Colorado House Democrats

House to Return $900,000 to State from General Assembly Budget

DENVER -- Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll announced that the Colorado House of Representatives – including the Majority Democrats, the Minority Republicans, and the administrative divisions – will return approximately $900,000 from its operating budget to the State’s General Fund for this fiscal year which ends today.

“House staff and leaders have consistently been wise stewards of the budget,” said Speaker Carroll.  “We take seriously the idea that the taxpayers are our bosses, the money we spend is theirs, and we are accountable to them.”

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Riesberg's Health Care Bills Go Into Effect Wednesday

Greeley Rep Aims to Make Healthcare More Affordable

(DENVER) - Wednesday, July 1 marks the day that a number of new laws spearheaded by Democrats go into effect.  Greeley’s representative, Jim Riesberg, has led the legislative efforts on four of these bills that aim to make healthcare more affordable. 

Rep. Riesberg’s Colorado Health Care Affordability Act is the most significant health care reform legislation in Colorado in four decades.  When fully implemented, House Bill 1293 will provide health coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and reduce uncompensated care and cost shifting.  No new patients will be accepted through this program until the federal agencies grant their approval -- a change that is expected early next year.  This bill was a key piece in Governor Ritter's legislative agenda. 

 "This is a Colorado solution to a Colorado problem," said Rep. Riesberg.  "Whether or not Washington is able to fix our broken health care system, here at home, we can make huge strides toward making health care more affordable for all."

Senate Bill 26 (with Sen. Suzanne Williams) will prevent sub-par athletic trainers from misrepresenting themselves to clients by requiring them to be qualified to work with athletes in the identification, treatment, and prevention of injuries. This legislation assures that a licensed Athletic Trainer will have at least a BA degree from an accredited athletic training program and will have passed a national competency examination.  Athletic Trainers work under the direction of a physician with sports teams and in specialized clinics.

Senate Bill 239 (with Sen. Lois Tochtrop) significantly updates the state’s Nurse Practice Act.  Now, nurses will be able to provide more medical services and prescribe medications.  As nurses are paid less than doctors, these changes will help keep health care costs down.  

In order to receive prescriptive authority, an Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) must have a graduate degree in a nursing specialty; complete a structured post-graduate mentorship of at least 1,800 hours; be national certified; and obtain professional liability insurance. APNs must also establish collaborative agreements with physicians. The bill also creates a group to support collaboration and communication between the practices of nurses and physicians.

Rep. Riesberg said, "Sometimes, it's these little things that make a big difference.  Few citizens outside the capitol paid attention to the Nurse Practice Act, but this could have big implications for patients and bill-payers across the state.  By expanding the care that they are legally able to provide, advanced practice nurses can now provide more care, in more communities, for less money."

Lastly, SB 251 (with Sen. Chris Romer) permits optometrists and physicians to prescribe and sell a new trend in eye-care, drug-releasing contact lenses. Under current law, optometrists and physicians may prescribe and dispense drugs, however only pharmacies may legally sell drugs. As of Wednesday, patients will not have to go back and forth – from the optometrist to get a prescription, to the pharmacy to pick up the lenses, back to the optometrist to get the lenses fitted.  A doctor can do it all in one appointment.  This saves consumers both time and money.

--Posted by Staff

New Laws Go Into Effect July 1

Democrats Create Jobs, Make Heathcare More Affordable, Expand Unemployment Benefits

(DENVER) -   July 1 marks the day that a number of new laws spearheaded by Democrats go into effect.  While some bills help consumers, others aim to jump-start the economy and create jobs.  A number of others provide support for laid-off workers and aim to make healthcare more affordable. 

Economy and Jobs: 
Before he left for a tour in Iraq with the Army Reserve, Rep. Joe Rice (D-Littleton) sponsored Senate Bill 91 (with Sen. Romer) to make sure that auto dealers, often small business owners, are protected if their parent company terminates their franchise agreement.  This bill became especially relevant when Chrysler and General Motors suddenly sent termination notices to a number of their franchisees. 

And the Democrats have prepared Colorado to rebound when the economy recovers by passing Senate Bill 228.  Sen. John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) made sure this important bipartisan bill was passed so Colorado can untie a knot of outdated and conflicting fiscal mandates and doubles the state’s rainy day reserve fund. 

