I used to think blogs were pretentious

and I still do. But Zach and Jessica cajoled me into starting one, so here I am. 

After flying back from New Haven on Wednesday, because my flight was delayed 2 days out of JFK, I moved to Denver on Saturday (in a downpour) and started my fellowship today. I work for the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, which is a think tank and policy center that looks at the ways in which financial policies and politics in Colorado affect at-risk populations, along with low- and middle-income families. Sounds really boring, right? 

Totally wrong. After running downtown this morning to get a city parking pass (so that I don't have to move my car every 2 hours...weird Denver parking laws) I walked to work. I live two blocks away from my building, which needless to say kicks ass. The entire organization started work in a new office building today, called Sherman Plaza. All 13 of us are moving into new offices, including all of the returning policy analysts. I thought I would be given a cubicle or small desk in some sort of restored kitchenette for an office space, but I have my own office, complete with desk and closeable door. I'm living large. 

I thought my job would be data analysis, public relations and some publishing. Wow, I was wrong. Turns out there is a new law being sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the State Treasurer. Andrew and Cary (I'm supposed to call them by their first names, since they are friends of CFPI...I feel like I'm at CC again) are basically proposing to fundamentally rewrite tax policy in Colorado by creating a new mechanism to fund education programs. It's called "SAFE-Savings Account for Education" and would put hundreds of millions into Colorado's education system. It's in response to a law we have in CO called TABOR, or the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, that indexes spending in CO to the rate of inflation, and makes it impossible for elected leaders to pass tax increases without having the people of the state vote for them. Needless to say, lots of these tax increases don't pass. 

Well, turns out SAFE is a really good idea. And I'm apparently going to be coordinating grassroots outreach for the campaign. My first day, and I've been told that I need to create an overarching strategy for getting voters to the polls. It's a $5 million campaign, and I'm right in the thick of it. This is heaven. 

Beyond that, I'll be publishing some materials on tax policy (which I won't post here...don't worry, I do want you to still read this thing). But for the next 3 months, 75% of my job will involve me trying to get Amendment 20, as we think it'll be titled, to pass the ballot. It would dramatically alter Colorado policy and, in the words of my boss, signal the "death knell" for TABOR initiatives around the country. 

Should be a fun run up until November. 94 days until the election.