Colorado business advocacy group
Alliance of top Colorado executives pursuing an agenda to make the state as "business friendly" as possible. To achieve their agenda, Colorado Concern use a combination of legislative advocacy (employing lobbyists), ballot initiative campaigns (contributing large sums of money), and statewide elections (again, contributing large sums of money). Colorado Concern currently employs two high profile lobbying firms, the Kirchhof Group and Colorado Communiqué. They also administer a PAC called "The Business Opportunity Fund." The group has deep relationships with politicians around the state. For example, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's chief-of-staff, Janice Sinden, is the former head of Colorado Concern. Some of the group's current priorities include: Education privatization Opposing worker wage increases and other benefits Reducing taxes for corporations/keeping loopholes that promote corporate tax avoidance in place Reducing regulation of the oil and gas industry Defeating the Colorado Care ballot initiative Softening construction defect laws Making it more difficult to amend the state constitution Other ways Colorado Concern shapes the state's policy agenda include: Lending expertise to political leaders on issues critical to their corporate goals and community growth and development. Testifying on legislative issues that may impact the member's industry or business. Developing relationships with elected officials who share commonalities. Leading Colorado Concern political events, including an annual luncheon with the governor, monthly meetings with state legislative leaders while the General Assembly is in session and annual meetings with Colorado's U.S. senators.
