Colorado House Democrats

Kids, Animals Gather at Capitol to Protect Property Rights

Cowboy Wes Promises to Continue Fighting for Rural Rights

DENVER- Parents and 4-H/FFA children -- the Colorado Coalition Opposing Mandatory 4-H and FFA Premises Registration gathered at the Capitol today.  They were joined by two pygmy goats.

Those in attendance traveled to Denver from all corners of the state to express their efforts to change the State Fair Board of Commissioners' questionable "premises registration" rulemaking regarding 4-H and FFA livestock project animals at the 2008 Colorado State Fair.  They were hosted by State Representative Wes McKinley (D-Walsh).

At the heart of this controversy is the issue of property rights and people in rural communities.  With the premise ID, livestock owners are required to register their animals with a premise ID each time the animal is moved.  For the children and families that participate in the state fair, this can be a burden as animals are often stored at an alternate site.

“While most of us realize that these rules were created to promote the health and safety of the animals, it is an ineffective system that does not accommodate the lives of people in rural communities,” Rep. McKinley said.  He continued, “This is a classic case of the federal government forcing policies down states’ throats. We must protect states’ rights.”

Rep. Carroll Protects Patients from Medical Monopolies

Bill protecting patients from reductions in quality, access heads to Governor

DENVER –Representative Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) has championed a bill to ensure patient care is not compromised when hospital sales take place.

It is a growing trend in the metro area for hospitals to merge in order to remain profitable.  Sometimes, patient care suffers as services are cut and re-structured.  “We have had hospitals merging at a cancerous rate in Colorado, at some times approaching monopolies,” Rep. Carroll explained.

She continued, “I cannot think of a more dangerous place for monopolies than in healthcare.  At a time when we are trying to increase access and improve quality of care, it is exactly the wrong time to eliminate access to key services.”

Under current law, the Attorney General is granted the authority to review all hospital transactions. The proposed law would further clarify the Attorney General’s authority to include the right to review the sales transaction if patient care could be compromised by the merger.  In addition, it gives the patient the right to a hearing prior to a merger.

“Hospital profits should not trump patient care, period. Our health should be their bottom line,” shared Rep. Carroll.

The bill, House Bill 08-1203 was approved by the full House today with a vote of 39 to 25.  The bill has cleared the Senate, where it is sponsored by Senator Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood) and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

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Forecolsure Reduction Bill Passes House

DENVER – Recognizing the growing urgency for Colorado families facing serious debt, State Representatives Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) and Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) carried a bill through the House to stem the foreclosure epidemic and potentially help thousands Colorado families stay in their homes. 

“Families are suffering, neighborhoods are suffering, whole communities are suffering because of the foreclosure epidemic,” said Rep. Gagliardi.  “But with the right outreach, the right counseling, and debt reduction support, thousands of foreclosures may be avoidable.”

House Bill 1402 – which passed the House 40- 24 – would provide homeowners with more opportunities –counseling assistance and outreach efforts – to save their homes from foreclosure without providing any bailouts or government dollars.  The bill also encourages banks to make a good faith effort to find a resolution to bad debt.

Specifically, the bill establishes and finances a meaningful outreach and education program, to provide at-risk borrowers in at-risk communities important information about the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline and other debt counseling services.     

Romanoff Pushes Coverage That Counts

“PAY WHAT YOU OWE, WHEN YOU OWE IT”

DENVER – Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff’s “Insurance Accountability Act of 2008” received initial approval from the House this afternoon. The proposal will push insurance companies to pay consumers what they are owed for valid claims.

“Our message to insurers is simple: ‘Pay what you owe – when you owe it,’” said Speaker Romanoff.

“Too many consumers are trapped in an endless cycle of denials and appeals and delays,” he continued. “This bill will help ill and injured Coloradans recover their damages and get on with their lives.”

House Bill 1407, also sponsored by Senator Ken Gordon (D-Denver), strengthens the ability of the Insurance Commissioner to deter unreasonable conduct by an insurer; helps consumers recover their damages; and clarifies the definition of “restitution.”

