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Election Protection 2010
August 20th, 2010Payday from payday lenders
August 18th, 2010Democratic candidate for Attorney General Stan Garnett shared the following message concerning payday lending reform in Colorado and Attorney General John Suthers’ contributions from the industry he is responsible for overseeing:
In recent days, an important issue has come to the forefront that clearly highlights one of the defining differences between the incumbent and me. It came to light that my opponent took $10,350 from payday lender Political Action Committees (PACs), and employees of those businesses, in a 10-day span, at the same time his office was writing new regulations for that industry. My feelings about this issue are strong enough that I was prompted to tape a video on this topic. You can watch it, here.
Early in the campaign, I made clear that I would not accept money from PACs. The reason for this is simple: As your Attorney General, I will be responsible for regulating numerous businesses and professions in Colorado. I don’t want there to be any question that I am acting in the interests of anyone other than the hardworking people of this state. To take money from PACs, whose industries I might be charged with regulating, would create a potential for public doubt about my priorities.
I have called upon the incumbent to return those contributions. My efforts have gained the support of Colorado Ethics Watch, which said such contributions look like “pay-to-play,” which is an appearance “the Attorney General should avoid.” You can be confident that when I am your Attorney General, I will not put myself in this situation, and no one will have to question whether I am working for the people of Colorado, instead of big-donor, special interests.
I am running a lean campaign, one which is using a wide array of tools to get my message out to Colorado voters. If you like this video and think it carries an important message, please forward along to your family and friends.
I also urge you to visit my campaign website, GarnettforAg.com, where you can sign up to volunteer or contribute. Every day, Coloradans are showing their support by sending donations big and small, from $5 to $1,050. Please join them, and show voters that they have a choice in this year’s election.
Garnett calls for greater consumer protection focus from Colorado AG’s office
July 29th, 2010A spokesman for Attorney General John Suthers on Wednesday told The Denver Post that at a time that record numbers of consumer complaints are being filed, the incumbent’s office has maintained consumer protection staffing levels, doing so “through some creative budget work.” Attorney General candidate Stan Garnett today said his opponent is not to be congratulated for merely maintaining the status quo during the worst economic downturn in modern times, a crisis which has triggered a record surge in consumer fraud and scam complaints.
“When I am Attorney General, I will not settle for simply keeping the consumer protection unit afloat,” said Garnett. “This problem has never been a priority for my opponent. I will reprioritize within that office, to make sure that defending everyday Coloradans in today’s tough economy is a front-burner mission for Colorado’s Attorney General.”
While Garnett is making consumer protection a central focus of his plans as Attorney General, the incumbent has made clear repeatedly that he believes doing just enough, is enough for him. Meanwhile, deceptive rebate practices, utility scams, and home improvement scam experts, have been victimizing hardworking Coloradans, but suffering few consequences.
When the subject of consumer protection was raised in a June 2nd debate, the incumbent insisted, “Folks, in the last 5 ½ years, the Attorney General’s office has been more active than at any time in its history of consumer protection. Our consumer protection division is an outstanding group of people. It’s small…but, they are smart.” To the Fort Morgan Times on July 9, Suthers said it was “impossible” to be harder on consumer fraud with his current resources.
However, Mr. Suthers’ true sentiments were exposed in this remark he made during a speech to the Federalist Society: “I believe the only effective remedy for AG activism is action by the state legislatures to statutorily curb it. They could do so by curbing the nature and scope of AG consumer protection powers and by preventing them from delegating the exercise of state police powers to private attorneys.” View a clip of that remark here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbboTNpV02U.
It is also telling that on July 21, when the President signed into law the most sweeping financial regulation reform bill passed in a generation, Stan Garnett publicly endorsed that section of the Act which grants the nation’s attorneys general broad general powers to pursue civil actions where appropriate. His opponent, meanwhile, has remained silent on its passage into law. Clearly, more power for the Attorney General to defend Colorado consumers is not what the incumbent was hoping for.
