Colorado House Democrats

New Health Care Laws Bring Immediate Benefits to Coloradans

Colorado’s kids & families to see immediate benefits from new laws
going into effect today

Pictured from left to right: Rep. Gagliardi, Rep. Carroll, Rep. McGihon, Rep. Riesberg

DENVER – Dozens of new laws go into effect on July 1, including four critical health care bills that will provide immediate benefits to Colorado’s businesses and families. The laws focus on lowering costs and increasing Coloradans’ access to health care. Highlights include:

Older Coloradans Cash Fund (HB 1108):
Colorado’s senior citizens will receive an extra $3 million to help them stay independent, productive and at home for as long as possible. The funds shore up a menu of basic senior services, including meals-on-wheels, shopping shuttles, and basic in-home care.

“We’re all aware of the changing demographics and the silver tsunami being created by aging baby-boomers,” said bill sponsorRep. Jim Riesberg (D-Greeley). “The Older Colorado Cash Fund saves active seniors’ independence and the state’s money. The alternative for these people are much costlier residential nursing care facilities. The increased funding will help these folks continue to lead productive, independent lives.”

The FAIR Act (HB 1389):
The Fair & Accountable Insurance Rates (FAIR) Act ensures that 1.3 million Coloradans’ health insurance rates can’t be increased without good cause. The new law will help keep costs down and holds insurance companies accountable, empowering Colorado’s Insurance Commissioner to deny proposed insurance rate increases when insurers cannot justify them.

"Expensive coverage equals no coverage for many Colorado families and businesses,” said bill sponsor Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora). “The FAIR Act addresses increasing rates and declining coverage by making sure that our health care is the insurance industries’ bottom line. Now, insurance companies must justify their rate increases before they take effect. When rates do go up, we will track the reasons why and make that information available to the public.  Because our health should be there bottom line.”  

Families and Economy Helped by New Laws Taking Effect on July 1

Highlights Include Sunday Liquor Sales, Fair & Accountable Insurance Rates, Conservation Easements

DENVER – Making sure Coloradans have affordable health care at any age, boosting our economy, and protecting our open spaces were the driving forces behind legislation passed during the 2008 session. Many of the new laws are set to take effect July 1.

“July 1 will be a great day for Colorado's families -- and a bad day for bark beetles. These new laws will bring much-needed protection to consumers, major improvements to our environment, and a welcome boost to the economy,” said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.

Bills that become effective July 1 include:

SB 221 protects our forests and reduces fire danger. Local communities will get the help they need to remove fire hazards in our forests, such as the lodge pole pine trees killed by bark beetles. (Rep. Christine Scanlan, Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Summit County, et al)
 
SB 77 targets online ticket abusers who use predatory software to buy out tickets and re-sell them at astronomical prices -- remember the Rockies World Series debacle? Harsher penalties are in store for people who obtain more tickets than allowed by a vendor through an online sale. (Rep. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge)

State Legislature Honors Flag Day With New Law

State buildings to display flags made in the USA   

DENVER – As the nation celebrates Flag Day on Saturday, June 14, the Colorado state legislature will honor Old Glory with a new law passed this session directing state buildings to display flags that have been made in America.

“On Flag Day we celebrate this enduring American symbol representing the core American values of liberty, justice, and equality that our nation was founded upon,” said State Representative and bill co-sponsor Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada). “Flying the Stars and Stripes reminds us of these great ideals, and knowing that the flags we will be displaying were born in the USA is an added expression of gratitude.”

This year, the state legislature took the initiative to ensure America’s most visible symbol would be ‘Made in the USA.’ The new law, authored by State Representative Dorothy Butcher (D-Pueblo), directs state agencies and local governments to purchase and display American flags only if they have been made in the United States.

“Flying the flag is an expression of thanks for the men and women who are defending our freedoms around the world,” said State Representative Joe Rice (D-Littleton). “Now, offices and buildings throughout Colorado will show appreciation for their service by only flying flags made in America.” Rep. Rice is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve and has served three tours of duty in Iraq, and carried out one peace-keeping mission in Bosnia.

To commemorate the adoption of America’s flag, Congress passed a joint resolution on August 3, 1949, designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day. It is a time to honor America, and to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities.

-- Posted by staff

House Democrats Respond to KidsCount Report

“The good news is that the changes we made this year will propel our kids out of the past and toward future prosperity.”

