Fiscal policy

Denver Daily News: Hick reflects on first 100 days 

Hickenlooper credited lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle for working together towards passing a 2011-12 budget. He said the proposed cuts that would take more than $200 million from K-12 education is "nobody's idea of a good time," but said at the end of the day Republicans came together with Democrats to pass a responsible budget. The budget has passed through the House and Senate and is expected to go to Hickenlooper's desk for a signature.

The Colorado Independent: $90 million will likely be returned to K-12 education 

A bipartisan effort to reduce cuts to K-12 education by $90 million passed the House Thursday with no opposition. Republican House sponsor Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, worked with Democrats to create a compromise that will provide funds to many rural communities, special needs programs and other supplemental programs.

Also: Durango Herald: Legislators unite to find $90 million for schools 

Also: Sterling Journal-Advocate: Merino School Board making staff cuts to help close budget gap 

Colorado Springs Gazette: Six El Paso County employees laid off, saving nearly $500,000 

El Paso County laid off six employees Thursday as part of a reorganization that officials expect will net the county nearly a half-million dollars in savings.

Denver Daily News: Library branches to close? 

As many as 12 Denver library branches could close in 2012, according to a recommendation released Wednesday after analyzing a proposed $2.5 million in budget cuts to the library system.

Pueblo Chieftain editorial: A real mess 

The ratings gurus at Standard & Poor's have looked at what's not going on in Washington and consequently this week downgraded the nation's AAA credit rating. It's a message that Republicans and reasonable Democrats in Congress must take to heart.

Fort Collins Coloradoan commentary: Gardner takes aim in class warfare 

In his Soapbox on Sunday, Rep. Cory Gardner declared war on the middle class and elderly. Admittedly, he did it with pleasant words and pretty spin instead of blazing guns, but don't be fooled. Gardner has thrown his full support to Paul Ryan's budget plan that will massively increase health-care costs for seniors and raise taxes for the middle class.

Huffington Post Denver commentary: Fiscal Conservatives Should Want Colorado Parolees to Succeed 

Technical parole revocations back to prison (where there is not a new crime, but rather some violation of the terms of parole) is an available area for lawmakers to seek out reforms for both cost savings and more efficient use of existing criminal justice resources.

Health care

Pueblo Chieftain editorial: Rural health

A bill to allow Colorado State University-Pueblo to offer a doctorate nurse practitioner degree has been approved unanimously at the Statehouse by the Senate Education Committee.

Colorado Public News: Mental Health Court changes lives of chronic criminals

Colorado ranks 49th in funding for the treatment of the mentally ill. With little care in the community, many poor mentally ill in this state end up ... violating the law to survive and serving year after year behind bars. Now, 25 percent of Colorado's prison population is mentally ill.

Denver Business Journal: VA gives $22.5M hospital contact to Kiewit, Turner

The two companies are the joint venture leading the work to replace the old Fitzsimons hospital. They received a $1.3 million contract in September 2010 to do preconstruction work at the site.

KCFR-radio: Feds Promise Billion Dollars for Patient Safety

New estimates say the number of people medically injured during a hospital stay is ten times higher than previously believed. The Obama administration is touting a billion dollar plan to reduce medical errors.