We had a fun event in Lamar (Prowers County) last night, which I felt was a good example of how to make one get-together produce extra returns for all those involved.

This was the annual Lamar Education Association’s Back To School picnic. Wes McKinley, HD 64 Rep, brought his guitar, BBQ grill and the burgers to cook on it (natural beef from his own ranch!). The other guests were Beverly Ingle, President of the Colorado Education Association and Norman Milks, Director of the CEA Southeast UniServ.

It was a wins-for-all situation. Lamar teachers and their families got food, fun and a little recognition. The local CEA chapter got to look good in front of their leadership, and the leadership got to reach out and make personal connections to them and to Wes. Naturally the personal connection thing works right back the other way for Wes–not all Lamar teachers are Dems, by a long shot, and he made a good impression on the group. There was also coverage from the Lamar Ledger, and possibly also the new independent paper, the Lamar Buzz.

Prowers only has about 9,000 registered voters, split approximately in thirds by D/I/R affiliations. Our county Dem group is making an effort to increase our public presence, taking any chance we can find to make a showing at local events. (Oddly enough, our opposite numbers from the GOP seem to be getting a little shy….) We are lucky to have an area Representative like Wes who goes out of his way (hundreds of miles out of his way!) to serve his constituency — and not just by cooking for them!

I’m sure events like this are much more complicated to host in the medium and large counties, but I’m also sure the rewards would be even greater in terms of future support, votes, and new active members. Why not think up something to host in YOUR town soon?

As many of you already know the Blue Ribbon Commission on Healthcare (208 Commission) has been meeting and hearing from many groups on how to achieve the goal of universal healthcare coverage.

Massachusetts caught people’s attention by a bold effort to achieve universal healthcare coverage. They are to be commended for their willingness to act, but there is one major problem with the plan.

If you have no way to ensure the cost of insurance premiums are reasonable, then one has merely handed the insurance industry a captive audience with people forced to buy over-priced insurance and the government forced to subsidize over-priced insurance with NO tool for downward price pressure to make sure it is affordable.

**Colorado has NO RATE REVIEW OF ANY KIND for health insurance before rate hikes take effect — which means there is NO OVERSIGHT to prevent over-charging people for those premiums.

Some of the plans before the 208 Commission include a mandate on individuals to buy health insurance. I can not emphasize this enough:

IF WE DO NOT HAVE RATE REVIEW OR PRIOR APPROVAL BEFORE INSURANCE RATE HIKES CAN TAKE EFFECT, WE WILL CONTINUE DRIVE UP THE COST OF HEALTHCARE.

WITHOUT THESE BASIC PROTECTIONS WE WOULD SIMPLY BE FORCING PEOPLE TO BUY ALREADY OVER-PRICED HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES.

Denial of services or coverage or lifestyle alone will not reduce insurance premiums and make it more affordable. Even healthy people with healthy lifestyles get sick. Ask (healthy, fit) Rep. Merrifield who thankfully just beat a round with cancer. Or my father, who died from complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

I would be OK with a mandated purchase of health insurance if we could ensure the rates were affordable, not over-priced, and available on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. But without rate review we have no means of ensuring the prices people are paying are fair and justified. Without rate review, we will be making a bad situation worse.

Please contact the 208 commission and tell them that you would oppose mandated purchase of health insurance unless it comes with rate review and a sliding scale on ability to pay.

Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform
303 E. 17^th Avenue, Ste. 400
Denver, CO 80203

Tel: 1-888-776-2332

Fax: 303-837-8496

E-mail: 208commission@coloradofoundation.org
Website: www.colorado.gov/208commission

Hey, I’ll be in Steamboat Springs from Aug. 7 - Aug. 12 getting continuing legal education. Sounds like a good excuse for a party in beautiful Steamboat Springs!  A special invitation to all Routt County Dems and Neighbors!

WHAT: Legal Ease: Fundraiser for Rep. Morgan Carroll, Live Jazz!

WHERE: Hardwig’s L’Apogee Resaurant, 911 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat

WHEN: Sat. August 11, 2007, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

WHO: You! All Welcome

*suggested donation: $50.00 (everyone welcome, anything appreciated!)

