
members share lobbying strategies and form coalitions on bills.
Because of the strategic and tactical nature of the Council’s
work, membership on the Council is only open to CACI members who
are registered lobbyists and CACI Board Members. The Council’s
members generally are corporate lobbyists, contract lobbyists or
trade association lobbyists. The Council, however, does not
inform the discussions of the CACI Board of Directors on broad
policy in the manner that the other CACI councils do. Instead,
it provides CACI with a mechanism to coordinate its Legislative
Agenda with the broader business community.
Energy and Environment Council
The Chair is John Jacus,
a Partner with Davis Graham and Stubbs LLP. The Council is
staffed by CACI contract lobbyist Donnah Moody, who staffed it
for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions while employed
by CACI and in 2009 as a contract lobbyist. The Council
provides expertise on regulatory and legislative matters in the
areas of air quality, water quality, industrial waste and
energy. The Council works closely with the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the legislature to
ensure that regulations and legislation do not unreasonably
burden companies regulated by the CDPHE or unfairly increase the
cost of doing business.
HealthCare Council
The Chair is Ralph Pollock, who is a CACI Board member, and the
Council is staffed by Dan Anglin. The Council provides CACI
members with expertise in all areas of health-care concerns
related to businesses. The Council is focused on state-level,
health-care legislation that will increase the costs associated
with providing or purchasing health care for businesses. The
Council hosts a different legislator each month of the session
who will discuss proposed health care bills and the impact to
businesses. Council members include experts from the
health-insurance and health-provider industries.
CACI Annual Business Day at the Legislature Scheduled for 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 Representative Joe
Rice (D-Littleton), who chairs the House Business Affairs and
Labor Committee; Representative Frank McNulty (R-Highlands
Ranch); and Senator Rollie Heath (D-Boulder).
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
CACI Council Meetings Scheduled for January
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
·
Labor and Employment Council,
Wednesday, January 20th
·
HealthCare Council,
Thursday, January 21st, and the special guest will be
Representative Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley), chair of the
House Health and Human Services Committee
·
Governmental Affairs Council,
Tuesday, January 26th; lunch sponsored by
Matthew Block, Ameristar Casino, whose Web site is:
http://www.ameristar.com/Black_Hawk.aspx
For the meeting schedule of CACI Councils for succeeding months
during the legislative session, please visit the CACI Web site:
http://www.cochamber.com/newsandevents_calendar.asp |
