Gov. Jared Polis just told on himself. 

A letter signed by 233 business and technology leaders was addressed to Gov. Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Democratic senatorial candidates, and other political leaders. 

Only Polis signed the letter, too. Yes, he signed a letter to himself — a political master stroke of being on both sides of an issue. 

Titled “Ensuring Colorado’s Innovation Future,” the letter cautions that “the direction we are heading threatens the long-term prosperity of the people who call Colorado home.” 

“The foundation of Colorado’s technology and business leadership is deteriorating,” the signatories add — flagging “structural disadvantages” that “introduce unnecessary risk.” 

The missive follows a Colorado Chamber Foundation report warning of “a slow burn of companies looking elsewhere to invest and grow.” 

That report identified a net 34 fewer public company HQs that remain in Colorado in just four years. Thirty-six have relocated here, but 70 have left. Since 2019, when Polis took office, 98 companies have either left or considered Colorado but chose elsewhere, including 27 last year alone. Employment growth ranks #34 nationally. The labor force participation rate declined to 66.8%, and the state lost 11,700 jobs in 2025 — the first such loss in decades that didn’t follow a recession. 

Under Polis’ “libertarian” governorship, Colorado has become the sixth most regulated state for business. The Gazette’s “Fiscal Rockies” series exposed the “regulatory thicket… driving up costs, stalling investment and pushing companies to look elsewhere.” A Colorado Business Roundtable survey showed senior executives’ top concern is regulations, followed by an “anti-business” climate. 

The Polis administration is responsible for implementing most regulations, most of which extend from legislation signed into law — by the governor. 

The Senate just passed the state budget after both chambers scrambled to address a $1.5 billion shortfall. It was only a few years ago — with Polis as governor — that they held a $3.6 billion surplus. Democrats squandered it. 

The biggest driver is health care spending. According to the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute, state health department spending surged by 101% over the past decade to $16 billion. Since 2019, when Polis took office, he signed 182 health care bills, including dozens expanding Medicaid — ballooning costs by $858 million a year. 

Without this “expansive policy,” CSI concluded, the health department could have spent $10.8 billion instead of $16 billion. As The Gazette editorialized, “the brunt of the blame for Medicaid’s extraordinary costs rightly belongs to our legislature and its ruling Democrats, along with Gov. Jared Polis.” 

Let’s be clear: Higher costs and more government spending sap economic growth and drive businesses away. 

Polis talks a good game about cutting income-tax rates as “the most effective way to further our economic growth.” But while he pays lip service to eliminating Colorado’s income tax, he’s never actually proposed it — or a bill to simply cut rates. He’s merely endorsed ballot measures sponsored by conservative organizations. 

Meanwhile, the Democratic legislature has passed numerous “fees” without letting the people vote. Those include fees established in SB21-260 — ostensibly for transportation but actually directed at “environmental mitigation” — slapped on every Uber ride, Amazon package, UPS shipment, and DoorDash delivery, plus rental cars and gasoline (on top of the gas tax). 

Who signed SB260 into law? Jared Polis. 

Lawmakers passed the 10-cent bag fee and new “fees” on energy producers — hammering an oil and gas industry that was already burdened by the nation’s strictest regulations under SB19-181. Now, it’s squeezed even more due to the Iran conflict. 

Those fees and regulations? Signed by Jared Polis. 

The state’s Public Utilities Commission adopted a “clean heat plan” forcing gas utilities to slash emissions 41% by 2035, costing ratepayers billions. 

Who appoints the PUC’s commissioners? Jared Polis. Commissioners are following his agenda for net-zero by 2050, picking select green energy sources as “winners” over affordable oil, gas and coal. 

Dan Caruso, the Boulder entrepreneur who spearheaded the letter, specifically identified a 2024 “algorithmic discrimination” bill as “the most glaring example” of public policy sending the wrong message to companies that would expand here. That law holds employers liable for discrimination stemming from AI tools. 

Polis signed that one, too. 

During a presentation of the letter this week, Polis claimed the issues speak “to more than just the legislature.” He insisted, “It goes to the fact that people can put things on the ballot and that sometimes they can pass.” 

Really, Governor? Blame the ballot and the voters? That’s your lesson here? 

Last year, Polis vetoed 11 bills, the most of his tenure. Four were regulatory, and one would have dismantled the Labor Peace Act that’s successfully kept business and labor at peace for 80 years. Polis deserves credit for those vetoes, but rejecting 11 bills out of 487 means little in the grand scheme. 

The Common Sense Institute found legislative output has skyrocketed 56%. When lawmakers passed 487 bills in 2025, that was up 23% from the pre-Polis average. They’re also 54% more complex than the historical average. Colorado’s rate of increase in bill passage ranks #4. 

Let’s be real: Polis signed a letter warning that Colorado’s economic foundation is deteriorating. He’s right, of course. He just left out his own role in causing it over the past seven years. 

The governor’s office insists that signing this letter reflects a commitment to improving the state’s business climate. 

That’s a great mission, Governor. But in your final months — it’s too little, too late. 

Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.