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SAFE Support Strengthens

Broad Coalition Testifies in Support of the
“Savings Account For Education”

DENVER – A coalition of business, education, children’s advocacy, and civics groups testified in favor of SAFE, the Savings Account for Education, a bi-partisan proposal led by Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver) and Senator Steve Johnson (R-Larimer).

Testifying in support of the proposal Tuesday afternoon were Attorney General John Suthers, State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, the Colorado Association of School Boards, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, as well as a number of other business and community leaders.

Only one witness testified in opposition to the proposal, referring to education as a “pet project” and dismissing supporters as “special interests.”

“Public schools aren’t ‘pet projects,’” Romanoff said. “Investing in education is the best way to strengthen our economy. And a strong economy is in everyone’s interest.”

House Concurrent Resolution 1014 will be before the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee again on Wednesday morning for action only.

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Major Cancer Prevention Bill Passes House

Screenings that cost $3,000 now could soon cost less than $65

DENVER – Nearly half of those diagnosed with colon cancer could be saved if they had access to timely screening, according to the American Cancer Society.  Unfortunately, colonoscopies and other types of screenings are extremely pricey, even for those with insurance.  Depending on the co-payment, which can vary significantly, the average deductible for colorectal cancer screenings can range from $300 to $5,000, making testing particularly cost prohibitive, even for those with insurance.

But today, the House of Representatives passed one of the most significant health care bills in years, making early cancer tests more affordable.  House Bill 1410, sponsored by State Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood), directs insurance companies to provide the most common colon cancer screenings with co-payments of no more than $65.

“This bill ensures Coloradans get health care coverage that counts,” said Rep. Kerr. “Early screening can be the difference between catching a polyp early, maybe before it is cancerous, and waiting until it is too late.”

Although it is only the 4th most common type of cancer, colon cancer has the 2nd highest mortality rate in Colorado, trailing only lung cancer.  It's expected that 1,840 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in Colorado during 2008.

The bill passed out of the House today by a vote of 42 to 22.  It now goes to the Senate where it is being carried by State Senator Lois Tochtrop (D-Thornton).

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Piggy Bank Lessons

Today is National Teach Children to Save Day

(Denver) Each year, teenagers in America spend $180 billion, or $104 each week.  To prevent these spending habits from leading to bankruptcy and indebtedness, Governor Bill Ritter has proclaimed April 29^th, 2008 as National Teach Children to Save Day. 

Earlier this year, a financial advisor from Edward Jones, Tom McLean of Westminster, asked his State Representative Debbie Benefield (D-Westminster) to propose National Teach Children to Save Day in Colorado, to promote financial literacy and responsibility among Colorado’s youth.

In the 1980’s, Americans saved 9 cents on every dollar that they earned. During the 90’s, they only saved a nickel. The most recent reports indicate that Americans are spending more than they earn, and have a negative savings rate of 0.5 cents. 

Accordingly, Tom McLean and several other financial advisors and bankers from the American Bankers Association will be participating in National Teach Children to Save Day.  Mr. McLean will be visiting 1^st and 3^rd grade classrooms in Westminster to raise financial awareness.  Throughout the week, he will be giving lessons, piggy bank in hand, at 4 elementary schools: Tarver, Arapahoe Ridge, Hunter’s Glenn, and Le Roy. 

“Basic education in financial and economic literacy help form lifetime savings habits and the wise use of credit,” Rep. Benefield said.

Although the program is directed towards America’s youth, National Teach Children to Save Day serves to remind everyone about the importance of fiscal responsibility.

The proclamation is timely, given that a financial literacy education bill, House Bill 1168, is making its way to the Governor’s desk.  Sponsored by State Representative Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver), the bill advises Colorado schools to integrate financial literacy education as part of the math curriculum. If passed, students will be taught penny-saving smarts throughout their K-12 education years.

“We know that Americans are spending more and saving less.  This is a proactive plan to teach our children how to manage money and avoid credit card debt down the road” Rep. Marshall stated.

The bill comes in response to sobering information about young people's financial acumen.  Despite spending $150 billion annually, a 2006 nationwide study showed only 52 percent of young Americans demonstrated sufficient personal financial literacy, and the average high school senior only answered 48 percent of questions about economics and finance correctly.

