Rocky Mountain Policy Pod

Latest Episodes:

Public Funding Part 2: Options Jul 25, 2020

Show notes

Can state legislators do anything but cut vital public services in a state where fiscal policy is baked into the constitution? In this episode we find that they don’t have many options at all. While taking proposed changes to voters sounds ideal, it comes with all kinds of challenges that prevent progress. We talk to current and former budget committee chairs State Representative Daneya Esgar and State Senator Dominick Moreno about what it's like to budget in Colorado. Reporter Brian Eason walks us through the complexities of crafting fiscal policy here. Colorado Fiscal Institute Executive Director Carol Hedges reflects on Colorado’s experiment taking tax policy to voters and why a new proposal for a fair tax system might be the key to our future… if it can make the ballot.

Public Funding Part 1: Budget Cuts May 22, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we zoom in on what cutting 25% of Colorado's state budget means for the people who live here. We ask the question: Is it better to spread the pain or should we just chop off a limb? Metro State University President Janine Davidson talks about the value of higher education. Bell Policy Center analyst Andrea Kuwik walks us through the complicated world of human services. Rural Schools Alliance President Michelle Murphy highlights the challenges facing rural schools. Former state budget director Henry Sobanet gives us some perspective on how we keep the state running through it all.

Economy On Pause Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

COVID-19 has radically changed Colorado’s economy. From larger unemployment numbers to lower GDP, it’s hard to keep track of everything touched by this pandemic. In our first episode, we hear from former Denver Mayor Frederico Pena about the big picture every Coloradan faces right now, and also from Tyler Jaeckel to dig deeper into the policy of it all. We also hear from health care workers on the ground.

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Produced by the Bell Policy Center

Hosted by Scott Wasserman

Edited by Eric Gehringer

www.bellpolicycenter.org

info@bellpolicy.org

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