DeGROW: K-12 tax campaigns still seen as good investment

By   /  October 24, 2012  /  Commentary  /  Comments Off

CAN MONEY buy love for Colorado schools?

By Ben DeGrow | Special to Colorado Watchdog
Money couldn’t buy Paul McCartney love. But it remains to be seen how many local school tax increases money can buy in Colorado this year.
Ed News Colorado reported Tuesday that committees organized in 22 different school districts to promote property tax hikes are nearing the $1 million mark in total campaign expenditures. Their [...]

Read More →

DeGROW: Residents’ ‘revolt’ could derail rail line

By   /  August 21, 2012  /  Commentary  /  Comments Off

Ben DeGrow

By Ben DeGrow | Special to Colorado Watchdog
Taxpaying residents on the north side of the Denver area have awakened to an unpleasant truth: You don’t always get what you pay for.
This harsh $243 million lesson comes home, compliments of the Regional Transportation District.
As a result of RTD’s failure to deliver any of the promised Northwest [...]

Read More →

DeGROW: Double-dipping claims reveal deeper problems

By   /  August 17, 2012  /  Commentary  /  Comments Off

Ben DeGrow

By Ben DeGrow | Special to Colorado Watchdog
Last week I published a post highlighting the Colorado Media Trackers story of retired government employee and University of Colorado Regent Irene Griego, who also works part time as a Jefferson County school administrator.
Not all sources were responsive regarding her taxpayer-funded compensation package, so the article pieced together [...]

Read More →

Video: Watchdog.org News Update 7-23-12

By   /  July 23, 2012  /  Media, Video  /  No Comments

Here’s a look at the headlines from Watchdog.org for Monday July 23, 2012

Read More →

IL Week in Review: Medicaid reform moves forward, action taken in Smith investigation

By   /  June 15, 2012  /  Ethics, Health Care, Illinois, News, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

Illinois seal

By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn signed off on cuts to the state’s Medicaid program this week, and the House investigation into state Rep. Derrick Smith continued to move forward.
Quinn signs off on Medicaid cuts, cigarette tax hike
Quinn on Thursday signed off on a cigarette tax hike and a series [...]

Read More →