The topic of diverting lottery funds is one of the most absurd yet out of our state lawmakers. They either go at it as 'all or nothing' (or) refuse to stand up to the trough hogs like Pitkin County.
Washington State and the State of Illinois disburse gaming proceeds, specifically lottery.
A certain percentage goes to Parks, Rec, Open Space. Another chunk goes to public and post-secondary education. Another piece of the pie goes to Road, Bridge and Infrastructure maintenance. With another slice going to Human Services. Periodically, some rotations are done.
GOCO has sucked up millions of dollars in lottery proceeds since inception. There are counties around the state that are just sitting on funds trying to find still yet another play park, recreational game or venue or chunk of ground to build something 'recreational' on.
While our schools and public education system are in dire financial straits, we have more homeless and hungry than every before in Colorado history and you can't drive anywhere without a wide range of pot holes plaguing every mile you drive.
A few days ago, the Aspen Times published their editorial "Aspen pounds its liberal chest" and did so with obviously great pride. I could not stomach the thought of the likely bloody brutality commentators would respond with, so I did not toss it up. The topics they chose to tout as "liberal" base were far from politics. Why is it, that immediate inflammatory content is the first choice for "liberal" publications?
Since when are liberals the only ones who conserve and recycle plastics? What? Mayor Mick, who apparently is the only one who has "secret access" to all cast ballots, went in and determined that it was only "liberals" who voted for the ban?? Get real!.
"Liberals" are the only ones who supported getting away from the US Chamber? Here's a news flash, Aspen and ACRA: You have a lot more "liberals" and "conservatives" out here wanting a clear transparency answer on "why" the detailed accounting of the ACRA 501-C6 isn't the reason for leaving the US Chamber behind. The very idea that an entire 'scandal' can be played out in global press over the "climate change" and "US Chamber decision" is ridiculous, silly and pompous. You have much greater concerns, say the folks.
The Aspen arm of the Susan G. Komen foundation saw heavy negative fire from an entire nation, not just "conservatives". Their position catalyzed the conversation to ignite but the primary back-slappers were Aspenites. The move by Aspen's Komen sparked the "war on women" battles that have been going on ever since. A war, since the Aspen Times is keeping score, that "conservative women" are winning. This isn't about Roe v. Wade, birth control, Planned Parenthood funding. The "war on women" is about respect for all women. Something that a rising showing of "liberals" are having difficulty with. Aspen Komen had a few great days of media spotlight but the message they sent was exactly the opposite of what they thought they were achieving. "Conservative" women have since made certain that the facts are drowning out the spin. So far, "they" seem to not only be succeeding, "they" seem to be showing a great deal of respect for all women.
I wonder if the Pitkin County Commissioners are going to write still yet another of their infamous letters. This time trying to stop the 'education hogs' from seizing the entire pie of lottery proceeds.
That might be tough to pull off with any credibility since they are "open space, parks and rec hogs' themselves and are just coming off sending their latest missive to the government.
And then there is that small problem of the blazing 'manufactured outrage' sending too many letters protecting Aspen's drug and law enforcement culture. Just look where that got them with the DEA and FBI.
How about sharing that cash cow of gaming proceeds?
win win.
(Read the article? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Showing posts with label lottery funds road and bridge in colorado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lottery funds road and bridge in colorado. Show all posts
April 27, 2012
April 21, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Highway Commissioner Kathy Connell decries revenue crisis"
Tom Ross:
"Steamboat Springs — State Highway Commissioner Kathy Connell, of Steamboat Springs, said Thursday that she’s feisty enough to press home on Front Range officials an important point about Western Slope highways. However, dwindling state funds for road maintenance and capital highway projects will make it difficult to steer a path to the future until new funding sources materialize.
Connell, a former Steamboat Springs City Council member, said Front Range government officials and her colleagues on the highway commission need to be reminded that the highways on the west side of the Continental Divide play a vital role in generating Colorado sales tax receipts.
“The Front Range needs numbers from us to help them understand the economic hit” the area will take if mountain road networks branching off the Interstate 70 west mountain corridor are allowed to decline, she said.
“About 30 percent of tourism and visitor spending in Colorado occurs in the mountain resort region,”
Connell told an audience attending a Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association economic forum this week. “If tourists find it difficult to travel through the mountains, it will cost a lot of money in state sales taxes.”
Connell was appointed in June 2011 to represent Colorado Department of Transportation District 6 comprising Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Steamboat Springs — State Highway Commissioner Kathy Connell, of Steamboat Springs, said Thursday that she’s feisty enough to press home on Front Range officials an important point about Western Slope highways. However, dwindling state funds for road maintenance and capital highway projects will make it difficult to steer a path to the future until new funding sources materialize.
Connell, a former Steamboat Springs City Council member, said Front Range government officials and her colleagues on the highway commission need to be reminded that the highways on the west side of the Continental Divide play a vital role in generating Colorado sales tax receipts.
“The Front Range needs numbers from us to help them understand the economic hit” the area will take if mountain road networks branching off the Interstate 70 west mountain corridor are allowed to decline, she said.
