ProgressNow Colorado Blog

Ex-Gov. Mitt Romney is touring Colorado today, and he's trying desperately to avoid answering questions on a critically important issue in our state.

Last fall, just before the state of Mississippi rejected a radical abortion ban initiative, Romney was asked on FOX News whether he would support a "constitutional amendment that would have established the definition of life at conception." This is the language used in so-called "personhood" abortion bans around the nation, including in Colorado.

FOX NEWS: Would you have supported the constitutional amendment that would have established the definition of life at conception?

ROMNEY: Absolutely.

After the defeat of Mississippi's so-called "personhood initiative," Romney's campaign has tried desperately to avoid having their candidate answer more questions about his support for banning abortion. Romney has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue of abortion during his political career, but recently he has embraced many far-right positions in an attempt to appease radical "Tea Party" conservatives.

This year, the "personhood initiative," which would outlaw abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and could ban common forms of birth control, will be on the ballot once again in Colorado. Women everywhere in our state deserve to know where Romney stands.

Sign our petition: tell Mitt Romney to stop playing games, and tell the truth about his support for radical statewide abortion bans once and for all.

Don't let Romney leave Colorado without a straight answer!

In a shocking move, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation just announced that it will stop funding Planned Parenthood's lifesaving breast cancer care and screening programs, perhaps as soon as next year. Why? Because of political pressure from congressional conservatives and anti-choice extremists.

News reports today suggest that the Denver affiliate of Komen for the Cure is pushing back on their national organization's decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, recognizing the value of this partnership to their goal of saving women's lives. [1] It's critical that Colorado progressives show our support for Denver Komen and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains!

Thank the Denver Komen affiliate for pushing back, and call on the national Komen organization to reverse their decision.

Planned Parenthood is often the only provider of health care services for low-income and underserved women in Colorado. Komen's support for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains allowed PPRM to directly screen for and educate thousands of Colorado women about breast cancer in just the past year alone. These cancer detection and prevention programs save lives, plain and simple. 

Komen's decision is an outrageous surrender to anti-choice extremists for political purposes. The far-right has relentlessly targeted anyone supporting women's health programs, and it's wrong. 

It's shameful that a foundation supposedly dedicated to saving lives would bow to the far-right on a life and death issue like breast cancer screenings. 

At this critical moment, we must stand with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains against these unconscionable attacks on women's health. Sign our petition thanking the Denver Komen affiliate for pushing back, and calling on the national Komen organization to reverse their decision.

Coors' losses in Lefebvre bond-trading swindle raise serious questions about judgment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
CONTACT: Joanne Kron, Executive Director at 303-991-1900

DENVER: As the latest member of the right-wing Coors family announced his run for Congress today, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, called on Joe Coors, Jr. to explain how he and a business partner lost millions in an investment scam the Securities and Exchange Commission said involved "blatantly false promises of exorbitant returns" on bonds--far beyond any reasonable expectation.

"Joe Coors, Jr. is trying to claim business experience as a qualification to sit in Congress," said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Joanne Kron. "But the case of Claude Lefebvre's over-the-top scam resulting in millions in losses to Mr. Coors raises very serious questions about his judgment. How could Joe Coors, Jr. possibly have expected anyone to keep a promise of a weekly return of 75% on an investment?"

In a 2004 column in the business section of The Denver Post, columnist Al Lewis described Joe Coors, Jr. as "blinded by greed" after Lefebvre and several associates drained some $4 million from a $40 million investment fund they were given access to by Coors and one other private investor. Lefebvre had promised Coors a 75% weekly return on these funds, which Lewis said if any person claimed to be able to realize, "it's fair to ask why they don't already control most of the capital in North America."

According to Lewis, Joe Coors, Jr. even attempted to sue the investment brokerage where the funds were deposited--after that firm acted swiftly to cut off access to these funds after they became aware of the potential for fraud, saving Coors millions of dollars. Lewis said that had he been in Coors' place, he would not have sued his broker, but "bought him a beer."

"Joe Coors, Jr. may call himself a victim, but this case is a story of a clueless man victimized first and foremost by his own greed," said Kron. "No responsible businessman would ever promise a 75% weekly return on an investment, and no responsible businessman would ever believe such a grandiose claim. That Joe Coors, Jr. did believe something so ridiculous, and gave millions of dollars to a con man promising the impossible, makes it very hard to believe that Mr. Coors can responsibly make sound decisions about the nation's finances."

"The only person who can explain why Joe Coors, Jr.'s judgment should be trusted at all after something like this is Joe Coors," said Kron.