Affordable Healthcare: 
The Democrats introduced the Colorado Health Care Affordability Act is the most significant health reform legislation in Colorado in four decades.  HB 1293 (Rep. Jim Riesberg) will provide health coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans and reduce uncompensated care and cost shifting.  The bill goes into effect on Wednesday and after applying for federal approval, the first patients will be added to the list next spring.  This bill was a key piece in Governor Ritter's legislative agenda. 

Rep. Rice and Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) predict that House Bill 1012, which allows healthcare companies to provide incentives for participation in wellness and prevention programs, will promote both personal responsibility and lower insurance premiums. 

Senator Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood), Sen. Lois Tochtrop, and nurse and lawmaker Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) are committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable by expanding the care that nurses are able to provide.  Now, nurses, nurse aides and advanced practice nurses can provide more care, in more communities, for less money. 

Consumer bills: 
Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) worked to pass House Bill 1141 to better protect consumers by updating consumer lease regulations and the availability of free credit reports as well as freeing up debt-management services to help those facing foreclosure. 

Two laws will protect Coloradans from identity theft. Rep. Debbie Benefield’s (D-Westminster) SB 025 provides for anti-fraud features on driver's licenses and verifies legal qualifications for entitlement programs.

It’s not illegal in Colorado to possess someone else’s passport. It’s not illegal to possess ten people’s Social Security cards without their permission.  Senate Bill 93, sponsored by Sen. Suzanne Williams (D-Aurora) will go into effect on Wednesday and all that will change.  SB 93 would make it illegal for individuals to knowingly possess another person’s passport, drivers’ license or Social Security card without permission.

And Democratic leadership (Speaker Terrance Carroll and President Brandon Shaffer) passed House Bill 1326 which will protect citizens from crooked petition-gatherers. 

Other: 
The Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (SB 247), sponsored by Sen. Lois Tochtrop and Rep. Sal Pace, makes more Coloradans eligible for unemployment insurance. It also provides funding to cover 13,000 unemployed Coloradans with 20 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, and extends benefits to people in job training programs. 

As of Wednesday, House Bill 1091 requires all new homes and apartments to be built with carbon-monoxide detectors. 

--Posted by Staff

New Rep. Max Tyler to Host First Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow

WHAT:         State Representative Max Tyler is hosting a town hall meeting on
Personal finance: surviving during a recession and stretching your dollar.

Topics to be discussed include:
Refinancing and new ways to avoid foreclosure
Bankruptcy - when and when not
Consumer Credit
Handling Credit and Credit Cards
Retirement Planning - recovering from 401K losses, savings, investing
Scams to avoid

WHEN:          Tomorrow, Thursday, July 9th
                     6:00 PM

WHERE:        American Legion
                      1655 Simms, Lakewood

WHO:         Host: State Rep. Max Tyler (D-Jeffco)

Panelists:
Margaret Chapman, Public Trustee, Jefferson County
George Shoemaker, Regional Director of Education & Community Relations,
Colorado Center for Financial Education
Mason Finks- Director of Fraud Prevention, District Attorney's Office, 18th
Judicial District of Colorado
Austin Lewis, Certified Financial Planner, Wagner Wealth Management

"While it may feel like we are in this economic crisis alone, we are not.  During tight economic times, we can benefit each other with tips and suggestions for stretching limited dollars."  
State Representative Max Tyler

Click here for posts featuring Representative Tyler

--Posted by Staff

Lawmakers Practice What They Preach at Bike to Work Day

DENVER – They talk the talk, they walk the walk and they bike their bikes: they are the hard-core bicyclists of the House Democrats! 

On Wednesday’s Bike to Work Day, Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, Assistant Majority Leader Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood), Rep. Michael Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs, and sponsor of several pro-biking bills), Health Committee Chair Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley), and the newest legislator in the state Rep. Max Tyler (D-Lakewood/Golden) will use just two wheels as they go about their legislative, family, and professional business.

Rep. Tyler said, “I plan to bike from my home in Lakewood to the Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Golden to discuss the School of Mines.”

“I have been getting ready for a big mountain-bike race, the Leadville 100,” said Rep. Merrifield. “So I’ll be doing a long training ride around Colorado Springs.”

Rep. Kerr says that he’s saving Colorado a quarter-ton of pollution by his biking.  He has already shown his commitment to a more sustainable Colorado by often biking from his Lakewood home to the Capitol during this past legislative session. On twenty-eight days from January through June, he used pedal power to make the 22-mile round trip. 

