This week a number of laws passed in the 2009 state legislative session take effect.  Below are a few bills passed by the Democratic majorities in the State House and State Senate to protect and create jobs, expand access to healthcare, and protect consumers.

Economy and Jobs:

SB 91 by Rep. Joe Rice and Sen. Chris Romer protects auto dealers, often small business owners, 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.

SB 228 by Sen. John Morse fixes outdated fiscal mandates which could have slowed Colorado’s economic recovery.

SB 247 by Sen. Lois Tochtrop and Rep. Sal Pace expands eligibility for unemployment insurance.  It provides funding to cover 13,000 unemployed Coloradans with 20 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, and extends benefits to people in job training programs.

Affordable Healthcare:

HB 1293 by Rep. Jim Riesberg and Sen. Moe Keller will extend health coverage to at least 100,000 currently uninsured Coloradans and reduce cost-shifting due unreimbursed care.

Consumer Protection:

HB 1141 by Rep. Mark Ferrandino protects 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.

Dollars Will Help Maintain Education Programs, Budget Funding

Gov. Ritter today praised the quick release of $509 million in federal funding to help maintain K-12 and higher education programs across Colorado.

On June 10, the U.S. Department of Education approved the state’s application for $760 million of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund dollars and released 67 percent, or $509 million, for use in Colorado. The state expects to receive the remaining $251 million this fall.

“These Recovery Act dollars help keep teachers in the classroom and keeps college affordable during this difficult economy,” Gov. Ritter said. “This is another example of how the state is moving quickly to take advantage of the available federal funds for the benefit of all Coloradans.”

The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund is a Recovery Act program that is designed to help state and local governments preserve school programs in the face of dwindling revenue during the recession. Funds will benefit local school districts and public colleges and universities across the state.

Colorado will allocate $452 million of the new funds to public colleges and universities and $170 million to public schools. Approximately $70 million is dedicated to balancing the state General Fund, and $10 million will be used to help Colorado qualify for Race to the Top education reform grants. The remaining $58 million will be set aside for use if revenue drops further and funds are needed to maintain the budget.

More information is available at www.colorado.gov/recovery.

Gov. Ritter and his Economic Recovery Team today released an update on Recovery Act funds that have been spent in Colorado and how much is on its way. Using a conservative estimate,  $212.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been spent in Colorado. That includes increased payments for Medicaid services, increased unemployment benefits to laid-off workers, and one-time $250 checks to Social Security recipients.

In the next four months, state and local agencies across Colorado expect to receive more than $1 billion through more than two dozen programs. These dollars include $1.2 million for meals to low-income seniors, $7 million in research grants to CU doctors and scientists, and more than $60 million for about 30 drinking water and wastewater improvement projects. The report is one of the only statewide updates available.

“The Recovery Act has been supporting working families and individuals across Colorado to make ends meet during this difficult economic time,” Gov. Ritter said. “Now we are seeing the launch of a wave of projects that will provide long-term benefits to the state. At the same time, my staff is helping to make sure a significant amount of funds is directed toward boosting our New Energy Economy.”

Dozens of public works projects have begun or are set to begin in the next couple months, including school facility and airport improvements, transit and highway projects, and weatherization work in thousands of homes across Colorado.

Over the next two years, Colorado expects to receive up to $7 billion in overall Recovery impact from this landmark law.

The report and other information is available at www.colorado.gov/recovery.

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced that the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Council has awarded $1.2 million in its second round of grant funding to strengthen health care delivery in rural communities. The council awarded 27 grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 to physical, mental and oral health care providers in 19 counties (see attached list of grantees).

Grantees include Federally Qualified Health Centers, public health departments, public and private health clinics, and school-based health centers. The grants will support construction and remodeling projects, equipment and supplies, staff training, and health information technology.

The Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Program was established in August 2007 and is funded with a $7.5 million gift to the State of Colorado from UnitedHealthcare that will be distributed over six years.

“As we continue toward our goal of providing access to high quality, affordable health care to all Coloradans, it is critical that we support our rural communities,” said Gov. Ritter. “I am pleased to announce this second round of grants, which will make an immediate and significant impact in improving access to and quality of care from Alamosa to Weld counties.”

“UnitedHealthcare is committed to investing in a healthier Colorado and expanding quality health care services to rural communities throughout the state,” said Beth Soberg CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado.  “By supporting the communities we serve through grants like this and other charitable giving, our company and its employees can help improve the health care delivery system for all Coloradoans, especially underserved populations.”

The Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Council is co-chaired by Colorado’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ned Calonge, and UnitedHealthcare’s Market Medical Director, Dr. Jacqueline Stiff, and includes health care consumers, rural health care providers, and representatives from the Governor’s Office, Division of Insurance at the Department of Regulatory Agencies, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and Department of Local Affairs.

The Colorado Rural Health Center, Colorado’s non-profit state office of rural health, administers the grant program. For more information on the program, please contact Elke Webb, ew@coruralhealth.org or 303-832-7493.

Colorado is home to one of the largest and fastest growing pieces of America’s clean energy economy, according to a report released today by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, titled, “The Clean Energy Economy:  Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America,” is considered a groundbreaking analysis that sheds light on an increasingly important part of the nation’s economic recovery.  This is the first effort by a major national organization to quantify the scale, scope and promise of clean energy jobs.

