Health care

The Denver Post: Colorado health insurance exchanges get initial OK in House 

A bill that would set up health insurance exchanges in Colorado won initial approval in the Republican-led House on Tuesday, though the voice vote in favor of the bill didn't reflect the considerable GOP opposition.

Also: Colorado Springs Gazette: Health exchange bill OK'd by House to keep state control 

Also: Denver Business Journal: Colorado House sidesteps reform-law battle, OKs health exchange bill 

Also: Associated Press via Colorado Springs Business Journal: Colo. House takes up health care exchange debate 

Also: KCFR-radio: Exchange Bill Winning Republican Support 

Denver Post commentary: Senate Bill 213 blocks access to CHP+ 

Today, 67,820 Colorado kids get their health insurance through the Child Health Plan Plus or CHP+, the state's safety net health plan that serves kids up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level - about $55,000 in annual income for a family of four. These are the children of our teachers, our firefighters and our small business owners. These are the children of hard working, tax paying parents who rely on this support because health care coverage on the private market is out of reach.

The Denver Post: Health care, nursing activist Jo Elliott won Obama's praise 

Jo Elliott, past president of the American Nurses Association, an early supporter of Medicare and a lifelong advocate for improved health care, died Sunday in Boulder at 87.

Denver Business Journal: Anthem's Colorado chief Martie moves to parent WellPoint 

John Martie, president and general manager of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado, is moving to its corporate parent, WellPoint Inc.

Jobs and economic security

Colorado Springs Gazette: Springs rep makes new attempt to bar collective bargaining 

A week before the legislative session is scheduled to end, a last-minute fetal homicide bill was pulled in favor of a bill to prohibit collective bargaining by state employees.

Family economic security

Colorado Pols commentary: We don't need no stinkin' 'fix' on payday loans

Memo to legislators: Last year's payday lending reforms are working. They're not broken. No need to fix them.

Glenwood Springs Post-Independent editorial: Take a temporary timeout on rule for affordable housing

The idea is to give residential housing developers an extra incentive to get construction projects going in the city, by allowing them to sell all of a project's units at full market value.

Longmont Times-Call: Child Care Assistance Program a 'lifesaver' for hundreds of parents

After state budget cuts prompted a yearlong freeze on enrollment, officials announced last month that Boulder County is again accepting applications for CCAP. The Temporary Safety Net tax initiative that voters approved in November is funding the program. The ballot initiative authorized a 0.9-mill property tax increase, or an additional $7 in property taxes for every $100,000 a home is worth, over the next five years.

Fiscal policy

Colorado Springs Independent: County Gov Parks supporters will seek ballot measure

Armed with a voter survey showing support for a parks tax, a citizen coalition says it will ask El Paso County commissioners to submit a tax increase to voters in November to provide money for park maintenance countywide.

Sterling Journal-Advocate: RE-1 school board closing in on budget gap

The RE-1 Valley Board of Education made some decisions about next year`s budget at their regular meeting on Monday, but some of the biggest issues, including going to a four-day school week and eliminating sports, are still up in the air.