legislation

Last week, we sent this email to current MHBA members to gather their opinion about the next Mayor of Denver: 

"We'd like to give an opportunity for you to share your opinion about who is best suited to lead the City of Denver, especially relating to the future of our local economy. While the election is only a few days away, there is still a good opportunity for you to express your concerns and share your opinions. 

Denver Business's Journal, Ed Sealover reported on Senate Bill 184 on May 5th, 2011 in an aptly named title, "The Strange Case of the Missing Tax-Amnesty Bill."

Read the article here, about how this proposed tax-amnesty holiday that would help raise money for education seemingly fell off the face of the earth after Senate passed the bill in April of this year.

The 2011 session ends next Wednesday and Senate Bill 184 is just gone. Strangely enough, even though businesses would have had to report on the tax savings of such an amnesty day, it looked like this was one bill both Democrats and Republicans were in agreement of.

Colorado State Senator Gail Schwartz has introduced Senate Bill 11-258, a bill to allow home-based food growers and producers to sell limited amounts of food at farmer's markets, road side stands, their homes or through CSA programs. 

The bill would create a registry for home-based producers who are allowed to sell their products through the approved means. 

The full text of the bill is viewable here. The bill will be heard in Senate Ag. Committee next Thursday, April 28th at 1:30pm. 

House bill 1284 and Senate bill 194 are the latest attempts by national chain grocers and convenience stores to eliminiate sales of 3.2 beer in Colorado, allowing more retailers to sell full-strength beer and alcohol in Colorado. 

Two years ago, we spoke in opposition to a similar bill for three main reasons: 

1. It undermines the ability of local retailers to compete with national chains, presenting an unfair advantage to national grocery stores. 

Nine of ten of Denver's Mayoral candidates gathered with 130 guests at the Tattered Cover on Wednesday evening to discuss the future of Denver's local economy. Candidates Carol Boigon, Michael Hancock, Doug Linkhart, Danny Lopez, James Mejia, Jeff Peckman, Ken Simpson, Theresa Spahn and Thomas Andrew Wolf participated in conversation around the important role small and local business plays in Denver's economy.

The Mile High Business Alliance, along with the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado and Eat Denver, will host a Mayoral Candidates Forum on March 23. Denver’s Mayoral candidates will discuss policies concerning economic development and small business development throughout the Greater Denver Area and the State of Colorado.

In the 2011 Colorado legislative session, The Mile High Business Alliance along with sponsor Representative Su Ryden introduced House Bill 1142 State Economic Impact of State Procurement to The House Committee on Economic and Business Development.

While the bill died in a tie-vote, we are grateful to have made it that far in the process and to be promoting the evidence that our economic policies must adapt if we want a strong economy. 

The rest of this post provides more information about the bill, addressing reactions to the bill, and provides much of the information we've found that supports our approach.

Bill seeks to increase economic activity by shifting State spending to local firms

DENVER, CO – State Representative Su Ryden (HD-36) has introduced house bill 1142, which requires State purchasing agencies to measure the economic impact of bids and purchasing offers. The bill describes criteria for determining the state economic impact of each bid or offer submitted, including: 

We found this article published by the New Rules Project to be very interesting. 

In discussing the national Chamber of Commerce, Stacy Mitchell writes: 

"The U. S. Chamber's actual membership is only about 300,000 businesses. And while small businesses are a prominent part of its public image, the Chamber's boardroom is dominated by large corporations. Its 125-member board includes representatives of just two local chambers and only a handful of small businesses. The rest comprise a veritable who's who of the country's most powerful corporations: Pfizer, Alcoa, JP Morgan Chase, and so on.

Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, Governor's Energy Office, University of Denver Sustainability Council and CORE announce

Statewide Sustainability Roundtable

Tying together 8 regional roundtables across Colorado

Sustaining a strong sustainability agenda in 2011

Who’s Invited?

Representatives from business, government, non-profit and educational organizations with responsibility for driving sustainability efforts for their organization.
~Representation from across the state will be emphasized ~

Why Attend?

• Learn about state-of-the-art sustainability best practices and programs
• The financial case for sustainability - how to fund it, how to ensure an acceptable ROI
• Share local challenges and solutions
• Discuss a roadmap for the future
• Build relationships to foster regional and statewide networks

For a more detailed agenda click here.
View the invitation PDF here.