He figures that his efforts saved our air from nearly 530 lbs. of pollutants. Each mile in a car can put 390 grams of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide into the air. Each mile on the trails kept smog out of our air, took us a small step closer towards energy independence, and even saved the taxpayers a few dollars. 

On the days Rep. Kerr biked to the Capitol, he deducted the charge from his daily mileage allowance. It might not have closed the hole in the budget, but in these tough times, every dollar counts!

Speaking from the side of the Lakewood Gulch Trail, Rep. Kerr said, "If you ride your bike, it is healthy for you and healthy for the community."

Rep. Riesberg will be out on his bike from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM, stopping at a number of bike-to-work stations and cheering on his fellow Greeley-ites. 

“I’ve been doing this event for a number of years,” said Rep. Riesberg.  “I see old friends, earn a new t-shirt, and get my morning exercise, all before 9AM!” 

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Fischer Wants to End E-waste & Promote E-recycling:

(DENVER) -   When Rep. Randy Fischer (D-Fort Collins) started to talk about a bill to increase the recycling of electronics – from TVs to stereos to computers – he found a lot of like-minded people.  With Senator Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass), they passed House Bill 1282, forming an action-oriented group to help spur the growth of Colorado’s small e-waste recycling industry.  They hope to push Colorado on its first steps toward a comprehensive “e-recycling” program.  

In Colorado, the vast majority of consumer electronics – including cathode ray tubes, circuit boards, and toxins - end up in our landfills.  This e-waste puts substantial amounts of heavy metal pollution into our air and water and it wastes valuable resources that could be easily recovered and re-used.  

The interim committee will meet on Thursday to begin to tackle the problem.

WHAT:         First meeting of the interim Electronic Device Recycling Task Force

WHO:        Rep. Fischer, Rep. Jim Kerr, Sen. Dan Gibbs, Sen. Pat Steadman and non-legislative appointees

WHEN:         9:30 AM Thursday June 25

WHERE:         HCR 0111, Capitol basement

“We need to plan a thoughtful response to electronics dumping,” said Rep. Fischer.  “With the potential for lead and mercury to leach into our drinking water, we must address this public health threat now.  This task force should lead to the creation of jobs, will keep toxins out of the environment, and will recover valuable resources.”

Nation-wide, recyclers recover more than 100 million pounds of materials from electronics each year. Recycling electronics helps reduce pollution that would be generated while manufacturing a new product and reduces the need to extract valuable and limited virgin resources. (source: EPA)  E-recycling also protects public health by keeping heavy metals like lead and mercury out of our drinking water.  And best of all, e-recycling creates jobs in the recycling industry.

The task force is comprised of 19 members, will meet just three times, will report back to the legislature next session, and requires no state general funds.

Click here for posts featuring Representative Fischer

--Posted by Staff

Speaker of the Colorado House Terrance Carroll Released This Statement in Response to Today’s Budget Forecast

“We worked hard to balance the budget in a bi-partisan way.  While the predicted shortfall is disturbing, it’s not surprising.  We all know that these are tough times. The economy continues to struggle and families continue to tighten their belts. We in state government will continue to tighten our belts, too, and we will continue to make progress toward bolstering our economy.

For now, there is no need for a special legislative session.  We’ve put in place plans to cover contingencies for such a shortfall.  The Governor has the authority, the ability, and importantly, the wisdom to make good and tough choices in line with the values of the Colorado voters.  

Moving forward, we will continue to work with the Governor, Republicans, and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy on a plan to balance next year’s budget.

For many lawmakers, this will be one more push to engage our constituents in a larger discussion about the role of government.  It is, for us, a question of values.  We are committed to expanding the circle of opportunity to ensure that the next generation and our economy flourish."

Click here for posts featuring Speaker Carroll

--Posted by Staff

Speaker Carroll and Rep. Apuan to speak to the South Asian Bar Association

(Denver) Tomorrow, State Representative Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs) will speak to the Colorado South Asian Bar Association’s Networking Event after being introduced by Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll.  Rep. Apuan will discuss his experiences as an Asian-American candidate and first-term lawmaker at the State Capitol.

WHAT:        
The Colorado South Asian Bar Association (SABA) will host a networking event with Speaker Terrance Carroll and Rep. Dennis Apuan.  Rep. Apuan, the only Asian American presently serving in the Colorado legislature and the first Filipino-American lawmaker, will “share his experiences in getting elected and serving in the political system as an Asian American.”