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Beer fortune heir asked to disclose tax returns, financial history

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
CONTACT: Joanne Kron, Executive Director at 303-991-1900

DENVER: As wealthy Coors fortune heir Joe Coors, Jr. prepares to announce his campaign for Congress early next week, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, launched an online petition campaign calling on Coors to immediately release his tax returns going back at least ten years--as well as all other existing records of his finances and charitable donations.

"The citizens of Colorado's seventh congressional district deserve the honest truth about politicians who ask for their support," said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Joanne Kron. "As an heir to the vast Coors fortune, and especially given the Coors family's long history of lavish support for right-wing political groups, it's absolutely vital that Joe Coors, Jr. fully disclose his sources of income, taxes paid on that income, and donations made to so-called 'charities'--and that he do so for as many years in his past as possible."

The Coors family has donated millions of dollars over the years to such right-wing political groups as the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, and "Super PAC" political attack group American Crossroads. These donations have been made both by individual Coors family members and family-controlled foundations like the Castle Rock Foundation.

"Prior examples, such as ex-gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis and more recently presidential candidate Mitt Romney, show the danger of failing to come clean with the media and the voters," said Kron. "It's critically important that Joe Coors immediately disclose his finances and donation records, especially donations by any Coors family member to right-wing groups that could be used to support a Coors run for Congress."

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Colorado progressives demand real accountability from Romney, shades of Scott McInnis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
CONTACT: Joanne Kron, Executive Director at 303-991-1900

DENVER: Responding to the limited release of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's tax returns for 2010 and 2011, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, demanded that Romney immediately disclose years of tax returns and financial history--going back to his time as CEO of the Bain Capital private equity firm. Reports today that Romney has released only the last two years of tax returns are nowhere near satisfactory.

"Watching Romney evade accountability over his financial records is enough to give any Coloradan a sense of deja vu," said ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director Joanne Kron. "In 2010, this organization led the campaign to force then-gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis to release his tax returns and other financial records. McInnis' foot-dragging on financial disclosure did serious damage to his credibility and public trust, and now Romney seems determined to repeat McInnis' same mistakes."

"It was reported widely yesterday that Romney turned over more than two decades of his tax returns to the McCain campaign when he was being considered for vice-president in 2008--a position he didn't get after they saw the records," said Kron. "Why did the McCain campaign get more than two decades of tax returns, while the American people get just the last two years? What does Mitt Romney have to hide?"

An April, 2010 editorial from The Denver Post stated that "with concerns about government spending occupying marquee territory...voters deserve as much information as possible about how candidates make and manage their own money." Then-member of The Denver Post editorial board Chuck Plunkett went further in a separate opinion column, saying "voters have to wonder whether the forms McInnis is hiding conceal something. Did the lawmaker make his millions from sweetheart deals and political payback?"

"Every unanswered question stemming from Scott McInnis' reluctance to disclose his tax returns and more detailed financial records applies at least equally to Mitt Romney," said Kron. "Like Scott McInnis, Mitt Romney doesn't seem to understand that the voters expect transparency--and in the case of a man who has made untold millions while laying off thousands of working American citizens, full disclosure going back to that time is even more important."

"You don't get many better examples of what not to do in politics than Scott McInnis," said Kron. "Mitt Romney will either learn these lessons the easy way, or the way McInnis learned less than two years ago."

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Launch of statewide petition calling on Tipton to take responsibility after he throws his chief of staff under the bus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20th, 2012

DENVER: Responding to exasperation on the Western Slope and Pueblo after a year of failed representation in Congress, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, launched a petition in the third congressional district calling on freshman Rep. Scott Tipton to begin taking his responsibilities to his constituents seriously.

"It's gone from bad to worse for Colorado's hapless freshman from Cortez," said ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director Joanne Kron. "After winning his seat in Congress as part of the 'Tea Party wave' of 2010, Tipton has been ranked as one of the most vulnerable members of Congress in the entire nation in the general election to be held this November." [1]
 
And there's a good reason: Scott Tipton turned his back on constituents and made a mockery of his time in office. After being elected on a platform that promised "no cuts" to Medicare, accusing his opponent of "scaring seniors," he voted for legislation to privatize Medicare. [2] Tipton has delayed needed transportation projects on the Western Slope over miniscule objections, which he later dropped. [3] Tipton and his family was caught in an ethics scandal, using Tipton's name to sell business products from a company owned by another family member, that resulted in a formal apology to the House Ethics Committee. [4] The combination of these problems has led to a loss of support for Tipton, including the recent resignation of his locally-trusted chief of staff Mike Hesse. [5] Tipton has subsequently attempted to blame his former chief of staff through surrogates for his poor fundraising and bad constituent relations. [6]

"We're asking ProgressNow Colorado members and other constituents in Scott Tipton's district to demand he begin to take seriously the needs of his constituents," said Kron. "Unfortunately, there's still time enough this year for Tipton to do plenty of harm."

