November 11, 2010

VETERAN'S DAY BENEFITS

Around town today businesses show their support and thanks for veterans' services. Cabela's offers employee pricing on Veteran's Day for veterans, active-duty personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency-medical services personnel. Redlands Canyon View Car Wash is donating free car washes to veterans and current military personnel. The Colorado National Monument waives fees for all visitors today.  Downtown Grand Junction parking will be free at meters and in the City parking garage today. 

The 4th Annual Energy Star Conference is on November 15 from 8:00am - 4:00pm at the Wine Country Inn in Palisade. Visit their website to find out more and register. 

On the same date, November 15, the Grand Junction City Council is hosting a public workshop and open house regarding plans for new 911, Police and Fire Facilities. The workshop is at 5:30pm and the open house is at 6:30pm both at the City Hall Auditorium. For more details, click here.

The Obama administration has announced 10 - 20 percent cuts in fuel consumption and emissions for new medium and heavy duty trucks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Transportation Department are the governing authorities. The new standards were required under an energy law from 2007 and will cover vehicles sold in the 2014 - 2018 model years.  For more information see the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

On a related note, Encana is hosting a Natural Gas for Fleet Vehicles Seminar from 1:30 - 4:30pm on November 16th at the Doubletree. The seminar is complimentary; if you plan to attend, please respond to Alexine Deahl at alexine.deahl@encana.com.  

Governor Ritter has proposed a budget for legislative review. In the budget, cuts of $156.3 million to K-12 education are proposed to be backfilled by $159 million in Edujobs funding awarded to our state. In the past three years, Colorado has received $1.66 billion in stimulus funds yet Ritter and the legislature have had to cover $4.5 billion in shortfalls. For additional information, visit Education News Colorado. 

Gov.-Elect Hickenlooper's team is hosting Regional Transition Meetings to solicit public input for Colorado's needs in economic development and other issues. Grand Junction is scheduled to have an open meeting on November 20th from 1:00-3:00pm. For more information visit the Gov.-Elect website.  

Representative Laura Bradford has been named Chair of the House Local Government Committee. This committee deals with measures affecting property rights, city and county governance and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. For more information regarding this giant step for our side of the state, visit the Daily Sentinel.   

LAME DUCK SESSION

As we all sigh in relief for no more campaign calls or ads, the Governmental Affairs Committee is already braced for where this next year will take us. At the November 9th meeting, the US Chamber reported that before the onset of the 2011 session, during the "Lame Duck" session, it is expected for legislators to review an extension of the current tax rates. As is currently in place, the tax cuts accepted under the Bush Administration will expire January 1, 2011. These tax cuts are vast effecting the alternative minimum tax, marriage penalties, death / estate tax, "Doc Fix" where doctors receive 23% less payment, amongst others.