WHO:            
Speaker Terrance Carroll
Representative Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs)
Members of SABA and other Bar Associations will attend.

WHERE:          
Fairfield and Woods PC, downtown Denver
please RSVP to Katie Reinisch at 303-866-2774 if you would like to cover the event

WHEN:            
Tuesday, June 16
5:30pm

Click here for posts featuring Representative Apuan

Click here for posts featuring Speaker Carroll

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Apuan to be Special Guest At Philippine Festival Saturday

(DENVER)  State Representative Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs) will be an honored guest at Saturday’s Philippine Festival at 1900 Harlan Street in Edgewater, Colorado.  Rep. Apuan will be participating in the day-long event and speaking at 1:15 pm when he will present the "“Philippine Independence Day” proclamation. 

Earlier today, Gov. Bill Ritter proclaimed June 12, 2009, “Philippine Independence Day” throughout Colorado, “recognizing the friendship the Republic of the Philippines has shown the United States for more than a century, and the contributions that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have made to the State of Colorado. According to a 2007 survey by the American Community Survey, more than 15,000 Filipinos currently reside in Colorado, helping grow the economy and adding another unique cultural dynamic to Colorado’s already-rich melting pot.” (Governor Ritter’s Office) 

Rep. Apuan said, “As the first Filipino-American elected to the Colorado Statehouse, I am deeply honored to extend my heartfelt felicitations and best wishes to the general membership of the Filipino-American Community of Colorado and to the wider Colorado community. The Filipino community's noble efforts to showcase the very best of Philippine arts, entertainment and culture -- along with a taste of our world-renown hospitality and cuisine – are a magnificent testament to the enduring Filipino spirit of bayanihan or community cooperation…” 
        
More information on the event is available here: 
http://www.mycharityweb.com/FACC/cp.aspx?pid=456ebab7-1f50-4a31-9737-032f533fb6e9 

Click here for posts featuring Representative Apuan

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Todd Selected as Toll Fellow

(AURORA) -  State Representative Nancy Todd (D-Aurora) was selected along with 39 other state political leaders from across the nation to participate in the prestigious Toll Fellowship Program.  

Held annually in Lexington, KY and sponsored by the Council of State Governments, the program facilitates premier leadership development through the selection and training of emerging state officials nationwide from all three branches of government.  Fellows are selected based on leadership potential and accomplishments to date. 

The program is named in honor of Henry Toll, a Colorado Senator from 1922-1930 and founder of the CSG.  This year, the seminar runs September 12-17 and will focus on trends analysis, policy development, media and constituent relations, and leadership and institutional changes.

Rep Todd was selected from a pool of applicants representing 40 states and 2 U.S. territories.  She was nominated by Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, with endorsements from Senator Paula Sandoval and Majority Leader Paul Weissmann.  

Rep. Todd currently serves on the boards of the Colorado High School Activities Association, Ridge View Academy, American Military Families, Fitzsimmons Veterans Nursing Home, and the Mile High Lung Association.  She chairs the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee and has been a member of the Education Committee for five years.  She is a member of the Aurora Rotary Club, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the American Association of University Women, the Greenwood Community Church, and is a Star Supporter for the Aurora Fox Theater.

Click here for posts featuring Representative Todd

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Joe Rice on signing of SB 173

Democratic Rep. Joe Rice, the House sponsor of Senate Bill 173, is in Iraq as a Colonel with the Army Reserve, and is unable to respond to media inquiries immediately.

In previous statements, Rep. Rice said that he believed the bill would create jobs and increase state revenues by helping to build a project like a NASCAR track or a Winter Olympics venue that would not have gotten done without the tax break.

"Why do we need to do things to attract NASCAR? They have options as to where they can go," Rice said. "This will bring in thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in revenue we wouldn't have had otherwise."

Note:  Rep. Rice is a member of the United States Army Reserve.  Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.

Click here for posts featuring Representative Rice

--Posted by Staff

House Welcomes Max Tyler, Colorado’s Newest Legislator

Denver – Jefferson County technology consultant and businessman Max Tyler was sworn in to succeed Gwyn Green as the State Representative for House District 23 today. 

Representative Tyler pledged to work to create jobs and bolster the economy as part of Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll’s goal to “expand the circle of opportunity.” 