“My opponent has answered a consumer protection crisis by carrying on in a business as usual fashion,” Garnett said. “When I am Attorney General, I will be the Peoples’ lawyer and will fight for ordinary Coloradans. Everywhere I’ve gone in my 9,000 miles of traveling around the state over the last four months, I’ve met and listened to folks who are struggling to cope with this difficult economy and who need someone on their side. When I am Attorney General, they’ll have someone on their side.”
For additional information, contact Charlie Brennan at Charlie.Brennan24@gmail.com Also, please visit the campaign website at www.Garnettforag.com.
Time For McInnis to Come Clean on $300,000 Sweet-Heart Deal
June 23rd, 2010It’s no wonder that former Congressman-turned-lobbyist-turned-gubernatorial candidate, Scott McInnis finds himself in an embarrassing primary against a largely unknown businessman, Dan Maes.
Even hard core Republicans are scratching their heads and wondering why McInnis won’t tell Colorado voters how he managed to become a millionaire while he was serving in Congress and what the whole story is behind an amazing $300,000 payment made to him by the Hasan Foundation after he left Congress to become a full-time lobbyist.
McInnis has no one but himself to blame for the public questions now swirling around his candidacy – questions that go right to whether he can be trusted to be transparent and accountable to the people of Colorado.
These questions emerged earlier this year when McInnis broke with a decades-long tradition in Colorado politics by refusing to release his tax returns. For the last two decades, every serious gubernatorial candidate – Republican and Democrat alike — has released their tax returns so that voters can decide for themselves what kind of person might serve in the highest office in our state. Roy Romer did it. Bill Owens did it. And Democrat John Hickenlooper has gone beyond any candidate in Colorado political history by releasing more than 20 years of his tax returns.
But not Scott McInnis. So my question is simple: What does Congressman McInnis have to hide?
He may want to hide the details surrounding a very mysterious set of payments that the Hasan Family Foundation made to McInnis after he abruptly left office in 2003. According to news reports in the Denver Post, McInnis was paid a series of $150,000 payments totaling a whopping $300,000 for writing some articles on “water policy”.
The Hasan family has supported Republican candidates with campaign contributions, including McInnis, so that’s not surprising. What is surprising is that, according to their website, the Hasan Family Foundation was set up to promote “education in the arts” and to promote “better understanding of the Muslim and South Asian cultures to the people of the United States.” So why would they award a fellowship – an unusually generous fellowship – to a former Congressman to write articles about water?
In old-time politics, the public would have called this a “kickback” or a “sweet-heart deal.”
Recent Economic Data Show Progress in Colorado
June 18th, 2010- Colorado’s unemployment rate did not increase from April to May and was 2/10% lower than in May 2009.
- In the monthly survey of Colorado households, 1,100 more Coloradans described themselves as employed.
- Colorado’s unemployment rate remains nearly 2 points lower than the national rate.
- New foreclosure filings are at an 18 month low.
- Construction begins in June on the first FASTER-related bridge repair project to improve safety while creating new jobs.
- The American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Colorado’s economic outlook 2nd best among all 50 states.
“Half-Baked Alaskan” Party To Welcome Sarah Palin to Colorado
May 11th, 2010Did you know Sarah Palin is coming to Colorado on May 22nd? Help the Colorado Democratic Party give her an icy reception. Come to our Half – Baked Alaskan Party! We’ll be serving a delicious “half – baked Alaskan” dessert, and special drinks will be available at our “Hopey – Changey” bars, like an “I can see a White Russian from my house” and a “Pit Bull with Lipstick”. Throw in the DJ and dance floor, and it promises to be a party fit for a diva!
The event will be at the Westin, Westminster (http://www.westindenverboulder.com) – making it the perfect place to party after Congressional District assemblies. We’ll start at 7:30 PM and go until 10 PM. Tickets are $35 in advance, or $40 at the door. You can purchase tickets online now at http://www.coloradodems.us/events/halfbakedalaskan
Let’s celebrate Democrats here in Colorado while showing our opposition to the politics of Sarah Palin. It’s going to be a light – hearted, fun – filled evening that can make a serious statement! We do hope to see you there. Wink!
