Highlights From The Legislature

Accountability in Health Care

Health care is an issue that is heavy debate in congress, in the state legislature, and around your kitchen table. As we continue to focus on creating more affordable accessible health care in our state we must ensure that citizens are getting the coverage from insurance companies that they are spending their hard earned dollars on. Health Care for America Now, a national grassroots coalition, recently released a report of findings from the financial reports of the five largest health insurance companies to the Security and Exchange Commission.  It found that insurance companies were covering fewer people, and “…for customers who kept their benefits, the insurers raised rates and cost-sharing, and cut the share of premiums spent on medical care.” The firms also made $12.2 billion, an increase of $4.4 billion, or 56 %, from 2008.

Democratic Senator Morgan Carroll has introduced a bill to make insurance companies put the focus on the people not the profit.  Senate Bill 76 prevents insurance companies from providing financial incentives to employees that delay or deny claims.  This is money that should be going towards care for customers, not to encourage the refusal of claims to increase company profit. It’s important to remember that a healthy Colorado economy will require a healthy population.

Making Colorful Colorado Greener

Renewable energy has been a smart choice for Colorado environmentally and economically.  Due to smart decision making by the assembly and Governor Ritter we have been able to make Colorado a state where green companies want to invest and create jobs.  We have already attracted 230 solar companies that have created hundreds of jobs, and brought millions of dollars to stimulate local economies.  Senator Schwartz will be introducing a bill to make multi-county renewable energy projects possible by eliminating current restrictions on local improvement districts.  Now counties will be able to work together on renewable energy projects to make them more affordable and productive.  These important changes make our state attractive to large green companies and keep Colorado on the cutting edge of renewable energy.

Showing You the Money

Thanks to Senator John Morse and Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, Colorado taxpayers will be getting money back, totaling $1.5 million. The Senate Finance Committee passed legislation that will permit the Secretary of State’s office to refund more than $1.5 million in overpaid fees by individual and business filers. This money has been collected from other 40,000 individuals who have over paid or double paid their filing fees. Previous statute prevented the state from simply sending citizens a check with their owed refund, but Sen. Morse’s bill will remove this extra red tape. Secretary of State Bernie Buescher is now hard at work returning these payments, some as high as $2500.  In these tough economic times, we are thrilled to be returning hard-earned money to Colorado families.

The Gift Card That Doesn’t Stop Giving

According to the Wall Street Journal, unclaimed gift cards amount to roughly $6.8 billion in the United States annually. That’s why the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee passed a bill to protect Coloradans from losing money on gift cards. 

Senator Tochtrop said, “When you buy a gift card for $25, it should be worth $25. This bill protects Colorado consumers from hidden fees.”

SB 155 will ensure consumers get their money’s worth when they give or receive a gift card by putting a stop to hidden fees and deceptive business practices.

Get Involved: Caucus-Doodle-Do

The caucus is the first step in our democratic process. It allows everyone to gather with your neighbors and talk about who you want to lead our state. Any voter registered with a political party can attend. At the caucus, you and your neighbors will select delegates to represent your votes at the county and state assemblies.

Caucuses this year will be on March 16.

Here’s what you need to do:

1.        Update your voter registration. https://www.sos.state.co.us/Voter/secuVoterHome.do;jsessionid=0000yRuckKsPzeEULxC2Ncea9Mt:11p1kuu1d

2.        If you have changed your name or your address since you last registered, fill out a new registration form.http://www.elections.colorado.gov/Default.aspx?PageMenuID=1465

3.        Find your caucus location. If your location isn’t posted, check back closer to March 16. 
If you are a registered Democrat, click here: http://www.elections.colorado.gov/Default.aspx?PageMenuID=1465 
If you are a registered Republican, click here: http://www.cologop.org/Search.aspx?q=caucus&output=xml_no_dtd&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&client=GOP_Site&site=GOP_Site

4.        Show up and let your voice be heard!