The Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce issued a news release Tuesday saying it held an emergency board meeting in response to “behind the scenes” information that negotiations to remove four “anti-job, anti-business ballot” measures had failed.

Gov. Bill Ritter and labor representatives have been discussing a deal in which the measures would be removed from the ballot.The chamber board decided to assemble a local team to assist Coloradans for Responsible Reform in defeating the initiatives.

“We need a major call-to-action to all businesses in the Pikes Peak Region to engage and help defeat these horrible initiatives that will kill our economy in this state,” board chair Vic Andrews said in a prepared statement.

“The board directed the staff to devote their resources to defeating the measures.

At issue are state ballot measures 53, which involves criminal accountability of business executives; 55, which would allow employees to be fired for only nine reasons; 56, which would require employers of work forces of 20 or more employees to pay 80 percent of health insurance; and 57, which expands worker compensation insurance.

“The Colorado Springs Board and Staff will do everything in their power to help defeat these death-to-jobs political hand grenades,” Dave Csintyan, chamber CEO said in the release. “Recently, two different businesses have shared with us that they would be challenged to continue to grow their work force in this state in light of the passage of these initiatives.”

Those wishing to participate in the effort should call 575-4327.

Big Bird threatened?Hal Bidlack, Democratic candidate in the 5th Congressional District, lambasted incumbent Doug Lamborn in a recent press release for trying to axe funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts to help pay for President Bush’s $700-million Wall Street bailout.

“Reckless de-regulation has brought us to this point. That and the failed fiscal policies of the past seven years,” Bidlack said in a news release last week. “To suggest that more of the same is going to fix this problem is ludicrous… Too bad the administration and the Congress, including Doug Lamborn, did not recognize the looming threats to our economy while handing out billion dollar subsidies to oil companies as regular Americans were losing their homes.”

Lamborn’s measure failed. Lamborn voted this week against Bush’s bailout package.

In a statement, he said he opposes any “larded up” bill that would give Wall Street a blank check.

“Given my strong preference for a free market economy, and my desire to hold CEOs accountable for their actions, I am hesitant to propose another massive government bailout,” he said.

Did somebody say debate?Bidlak’s campaign also noted that Lamborn’s campaign has said the incumbent will engage in only one debate, on Oct. 30.

“They seem to think that we are doing the Richard Randall (radio) show on Oct. 28,” Bidlack spokeswoman Christy LeLait said in an email, noting the Bidlack campaign agreed to the radio program only if there was another debate scheduled in the next two weeks.

Although a coffee meeting had been scheduled for Oct. 6, it’s now been moved to Oct. 13, LeLait said, and noted Bidlack wants it to be a debate, not a coffee date.

“Instead of coffee for two, how about issues for everyone?” she said. “I find it offensive that Lamborn does not have time to appear in front of his constituents before Oct. 30 but he will make time in his busy schedule for coffee.”

Catherine Mortensen, Lamborn’s campaign spokeswoman, said the congressman is looking forward to meeting one-on-one with Mr. Bidlack.

“Lamborn was asked if wanted to meet with him for coffee, and the congressman wanted to do that, and he still wants to,” she said.She also said Lamborn has agreed to the Randall radio debate.Tag team for ObamaGov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas joined Gov. Bill Ritter of Colorado in the Springs on Tuesday to campaign for Sen. Barack Obama.

Sebelius lit into Sen. John McCain for advocating deregulation of the health insurance industry “because, this is a direct quote from John McCain, this month in a health magazine, ‘because it’s been so successful in the banking industry.'”

The 60-year-old Sebelius, who was mentioned as a possible running mate for Obama, downplayed speculation that she will be named to the Cabinet in an Obama administration. “I don’t need a new job, ” she told an audience of 200 in the Carnegie Room at the downtown Penrose Library. “I need a new president.”

The two Democratic governors also joined an economic roundtable with local businesswomen.Register nowVoter registration for the Nov. 4 election closes at 5 p.m. Monday. For information in El Paso County, go to www.elpasoco.com or call 575-8683. In Teller County, www.co.teller.co.us or call 689-2951.Send items to pam.zubeck@gazettedev.gazette.com or dean.toda@gazettedev.gazette.com

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