(DENVER) -   Several State Representatives responded to the startling KidsCount Report issued by the Colorado Children’s Campaign today showing that the percentage of children living in poverty increased by 73% between the years 2000 and 2006.

“There’s a word for this:” said State Representative Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) who is a nurse when she’s not at the capitol, “Unacceptable.  Simply unacceptable.  We've done a lot already and we’ll continue to make kids the focus of our work here at the legislature.  Every day we will ask ourselves what more we can do to help improve our schools, expand our health care, and strengthen our economy for Colorado’s children.  And we will continue to create good jobs for their parents.”

“The bad news is we’ve fallen into a deep hole after years of cutbacks and neglect,” said State Representative Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield), a single mother of two who worked at the state’s Medicaid office under former Governor Owens. “Years of slashing budgets have driven families into poverty and dropped us to 50^th in health insurance for poor children.  The good news is that the changes we made this year will propel our kids out of the past and toward future prosperity.”

“This snapshot of yesterday is awful,” said State Representative Judy Solano (D-Brighton), a former teacher.  “But we are going to make tomorrow much, much better.  We’ve already started:  50,000 more kids will get health care, 25,000 more will be in full-day kindergarten, and every child will have a safer school and a better teacher. This was the best session ever for kids.”

 

-- Posted by staff

Rep. Gagliardi's Important Health Care Bill Signed Into Law

Photo: Rep. Gagliardi with various doctors watch as Governor Ritter signs Senate Bill 135.

AURORA ― Gov. Bill Ritter signed 11 health-care bills into law today, including legislation at the heart of his “Building Blocks to Health Care Reform” plan, as well as measures that provide coverage to thousands of uninsured children.  Arvada’s own State Representative Sara Gagliardi carried one of those groundbreaking pieces of legislation:

Senate Bill 135, which Rep. Gagliardi sponsored in the House, will streamline health care and make it easier for doctors, nurses and patients to get information from insurance companies. It creates a standardized health ID card for patients, using 21^st century technology for the electronic exchange of information, saving patients both time and money.
 
“As a nurse, I know first-hand the crazy amount of red tape and paperwork that providers and patients deal with,” Rep. Sara Gagliardi said. “We don’t need to shuffle paper the way we did in 1908. In 2008, consumers should get more bang for their health care buck.”

-- 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.     

More Bang for the Health Care Buck

Gagliardi: “We don’t need to shuffle paperwork the way we did in 1908”

(Denver)  State Representative Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) knows first hand that doctors, nurses and staff should spend more time with patients, and less time shuffling paperwork.  She has been a public health nurse for over 30 years.

“As a nurse, I know first hand the crazy amount of red tape and paperwork that healthcare providers and patients deal with. We don’t need to shuffle paperwork the way we did in 1908,” Rep. Gagliardi stated. “It is 2008 and we can and should get more bang for our healthcare buck,” she concluded.

She is working to cut red tape and reduce administrative overhead by sponsoring Senate Bill 135 with Senator Sean Mitchell (R-Broomfield). The proposal is part of Governor Ritter’s “Building Blocks to Health Care Reform" and identifies strategies for quality improvement and cost containment.  The bill passed the House on an initial voice vote today.

The bill will streamline burdensome paperwork, making it easier for doctors, nurses and patients to interact with insurance companies.  In addition, it will identify long term strategies for ensuring a better value for the $30 billion spent on health care in Colorado every year. 

Specifically, Senate Bill 135 creates standardized health plan ID cards that patients carry in their wallets.  Using this 21^st century technology will allow for electronic exchange of information between doctors, patients and insurance companies.

“It’s great when we can come up with an idea and that the governor, industry, and patient advocates get behind,” said Mitchell.  “This kind of buy-in is important when we move forward to make health care better, more convenient and less expensive.”

"To build a stronger health care system we must streamline processes and improve efficiency. I am so pleased to see strong bi-partisan support for this standard ID card bill that was a 208 Commission recommendation and part of my Building Blocks to Health Care Reform package. I look forward to signing it when it gets to my desk."

-- 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

Lawmakers Declare Victory in “War on SPAM”

(DENVER) – Representatives Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) and Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) and State Senator Bob Hagedorn (D-Aurora) declared victory today as their “War on Spam” bill surges on to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

The Spam Reduction Act of 2008 holds spammers accountable for their illicit activities. After making some small changes, the Senate passed House Bill 1178 on 26-9 vote and then the House again supported the revised version on a vote of 62-2.

