Amendment 49 and Government Payroll Reform
Amendment 49 on the November 2008 Colorado ballot proposes to limit government payroll deductions to specified items. The amendment effectively prohibits the collection and transfer of funds to private non-charitable groups that lobby government officials and fund campaigns including such groups as political parties, professional associations, and labor unions. Current Colorado law allows government payroll systems to administer and deliver money to these groups.
Amendment 59 Would Give the Education Lobby a Blank Check
Amendment 59 will exacerbate budget problems such as those encountered during the recent recession.
Independent Thinking: Joe Williams and Democrats for Education Reform
Watch this 3-part YouTube replay of the October 9 episode of Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. Democrats for Education Reform executive director Joe Williams and Education Policy Center director Pamela Benigno discuss the movement within the Democratic Party to reform education and how it might play out here in Colorado.
Democrats for Education Reform?
A small but growing contingent of Democrats is looking for some change in the current educational system. One of the leaders of this charge for change is Joe Williams of the Democrats for Education Reform – a NYC based group. Joe sat down with Ben DeGrow to discuss what his group is all about and why Democrats can be the catalyst for education reform.
Independent Thinking: What Is Amendment 49?
Watch this 3-part YouTube replay of the October 3 edition of Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. Jeffco teacher Michael Alcorn and our own policy analyst Ben DeGrow discuss the merits of Amendment 49 on the statewide ballot, which would prohibit school districts and other government agencies from collecting dues money for unions and other special interest groups.
