October 18, 2011

SandBox Comments: Colorado News Agency "House’s Pace seeks more answers on overpayment glitch"

Sal Pace is going to need all the help he can get trying to wipe out Congressman Scott Tipton (R-Colorado).

Guess he's figuring he'll take whatever he can get.

Even a major problem in our outdated state technology that the Colorado GOP has been pounding for years on the Colorado Democrats to do something about.

Wonder if there will ever come a day when taxpayers can charge something like this outrageous overpayment to the 'guilty' 'party' that 'helped' the problem into existence?

"Democratic House Minority Leader Sal Pace, of Pueblo, fired off a letter today requesting that an audit of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment already underway be expanded to learn why  the Unemployment Insurance Division overpaid beneficiaries by $305 million in benefits.

“The overpayments should be of concern to every Coloradan,” Pace wrote in his letter to the Legislative Audit Committee.

Pace said it was recent reports of overpayments as well as a move by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper—directing the department on Wednesday to work with the federal Department of Labor on adopting new strategies to detect, eliminate and recover overpayments—that prompted him to make the request.

Pace is asking for a review of how the overpayments happened, a look at  accounting procedures within the department’s Unemployment Insurance Division, and for recommendations to prevent any of it from happening again.

“We have an obligation to make sure we fully understand the extent of the problem,” said Pace.

Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley, who sits on the audit committee says he supports Pace’s request.

“It’s appropriate to ask for this,” said Renfroe. “Government needs to be efficient with taxpayer dollars. Clearly, shining a light on an area that may need correcting is the right thing to do.”

The Legislative Audit Committee must first approve the request before the state auditor can delve into the issues Pace raises...."
(Debi Brazzale, Colorado News Agency)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letter to the Editor "Voters like Su Lum are the problem"

"Dear Editor:

After reading Su Lum's column in Wednesday's paper, I have to wonder why she is given space in your newspaper (“There's an election in progress, sort of,” Oct. 12, 2011, The Aspen Times.)..."

(James F. Dowley, Aspen Colorado)

Another 'well spotted' letter from a local.  This one up on The Aspen Times.

There are positive signs that Swift Communications is trying and in many areas succeeding, to clean up their publication and turn both The AspenTimes and Glenwood Springs Post Independent into publications we may someday be proud of again.  Especially The Times.  Who we must add, is almost there.

Better yet, the most positive change is out here in readers of these publications.  Have you noticed the major shift in power?

Folks pushed back the bully(s) and are now seeming to want the cleaner house to stay that way.

Where do readers go when the problem isn't bias, censorship, gonzo journalism, yellow ink and the love of just simply writing deceptive flamers?  Where do they go when the problem is the quality of the content?

Such as the opinion column of Su Lum.

Maybe they speak up.  If they care about the publication's business success.

If they don't care, they simply do their subscribing with The Aspen Daily and take advantage of the free copy of The Times and PI.  Figuring that sooner or later, the problem will resolve itself through the course of a natural business death. 

(Learn more?  Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident." 

SandBox Comments: Denver Post/Breaking News "Report: U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge brought 1 million fans and $83.5 million to Colorado"

Now, the big question on local's minds...is what is The City of Glenwood Springs going to do to cash in on the Pro Cycling frenzy?

"All of the sudden, Colorado has jumped to the top of wish lists for people around the country and the globe," said Al White , director of the Colorado Tourism Office...."

(Learn more?  Click title and comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."