“I am very proud that Pew Charitable Trust is reinforcing our vision to transform Colorado into a national and international leader on new energy,” Gov. Bill Ritter said. “We have been extremely deliberate about rebuilding our state’s economy and converting it to a sustainable and knowledge-based one.  The Pew report shows that Colorado is at the forefront of the country’s New Energy Economy.”

The report found that jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007.  There was a similar pattern at the state level, where job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia during the same period.   In Colorado, clean energy jobs grew at a rate of 18.2 percent in the same time frame, while traditional jobs grew by 8.2 percent, according to the report.

“Coloradans can be proud that our hard work has paid off – creating thousands of clean energy jobs and attracting more than $600 million in venture capital in the past three years – making us one of the top five states for clean energy investment,” Gov. Ritter said.  “With those efforts we are creating new economic opportunities and business, and reducing emissions of the pollution that causes climate change.   I am committed to continuing Colorado’s leadership in forging a path forward toward a new energy economy for our state, the nation and the world.”

Colorado is one of only three states (along with Oregon and Tennessee) that are ahead of the national average for the number of jobs in the clean energy economy (15,106) and annual growth rate (1.9 percent).  In addition, the report found that Colorado had more than 17,000 jobs in the clean energy economy in 2007 and also attracted more than $620 million in venture capital in the past three years—the fifth-largest amount in the nation. Three quarters of which have been invested in clean energy generation.  Jobs in Colorado’s Clean Energy category grew 50 percent between 1998 and 2007 and the Energy Efficiency sector grew 56 percent in the same time.

To view the full report, go to the Pew Charitable Trusts website.    In addition, a fact sheet from the report on Colorado is attached. To view Gov. Ritter’s full New Energy Economy accomplishments, click here.

The governor’s office has released a “2009 Legislative Session” web page featuring?

• Fact Sheets highlighting legislative accomplishments in job creation, help for working families, education, healthcare, natural resources, the New Energy Economy, transportation and human services.
• Videos from bill-signing ceremonies around the state.
• Photos from bill-signing ceremonies.

Click here to read more.

The Colorado Democratic Party
Invites you to our annual fundraising event

Women in Politics

Honoring U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, Colorado Treasurer Cary Kennedy, State Sen. Paula Sandoval, and Denver Clerk & Recorder Stephanie O’Malley

Hosts include Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, Sec. of State Bernie Buescher and Mary Beth Buescher

Saturday, June 27, 2009
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Home of Judi Butz
7985 Melrose Drive, Wheat Ridge

Co-Host $250
Guest $100
Complimentary for 2009 Chair’s Council Members

Contribute online at:
www.coloradodems.us/events/2009demwomen

Or mail check made out “Colorado Democratic Party” to
777 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204
before June 20th

Last Friday morning Michael Johnston and Pat Steadman took the oath of office and officially began their service in the Colorado Senate.  Johnston was elected earlier this month to succeed former President Peter Groff, who resigned to work as the Director for the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Center in the U.S. Department of Education.  Steadman was separately elected earlier this month to succeed Senator Jennifer Veiga, who resigned to move to Australia with her long-time partner Bronwyn Russell to be closer with Russell’s ill mother.

Senator Michael Johnston is a high school principal at Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton.  A Colorado native, Johnston started his career teaching high school English in Greenville, Mississippi and has worked as a principal in alternative schools and detention centers in Denver. A nationally recognized education reformer, he is the author of “In the Deep Heart’s Core” and served as one of President Barack Obama’s top education advisors.  Johnston holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Yale and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard.

Senator Pat Steadman has over 15 years of experience lobbying important issues at the Colorado Capitol to support public education, advance civil rights, and help working families.  In 1992 Steadman worked to oppose Amendment 2, which prohibited any laws protecting gay men and lesbians from discrimination.  He helped lead a successful lawsuit all the way to the United States Supreme Court, which declared Amendment 2 unconstitutional in 1996.  This ruling established the first significant court precedent protecting the equal rights of GLBT Americans.

Chief Justice Mary Mullarky administers the oath of office to
Senators Michael Johnston, left, and Patrick Steadman, right,
as President Brandon Shaffer looks on.

Last night the vacancy committee in House District 23 selected Max Tyler of Lakewood to succeed State Rep. Gwyn Green.  Green was first elected to represent House District 23 in 2004.

Rep. Green announced at the end of the 2009 state legislative session that she would retire. Rep. Green has been a champion of children and those Coloradans in need of health care.

“Max Tyler has been active in the Jefferson County Democratic Party for a number of years and has worked closely with Rep. Green. He will do a fine job of carrying on her legacy,”  said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak.

Announcing major investment in green jobs to stimulate the economy, Vice-President Biden hosted a small town meeting at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science yesterday. A panel including Secretary of HUD, Shaun Donovan; Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis; Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and U.S Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined Biden and Senator Michael Bennet to announce the efforts in Colorado and to answer questions from the audience.

Read more about the Middle Class Task force here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/StrongMiddleClass/

Read the Update on Green Jobs here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/White-House-Enviro-Council-Accepts-Biden-Challenge-Help-Retrofit-America/

Vice President Biden hosting a town hall meeting on Green Jobs