If you can’t make the event, but still want help support my re-election effort, you can:

1. Write a Check to: Committee To Elect Morgan Carroll, 1165 Ouray Street, Aurora, CO 80011; or

2. Donate online at: www.repmorgancarroll.com; or

3. Make monthly payments (i.e. $5, $10, $15) by going online to: www.repmorgancarroll.com.

Thank you for your support!

I joined the United Airline Pilots, Air Line Pilots Association, the Association of Flight Attendants, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, Professional Airline Flight Control Association, and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers on the picket line today.Their experience is a symptoms of what is happening to many workers throughout Colorado and the U.S. Are we watching the end of an era of any corporate Patriotism?

When United was going through bankruptcy, United’s workers were asked “share in sacrifice” for the survival of the company. So how has that sacrifice been “shared”?

WORKERS “SHARE”:

• Experienced a 50% cut in pay and benefits since 2003
• Lost more than $1.4 Billion annually from 2003 - 2010
• Had Health Insurance reduced by more than 20%
• Loss of Retirement Pensions

CEO / MANAGEMENT “SHARE”:

• 3,533% Compensation Increase for the CEO
• $40 Million paid to the CEO

The company posted a quarterly profit of $274 million.

When CEOs give themselves pay increases while cutting their workers wages and benefits, it doesn’t looking like “sharing the sacrifice” to me. My grandfather, was an airline pilot for United, and would be rolling over in his grave to see the fate of a company that used to make the American Dream come true.

In the modern era a CEO makes an average of 500 times his or her average worker (up from 40 times the average salary in the 1980’s).

You, and I, and our workers, are paying for this decadence in the form of higher prices, lower wages, reduced benefits, and reduced services.

Hats off to these workers who are doing their part to raise important issues that impact us all!

As Dan Slater observed in his latest Dem Notes, variety is the spice of Party picnics, and all Dem-friendly events. Rep. Morgan Carroll invites progressive performers of all types and talents to take to the stage at her variety show on September 15th. Showcase your support for one of the Party’s “rising stars” by sharing a song, poem, joke, magic act, or “Morgan story”…and spreading the word! Celebrate your freedom of expression—while it lasts—for a good cause. Details below (and attached):

Calling all Carrollers! Bring Act III to Aurora!

Join us at a variety show to support Rep. Morgan Carroll’s re-election campaign

The Aurora Hills are alive with music, comedy, poetry and politics on Saturday, September 15th 6:30 – 9:00pm

Tin Cup clubhouse at Aurora Hills Golf Course
50 S. Peoria St. Aurora, CO 80012

Suggested Donation: $20

To perform or attend, please RSVP to Karen@arapahoedems.org 720-234-5303

Our current health care “system” is in crisis. Colorado consumers have seen sky-rocketing premiums (82% increase 2000 – 2004 for families, 140% increase 2000 – 2005 for small employers) and plummeting benefits. So what has changed over the decades? Profit. We’ve seen a corporate take-over of healthcare and most people don’t know what hit them. Ever wonder what is really driving up the cost of our healthcare? I want to share with you my assessment of the problems and some of my thoughts on solutions.

• Pharmaceutical Advertising: Companies are spending billions per year on direct television advertising for prescriptions (a practice that used be illegal under federal law that is driving up the cost of prescription medicine.) Most are spending 4 or 5 times as much on marketing as on research.

Solution: Reinstate prior federal prohibition against direct TV advertising for prescription drugs (FEDERAL).

• Overcharging Insurance Premiums: Most states require a rate-review process before an insurance company can file rate increases. Colorado doesn’t. Colorado allows insurance companies to file rate increases in any amount, at any time, without any oversight. It works well for them ($$$), but not so well for consumers.

Solution: Implement insurance rate review for price gouging in Colorado (STATE).

• Cuts in Funding Public Research: As the states and federal government pulled back on funding public research there are fewer public medical patents. Private companies now own most of the patents, allowing monopolies over healthcare pricing, driving up the cost of healthcare.

