Colorado House Democrats

In Early June, Governor Bill Ritter Signed a Number of Bills Sponsored By House Democrats.

Rep. Debbie Benefield (D-Arvada) listens to Gov. Ritter praise her bill that will extend child care tax credits for working families.

HB 1049 extends the tax credit for donating money to promote childcare in Colorado for another 10 years. This will help charities such as Boys and Girls Clubs and Mile High United Way provide much-needed child care services to working families.

"Oftentimes, one parent has to stay at home – sacrificing a paycheck – to take care of the kids," Rep. Debbie Benefield said. "But we helped address that dilemma by passing HB 1049, making it a little easier for working moms and working families to get the childcare they need."

Rep. Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge) watches as the Governor signs her consumer protection bill into law.

Rep. Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver, center) watches his bill that helps home-buyers avoid foreclosure become the law of the land.

-- Posted by staff

 

GJ Lawmaker Keeps Coloradans' Heat On and Costs Down

DENVER – Today, Governor Ritter signed a package of bills that legislators sent him to help low- and moderate-income households keep their heat on and their utility costs down.  

House Bill 1387, sponsored by State Representative Bernie Buescher (D-Grand Junction), was the capstone piece of legislation signed today.  The bill expands the Low-Income Energy Assistance Funding Program – or LEAP – and the state's emergency Energy Outreach Colorado Program to assist thousands of Colorado families keep their heat on during the long winter months.  

"As energy costs continue to rise, it is increasingly difficult for Colorado's most vulnerable residents to afford their home energy expenses," said Rep. Buescher.  "Families with children, senior citizens and individuals with special needs must allocate more of their limited resources to pay the energy bills.  The LEAP program will help more Coloradans keep the heat on.  

This legislation provides $6.5 million for emergency assistance through the state's Energy Outreach Colorado Program and $6.5 million toward LEAP.

In addition to the LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado program expansions, Governor Ritter signed two other bills to help homeowners save money by making their homes more energy efficient:

House Bill 1350 by Majority Leader Alice Madden and State Senator Chris Romer(D-Denver) allows local governments to provide below-market rate loans to homeowners to finance home improvements for small-scale renewable energy projects, including efficiency retrofits, and the installation of renewable energy fixtures such as wind turbines and solar panels.  

"This sets the groundwork so every Colorado home, farm, ranch, and business can save on their utility bills while investing in a new energy future," said Rep.  Madden.

Senate Bill 184 by Sen. Romer & State Representative Claire Levy (D-Boulder) helps low-income homeowners finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through the creation of the Colorado Clean Energy Finance Program,

"We'll be able to provide below-market loans to low- and moderate-income homes, helping them make energy improvements to their homes in order to save money on their utility bills," said Rep. Levy.

Rep. Buescher emphasized why these bills were such an important package: "LEAP aids Coloradans with direct assistance.  When coupled with the efforts of groups like the Youth Conservation Corps, HB 1350 and SB 184 will help Colorado homeowners – particularly those benefitting from LEAP – weatherize their homes and make them more energy efficient when they might not otherwise afford to do so."

-- Posted by staff

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.     

Bill Prohibiting HOAs from Restricting Energy Efficiency Measures on its Way to Governor

Today, the House sent a bill prohibiting Homeowners Associations (HOAs) from restricting energy efficiency measures to the Governor’s desk.  The House concurred with Senate Amendments to House Bill 1270 – which is sponsored by State Representative Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) and State Senator Ron Tupa (D-Boulder). The bill then re-passed the House with a bi-partisan, 54 to 10 vote. 

The bill encourages homeowners to invest in technologies to lower their utility bills and helps all Coloradans participate in the new energy economy.  In so doing, the measure supports small businesses that produce renewable and efficiency technologies.

“This is one of the most progressive HOA energy efficiency measures in the country,” said Rep. Kerr.  “I’m proud to help empower thousands of Coloradans to maintain more energy efficient homes,”   

The bill extends an existing law that bars HOAs from limiting the use of solar devices.  It also includes other energy efficiency measures such as wind-electric generators, shade structures such as awnings, shutters, attic fans and swamp coolers, and retractable clotheslines. 

“This is yet another bill that goes to show, red, white blue is the new green,” proclaimed Rep. Kerr.   

HB 1270 now awaits action from the Governor.

-- Posted by staff

Major Foreclosure Bill Unveiled

Lawmakers Propose The American Dream Protection Act of 2008

(DENVER) Legislators and supporters gathered in a middle-class west Denver neighborhood today to announce a plan to provide deserving homeowners with more opportunities to save their homes from foreclosure -- without government bailouts.

Representatives Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) and Sara Gagliardi (D-JeffCo) stood in the midst of a neighborhood hard-hit by foreclosure to unveil the American Dream Protection Act of 2008.

“Foreclosures are skyrocketing and people are losing their homes. The American Dream is at risk in Colorado,” said Rep. Gagliardi.  “Abandoned houses litter neighborhoods all over the state.  Some people lose their homes because they were misled by greedy banks; some, because of bad luck. And some homeowners are losing their houses because they made poor choices.” 

“But most people take personal responsibility and work tirelessly to save their homes and prevent foreclosure.  We need to help hard-working, responsible Coloradans save their homes and protect their American Dream, without a government bailout.  That’s why, this week, we are introducing legislation that will make foreclosure the option of last resort – for mortgage lenders and homeowners,” Rep. Gagliardi announced.

The American Dream Protection Act of 2008 provides homeowners with more opportunities – time, communication, and counseling assistance – to save their homes from foreclosure without providing any bailouts or government dollars.         

       The bill does two things:

• Empowers a judge to grant a ninety-day Foreclosure Temporary Time-Out to borrowers if the bank has not demonstrated a good faith effort to negotiate, and if the homeowner has demonstrated a commitment to saving their house.

• It places new notification requirements on mortgage lenders before they foreclose. Lenders need to make their best efforts to contact people who fall behind in payments to tell them about mortgage counseling assistance that could help them save their homes.  It also directs the banks to make a good faith effort to find a resolution. 

-- Posted by staff