2015 Fiscal Forum Agenda
The 2015 Fiscal Forum: Presented by the Colorado Fiscal Institute
Friday, January 9, 2015
Colorado Convention Center
Meeting Rooms 601, 603, 605
AGENDA
7:45-8:30 a.m. Breakfast and Networking
8:30 a.m. Welcome
Carol Hedges, Executive Director, Colorado Fiscal Institute
8:45-9:30 a.m. Revenue Prospects for the Next Couple of Years
Natalie Mullis, Chief Economist, Colorado Legislative Council Staff
Ms. Mullis will provide insight and context for the Colorado Legislative Council December 2014 Economic Forecast, including details on economic trends and their impact on state revenue.
9:30-10:15 a.m. What We Can Expect from the 114th Congress
Ellen Nissenbaum, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs for the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
Ms. Nissenbaum will preview tax and budget issues facing the 114th US Congress with a special focus on health care and other issues that directly affect state budgets.
10:15-10:45 a.m. Looking Beyond the Current Revenue Forecasts: The Structural Deficit
Phyllis Resnick, Ph. D., Lead Economist, Colorado Futures Center, Colorado State University
Ms. Resnick will provide results of the analysis prepared by the Colorado Futures Center on the trajectory of state spending and revenue generation. This groundbreaking research illuminates the size and causes of the structural deficit facing the State of Colorado.
10:45-11:00 a.m. Networking Break — Snacks and Beverages
11:00-11:30 a.m. Legal Challenges: Prospects for Changing the Fiscal Environment
David Skaggs, Senior Strategic Advisor and Independent Consultant, McKenna Long and Aldridge, LLP
Mr. Skaggs will provide an update on Kerr v. Hickenlooper, a federal district court case challenging the constitutionality of Colorado’s TABOR amendment.
Kathy Gebhardt, Executive Director, Children’s Voices
Ms. Gebhardt will provide an update on Dwyer v State of Colorado, a state district court case challenging the constitutionality of the Colorado General Assembly’s use of the “negative factor” to limit state funding for K-12 schools.
11:30-12:00 p.m. Update on GPI and Reminder of TABOR options
Chris Stiffler, Economist, Colorado Fiscal Institute
Mr. Stiffler will provide the 2015 update of CFI’s Genuine Progress Indicator for Colorado, an alternative measure of economic well-being for the state.
Carol Hedges, Executive Director, Colorado Fiscal Institute
Ms. Hedges will outline current legislative policy for distributing TABOR rebates to tax payers that are created when state revenue exceeds the constitutionally mandated revenue cap.
12:00-1:00 p.m. Understanding the Public’s View of Economic and Fiscal Issues
David Winkler, Vice President and Director of Research, Project New America
Mr. Winkler will share results of recent public opinion research on Coloradans’ attitudes following the 2014 election with a special focus on attitudes about the economy, taxes and state investments.
Joseph Grady, Ph. D., Principal, Topos Partnership
Mr. Grady will outline Topos’ research on public attitudes about the role of government, taxes and public investments. He will highlight the work Topos is undertaking in four states, including Colorado.
Printable verision of the 2015 Fiscal Forum Agenda