Solution: Increase publicly funded research and therefore publicly held healthcare patents consider reducing duration of healthcare patents (STATE & FEDERAL).

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House Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald voiced support for California and 11 other states as they seek a waiver from the federal government allowing them to implement “Clean Cars” legislation.

In late 2004, California adopted the first state standards requiring cars and light-duty trucks to limit emissions that contribute to global warming. Since then, 11 other states have adopted California’s tailpipe emissions standards. However, the EPA must first approve California’s waiver in order for all 12 states to enact legislation cutting global warming pollution from tailpipes. California applied for its waiver in late 2005, but the EPA has yet to OK it.

Colorado’s tourism industry employs 200,000 people, jobs which could be imperiled if climate change continues to affect Colorado’s snowfall, rivers and land.

Below is the written testimony submitted by President Fitz-Gerald and Speaker Romanoff.

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Yesterday Congressman Salazar secured $3 billion via a supplemental appropriations bill to provide relief to Colorado farmers who have suffered losses from blizzards or drought.

Relief will be available to farmers who lost 35% of more of their crop in 2005, 2006, or 2007 in counties designated disaster areas by the USDA.

Here’s contact information for Congressman Salazar’s local offices:

Grand Junction
225 North 5th Street, STE 702
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-245-7107
970- 245-2194 (fax)

Pueblo
134 West B Street
Pueblo, CO 81003
719-543-8200
719-543-8204 (fax)

Durango
813 Main Avenue, Suite 300
Durango, CO 81301
970-259-1012
970-259-9467 (fax)

Alamosa
609 Main Street, #6
Alamosa, CO 81101
719-587-5105
719-587-5137 (fax)

Yesterday Governor Ritter signed an executive order re-establishing the Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness. An estimate in August 2006 found more than 16,000 homeless people statewide, and the true number is almost certainly higher.

One third of Colorado’s homeless population are children or teenagers, and 62% are children, teenagers, or parents. Homelessness disproportionately affects minority communities.

The Council brings together the Departments of Human Services, Health Care Policy and Financing, Corrections, and Local Affairs; the Commissioners of Agriculture and Education; members of the state legislature and the non-profit community; and others.

The Council’s mission is to “make cross-agency and community cooperation the norm in responding to homelessness and to use a more efficient and supportive approach in creating and implementing evidence-based plans to address homelessness and, to the extent possible, end it.”

Congressman John Salazar introduced comprehensive broadband legislation (H.R. 2174) in the House of Representatives. The legislation creates a policy and action framework to ensure the federal government employs an effective and comprehensive strategy to deploy broadband service and access in the rural areas of the United States.

The rural broadband bill would establish an Office of Rural Broadband Initiatives at the Department of Agriculture and create an Undersecretary for Rural Broadband to be charged with coordinating several rural broadband grant and loan programs aimed at encouraging broadband infrastructure investment in underserved rural areas. Among the programs that would fall under the new Office’s jurisdiction is the Rural Broadband Access and Loan Guarantee program, which has been criticized for being too cumbersome and having qualification criteria too stringent to benefit the small, innovative telecommunications companies willing to invest in rural areas. This bill would require the Undersecretary to streamline and improve the program to ensure that loans and grants are being made to telecommunications companies with sound business plans. Moreover, the Undersecretary would be charged with developing a comprehensive rural broadband strategy to facilitate broadband access in rural areas as quickly as possible.

Also, the bill would establish a Rural Broadband Innovation Fund that would invest in experimental and cutting-edge applications that can deliver broadband service to rural areas including satellite, fiber, WiFi, and broadband over power lines (BPL). Finally, the bill would establish a Rural Broadband Advisory Panel that would include members of both the public and private sector to discuss issues relating to broadband deployment and offer advice and guidance to the Undersecretary in developing a comprehensive rural broadband strategy.

Broadband deployment has traditionally lagged in rural areas due to geography, population and lack of a viable market for large telecommunications companies. The Government Accountability Office has indicated that while about 30 percent of households in urban and suburban areas have access to broadband, only 17 percent of rural households have access.