Business pondering Colorado ballot - San Antonio Business Journal:

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The presidential race has dominatexd thenational conversation, and the contesgt for Colorado’s open Senate seat has garnerefd much attention. Yet when the Denveer Business Journalasked Denver-area executives, professionals, and heads of nonprofitsw and other associations what election issues and raced are of greatest importance to their operations, most mentioned one or more of the 14 statd ballot questions.
Except as business leaders contacted by the Journal emphasized they were speaking for themselvez and not for their companies or Among the ballot issueson business’ radar is Amendment 58, whicuh would raise more than $300 million a year in additional “severancr tax” revenue from oil and gas drillers in the state, usinf much of the money for collegre scholarships. “The biggest trick on the people of with notreat possible, is 58,” said Michaep Beatty, a principal at P.C., a longtim e oil and gas attorney in Denver. “Voters may thinok it will supporthigher ed, but it doesn’t,” Beattyy said.
“And it won’t generate a penny to solve anyof Colorado’s critical financial needs. It is an ugly stepsistee dressed up as Cinderella that willturn Colorado’e economy into a pumpkin in the curren economic downturn.” Amendment 58 has been heavily pusheds by Gov. Bill Ritter, who argues that it wouldc endan “expensive subsidy” for the energy industrgy at a time of record profits. Longtimse oilman Bruce Benson, president of the system, and other states college leaders backthe measure. “I’m watchintg [the] outcome of 58. It could set or sink Bill Ritteer politically,” said Pete Webb, principal at Centennial-based Webb PR.
Also mentionee frequently in the Journal survey wasAmendmeng 59, a measure aimed at untangling conflicting financial provisionz of the state constitution, including the Taxpayedr Bill of Rights (TABOR). It would allow exceszs tax revenue collected during good economic times to be places in an education fund rather than refunded to taxpayers asTABOR mandates. Proponents say it would restorde flexibility to the statdbudgeting process.
“Amendment 59 is by far the most important ballo t initiative this year and perhaps the most important ballot initiative of the Withoutit passing, Colorado will be paralyzed financially,” said Petefr Dea, president and CEO of Denver oil and gas firm . Mile High ’sd board has endorsed 59, said the nonprofit’ president and CEO, Christine Benero. The boarxd “had quite a debate on it,” Beneroo said. “They looked very carefully at what it wouldd mean and why would we [endorse] it.” But, she “At the end of the day, all of the work United Way does startse with a fundamental belief that educatexd kids are the future for Colorado.
… So we’ree very proud to stand behind Amendment Foes of Amendment 59 arguw that it wouldreducer taxpayers’ ability to controp excessive government spending during prosperous timesw and would permanently eliminate TABOR-driven tax Business leaders also are following Amendment 47, whichy would prohibit mandatory union-duee payments in Colorado workplaces. It’s been the focuas for months of a battle overlaboer rights, leading to a compromises in which the and some employers are joiningf with unions in opposing the measure.
“Our objective has been to support policies that will help growour economy, stabiliz prices, develop new technologies, and grow said Steve Davis, senior vice president for publiv policy for Without specifying 47, Davis said the telecom “has opposed ballot initiatives in Colorado and elsewhere that woul d disrupt long-standing labor policiexs and might destabilize economic growthn and well-being.” Mark Simmons, co-ownetr and marketing/sales director of Louisville-based , an installer of solar electric systems, said he favors “defeating all the … labor-business initiatives. None are good for our state’sz economy.
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