House Bill 1168 has passed the House and now awaits approval from the full Senate, where it is sponsored by Senator Chris Romer (D-Denver).

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Kafka Would Be Proud!

Bill taking on bark beetle’s metamorphosis of Colorado forests passes House

DENVER – On Monday, the House sent a bill to the Governor’s desk – with a sweeping vote of 64 to 1 – to extend the successful Colorado Forest Restoration Pilot Program.   

“We cannot stop the bark beetle epidemic.  But we can and must take steps to address the resulting devastation,” said the bill sponsor in the House, State Representative Christine Scanlan (D-Silverthorne).

Senate Bill 71, which was also sponsored by State Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne), awaits will provide $1 million annually through 2012 to help communities implement forest treatment projects to reduce the wildfire fuels and protect Colorado’s vulnerable watersheds.

The bill is part of broad efforts by Western Slope and high country lawmakers to stem the bark beetle scourge. One recent study estimated that every lodgepole pine forest from Pueblo to Wyoming will be decimated within five years.   

Dead trees and abundant vegetation, spurred by the beetle infestation, serve as particularly potent fuel sources for wildfires that can devastate Colorado.  Many Colorado communities, as well as the state’s various drinking water sources – including Denver’s – are threatened by wildfires.      

“Look, the state is already coping with wildfires, and it’s not even May yet.  It could be another hot, dry summer.  If we’re going to outlast another difficult summer, we’re going to need to provide our wildland fire fighters with every tool in the toolbox.”

The bill now awaits final action from the governor.

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Riesberg Tackles Childhood Obesity

Milk, Water and Juice to replace Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper in Schools

DENVER—State lawmakers are tackling childhood obesity, and they are starting in a place where kids spend thirty hours each week: schools.

State Representative Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley) is the sponsor of Senate Bill 129, which combats obesity by outlining clear rules for schools indicating which beverages may be sold to students in school cafeterias, vending machines, school stores, and through fund-raising activities.  The bill was signed into law by Governor Ritter on Friday.

“We are replacing Coke, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper with milk, water and juice in schools,” Rep. Riesberg explained.

The law directs the State Board of Education and the State Charter School Institute Board to determine which drinks are considered healthy enough to meet child nutrition beverage standards. Those drinks could include milk, 100-percent-fruit and vegetable juices, low calorie sports drinks, bottled water and fat-free or low-fat flavored milk.   

The law aims to address the childhood obesity epidemic.  Estimates show that 25 million children age 2-19 are overweight or in danger of being overweight.

“There is no reason to have high-calorie soft drinks in school vending machines.  When we have an obesity epidemic, we should be doing everything we can to help kids make healthy choices.  We know that eating patterns are established at a young age, and we can do a lot to help kids get a smart start,” Rep. Riesberg explained.

The passed legislation dictates that rules must be established by November 15^th and will apply to all contracts signed after July 1, 2009.  The bill is sponsored by Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Silverthorne) in the Senate.

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The Internet: It's Not Just a Series of Tubes Anymore!

Rep. Riesberg Brings Broadband to all of Colorado

DENVER—Today the full House gave approval to a measure that would help bring broadband internet service to rural areas in Colorado.

Sponsored by State Representative Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley), Senate Bill 215 would direct Colorado’s Chief Information Officer to identify new broadband telecommunications service areas within Colorado.  In addition, the bill would develop a map of those areas, with the goal of using the map to bring broadband services to those parts of the state that currently do not have access.

“Your zip code should not determine your ability to connect to the outside world,” Rep. Riesberg stated. “Our ability to be competitive depends on our ability to get broadband internet into rural areas of Weld County. Modern technology in our homes, businesses and schools will bring us up to speed with the rest of the state,” he concluded.

Many parts of rural Colorado have fallen behind Front Range areas in access to high-speed internet connections. Broadband communication is crucial for economic development, and extending this technology will improve health care and educational services and strengthen local businesses in rural Colorado.

The bill passed the House today on a vote of 51 to 14.  Senate Bill 215, also sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), now heads to the Governor’s desk.

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