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Progressives call for apology for Coors' disparagement of gays, disclosure of funding of right-wing groups, and tax records

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

DENVER: As local media continued to report that wealthy retiree and country club president Joe Coors, Jr. is preparing to run for Congress in Colorado's seventh congressional district, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, offered a preview of issues Coors is likely to face appealing to suburban working families.

"That the right wing is placing its hope for victory--in Colorado's foremost middle-class congressional district--in a retired millionaire Coors family member and country club president shows how out of touch they really are," said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Joanne Kron. "To put forward this man as someone who can speak to the needs of suburban working families in the seventh district raises serious concerns."

Kingpins of the Extreme Right. The Coors family, including Joe Coors, Jr., beginning with his father Joe Coors, Sr., is one of the leading funders of right-wing causes and candidates in America. The Coors family's Castle Rock Foundation has funneled millions of dollars in Coors beer money into such organizations as the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Prosperity, and the American Legislative Exchange Council. 

Joe Coors, Jr. Condemns Gays and Lesbians. In 1988, a Los Angeles Times article quoted Joe Coors, Jr. harshly condemning gays and lesbians, and describing their lives as a "sin," saying "the Bible specifically outlines certain sins, and it calls them that. Not just homosexual behavior, but anything else that gets in the way with your walk with the Lord."

Funneling Profits Into Right-Wing Propaganda. In 2004, investigative journalist Joe Conason wrote for Slatethat "the Coors heirs maintained their political ties with far-right and religious-right outfits...Using [a] skillful strategy, the Coors interests have managed to mute harmful publicity while pursuing their traditional political aims. They could market their brews to minorities, gays and environmentalists while funneling the profits into right-wing propaganda that those consumers would consider obnoxious or worse."

"Blinded By Greed." Also in 2004, Joe Coors, Jr. lost millions in a financial scam described by the Securities and Exchange Commission as "blatantly false claims," and which "should have raised red flags from the get-go." Coors was ridiculed by Denver Post columnist Al Lewis for being "blinded by greed" while failing to prevent the criminal misuse of millions of dollars in investment capital.

"The right wing is turning to Joe Coors because he has millions in the bank to fund his own campaign," said ProgressNow's Kron. "We call on Mr. Coors to apologize to the people of the seventh district for his past disparagement of gays and lesbians. If he does decide to run, we demand that Mr. Coors immediately disclose donations made by himself and other Coors family members to right-wing organizations that may be involved in his campaign for Congress. And especially necessary in the case of such a wealthy candidate, Mr. Coors must make a full disclosure of his financial and tax history to ensure he is free of conflicts of interest."

"Welcome to politics, Joe Coors," said Kron. "You're not going to enjoy this."

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Survey responses say Coors out of touch, "knows nothing of real life," call for disclosure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 21st 2011

DENVER: Soliciting its diverse membership in Colorado's recently-redrawn Seventh Congressional District about a potential run for Congress by retired executive and country club president Joe Coors, Jr., ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, was flooded with overwhelmingly negative responses.

"We asked recipients of all political stripes what they thought about Joe Coors running for Congress, and we got back an unequivocal thumbs-down," said Alan Franklin, online director of ProgressNow Colorado. "I live in the newly-drawn Seventh District, and my middle-class neighbors in Jefferson County have very specific recommendations for Congress--recommendations Joe Coors isn't going to like."

Here are just a few of the hundreds of comments ProgressNow Colorado received about a possible run for Congress by Joe Coors, Jr.:

"The last person I would vote for is someone like Joe Coors, as I know his history of mistreating working class people," says Peggy from Arvada. "He has no respect for environmental issues. I gag every time I drive by the Coors plant in Golden. I have worked hard, and paid into Social Security and Medicare all of my life. As I am nearing retirement age, where I can finally collect on what I have paid all of my life, I do not support any candidate or representative who wants to take it away or reduce it...Joe Coors is definitely only in touch with his own agenda, not the best interests of the citizens of Colorado."

