Podcasts about common sense institute

IT'S DANGEROUS TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE IN COLORADO And the Common Sense Institute has a new study to prove it. DJ Summers joins me today at 2:30 to talk about this study that shows that a disproportionate number deaths in road accidents are motorcyclists. DJ has the details on this new report about how declining traffic enforcement is making the roads less safe for most and much less safe for those on bikes.

Today we talk about our lost pop culture with our futurist Thomas Frey, along with the use of AI for education.  Mandy goes on a tear about Jake Tapper trying to profit off his own failures, we discuss motorcycle fatalities in Colorado with DJ Summers from the Common Sense Institute and crime being down in Denver and Aurora, plus Boulder suing Exxon Mobil and Suncor. 

House GOP reveals Trump's tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loans, but costs run high; Rural Alabama faces a dual health, internet crisis; Report: WI youth mental health struggles at all-time high; Homeless advocates say Common Sense Institute report misses the mark.

House GOP reveals Trump's tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loans, but costs run high; Rural Alabama faces a dual health, internet crisis; Report: WI youth mental health struggles at all-time high; Homeless advocates say Common Sense Institute report misses the mark.

MAYOR MIKE COFFMAN JOINS ME TODAY AT 1 And we're going to talk about the progress of the new homeless campus and how things are going in Aurora overall. Mostly we're going to do a deeper dive into this report by the Common Sense Institute about homelessness in Colorado. Spoiler alert: it's not good.

Common Sense Institute recently published a study titled "Highway Detours: The Ongoing Shift of Transportation Dollars." It was authored by our Transportation Fellow Ben Stein, who, in 2006 became the Budget Director for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). At CDOT he oversaw the development and execution of the annual budget for the department which then had an annual budget in excess of $1 billion and more than 3,000 employees. In October 2010, Stein was selected to become CDOT's Chief Financial Officer (Senior Executive Service). During his tenure at CDOT he also managed numerous complex financial transactions. These included private placements, the inaugural issuance of bonds by the Colorado Bridge Enterprise, the U.S 36 Public Private Partnership, and the I-70 Central Viaduct replacement project. In the report, Ben explores four issues that contribute to the state's difficulties: geography and demography, a focus on environmental impacts, inflation, and revenues and funding. Additionally, in the past, ballot initiatives have had limited success. In this episode of Common Sense Digest, Ben joins Chairman and Host Earl Wright to discuss these problems and offer a path forward that will help meet the transportation needs of state residents in a fiscally responsible way.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

In this special edition of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, March 4, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled "Over Easy or Overpriced? The Growing Cost of Living in Colorado." Our panelists included: Tamra Ryan - CSI Coors Economic Mobility Fellow Lynn Granger - President & CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association Ross Kaminsky - CSI Free Enterprise Fellow Vince Bzdek - Editor-in-Chief of the Colorado Springs Gazette (Moderator). Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

