In a headline that linked to an editorial published October 31 in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction, the “news” website Face the State misrepresented the editorial as having stated that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter proposed "$2 billion a year for transportation." In fact, the editorial remarked on the governor's transportation task force, which, the Daily Sentinel noted, in its deliberations over “how much revenue the state [] needs,” “has considered everything from an additional $500 million a year -- the minimum it says is needed to maintain and resurface existing roads -- to $2 billion more each year.” Additionally, in an October 24 editorial and an October 17 staff report, Face the State repeatedly engaged in the conservative tactic of using the noun “Democrat” as an adjective instead of the grammatically correct “Democratic.”

As Colorado Media Matters has documented repeatedly (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here), while it describes itself as “a one-stop-shop for political news affecting Coloradans,” Face the State frequently publishes misleading headlines on its aggregated news articles, uses the noun “Democrat” ungrammatically as an adjective, and makes other distortions that advance conservative viewpoints and denigrate liberal positions and political figures.

A banner headline on Face the State's October 31 home page highlighted reporting in the Rocky Mountain News that Ritter had proposed an additional $60 million in spending on higher education, and suggested that this proposal comes “on top of $2 billion a year for transportation”:

Out of Thin Air? Ritter Proposes $60 Million for Higher Ed, But No Plan for Funding

...Declines to Say Where Money Comes From

...On top of $2 Billion a Year for Transportation!

Contrary to the Face the State headline, the Daily Sentinel noted in the editorial to which the headline linked that $2 billion was the upper end of a range of funding levels that Ritter's Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel has considered:

To be sure, the governor's transportation panel faces a daunting task in recommending how to raise much-needed additional revenue to address critical highway needs in this state.

Other ideas include raising the state tax on gas and diesel fuel and boosting auto-registration fees. There is a proposal to add a state fee to the bills people pay for hotel rooms and rental cars. There is a plan to apply the state sales tax to gas and diesel sales, on top of the fuel taxes already paid. Another option is to raise the state sales tax across the board.

How much these taxes might be raised would depend on how much revenue the state decides it needs. The governor's task force has considered everything from an additional $500 million a year -- the minimum it says is needed to maintain and resurface existing roads -- to $2 billion more each year. The latter amount would allow Colorado to significantly relieve traffic congestion and expand highway capacity.

But, as Grand Junction resident and Transportation Commission Chairman Doug Aden noted, the task force must realize what is politically possible. Reaching for the $2 billion figure -- and asking voters to approve all six of the tax increases suggested -- is almost certainly a political nonstarter, the task force concluded. The group is still considering proposals from $500 million to $1.5 billion a year. [emphasis added]

Similarly, The Denver Post reported October 26 that at an October 25 meeting the panel actively considered proposals “for raising $500 million, $1 billion or $1.5 billion a year” in new transportation funding:

The Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel was created by Ritter eight months ago.

The group is led by state Treasurer Cary Kennedy, Colorado Transportation Commission chairman Doug Aden and Greeley businessman Bob Tointon.

On Thursday, panelists considered options for raising $500 million, $1 billion or $1.5 billion a year in new money for transportation. Final recommendations will be made to Ritter on Nov. 15.

With transportation needs in Colorado reaching into the tens of billions of dollars, the group focused on crafting a mix of taxes and fees to raise at least $1.5 billion a year.

Additionally, in an October 17 staff report about former state school board member and congressional candidate Jared Polis, Face the State repeatedly used the word “Democrat” as an adjective to qualify nouns such as “nomination,” “reformers,” and “reluctance.” As Colorado Media Matters has noted, Republican Party officials, politicians, and their allies in the media frequently use “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” as a pejorative reference to things or people of, or relating to, the Democratic Party.

From the Face the State staff report “Polis Draws Outrage For Shift in School Choice Position”:

In an October 11 Denver Post report, Jared Polis, a former State Board of Education member now seeking the Democrat nomination for Colorado's 2nd congressional district, publicly declared his opposition to government scholarships that would allow needy students to attend private schools. The proclamation marks a strong shift from his previously stated positions. The apparent about-face has frustrated former colleagues and is now attracting concern from an influential national organization that raises funds for reform-minded Democrats.

State Board member Randy DeHoff, R-Littleton, expressed disappointment but little surprise at his former colleague's newly clarified position on school choice. “Like every other Democrat in the past who has supported vouchers, as soon he runs for national office, he forgets everything he said previously and tries to deny it,” said DeHoff.

Fellow Board member Peggy Littleton, R-Colo. Springs, believes Polis is passing up the chance to distinguish himself in his current campaign. Also pursuing the Democrat nomination are state Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald and environmental activist Will Shafroth. The trio are seeking to replace Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, who has announced he will run for Colorado's open 2008 U.S. Senate seat.

[...]

National Democrat Reformers Taken Aback

On Sept. 5 in New York City, Polis gave a brief speech to 50 “education reform-minded Democrats” at an event sponsored by a national committee of pro-school choice political activists. The Democrats for Education Reform event was not strictly a fundraiser but rather an opportunity for supporters to get a sense of the candidate's stance on the issues, said executive director Joe Williams.

Williams did not recall whether the topic of private school vouchers was discussed during the event, adding that DFER supporters have a variety of views on the topic. “It's not a litmus test for our group,” he said.

DFER is committed to shifting Democrat reluctance to embrace serious public school reforms. Williams said the group initially was drawn to Polis's candidacy because of his background as a “social entrepreneur” and his knowledgeable and active role in starting charter schools in the Denver area.

Face the State used the same tactic -- referencing the “House Democrat leadership” and “the Democrat takeover in 2004” -- in an October 24 editorial about Colorado Rep. Mike Merrifield (D-Manitou Springs).

From the October 24 Face the State editorial “Merrifield's Latest Rant Another Embarrassment for Democrats”:

You've got to hand it to state Rep. Mike Merrifield. While most politicians would have gracefully bowed out of public life by now, he continues to demand a public forum exposing the most radical philosophies held by some Colorado Democrats.

[...]

Since stepping down, Merrifield has -- on multiple occasions -- proclaimed that he will resume his chairmanship when the next legislative session begins in January. When Face the State last contacted House Democrat leadership last month, a spokesman said no final decisions had been made about committee positions.

It will be interesting to see how House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, and other Democrat leaders deal with Merrifield. For Republicans seeking to preserve many of the market-based educational innovations they successfully pursued under GOP leadership prior to the Democrat takeover in 2004, Merrifield may be the best tool in their arsenal.