U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Janak Joshi

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line

(D) Michael Bennet

(D) Phil Weiser

60%↑

50%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) Jena Griswold

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) David Seligman

50%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line

(D) J. Danielson (D) A. Gonzalez (R) Sheri Davis

50%↑ 40%↓ 30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(D) Jeff Bridges

(R) Kevin Grantham

40%

30%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(D) Milat Kiros

90%

10%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(R) H. Scheppelman

(D) Alex Kelloff

70%

30%

10%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Trisha Calvarese

(D) Eileen Laubacher

90%

20%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Jessica Killin

70%

30%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Manny Rutinel

(D) Shannon Bird

45%↓

30%↓

30%

30%↑

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

September 30, 2009 02:10 AM UTC

10/03/09: Lakewood State Legislators & Citizens Drive State Budget Solutions with Backseat Budgeter

1 Comments
by: SarahEMoss

Interactive public policy simulation engages stakeholders in thoughtful, pragmatic dialogue to make ends meet

While the State Budget that Gov. Ritter and the State Legislature are crafting is a lot larger than those of Colorado families, the choices aren’t any easier, as citizens will see alongside a bipartisan group of State Legislators at a public meeting this Saturday.

WHAT: Interactive public meeting on the State Budget using the Colorado Backseat Budgeter simulation (http://www.backseatbudgeter.com) and voting with keypad polling technology

WHO:

Bipartisan Legislators from Lakewood: State Sen. Betty Boyd, State Rep. Andy Kerr, State Rep. Ken Summers and State Rep. Max Tyler

Special guest State Rep. Mark Ferrandino of the Joint Budget Committee

Chris Adams, TAG Strategies (facilitator)

Lakewood residents

WHEN: Sat., Oct. 3, 2009, 9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Pkwy., Lakewood, CO 80226

The meeting, facilitated by Chris Adams, president of TAG Strategies and co-creator of the Colorado Backseat Budgeter online simulation (http://www.backseatbudgeter.com), will combine the simulation with interactive keypad polling technology for an engaging public process that seeks solutions-not just comments-from the attendees based on community values.

The bipartisan event hosts, State Sen. Betty Boyd, State Rep. Andy Kerr, State Rep. Ken Summers and State Rep. Max Tyler, will join special guest State Rep. Mark Ferrandino of the Joint Budget Committee and Lakewood residents as Adams guides the group through creating its own priorities for the State Budget. Interactive keypad polling technology will allow each attendee to vote on the budget cuts and choices.

And those choices will be difficult. Last week, the State Legislative Council predicted a $560.7 million revenue shortfall for Fiscal Year 2009-10 and a $748.4 million revenue shortfall for Fiscal Year 2010-11.

There are several other state budget simulations on the Web. The Colorado Backseat Budgeter is different from these other simulations because it presents some of the tradeoffs and quirks in Colorado’s unique constitutional budget requirements and because members of the Colorado State Legislature are actively seeking to use it. Adams has received inquiries from at least three more State Legislators regarding interactive town hall meetings for their districts.

* California: http://www.nextten.org/

* Pennsylvania: http://www.youbudgetpa.org/

* Minnesota: http://minnesota.publicradio.o…

* New York City: http://www.gothamgazette.com/b…

In contrast to August’s vitriolic Congressional town hall meetings on health care and health insurance, public events structured around the Backseat Budgeter present concrete choices within the scope of Colorado law. If you think we should be on the road to health care for all, you can choose that option. But watch out-now you will have to figure out how to pay for it. Do you want to cut spending in another area? Would you rather raise taxes? All these options are available to you as a backseat legislator, but like those working under Denver’s gold dome, you still have to follow the state’s constitutional requirements such as TABOR or Amendment 23.

The Colorado Backseat Budgeter was developed through a partnership of TAG Strategies (formerly The Adams Group) and the Bighorn Leadership Development Program at Colorado State University, which emphasizes a bipartisan and pragmatic long-term approach to public policy.

“We as citizens have many methods to voice opinions to our elected officials, but very few ways to experience the same choices that elected officials face,” said Brenda Morrison, director of the Bighorn Leadership Development Program at Colorado State University. “The Backseat Budgeter simulates scenarios that make us examine how our partisan platforms and talking points play out when faced with budget decisions that will affect our neighbors.”

Backseat Budgeter co-creator Adams says using simulations for public policy could go beyond the Colorado State Budget with multiple potential uses. “Whether your challenge is balancing a budget, reducing a carbon footprint, or prioritizing programmatic elements or curricula, a public policy simulation can help you collaborate with diverse stakeholders and engage constituents to develop innovations and set priorities.”

Since 1998, TAG Strategies (formerly The Adams Group) has worked with government, non-profits, foundations and the private sector to provide innovative services designed to create positive solutions in a complex public policy environment. The firm works with clients to first understand the challenges they face-including an honest assessment of the policy landscape-and then to create a strategy and craft solutions that meet their needs. These public policy process experts guide clients through the art and science of public policy innovations using strategy, simulations, facilitation, public engagement and emerging technology such as keypad polling. For more info, Adams’ Web site is http://www.TAGStrategies.com

One thought on “10/03/09: Lakewood State Legislators & Citizens Drive State Budget Solutions with Backseat Budgeter”

and another thing says:

October 1, 2009 at 6:26 pm

Nice post Sarah. I love the backseat budgeter. One of the state rep candidates knocked on my door and gave me a pamphlet that directed me to the site. I suggest that everyone who whines about the budget should give it a try.

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10/03/09: Lakewood State Legislators & Citizens Drive State Budget Solutions with Backseat Budgeter

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One thought on “10/03/09: Lakewood State Legislators & Citizens Drive State Budget Solutions with Backseat Budgeter”

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