If Medicaid were turned into a block grant program in which the federal government gave each state a set amount of money, it could improve patient care, restrain the growth in costs, reduce complexity and improve outcomes. Continue reading →

Colo. SB 11-200 “proposes to create an unaccountable bureaucracy.” “The [Exchange] Board could … support legislation compelling exchange membership, payment of its fees/taxes on health insurance. … the bill allows the Exchange Board to create a monopoly insurance broker w/ unlimited taxing power. “

Amendment 42 would make minimum wages a Constitutional requirement in Colorado. At present, Colorado’s minimum wages are established by Federal law. If Amendment 42 passes, Colorado’s minimum wage would increase to $6.85 on January 1, 2007. Each year thereafter, the minimum wage would automatically be adjusted for inflation. According to the Amendment language, the adjustment for inflation shall be “as measured by the Consumer Price Index used for Colorado.” According to the language, the Amendment 42 minimum wage must be “paid to employees who receive the state or federal minimum wage.” It also requires that “no more than $3.02 an hour in tip income may be used to offset the minimum wage for employees who regularly receive tips.”

Referendum C authorizes the state to increase spending each year by letting it keep the excess tax revenues that the TABOR Amendment would otherwise require be refunded to taxpayers. Ref C lets the state do this for the next five years. It also increases the allowable government spending base to the highest state revenue levels received between FY 2005-06 and FY 2009-10 plus $ 100,000,000.