The Issue: What's at Stake in Colorado

Colorado, best know for its picturesque mountains, has the highest average elevation in the U.S. and was once called the “Switzerland of America” by Teddy Roosevelt.

Colorado’s population is 4.75 million as of 2006. The state has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which compares to the national average of 6.1%. Colorado is one of the few states to have a flat 4.63% income tax regardless of income level.

The state’s economy is made up of agriculture, Federal government installations like NORAD, and scientific research. It’s the largest producer of beer in the U.S. and according to the Energy Information Administration, Colorado houses seven of the nation’s 100 largest natural gas fields and two of its 100 largest oil fields.

Largely made up of transplants, Colorado hasn’t had a native-born governor since 1975. Colorado is considered a swing state, with Coloradans electing 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans to the governor’s office in the last 100 years. Colorado, which has nine electoral votes, went to George W. Bush in 2004 by a narrow margin of 5%.

SOME OF THE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES IN COLORADO:

Qwest, Echostar Communications, S&C Holdco, Liberty Media, Molson Coors Brewing, Newmont Mining, Western Union, Level 3 Communications, MDC Holdings, ProLogis, Ball, LibertyGlobal, CH2M Hill, UAP Holdings, AIMCO

Qwest is the largest employer with Echostar and S&C Holdco close in second. Liberty Media is the third largest employer.

ISSUES FACING COLORADO

Colorado is like any other state worried about the economy, namely jobs, housing and retirement. Colorado ranks No. 5 on the list of states with the most foreclosures, with an especially high rate in Denver, the state’s capital. Predatory lending practices, sharp increases in adjustable rate mortgages and high unemployment have contributed to the foreclosures. The state, for the most part, is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, so the third of unaffiliated voters will be the determining factor this election season.

In addition to the economy, Coloradans are concerned with energy and immigration. “There’s a lot of oil and gas extraction,” said John Straayer, a professor of political science at Colorado State University. “There’s a negative potential environmental impact as well as positive jobs and other economic impact.” Hispanics account for 20% of the state and favor the more moderate views on immigration.

WHERE THEY STAND

FORECLOSURES

MCCAIN: In the second presidential debate McCain unveiled a new $300 billion plan to buy up bad mortgages loans from banks and homeowners. The loans would be converted into low interest loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority. The money from the $700 billion economic rescue would be used to fund the plan.

--Under his HOME Plan, every deserving American family or homeowner will be afforded the opportunity to trade a burdensome mortgage for a manageable loan that reflects their home's market value.

--Estimates his HOME Plan Will Keep 200,000 to 400,000 families from losing their Homes

--Would bolster groups like Neighborworks America that provide mortgage assistance to homeowners in their communities

--Supports government aid to keep Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from collapsing

OBAMA: Proposes the creation of a $10 billion fund to prevent foreclosures, eliminate some taxes and fees for families that have to sell their homes and offer counseling to homeowners.

--Let troubled homeowners refinance their loans by the FHA

--Create a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score, which will provide potential borrowers with a simplified, standardized borrower metric (similar to APR) for home mortgages. The HOME score will allow individuals to easily compare various mortgage products and understand the full cost of the loan

--Eliminate the provision that prevents bankruptcy courts from modifying an individual's mortgage payments

--Provide tax credits to 10 million middle class homeowners who are struggling with their home mortgage costs

--Supports Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

ENERGY

MCCAIN: Committed to expanding domestic oil exploration by lifting the federal moratorium on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

--Wants to promote and expand the use of domestic supplies of natural gas

--Would issue a Clean Car Challenge by providing consumers with a $5,000 tax credit if they buy a zero carbon emission car

--Will propose a $300 million prize to improve battery technology for plug in hybrids and electric cars

--Wants to construct 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030

--Encourage the market for alternative, low carbon fuels such as wind, hydro and solar power

--Eliminate mandates, subsidies, tariffs and price supports that focus exclusively on corn-based ethanol

OBAMA: Create five million new jobs by investing $150 billion over the next 10 years on clean energy

--Within 10 years save more oil than is imported from the Middle East and Venezuela combined

--Put one million plug-in hybrid cars that get up to 150 miles per gallon on the road by 2015

--Have 10% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% by 2025

--Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050

--Enact a windfall profits tax to provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families

--Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles

--Promote the responsible domestic production of oil and natural fas

IMMIGRATION

MCCAIN: All undocumented individuals will be required to enroll in a program to resolve their status

--Committed to clearing out the backlog of individuals that are waiting legally outside of the country for their green card number to become available

--Setting clear guidelines and objectives for securing the border through physical and virtual barriers

--Dedicating funding to US Attorney’s offices in border states.

--Deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and other aircraft where needed and appropriate in the border region

--Implement a secure, accurate, and reliable electronic employment verification system to ensure that individuals are screened for work eligibility in a real-time fashion.

--Identify and aggressively prosecute employers that continue to hire illegal immigrants

--Implement temporary worker programs that will reflect the labor needs of the United States in both the high-tech and low skilled sectors while protecting the employment opportunities for US workers

OBAMA: Supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at ports of entry

--Fix the immigration bureaucracy and increase the number of legal immigrants

--Remove incentives to enter the country illegally by cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers

--Supports a system that lets undocumented immigrants who are in good standing pay a fine, learn English and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens

--Do more to promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration

--Put greater emphasis on keeping immigrant families together

RACES TO WATCH

U.S. Senate: With Republican Senator Wayne Allard retiring, the match up is between Democratic Congressman Mark Udall and former Congressman Bob Schaffer. Schaffer, who represented Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District from 1997 to 2003 is considered a conservative republican. Schaffer supports school choice, balanced budgets, tax cuts and guns. His stink as a congressman wasn’t without scandal due to a trip to the Mariana Island, which was arranged by jailed GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and paid for by the Traditional Values Coalition. Schaffer led an anti-gun control task force and passed a resolution in 2000 that would have made “In God We Trust” the national motto.

Udall has tended to be more toward the center during his five terms in the House, becoming an expert on energy policy. He’s an advocate for Colorado's national parks and the state aerospace industry and serves on the Armed Services Committee. Udall opposed the war in Iraq and voted against the Patriot Act. He did oppose a Democratic amendment to reduce spending on missile defense and a measure to withdraw troops from Iraq in six months. He voted to spend an additional $70 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

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