The big news this week is, well, us! Mayor Mike Johnston sat down with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi last week to talk about everything from the tipped minimum wage to his upcoming face-off with Rep. Lauren Boebert — and the interview caught fire. But lot of what the mayor actually said got lost in the noise, so Paul and Bree are clearing up the confusion. Plus, an interesting compromise in a zoning fight in City Park West, and a listener calls in with some jokes for Mr. Johnston before he goes in front of Boebert and the other Republicans on the House Oversight Committee this Wednesday.  Paul mentioned this Denver Gazette article that left space open for people to misinterpret the mayor, along with a report from the Common Sense Institute and commentary from Heidi Ganahl and Do Better Denver. Here's the full instagram post from Weathervane Cafe owner Lindsey Dalton and our previous episode on the zoning debate.  Get your tickets to HEYDAY now! We're putting on an indoor fair with urban flair, like a classic county fair but with a very cool Denver twist. Join us on March 8 for classic carnival games, vintage arcade games, Denver-themed balloon art, and a full day of grandstand entertainment, featuring some of your favorite guests from the podcast. It's family friendly, too, if you wanna bring your kids. Get those tickets now at www.heydaydenver.com. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this March 3rd episode: Arvada Center Clear Creek Makerspace Wolf Theatre Academy at JCC Denver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state of Iowa does not have a Department of Government Efficiency, however, Iowa lawmakers began improving government efficiency through a state initiative known as “alignment” more than a year before the American public ever heard of a “DOGE” at the federal level. Common Sense Institute commission a report that evaluates Iowa's 2023 government alignment. Specifically, it identifies the portion of the 2024 tax cuts attributable to the savings from alignment and uses dynamic modeling to forecast its economic impact on the state. That report, titled "Iowa's D.O.G.E.: How state government alignment is retuning money back to Iowans and contributing to the state's economy" can be found here.  By controlling the rate of growth in government, Iowa lawmakers increased state surpluses over the last five years even while cutting taxes and expanding total state spending. During a period when individual income taxes fell from a top marginal rate of 8.98% to a flat rate of 3.8% and the top corporate rate fell from 12% to 7.1%, total state spending rose by nearly 23%. Education and healthcare saw the greatest increases in spending. When revenue growth outpaces the growth in government, the state can increase its revenue and spending even as tax rates fall. State government alignment helped moderate government growth over the last 18 months, resulting in significant savings for the state budget relative to the counterfactual. Chairman and Host Earl Wright welcomes Ben Murrey, Director of Policy and Research, to Common Sense Digest to discuss the report. The two discuss the origins of the program, the reduction in taxes for all Iowans, and how crucial services were maintained (and sometimes expanded), all while eliminating redundancies and cutting budget.   Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

HOW IS THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN COLORADO? The good news is we're not deteriorating further but the bad news is we've crashed in terms of free enterprise since 2011. I've got Kelly Caufield from the Common Sense Institute on at 1 to discuss their latest Free Enterprise Report. It's not good, but it could be worse I suppose. You can read it here.

The Common Sense Institute's 2024 Ballot Guide highlights the potential economic and fiscal impacts of key ballot measures in Colorado. Proposition 127, for instance, could lead to significant revenue losses for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and reduce overall economic output by $61.65 million. Other measures, such as school choice and law enforcement funding, focus on improving education options and public safety, while initiatives like the fur ban and affordable housing tax could have broad implications for local businesses and residents. You can find our full ballot guide here. On this episode of Common Sense Digest, Host and Chairman of CSI Earl Wright welcomes CSI Colorado Executive Director Kelly Caufield and Senior Economist and Research Analyst Zach Milne to the show to discuss selected ballot issues and their likely impacts. Earl also asks Zach about inflation, and the three discuss the issue along with housing, energy and how local governments can impact all of these issues.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

On a year-over-year basis, Arizona’s job growth rate was the 12th fastest out of all U.S. states and Washington DC. Arizona has also added 66,800 jobs since September 2023. This according to a new report from Common Sense Institute Arizona. Glenn Farley is the Director of Policy and Research for the Institute and says despite this, jobless claims at both the national and state level have been rising and joins the show this morning to tell us more. 

Mark McMullen joins the podcast to talk about his time as the longest-tenured Chief Economist for the State of Oregon (where he served four governors). Mark talks about both the Oregon economy and the broader national economy. Then Mark gives some insight into what he is doing as Vice President of Policy & Research at the Common Sense Institute. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.crosstabs.studio

Earlier this year, the Common Sense Institute released a thorough review of homelessness spending at all levels – non-profits, state and local governments, and federal grants and transfers. The report identified over 200 Arizona providers – public and private - who today spend a collective $1 billion per year on homelessness-related expenses. Despite those resources, Arizona's counted homeless population has increased more than 40% in the past five years; over half of them are unsheltered. Following up on that initial research, Common Sense Institute has worked with two dozen stakeholders throughout Arizona from the more than 200 public and private homeless service providers and other stakeholders. They were asked a simple question: What is needed to solve the homelessness crisis in Arizona? Our full report can be found here.  On this episode of Common Sense Digest, Host and CSI Chairman Earl Wright welcomes Julie Katsel, Jim Kolbe Free Enterprise Fellow and one of the report's authors, and Ted Maxwell, President & CEO of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council to discuss the report, the complexity of the homelessness issue, the many approaches currently deployed, what an ideal path forward might look like, and much more.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Kamala vs Veep...Life imitates art Listeners chime in on the Lake-Gallego debate Common Sense Institute: Arizona school voucher--fact vs fiction

In this special edition of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, September 10, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled: "Unscrambling the 2024 November Ballot" Our panelists included: Paul Pazen - CSI Public Safety Fellow and Former Denver Police Chief Lang Sias - CSI Mike A. Leprino Free Enterprise Fellow Paul Andrews - President & CEO of the National Western Stock Show Kelly Caufield - CSI Colorado Executive Director Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Recorded on August 16, 2024 https://youtu.be/1z8gu8-Iz0g In episode 114 of the PetroNerds podcast, Trisha Curtis, CEO of PetroNerds, is joined by Chris Brown, VP of Policy and Research at the Common Sense Institute, to discuss the recent report Trisha co-authored on Colorado's declining energy competitiveness. Energy is not just a sector of the economy; it is the sector upon which all businesses rely. Colorado, along with the rest of the US, has witnessed a dramatic escalation in electricity and natural gas prices, despite natural gas prices being near all-time lows, below $/mcf, for multiple months this year. In this podcast, Trisha and Chris discuss the main themes of this report, including the rising electricity and natural gas prices in Colorado, which are making the state less competitive from an energy cost standpoint. They also discuss where electricity is coming from in Colorado and the direct correlation between rising electricity costs and the increase of wind power into the grid. Finally, they talk about Colorado's CO2 emissions, which account for less than 0.3 percent of global emissions, and how Colorado shutting down coal-fired power plants is actually enabling higher CO2 emission growth out of China, increasing the cost of electricity and power generation in Colorado, decreasing grid reliability, and reducing the affordability of energy in the state. The data is damning and alarming, and folks in Colorado need to be reaching out to the PUC, Xcel, and their local representatives, demanding a halt to more wind and solar power being added to the grid at the expense of the Colorado consumer, taxpayer, and household. The report, along with all the detailed charts and analysis, can be found here: https://commonsenseinstituteco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CSI-Report-CO-Energy-Competitiveness.pdf. Listen on Itunes

In this special edition of of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Thursday, June 27, Common Sense Institute hosted an event titled "Fentanyl: Our Nation's Most Devastating Challenge" where speakers from across the country will share research and insights on one of the most challenging issues of our time. Our panelists included: Max Williams - Community Leader; Portland, Oregon Rachel Mitchell - Maricopa County Attorney Mitch Morrissey - CSI Colorado Owens-Early Criminal Justice Fellow Paul Pazen - CSI Public Safety Fellow and Former Denver Police Chief Vince Bzdek- Executive Editor of The Gazette (Moderator) Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

As the State Department of Education rolls out its fentanyl attack plan, we take a few minutes to examine how bad that deadly drug has made things in Arizona overall. 

In January, CSI made a bold move to kick off 2024 and launched in two new states: Iowa and Oregon. Both states are already releasing new studies and engaging in the public policy arena. Along with its successful counterparts in Colorado and Arizona, as well as a newly launched chapter in Iowa, CSI Oregon is guided by a board of local leaders, each bringing expertise from various industries. These board members share CSI's dedication to factual and non-partisan policy analysis.  To discuss the launch of CSI Oregon, our Chairman and Host Earl Wright is joined by Mark McMullen, Vice President of Policy & Research. They discuss why Oregon is suited for a new chapter of Common Sense Institute, the unique strengths and challenges facing Oregon currently, and give a sneak peek of some of the research to come from this new chapter. It's an exciting look into CSI's newest expansion, and we're thrilled to continue to provide our non-partisan research to Oregonians as they consider public policy in their state.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

In this special edition of of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, June 4, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled: "The Colorado Crisis: The Economic Impact of Migrants and the Homeless.." Our panelists included: Adam Paul - Director of Regional Affairs, Office of the Mayor | City and County of Denver Paul Scudo - CEO of Step Denver Heidi Williams - CEO of Civic Results and CEO and Executive Director of the Metro Mayors Caucus DJ Summers - CSI Director of Policy & Research (Moderator) Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Arizona's legislative session continues, and Common Sense Institute is here to discuss what's already unfolded and what remains to transpire. Specifically, we discuss the state budget and the critical areas of housing and homelessness. These topics are at the forefront of policy decisions and have significant implications for the future of the state. Joining Chairman and Host Earl Wright to unpack these issues are Katie Ratlief, Executive Director of Common Sense Institute, and Wayne Schutsky, a field correspondent with KJZZ. The three unpack the details of the legislative session, explore the legislative response to housing challenges, and discuss strategies to address homelessness in Arizona, among other issues. Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Katie Ratlief is Common Sense Institute's Executive Director. In this role, Katie serves as CSI-AZ's primary spokesperson, and works with the CEO, Board and other partners to ensure that CSI-AZ's mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning and community outreach. Prior to joining the Common Sense Institute Arizona, Katie served in former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's administration for six years. She served as Director of Legislative Affairs, Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff. In there roles, she led the governor's legislative, policy and budget teams in advocating for policies to ensure Arizona is the best state in which to live, work, play and raise a family. Wayne Schutsky is a broadcast field correspondent covering Arizona politics on KJZZ. He has over a decade of experience as a journalist reporting on local communities in Arizona and the state Capitol. Schutsky previously contributed to the Arizona Capitol Times and edited the Yellow Sheet Report, an insider tip sheet focused on Arizona politics, from 2021 to 2023. He was the managing editor for the Scottsdale Progress newspaper from 2018 to 2021 and previously reported for the East Valley Tribune, Gilbert Sun News and Arcadia News. His coverage has received recognition from the Arizona Press Club and the Arizona Newspapers Association.

In this special edition of of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, April 16, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled: " From the State Capitol to the Kitchen Table: How Colorado Policy is Impacting Housing, Safety and Infrastructure." Our panelists included: Kelly Brough - CSI Urban Development Fellow Debbie Brown - President of Colorado Business Roundtable Chief Paul Pazen - CSI Public Safety Fellow Peter LiFari - CSI Housing Fellow Dan Njegomir - Opinion Editor of Denver Gazette (Moderator)  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Ben Murrey ('12)Director of Policy at the Common Sense Institute Making an Impact in the World of PoliticsBen Murrey (‘12) is the Director of Policy at the Common Sense Institute, a role he recently started. At Hillsdale, Murrey majored in Politics and promised never to work in politics, but after graduation took a job working on Ted Cruz's Senate campaign. He shares his experience starting as a campaign volunteer and continuing in his career working at multiple levels and realms of state and national politics. His previous roles included a Legislative Correspondent and Aid for Senator Cruz and Fiscal Policy Center Director for the Independence Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is no shortage of public policy to pass through in Colorado in 2024. Legislators are trying to address a state in the throes of a housing affordability crisis, an infrastructure crunch, a crime wave, a post-inflation economic climate, a surge in migrants from the southern border, a statewide homelessness crisis, and a mental health crisis, on top of the usual array of issues from healthcare costs to energy reform to environment. Lawmakers have put forward over 600 bills in the 2024 General Assembly session to try to catch it all. Joining Host and Chairman Earl Wright is CSI's Director of Legislative Services Jake Zambrano. Together they discuss proposed legislation about oil and gas development, property taxes, education, crime and the general mood and timbre of this year's legislative session. With less than a month to go, this is the episode you need to recap what has already transpired and equip you for what remains.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Jake Zambrano is Director of Legislative Services for Common Sense Institute. Jake has specialized in state government relations, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and political campaign management for over 20 years. He has represented a number of clients at the Colorado General Assembly including Colorado Mesa University, Medtronic, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Extraction Oil and Gas, and Teladoc to name a few.

University of Iowa's homegrown star, Caitlin Clark, began her college basketball career playing in empty arenas at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now she competes in sold-out arenas wherever she goes—and for good reason. During her 4-year college career, Clark has broken countless records on the court and brought an unprecedented level of excitement to women's basketball. Meanwhile, Iowa has felt her impact inside and outside of the arena. The athlete's talent and celebrity has led to soaring attendance at games, and larger crowds generate more economic activity. Our recent study, Clarkonomics: The Impact of Caitlin Clark & Hawkeye Women's Basketball on Iowa's Economy is not the first to explore the economics of Clark's superstardom, but it takes a unique approach. Past reports and news coverage have highlighted the money behind Clark's brand deals, ticket sales, and media coverage, along with other anecdotes of economic impact. In contrast, this report takes a data-drive approach to quantifying the impact of Iowa women's basketball and Caitlin Clark's extraordinary college career on the economy of the state of Iowa. To discuss this report, and all things Caitlin Clark, our Chairman and Host Earl Wright welcomes Ben Murrey, CSI Iowa Director of Policy & Research. They discuss the real economic impact Caitlin Clark's remarkable talent and career have had, why she is representative of Iowa as a whole, and much more.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Ben Murrey is Iowa Director of Policy and Research with the Common Sense Institute where he leads the research efforts of CSI Iowa to provide insightful, accurate and actionable information about the impact of public policy on Hawkeye families, businesses and communities. Prior to joining CSI in January of this year, Ben spent over a decade in political and public policy roles at the state and federal levels. After earning his degree at Hillsdale College, he joined Ted Cruz on the campaign trail, first as a grassroots field director overseeing 45 rural east Texas counties and later as assistant director of operations. He went on to serve seven years as a legislative staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas and Washington, D.C. Most recently, he served as fiscal policy center director at Independence Institute, a free market think tank in Colorado. In addition to leading reports on a range of fiscal, tax and economic issues, Ben's writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Real Clear Policy and more. His work has contributed to public policy change at the state and federal levels that advanced sound tax policy and free enterprise.

In January, CSI made a bold move to kick off 2024 and launched in two new states: Iowa and Oregon. Both states are already releasing new studies and engaging in the public policy arena. Along with its successful counterparts in Colorado and Arizona, as well as a newly launched chapter in Oregon, CSI Iowa is guided by a board of local leaders, each bringing expertise from various industries. These board members share CSI's dedication to factual and non-partisan policy analysis.  To discuss the launch of CSI Iowa, our Chairman and Host Earl Wright is joined by Joe Murphy, President of the Iowa Business Council and the inaugural CSI Iowa Board Chair, and Ben Murrey, CSI Iowa Director of Policy & Research. They discuss why Iowa is suited for a new chapter of Common Sense Institute, the unique strengths and challenges facing Iowa currently, and give a sneak peek of some of the research to come from this new chapter. It's an exciting look into CSI's newest expansion, and we're thrilled to continue to provide our non-partisan research to Iowans as they consider public policy in their state.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

In this special edition of of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, February 13, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition was titled: "Supply & Demand, What to Know About Today's Degrees and Tomorrow's Jobs." Our panelists included: Janine Davidson - President of Metropolitan State University Dave Davia - former CEO of the Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association Mike Coffman - Mayor of City of Aurora Robin Wise - President & CEO of Junior Achievement Jason Gaulden - CSI Education Fellow Luige Del Puerto - Editor of Colorado Politics and the Denver Gazette (Moderator)  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

WE'VE GOT A SKILLS GAP IN COLORADO And the Common Sense Institute did a study on it and how to fix it, which you can read here. I've got one of the authors Jason Gaulden on the show today to talk about it at 1.

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: Iowa has become the fourth state in which the Common Sense Institute operates. CSI president and CEO Kristin Strohm explains the purpose of this non-partisan research organization.Iowa businesses may have to utilize the federal E-Verify program if legislation pending in the Iowa House passes this session.  And in this week's "Business Profile", we'll talk with Jon Sargent of Todd & Sargent, a 90-year-old family-owned construction business in Ames.For more, go to totallyiowa.com and click on the "radio programs" link.    Support for the Iowa Business Report radio program and podcast comes from the Iowa Business Council, online at iowabusinesscouncil.org.        

It's Friday, and we're talking about all the stories that mattered this week. District 7 city councilmember Flor Alvidrez is in hot water after an ethics investigation revealed she allegedly misused city funds. Then, Republican state representative Mike Lynch stepped down as House minority leader after a video surfaced of his 2022 DUI arrest. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by Joshua Emerson, comedian and co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission, to wade through the controversies. Finally, this week's Mile Highs and Lows dig into a local preacher's crypto scam, a former mayoral candidate's big conservative reveal, a local coffee shop's good news, and more.  Learn more about City Cast's guest diversity initiative and the data about City Cast Denver's guest diversity in 2023, as well as a piece from Neiman Lab on the state of local news podcasts with our CEO David Plotz.  Bree talked about the Youtuber wanted by state patrol for going 150 miles per hour on I25; she also mentioned the new Molecule Effect opening on south South Broadway. Joshua discussed the crypto pastor. Paul talked about Conor McCormick-Cavanagh's report on the Common Sense Institute, this Denverite story about Yupi the Clown, and the Denver Gazette's coverage of the real top story of the week: Us! If you happen to be in the Bay Area in February, catch Joshua's Bad Indian: A Native American Comedy Showcase at SF Sketchfest.  What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Denver Health Denver Art Museum - “Untitled: Artist Takeover,” Jan. 26 6-10 p.m.  Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colorado's foster care youth are a small but troubled section of society. Unfortunately, data is scarce for their life outcomes after they exit the system and, in some cases, when they are still inside it. To illustrate the economic impact of even a small sliver of the foster population, the report focuses on those aging out of the system. This is the first study attempting to derive the individual and social costs borne by a cohort of Colorado's foster youth. Foster care youth aging out of the foster care system in Colorado face a multitude of challenges, including higher rates of homelessness, limited education, unemployment, involvement in the criminal justice system, early parenthood, mental health issues, a lack of support networks, limited healthcare access, substance abuse risk, and financial instability. You can read our full report on the subject here. On this episode of Common Sense Digest, Host and Chairman Earl Wright welcomes report author and 2023 Morgridge Child Welfare Fellow John Farnam to discuss his report. The two discuss the shortcomings of the current foster care system, recent incremental victories relative to the issue, and a proposed path forward. The issue has many intertwining contributing factors and long lasting outcomes, and the conversation reflects the complexity of the issue while offering a unique clarity.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. John Farnam has served the Morgridge Family Foundation for 12 years, administering more than $150 million in grants, first as chief of staff and now as managing director. John builds relationships and catalyzes connections with partners at every level, resulting in transformational change across all social sectors in Denver and beyond. His expertise has been sought out as an Aspen Institute Fellow, a member of the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, and an advisor to the Governor's Leadership Committee on COVID Relief. In 2022 he earned an executive certificate through the prestigious Chief of Staff Fellowship at the University of Oxford, and in 2023, he was one of just 60 leaders from 20 countries to complete the inaugural Chief of Staff Association Program through Harvard Business School Executive Education. He now serves as the Morgridge Child Welfare Fellow for the Common Sense Institute.

Iowa Business Report Friday EditionJanuary 26, 2024      Kristin Strohm, president and CEO of the Common Sense Institute, which expanded into Iowa earlier this month.

The narrative in the story about the woman denied an abortion by the Texas Supreme Court is wrong.  George outlines a part of the decision that everyone is missing.  The ruling is not as anti-abortion as the media led you to believe. Surprise!  Then it's a conversation with Lang Sias of the Common Sense Institute.  He outlines how Colorado is slipping in national ranking for economy, livability, and more.  George and Lang discuss why this is happening and how do we compare to the neighboring states.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GUY BENSON IS A FUNNY GUY And the Common Sense Institute is having they Fox News Radio host fly in for a big event tomorrow honoring a bunch of people for their commitment to making Colorado better. Common Sense will be releasing their Free Enterprise report and honoring several people with awards, like:Former Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers (Visionary for the Future)State Senator Rachel Zenzinger (Visionary for the Future)The Colorado Association of REALTORS (Champion for Prosperity)Buz Koelbel (Trailblazer Award)

The penultimate Friday program - we start with the latest out of Israel as a ground invasion of Gaza appears underway, plus an update on the search for a mass killer in Maine. Streets in LoDo will be closed this weekend in hopes of "preventing violence." Friend of the program, former Rockies pitcher Jason Hirsh joins us in studio - he almost lost his small business during COVID due to Exec. Orders by Gov. Polis. The Common Sense Institute is out with a tally on homeless spending - and it is mind-boggling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to Jason Hirsh and the latest on Israel as the ground incursion begins in Gaza. Steffan talks about LoDo streets to be closed tonight and tomorrow... then more on the Common Sense Institute's latest report on homelessness in Colorado. $2B spent past three years. As part of the Farewell Tour - political strategist Jen Kerns joins us on Biden, the House Speaker debacle and more. We wrap with a preview of next hour and next week, our final one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special edition of of Common Sense Digest, we feature discussion from one of our recent events. On Tuesday, September 26, Common Sense Institute hosted its quarterly Eggs & The Economy Event. This edition featured discussion about Proposition HH: the Taxpayer Dilemma. The panel featured the following participants: Kelly Caufield - CSI Executive Director (Host and Moderator) Toby Damisch - Douglas County Assessor  Brenda Bautsch Dickhoner - President & CEO, Ready Colorado Lang Sias - CSI's 2023 Mike A. Leprino Free Enterprise Fellow And a special presentation called "The Scramble" featuring our Senior Economist Steven Byers, Ph.D. Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. 

On November 7, 2023 Colorado voters will approve or reject Proposition HH, Property Tax Changes and Revenue Change Measures. Proposition HH was referred to the ballot by the State Legislature following the passage of SB23-303. As the title suggests, Proposition HH is a complex proposal. It modifies or reduces taxation rates and exemptions for multiple types of property while at the same time increases taxes by allowing the state to retain more tax revenue. It would distribute excess revenue to school districts and other government entities without new stipulations. Proposition HH gives Coloradans a choice; trade some property tax relief, for a long-term increase in state taxes. Though any revenue forecast is uncertain, under normal economic conditions taxpayers would bear the full tax increases under Proposition HH even if the economy faced a sizeable downturn. While all Coloradoans benefit from TABOR refunds, only property owners would see direct benefits of the property tax decrease. Our full report can be found here. Host and Chairman Earl Wright welcomes former Governor of Colorado Bill Owens, and CSI Vice President of Policy Research Chris Brown to the podcast to discuss Proposition HH, its origins, its espoused goals, what the implications are for the future of property taxes, TABOR, and school funding, and much more. Every Coloradan will be impacted by the passage or defeat of Proposition HH, which makes this episode a must-listen.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Bill Owens served as the 40th Governor of Colorado from 1999-2007 and is a member of GreenbergTraurig's Government Law & Policy Practice Group. Prior to his service as Governor, Bill was Colorado State Treasurer where he managed a $5 billion investment portfolio. He also served in the State Senate and State House. He focuses his practice in the areas of public policy, energy, infrastructure and water. Chris Brown is the Vice President of Policy and Research for the Common Sense Institute.

George welcomes Kelly Caufield - The Executive Director of The Common Sense Institute to the show to discuss the Property Tax/Tabor ripoff being floated by Jared Polis and the democrats in the CO legislature, and then returns to calls about whether or not it's time to seek political/judicial revenge on the democratsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.