“Today the legislature sent a strong bi-partisan message – ENOUGH!” said Rep. Carroll.  “Colorado companies and average citizens spend too much time, energy and money sifting through ridiculous claims of million dollar paydays, ads for E.D. medications and various other schemes -- just to get to their personal emails. This will not do.”

The legislation will:
1) Help authorities pursue existing laws, including the federal CAN Spam Act of 2003. 
2) Allow Colorado maximum enforcement authority to hold junk e-mailers accountable by enacting harsh new civil and criminal penalties. 
3) Educate Colorado consumers on how to protect themselves against junk e-mailers, as well as to give them the resources to fight back.      

“Junk email costs the state millions of dollars annually in lost productivity and I.T. damage from email viruses,” said Rep. Gagliardi. “In December, we declared war on SPAM; today we declare victory: Mission (almost) Accomplished!” She was acknowledging that the bill still has to be signed into law (but others have been known to declare “mission accomplished” a wee bit early, too!).

Current estimates suggest that as many as 10.8 trillion junk emails will be generated and sent worldwide in 2007, many of which will not be blocked by existing filters.  The problem is estimated to cost the U.S. $70 billion in lost productivity and network maintenance annually.

Senator Hagedorn emphasized the risk that junk email poses to Colorado’s most vulnerable populations. “Spammers are using increasingly more sophisticated methods to target elderly folks and those with less computer know-how, conning them out of money and personal information like credit and social security numbers,” said the Senator.

Spam Fact Sheet:  Download SPAM.doc

-- Posted by staff

Upcoming Town Hall Events

Saturday, March 22-Rep. John Kefalas, Rep. Randy Fischer, Senator Bob Bacon will host a town hall meeting on the topic of higher education from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Harmony Library Community Room, 4616 S. Shields, Fort Collins (Southeast corner of Harmony and Shields).

Saturday, March 22-Rep. Andy Kerr and Senator Betty Boyd will host a town hall meeting on aging baby boomers and long-term health care options from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Lakewood United Church of Christ, 100 Carr St., Lakewood.

Saturday, March 22-Rep. Cheri Jahn and Senator Moe Keller will host a town hall meeting from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wheat Ridge Senior Center at 6363 W. 35th Ave., Wheat Ridge.

Saturday, March 22-Rep. John Soper will host a mid session progress report from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Holiday Hills Clubhouse, 2001 W. 92nd Ave., Federal Heights.

Monday, March 24-Rep. Sara Gagliardi will host her monthly coffee on the fourth Monday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Billy D's Coffee, 14705 West 64th Ave (at Indiana), Arvada.

Saturday, March 29-Rep. Jim Riesberg will host a town hall meeting on Creative Support for People with Developmental Disabilities from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Envision, 1050 37th St., Evans.

Saturday, March 29-Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Judy Solano will host a town hall meeting on the topic of health care from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Adams 12 Five-Star School Administration Building, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton.

Saturday, March 29-Rep. Christine Scanlan will host a town hall meeting on aging baby boomers and long-term health care options from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Vail Town Hall, 75 South Frontage Road, Vail.

Friday, April 4-Rep. Mary Hodge and Senator Takis will host a town hall meeting from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Firestation #2, 3100 Peoria St., Aurora.

Friday, April 4-Rep. Nancy Todd will host a coffee from 7 to 8 a.m. at Panera, 12293 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora.

Saturday, April 5-Rep. Gwyn Green, Rep. Andy Kerr, Rep. Ken Summers and Senator Betty Boyd will host their monthly Lakewood town hall meeting, at the Belmar Public Library, 255 Allison Parkway, Lakewood, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 5-Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Christine Scanlan will host two town hall meetings: from 12 to 1:15 p.m. at French Press is 34295 Highway 6 #C-1-B, Edwards, and from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Pug Ryans, 104 Village Place, Dillon.

Monday, April 7-Rep. Morgan Carroll will host Coffee with Carroll from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at East Steamers Coffee House, 360 S. Chambers Rd, Aurora.

Monday, March 7-Rep. Joe Rice will host his monthly coffee from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the South Metro Camber of Commerce, 6840 S. University Blvd., Centennial.