"You do want the weakest link, don't you?" asked Ken in Golden. "As a Republican precinct committeeperson, I confronted [Joe's brother] Pete Coors on issues early in his campaign.  It was like catching a deer in the headlights. Hell, I might even primary him."

"I respect the Coors family for many ways they have been a reliable point in the community," says Gwen from Lakewood. "However, there are few things they have done socially or politically that I agree with. I remember the furor over men's hair touching their collars [at Coors] and refusal to hire Latinos. My father was friends with the now-oldest generation and respected them as humans. However, Joe Jr. can't possibly have a clue about me, my values, or my needs. Nor would I trust him to make himself accessible to ask me (re: Government in the Grocery)."

"Joe Coors will only represent the intrests of big business," says Robert in Commerce City, "and not the working families of his district."

In response to the feedback ProgressNow Colorado has received, the organization plans to continue educating constituents in the Seventh District on the dubious history of Coors family politics in Colorado, and Joe Coors, Jr.'s stands on the issues that matter to them--like privatizing Social Security and Medicare, and continuing tax cuts for the 1% of wealthiest Americans like himself.

"We're calling on on Joe Coors, Jr. to immediately come clean about his plans to run for Congress," said ProgressNow Colorado's Alan Franklin. "If he does run, he has an uphill battle trying to explain to the skeptical voters we're hearing from how he can possibly represent the interests of those of us who weren't born into immense wealth, or presidents of a country club."

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As you may have seen in the news this past week, Colorado's congressional districts are changing. A large part of the city of Aurora is about to be newly represented by a man who, safe to say, does notshare the values of most Aurora citizens.

Rep. Mike Coffman has represented some of the most hardcore conservative areas to the south and east of Denver ever since his predecessor Tom Tancredo retired. Like Tancredo, Coffman has pursued an extremist agenda to demonize immigrants--includingattacking the rights of legal citizens to vote by trying to change federal law to restrict bilingual ballots.

Mike Coffman has been a major proponent of huge cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Coffman voted for the 2012 Republican budget plan that would have privatized Medicare and replaced it with a voucher system in ten years. Instead of working to create jobs, Coffman joined in irresponsible attacks on abortion rights, while championing the repeal of recently-passed health care reform legislation.

Is this who you want representing you in Congress? Click here to tell Coffman to halt his extremist agenda, and apologize to his constituents--old and new--for voting against their interests over and over again.

For years, Mike Coffman has sat comfortably in Tom Tancredo's old district, voting against the middle class and in favor of his big campaign donors in the defense and oil industries. Now Coffman's district is changing due to population growth.

Send Coffman a message now--tell him the "good old days" are over.

Lost in the news of last Tuesday's elections was something very important: after right-wing Secretary of State Scott Gessler filed a lawsuit to stop counties from mailing ballots to all registered voters, and lost, those so-called "inactive" voters weighed in--at the ballot box.

According to preliminary elections data, some 5.5% of "inactive" voters, meaning registered voters who didn't vote in 2010, returned their ballots this year. That's almost double Scott Gessler's pre-election estimate. In Pueblo County, where Clerk Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz stood up to Gessler and sent ballots to all registered voters, over 10% of "inactive" voters returned their ballots--over three times what Gessler had predicted. And despite Gessler's overblown warnings of "fraud," there have been no reports of irregularities of any kind. 

Click here to say thanks to the nine county clerks who stood up to Scott Gessler.

In total, nine Colorado counties--Alamosa, Boulder, Conejos, Costilla, Denver, Eagle, Huerfano, Pitkin, and Pueblo--opted to send ballots to all "inactive-failed to vote" voters, as they had previously done before a law guaranteeing ballots would be sent expired last year. Except Denver and Pueblo, all of the counties who sent mail ballots did so only after Gessler's request for an injunction to prevent them from being mailed was denied.

How many thousands more Coloradans might have voted this year if all counties using mail ballots had followed the lead of these nine brave clerks?

Next January the legislature will convene, and a new law will be introduced guaranteeing that no mail ballot election in Colorado is ever conducted in this unequal manner again. Click here to thank county clerks in our state who put voting rights ahead of bureaucracy--and pledge your support for legislation to end the unequal status of "inactive" voters in mail ballot elections once and for all.

In 2011, we became aware of a glitch in Colorado election law when an unscrupulous public official tried to exploit it to reduce the number of people who vote. Working together, ProgressNow Colorado members helped stop Scott Gessler's wrongheaded lawsuit against Denver. Next January in the legislature, and every day he remains in office, we have to hold Gessler accountable; and stop him every time he acts against the voting rights of Colorado citizens.