A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers:
NATIONAL:
Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald, Dec. 7, on freezing of federal wages for two years:
When President Barack Obama proposed last week freezing federal wages for the next two years, he spoke of it as a sacrifice.
With 10 percent of the population out of work and many, many millions having had pay cuts instead of freezes, the talk of “sacrifice” by those holding federal jobs seems hollow.
The $5 billion that would be saved over two years by federal pay freeze is certainly nothing to scoff at; however, the move would bring the projected budget deficit from $1.3 trillion to $1.298 trillion. Simply said, it’s not enough.
The announcement by the president was coincidental with the work announced last week by the federal deficit commission, which could not get 14 of the 18 members to agree on a plan to reduce the federal deficit to a level that will not put the nation in the position of having a catastrophic fiscal failure.
The plan went further than merely seeking a pay freeze from the federal government. It calls for real cuts in the work force, 10 percent, to help restore the balance between those who work for taxpayers and those who pay their salaries.
While federal workers are an easy target for those who criticize the size and scope of government, real deficit reduction will have to come through the avenues of entitlement spending—Medicare and Social Security—and tax policy reform.
Until the federal government and leaders from both political parties recognize the size of the challenge, symbolic actions such as freezing the paychecks of federal workers will be merely window dressing.
Editorial:
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Aurora Sentinel, Dec. 2, on Congressional Republicans killing the school lunch bill:
A sneaky move by House Republicans to kill a school lunch bill is the wrong way to fix a serious problem with the measure.
Republicans on Dec. 1 used a procedural stunt to try and add a nearly irrelevant clause to require background checks of child care workers in an attempt to kill the $4.5-billion measure that would expand free school lunch programs for more poor children.
Proponents say the most important part of the bill is that it would make school lunches across the country healthier. That’s debatable.
While we agree with Republican critics that the measure goes too far in dictating what schools can and can’t serve children, the bill at least draws serious attention to how un-nutritious school lunches really are. The problem is, that what the bill is dictating to school districts really doesn’t sound much better.
First Lady Michelle Obama has lobbied hard for the bill as part of her drive to combat childhood obesity. While the bill would certainly provide food to needy children, it’s unlikely it would make for healthier or thinner kids.
Despite years of research, studies and just plain commonsense, schools continue to provide unhealthy, calorie-laden lunches chock-full of simple carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. In an attempt to rectify the situation, schools have recently taken to offering “healthy” snacks in vending machines that include high-calorie “healthy” snack bars and juices.
What better way to reduce the burden on the American health care system than to reduce one of the leading reasons Americans need so much access to it? Study after study has shown that being overweight carries with it a wide range of health problems. Obesity rates are soaring in the United States, especially for children. Shockingly, one in three American children is overweight, and two in 10 are obese—or are in danger of becoming obese because of their weight—according to research released earlier this year.
But rolling out pizza on whole wheat crusts and replacing candy bars with fruit roll-ups won’t make for healthier kids.
In public schools, physical education classes have fallen to the bottom of the pile of priorities. Not only are the physical education needs of children ignored by the modern public schools system, they’re often shunned.
Congress needs to clarify here what they want. If the intention is to provide free food for poor children, send money. If their intention is to improve the nutritional value of school meals, send instructions. If they want to ensure that children are more physically fit, they need to send money and instructions.
Instead, Congress should simply let individual states and school districts come up with their own plans and focus, instead, on matters where the federal government can actually have an impact.
Editorial:
STATE:
Canon City Daily Record, Dec. 6, on Colorado Republicans possibly compromising on immigration reform:
A surprising outcome arose at a rather unsurprising immigration event Nov. 29 in Denver. The Republican Study Committee of Colorado, a group of the state’s most right-leaning legislators, held an illegal immigration hearing that featured two speakers from anti-immigration organizations.
Not surprisingly, one group member, Sen.-elect Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, touted his plan to quickly introduce Arizona-style immigration reform when the Legislature convenes in January.
The surprise came when Berthoud’s Sen. Kevin Lundberg, the group’s chairman, said Republicans should attempt small changes and seek compromise with Democrats and Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper.
Lundberg, who isn’t one known for seeking compromise, is the subject of a video on the study committee’s website. In it, he describes his and other legislators’ self-funded educational trip to Arizona and says “we need the same things here in Colorado.”
Immigration reform is needed and, as we’ve said here before, the Arizona law “cuts a broad middle path that will probably not result in widespread abuses of civil liberties nor massive new enforcement of immigration law.”
However, Colorado, like most states, does not face issues like the border state Arizona does.
Then, and now, states with unique issues must address their particular concerns if national rules do not apply.
Colorado held a special session on immigration in 2006 under a Republican governor and a Democratic Legislature. Compromise included barring illegal immigrants’ use of some state services, requiring law enforcement officials to report those they believe to be in the country illegally, and creating a state patrol unit to enforce immigration law and combat human smuggling.
Compromise is always key to getting things done.
May these Republican leaders—and their Democratic counterparts—carry that thought through in the coming session, which will be rife with difficult decisions regarding the state’s financial situation, among other important topics.
Editorial:
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The Denver Post, Dec. 6, on firing of Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels:
There is hope today in apountry.
After embarrassing Denver with the Broncos’ worst stretch of football in nearly 50 years, head coach Josh McDaniels was justifiably fired by team owner Pat Bowlen on Monday. The McDaniels-led Broncos went a laughable 5-17—the worst stretch since 1961—after last year’s 6-0 start.
But perhaps as bad, McDaniels recently was punished by the NFL for covering up what became known as “Spygate 2,” where one of his employees was busted for secretly filming a San Francisco 49ers practice. McDaniels failed to report it to the NFL.
No one likes to lose, but appearing to cheat as well brought shame to this once-proud franchise.
The Broncos organization is better than that, and Bowlen said as much by firing McDaniels.
Denverites have long had a crush on their Broncos, but recently that love affair has cooled. The empty seats at Invesco Field prove that fans have grown indifferent.
The arrogant, overconfident coach lost his team and the fans. Bowlen had to do something to win back the fans who have invested millions in his team, and the taxpayers (including non-fans) who have spent millions trying to keep it competitive.
As we said after the Broncos’ Black Sunday drubbing by the Raiders, if only McDaniels’ win total matched his bravado.
Now, who can clean up his mess?
Editorial:
