UDALL MEASURE INCLUDED IN BUDGET: Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., announced yesterday that his bipartisan measure designed to help local governments with wildfire prevention was included in the final federal budget, which was approved by the House and Senate yesterday. Udall’s wildfire measure was co-sponsored by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and would allow state and local communities to qualify for federal funds to help clear dead trees and vegetation to prevent fire, even it they cannot afford to pay the matching funds normally required to receive federal dollars for fire prevention efforts.
MARKEY VOTES AGAINST FED BUDGET: Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., yesterday voted against the federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2010, which passed the House by a vote of 233-193. Markey said she continues to support Obama’s overall economic plan but could not support this $3.4 trillion budget because she believes “we must go further in cutting the projected $1.2 trillion deficit and reigning in spending by demanding that each federal department make deep cuts in their budget.” Markey was one of 17 House Democrats who voted against the budget.
PERMUTTER FOR MORTGAGE REFORM: Yesterday, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., a member of the House Financial Services Committee, voted to pass legislation out of committee that is designed to protect borrowers from getting “inappropriate” mortgages for their respective financial situations. House Bill 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, would outlaw some types of “predatory” mortgages and include safeguards for the regulation of mortgage brokers. The bill now goes to the full House.
COLORADO MAY GET 24TH AIR FORCE GROUP: Brigadier General Mark Schissler, Director of the U.S. Air Force’s Cyberspace Operations, told a group of Colorado business and government leaders in Washington, D.C. yesterday that Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs is one of six finalists for the location of the 24th Air Force, a new numbered Air Force that will become the Service’s cyber component under Air Force Space Command. Schissler said Colorado is ideally positioned to be the location because of its recognized position as a leader in the space and information technology industries. Schissler made his remarks to Accelerate Colorado, a group comprised of 100 leaders from business, government, higher education and economic development organizations. Visit www.acceleratecolorado.com for more information.
DOG PLAN SURVEY: Denver citizens have one more day to participate in a public survey to help determine the Denver Parks and Recreation “Dog Park Master Plan and Policy Recommendation Process.” The process is intended to foster healthy relationships between dog owners, non-dog owners and all park users. Visit www.denvergov.org/parksandrec to complete the 15-minute survey. Responses will be accepted through 5:30 p.m. today.
MARQUEZ APPOINTED: Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced yesterday he has appointed Monica M. Marquez as the newest Deputy Attorney General overseeing the Colorado Department of Law’s State Services Section, which provides legal advice and representation for Colorado state agencies. Marquez has worked for the Colorado Department of Law since 2002 where she has represented the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general.
QWEST EARNINGS UP: Qwest Communications yesterday reported financial results for the first quarter 2009. In the quarter, net income was $206 million, an increase of 37 percent compared to $150 million for the first quarter of 2008. Earnings per share for the quarter were 12 cents, a 50 percent increase from the first quarter of 2008. Revenue in the quarter was $3.2 billion, a decline of 7 percent compared to $3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2008 and a decline of 4 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. Visit www.qwest.com for more information.
CHAMP BAILEY HELPS RESCUE MISSION: Denver Bronco Champ Bailey will appear at Drake Middle School, located in Arvada at 12550 W. 52nd Ave., today from 1:30-2:30 p.m. to congratulate students on winning “Champ’s Hygiene Drive,” a challenge to middle schools benefiting the Denver Rescue Mission. Bailey challenged eight middle schools to collect hygiene items for homeless and low-income men, women and children in Denver. In four weeks, the schools collected nearly 3,800 items, with Drake gathering 1,775 of the items. Visit www.ChampsVolunteers.org for more information.
DINE OUT FOR LIFE: Today marks “Dining Out for Life” day, a one-day event that benefits Project Angel Heart, a local non-profit that prepares home-delivered meals, free of charge, to men, women and children coping with a life-threatening illness. Over 335 restaurants in the Denver metro area, as well as Boulder, will donate 25 percent of their food sales today to Project Angel Heart. Visit www.projectangelheart.org for a complete list of participating restaurants.
MECKLENBURG POKER BENEFIT: Former Denver Bronco all-pro linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, founder of the REACH Foundation, is hosting a Texas hold’em poker tournament to benefit the Denver Public Library Elementary School Reading Program tonight from 6-11 at Comedy Works in Landmark Village, located at 5345 Landmark Place. Full table (seats 10) sponsorships cost $1,000, half table sponsorships cost $600 and single player entries cost $150. Non-players are also welcome. A silent auction and raffles will be held throughout the evening. Interested players can e-mail jpanning@karlmecklenburg.net or call 303-881-8957.
NEW VISIT DENVER VP OF SALES: Rachel Benedick has been named the new vice president of sales and services for “VISIT DENVER,” The Convention and Visitors Bureau, a position she has held on an interim basis since September 2008. She replaces Doug Small, who became the president of the Grand Rapids Convention and Visitors Bureau last year. Benedick has been the bureau’s top convention sales person for the past six years, booking more than $800 million of future meeting business for the city. She is the salesperson responsible for bringing in large events such as the Democratic National Convention and SnowSports Industries America, the latter of which is the largest multi-year booking in Denver’s history. Visit www.visitdenver.com for more information.
NEW PTA FUNDRAISING PROGRAM: A Web site that specializes in consumer reviews of Colorado businesses, www.BizBuzzColorado.com, has launched a program to help Parent-Teacher Associations raise money. The “Give Back” program allows PTAs to earn donations in exchange for reviews of local businesses written by consumers on the site. Individual PTAs will receive $1 for each review and be eligible for a maximum donation of $1,000. Each time a consumer posts a review, they can select which PTA will receive the donation. The program kicked off on April 15 and concludes on May 31.
