Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! 

With the 2006 gubernatorial race beginning to take shape, I am excited to bring my campaign into the blogosphere.  Bloggers are today's Minutemen, the often-time heroes who repeatedly astound us with their ability to expose Big Media's attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of everyday citizens.

Just one example of this was Memogate, the shameful attempt by CBS news to influence the 2004 presidential election by springing an October surprise of its own in the form of a forged memo disparaging President Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard.  Bloggers stopped that story dead, and in doing so, they may just have changed the course of history.

Other examples are easy to find.  However you choose to look at it, one thing is beyond debate -- blogging has helped level the playing field between the citizen and Big Media.  With this in mind, I can tell you that it is a real pleasure to join this online world at long last with a weblog of my very own.  I plan to use this blog to provide Coloradans with frequent personal updates on the progress of my campaign as I work to earn their trust and to lead our State into its brightest future. 

Please check back often!  I'll have lots to report during the next year and three months, as I head out on the road touring the entire State of Colorado.  I hope you'll join me, online if not in person.  I know that together we can make this a campaign to remember!

Comments

[Marc Holtzman]

Jim, I couldn't agree with you more. One of my most serious concerns with Refs C and D lies in their complete lack of accountability. Ref C lists general areas of spending, but the devil is in the details, and the details are spelled out in statutes -- laws that can be changed by any future legislature by a bare majority vote.

[Sandra Clinger]

Dear Marc:
You may reach WSERC: Western Slope Envinomental Resource Council at 970.527 5307, P.O. Box 1612, Paonia, 81428; WCC Western Colorado Congress is in Montrose, PO Box 472, Montrose 81402 970.249.1978. Between these two groups they can connect you to everyone and everything associated with just and fair energy development.
Thank you for your consideration,
Sandra

[Sandra Clinger]

Dear Marc:
Please pay particular attention to coal bed methane extraction and its devastation, as you travel through Western Colorado. There are so many issues, water quality, air quality, noise, traffic, carcinogenic chemicals, surface owners rights, associated with this new form of gas extraction. It starts in West Glenwood Springs and is anticipated to explode on the west side of the Huntsman Ridge, west of your home in Carbondale. There are several large organizations working to preserve the land, air and water: WSERC in Paonia,and WCC - Western Colorado Congress in Grand Junction is the other effective coalition. After years of abuse from the Owens administration and the COGC, they would be shocked to hear from you, a Republican! Best wishes, Sandra

[jim schwartz]

Ref C & Pera Bailout Potential: Glitch in the Bait and Switch

(sent to the RMN)

Ref. C & Potential PERA Bailout?

Connecting the dots...

Editors:

Half truth whole lie
Judaic proverb

The intention of Referendum C is to apply the huge $3.7 billion proceeds over the next 5 years to pay for education; health care; roads, bridges, and other strategic transportation projects; and retirement funds for fire fighters and police officers.

However, there are no enforceable barriers to prevent the Ref C windfall from being used, for example, to pay down the PERA’s enormous unfunded pension liabilities ($400+ million a year according to The Rocky– or $2 billion of .the estimated $3.7 billion!)

There is no lock box.
There is no set aside language.
There is no enforceable language prohibiting shifting (directly or indirectly) general budget programs to being funded by Ref C resources.

I have asked Senator Norma Anderson, a leading Referendum C advocate, and past sponsor of PERA legislation, for an answer as to what prevents this potential pilferage of funds from “the intended” purposes. Senator Anderson’s reply was, “we don’t have the funds to shift” (things are so tight). When further asked why not put in language to restrict, her response was this would be “cumbersome…and what do you do in an emergency? And how do you define an emergency.”

Yet, the recently passed Tobacco Tax (Amendment 34) specifically exempted “appropriations of additional tobacco tax revenues from the statutory limitation on general fund appropriations growth or any other existing spending limitations.” Furthermore, these funds may be diverted ONLY due to a “declaration of a state fiscal emergency, which shall be adopted only by a joint resolution, approved by two-thirds majority vote of the members of both houses of the general assembly and the governor. Such declaration shall apply only to a single fiscal year.”

So much for the “cumbersome” argument.

Additionally, almost every legislator is a PERA-NISTA. Being PERA members themselves, does not exactly make legislators impartial umpires calling balls and strikes. Just recently the legislature increased the state’s contribution to PERA (from 10%+ to 13% over time) and this was before the disclosures by the “They’re On The Lamm (PERA) Commission!” What would YOU do if your very own pension/profit sharing resources looked like it could be reduced significantly – possibly even eliminated in time - despite recent funding increases – and there was an available honey pot?

There is no barrier to the diversion of Ref. C money by a conflicted legislature with a vested interest. It can be used – shifted - any way the legislature desires without enforceable restrictions

Gov. Lamm said it all: “We have a moral obligation to bail this (PERA) thing out.” He probably doesn’t know that Ref. C money could be used to do it. But if it’s a MORAL obligation -- and by golly -- we ‘should’ do the right thing - right? Is the table being set? (Besides, approximately 1% of PERA contributions by the employer is for PERA’s ‘health’ trust’ as is.)

The potential bait and switch bailout of PERA– is just one example of conceivable raiding of Ref C funds. If shifting could occur for PERA, what is to prevent other “Trojan Ponies” substitutions from Ref C funding’s “intended” purposes? Without real barriers to prevent misuse and abuse of funding objectives, Ref C is fatally flawed and deserves defeat.

Jim Schwartz
centennial, colorado

[Iron Mike]

So it looks like you guys really made a big splash this last weekend. Good work. Please post more dates on the calendar so we know when and where to meet Marc. I haven't had a chance to meet Marc yet, but have heard many good things so far.

[Susan Knapp]

Your flyer and web site are both impressive. They actually say something and help get to know you better too. I have heard others make this comment also. We are fortunate to have you and your talent in Colorado!

[vladimir]

Seems to me that you should respond to the questions that you post.
What is the point otherwise?

[Anthony]

I have plugged your site as well and am looking forward to meeting Marc during the RV tour.

[brian branson]

go back to philly
carpetbagger.
we dont need anymore out of staters, who are here today gone tomorrow.
BB

[Defero]

It that pork roast open to the public? Is there an admission fee?

[dirk@marc2006.com]

Ben, Thanks for plugging our site. We plan on this blog being an integral part of our campaign. Please let us know what you think. We are always looking to improve.

[Sean]

Cool site. Very informative. Thanks for being upfront on the issues.

[Ben]

I've noted the arrival of your new Web site / blog and have urged people to check in regularly.

[vladimir]

Is John Elway going to appear with you in the next 30 days? Is John Elway endorsing your candidacy or did he merely donate?
Thank you
great campaign so far

[Rock 05]

Very nice. I remember Marc from the Tech Summits he ran a few years ago. THose were great, they provided a great forum for communication and learning in Colorado's Tech Sector. Leave it to Marc to start up a blog to get his message out. This is great Marc, you have my support.