“About 30 percent of tourism and visitor spending in Colorado occurs in the mountain resort region,”
Connell told an audience attending a Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association economic forum this week. “If tourists find it difficult to travel through the mountains, it will cost a lot of money in state sales taxes.”
Connell was appointed in June 2011 to represent Colorado Department of Transportation District 6 comprising Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
March 30, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: KKCO 11 News "Colo. officials seeing Mega Millions riches, too "
$113 million dollars. In one year. That is the amount of money that Coloradans will see poured into one entity by our struggling state government. That entity is Parks and Recreation.
In other states, lottery and gaming proceeds are equally divided amongst K-12 public education, Road and Bridge, Public Safety/Law Enforcement and Human Services.
Imagine a Colorado world where our lawmakers used just a little bit of common sense, gathered up all of our gaming proceeds into one kitty and did same.
win-win. And a no-brainer.
KKCO:
"DENVER (AP) -- Lottery players aren't the only ones in Colorado seeing dollar signs in the record-setting Mega Millions jackpot.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
In other states, lottery and gaming proceeds are equally divided amongst K-12 public education, Road and Bridge, Public Safety/Law Enforcement and Human Services.
Imagine a Colorado world where our lawmakers used just a little bit of common sense, gathered up all of our gaming proceeds into one kitty and did same.
win-win. And a no-brainer.
KKCO:
"DENVER (AP) -- Lottery players aren't the only ones in Colorado seeing dollar signs in the record-setting Mega Millions jackpot.
State budget-writers could also benefit from an unexpected windfall. A lone winner Friday from Colorado would owe the state anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars in taxes a year to a single payment of more than $16 million worth of income taxes...." (Read more? Click title)
October 1, 2011
SandBox Comments: Craig Daily Press "Dinosaur officials: Casino could help revitalize economy"
It's big, big news.
That the Utes may build a casino in Dinosaur, Colorado.
Did you know that Johnny Boyd recently wrote an opinion column up on The Snowmass Sun, talking up the long-held view of locals that gaming should be brought into the area?
Have you been listening to the multitudes of downvalley locals who've talked up, for years now, bringing gaming in to Glenwood Springs and Rifle?
No?
Ah, then you might be 'one of those' in the deaf, dumb and blind elite category of social classes in our area.
What SandBox hears the peeps just sayin, is that the concept is a bit like the current wrestling with his conscience that Glenwood City Councilman Ted Edmonds has going on.
Over whether or not to fall hook, line and sinker for the way the city finance department is trying to sell 'no ability to ever change' the way government money is handled.
The peeps seem to have this notion that we could make a casino or gaming venue 'look' like anything we want.
That the citizenry and our elected leaders are in charge of getting as creative as we want to be.
By gosh, by golly, the thing could end up looking as classy as the Little Nell.
Maybe it could even be strictly regulated to keep out the 'riff-raff'.
Heck, the peeps are even sayin that they would consider a 'ban on locals' if it meant the same blue-bloods with a lot of dough that frequent Monte Carlo would come and drop some change at the tables.
Anything goes!
The folks like the idea of increasing Colorado gaming revenues into a very high dollar cash cow that would pay for our kids public education, 'doing something' with I-70 congestion, road and bridge needs, etc. etc. etc. and leaving them with their hard-earned money in their own pockets.
Just say YES!!
To Dinosaur, Colorado becoming a gaming mecca.
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
That the Utes may build a casino in Dinosaur, Colorado.
Did you know that Johnny Boyd recently wrote an opinion column up on The Snowmass Sun, talking up the long-held view of locals that gaming should be brought into the area?
Have you been listening to the multitudes of downvalley locals who've talked up, for years now, bringing gaming in to Glenwood Springs and Rifle?
No?
Ah, then you might be 'one of those' in the deaf, dumb and blind elite category of social classes in our area.
What SandBox hears the peeps just sayin, is that the concept is a bit like the current wrestling with his conscience that Glenwood City Councilman Ted Edmonds has going on.
Over whether or not to fall hook, line and sinker for the way the city finance department is trying to sell 'no ability to ever change' the way government money is handled.
The peeps seem to have this notion that we could make a casino or gaming venue 'look' like anything we want.
That the citizenry and our elected leaders are in charge of getting as creative as we want to be.
By gosh, by golly, the thing could end up looking as classy as the Little Nell.
Maybe it could even be strictly regulated to keep out the 'riff-raff'.
Heck, the peeps are even sayin that they would consider a 'ban on locals' if it meant the same blue-bloods with a lot of dough that frequent Monte Carlo would come and drop some change at the tables.
Anything goes!
The folks like the idea of increasing Colorado gaming revenues into a very high dollar cash cow that would pay for our kids public education, 'doing something' with I-70 congestion, road and bridge needs, etc. etc. etc. and leaving them with their hard-earned money in their own pockets.
Just say YES!!
To Dinosaur, Colorado becoming a gaming mecca.
(Learn more? Click title or comment to start discussion)
"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."
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