CDP Chair Waak on Earth Day: Democrats will Continue to Protect Our Environment for Generations to Come
April 22nd, 2010Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak made the following statement today commemorating the 40th Earth Day:
“On this 40th Earth Day, we recommit ourselves as a nation to our efforts to protect our planet and our environment for future generations. We honor the visionary leaders – like Senator Gaylord Nelson – who heeded the call to improve our environment – from the air we breathe to the water our children drink. We thank leaders like President Obama and Colorado Democrats who understand that we must work to protect our environment for our families and future generations of Americans.
“Much progress has been made in the fight to preserve our environment: We’ve passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and founded the Environmental Protection Agency. Under President Obama’s Administration, Americans have seen investments in clean energy and clean water infrastructure through the Recovery Act, and the fight continues to keep our children safe, hold polluters accountable, and promote a healthy environment while creating green jobs.
“Earth Day should also serve as a call to action –we can ride a bicycle to work, make our homes more energy efficient, or simply remind our elected officials that we depend on a clean and safe environment. Great strides have been made for our environment over the last four decades. But we can continue to take care of our environment right in our homes and neighborhoods to preserve our planet for our children and generations to come.”CDP Chair Waak on Earth Day: Democrats will Continue to Protect Our Environment for Generations to Come
Cinco de Mayo Wine Tasting Fundraiser
April 20th, 2010Join us in celebrating Cinco de Mayo on Wednesday, May 5 for a Latin American Wine Tasting at The Living Room, 1055 Broadway, 5:30 PM – 7 PM. We will be serving a flight of eight Argentine and Chilean wines, along with tapas.
Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at www.coloradodems.us/events/winetasting
VIP tickets are also available for $75 per person, which include two free glasses of any of the tasting wines, reserved seating, table service and a $20 wine card.
Contact Anne Wilson at 303-623-4762, ext. 113 or awilson@coloradodems.org for more information.
House Democratic Letter to AG John Suthers
April 1st, 2010The following letter was sent to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers by House Speaker Terrance Carroll and Democratic members of the House of Representatives:
The Honorable Attorney General John Suthers:
We are writing today in response to your decision to add your name-and the state of Colorado-to the Florida lawsuit to “protect the individual freedom, public health and welfare” of Coloradans. We could not disagree more with your decision. Democrats in Congress and President Obama demonstrated courageous leadership by passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We stand united in support ofthis long overdue policy change.
While we respect your autonomy to file a lawsuit independent of the legislature, we believe this particular action is misguided and is politically motivated.
Colorado is better positioned than most states to make the most ofnational reforms because of initiatives already implemented by Governor Ritter and the legislature. The groundwork for our state-based reforms began with the bi-partisan Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform in 2007, which studied how to increase coverage and reduce cost. Senate Bill 208 was supported by 16 Republican legislators, including then-Representative Josh Penry, a co-sponsor.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
March 31st, 2010The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act include health insurance market reforms that will bring immediate benefits to millions of Americans, including those who currently have coverage. The following benefits will be available in the first year after enactment of the two bills.
Small Business Tax Credits
* Offers tax credits to small businesses beginning in 2010 to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. The full credit will be available to firms with 10 or fewer employees with average annual wages of $25,000, while firms with up to 25 or fewer employees and average annual wages of up to $50,000 will also be eligible for the credit. Effective calendar year 2010. Later, when Exchanges are operational, tax credits will be up to 50 percent of premiums
No Pre-existing Coverage Exclusions for Children
* Prohibits health insurers from excluding coverage of pre-existing conditions for children. Effective six months after enactment, applies to all employer plans and new plans in the individual market. (This provision will apply to all people in 2014).
Access to Affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions
* Provides $5 billion in immediate federal support for a new program to provide affordable coverage to uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions until new Exchanges are operational in 2014. Effective 90 days after enactment.
Closing the Coverage Gap in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit
* Provides a $250 rebate check for Medicare beneficiaries who hit the ¡¥donut hole¡¦ in 2010. Effective calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole; also fills the donut hole by 2020.)
Patient Protections
* Protects patients’ choice of doctors by allowing plan members to pick any participating primary care provider, prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization before a woman sees an ob-gyn, and ensuring access to emergency care. This provision applies to all new plans. Effective six months after enactment.