NCLA presented an hour with the Northern Colorado Legislative Delegation on December 8, 2020. The discussion included dialogue about key issues in the upcoming Legislative Session.
Northern Colorado is one of the state’s most vibrant and livable areas. It is also one of the fastest growing parts of Colorado. The Regional Issues Summit is a forum that will bring attention to some of the larger issues facing Northern Colorado. The half-day program will feature expert presentations, panel conversations and participant reactions. Business, civic, education and government leaders are invited to attend to help identify possible solutions to the area challenges.
Because…it matters. NCLA Regional Issues Summit.
Northern Colorado is the epicenter for vibrant economic growth. But current and looming public policy decisions and regulatory action could have significant economic implications.
Policy decisions matters. A vibrant economy matters. You matter.
The Regional Issues Summit is presented by the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, the Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce, Upstate Colorado and One NOCO.
| Kickoff/Welcome – Steve Tool, Chair NCLA Board of Directors Recording |
2020 Election – What Happened and What It Means for Business and Q&A Recording Sandra Hagen Solin, Issues Manager, NCLA Joey Bunch, Senior Political Writer, Colorado Politics Ed Sealover, Denver Business Journal |
Introduce Northern Colorado Legislative Delegation Recording |
Economic Landscape – Forecast and Recovery Recording Presentation Mindy McCloughan, Loveland Chamber President/CEO, Moderator Reignite Our Economy David May, Fort Collins Chamber Josh Birks, City of Fort Collins Adam Crowe– Larimer County |
Climate Policy and the Northern Colorado Economy Recording Presentation Jaime Henning, Greeley Chamber President/CEO, Moderator GHG Roadmap – Will Toor Barbara Kirkmeyer – Weld County Commissioner/Senator-Elect Dan Haley, O/G – COGA |
US Senator Michael Bennet Recording |
Transportation Recording Presentation David May, Fort Collins Chamber President/CEO, Moderator/Participant Shoshana Lew, Executive Director for CDOT Greg Fulton – Motor Carriers/Electrification |
Congressman Joe Neguse Recording |
Health Care – COVID and Upcoming Issues Recording Presentation Dr. Nicole Erhart, CSU Dr. Rebecca Jackson |
Governor Jared Polis Recording |
Adjourn Summit |
The Regional Issues Summit is presented by the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Upstate Colorado and One NOCO.
Prop 118, Prop 113, and Ref B
The NCLA Board of Directors, in deliberation and agreement with the boards of Directors of the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley Chambers of Commerce, Upstate Colorado and One NoCo Economic Development recommends positions on three key and critical pending ballot questions on the 2020 Ballot. We strongly urge Northern Colorado business leaders, employees and community members to take into account our thoughtful consideration and positions on Proposition 118, Proposition 113 and Referendum B.
Proposition 118 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Program VOTE NO
Proposition 113 – National Popular Vote VOTE NO
Referendum B – Repeal Gallagher Amendment VOTE YES
The NCLA encourages review of the 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet, also known as the “Blue Book”, for proponent and opponent positions on each of the state ballot initiatives. Below are the reasons for the NCLA positions on three of ballot questions before voters this year.
Proposition 118 – Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
The NCLA supports a reasonable family and medical leave program but strongly opposes Proposition 118. It simply goes too far. It demands a backdoor 25% increase in the income tax for individuals and corporations which will be devastating to families and small businesses, at a time when they can least afford it, to fund a new $1.3 billion, 200-person state agency that isn’t guaranteed to deliver upon its promises.
WHAT PROPOSITION 118 DOES
NCLA POSITION: OPPOSE / VOTE NO
RATIONALE:
Proposition 113 – National Popular Vote
Colorado’s relevance on the national political scene has long benefitted Colorado in the form of federal funding for roads, conservation and outdoor projects, water projects, health care, and education. An undermining of the country’s foundational Electoral College by requiring Colorado to direct its Electoral College votes to the popular vote winner isn’t good for Colorado. The National Popular Vote makes Colorado not only irrelevant but disenfranchised and those that promote the NPV don’t have Colorado’s best interests at heart.
WHAT PROPOSITION 113 DOES
Authorizes the allocation of Colorado’s nine Electoral College Electors to vote for the Presidential Candidate that wins the national popular vote regardless of the outcome of the Colorado’s votes.
NCLA POSITION: OPPOSE / VOTE NO
RATIONALE:
Referendum B – Repeal the Gallagher Amendment
The NCLA supports the bi-partisan legislative referendum to repeal the Gallagher Amendment. Gallagher has served as an inequitable and inflexible property tax burden on businesses of all types and sizes. Without repeal, all of Colorado’s businesses will pay a property tax rate nearly 5 times higher next year than the property tax rate paid by residential property owners. This increase in taxes threaten our business’ bottom line and the retention of employees while collectively impeding Colorado’s economic recovery and squeezing vital public services—including funding for schools, police and fire services.
WHAT REFERENDUM B DOES
NCLA POSITION: SUPPORT / VOTE YES
RATIONALE:
Hear Candidates Discuss Key Business Issues on Oct. 15
The Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance has partnered with the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation and others to host the 2020 U.S. Senate Candidate Forum Thursday, October 15 | 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM online. Candidates will have the opportunity to discuss key issues with the region’s business community, such as economic development, the impact of COVID-19, job creation, education and health care. The conversation will be moderated by Denver Business Journal’s Senior Reporter Ed Sealover.
The Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), the joint public policy advocacy arm of the Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland Chambers of Commerce, Upstate Colorado Economic Development Corporation and One NoCo, has created a series of virtual conversations to help business understand the impact of the 2020 Colorado Legislative Session on the future of our economy.
The next topic of this series is Energy: The State of Oil and Gas in Colorado and will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, July 16 through Zoom web conferencing.
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