“It’s an honor to serve my friends and neighbors in Jefferson County,” said Rep. Tyler today.  “I know how to create jobs and what it takes to run a successful business.  I well understand that part of the economy.” 

Rep. Tyler, 61, has been a small business owner over 35 years.  He created, grew and sold two businesses before starting his current business, The Star Group, which is a consulting firm focused on effective information management for small businesses. 

In the Eighties, Tyler was involved in small business advisory committees for both Governor Roy Romer and Denver Mayor Federico Pena as well as the Airport Finance and Development Advisory Committee.  More recently, he has been involved in the Jefferson County Democratic Party, serving as House District Chair and working on campaigns. 

Tyler grew up in the Midwest and came to Colorado to attend the University of Denver.  He met his wife Susan when she was a customer of his first business over thirty years ago.  They live in Lakewood with beagle Darby and cat Cleo.  Their son Roger lives variously in Fort Collins where he is a student at CSU, in Breckenridge where he is a course leader for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, and currently, as a crew member on a 40-foot sailboat somewhere in the Caribbean.

District 23 in Jefferson County contains the city of Golden, Applewood, and North Central Lakewood. This district is home to a number of large employers, including the Colorado School of Mines, NREL, Coors Brewery, Colorado Mills, and CaridianBCT.

--Posted by Staff

House Democratic Bills Signed Into Law

State Representative Riesberg (Greeley), State Senator Tochtrop (Thornton) and Governor Ritter.

State Representative Ryden (Aurora), State Senator Williams (Aurora), and Governor Ritter.

State Representative Todd (Aurora), State Senator Williams (Aurora), and Governor Ritter.

State Representative Vigil, State Senator Schwartz, and Governor Ritter.

State Representative Levy (Boulder) and Governor Ritter.

State Representative Soper (Thornton)

--Posted by Staff

Rep. Scanlan and Sen. Gibbs Announce Bark Beetle Congressional Hearing at Landmark Legislation Signing

ARAPAHOE BASIN - Today, State Representative Christine Scanlan (D-Summit County) and State Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Summit County) watched their landmark legislation known as the Healthy Forests / Vibrant Communities Act signed into law.   

House Bill 1199 is a sweeping piece of legislation that makes $3 million available for a series of initiatives to combat the epidemic. Moneys from the legislation will assist mountain and Front Range communities plan for forest health management activities; expand protection for Colorado’s watersheds, local communities and vital infrastructure; and provide grants for market-based solutions to reduce the overall threat posed by wildfire.   

The pair of lawmakers also announced that amid calls from state and local officials for heightened federal attention to the growing epidemic, a Congressional hearing addressing the bark beetle infestation had been scheduled for later in the month.   

“At this point, we have a pretty good idea of what it will take to mitigate the threat effectively,” said Rep. Scanlan.  “We’ve done a good job mapping the problem, and we’ll keep working locally to address the epidemic with our limited resources, through unique collaborations between state and local government, emergency personnel, and private industry.  But we need Congress to act.  And that’s what we’re asking them to do.”   

Both lawmakers are expected to travel to Washington to testify in front of Congress about Colorado’s experience, and to make a request for expanded federal support.  The hearing, titled "The Mountain Pine Beetle: Strategies for Protecting the West,” will be held June 16 by the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands subcommittee, in conjunction with the Power and Water subcommittee.  In addition to the state legislators, members of Congress, people from Colorado’s local business community, and various administration officials will testify.       

“I am proud of the significant work we did this session to protect Colorado from the devastating effects of forest fire” said Sen. Gibbs.  “This bill in particular reflects the work accomplished with legislators from both side of the aisle to make sure we are prepared when the next wildfire hits.  Now is the time to continue fighting for federal support for Colorado’s wildfire projects.”

Click here for posts featuring Representative Scanlan

--Posted by Staff

Statement from Rep. Apuan Regarding Fort Carson Brigade

State Representative Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs), whose house district 17 includes Fort Carson, released the following statement today in response to the Army cancelling plans to add a fifth army brigade to Fort Carson: 

"Knowing how much time and energy the community has spent preparing for the arrival of the soldiers and their families, it is a huge disappointment for us to learn that they will not be coming after all.  Our local economy will feel the impact for sure. I remain committed to working with the community and my colleagues to continue our work to create good jobs in El Paso County and statewide."

--Posted by Staff