- 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.
Recent Economic Data Show Progress in Colorado
June 18th, 2010“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.
Gov. Ritter Signs Bill To Ban Health Insurance Gender Discrimination
March 29th, 2010Gov. Bill Ritter today signed House Bill 1008, sponsored by Reps. Sue Schafer and Beth McCann and Sens. Morgan Carroll and Gail Schwartz, to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against women when setting health insurance rates.
“Today’s legislation eliminates the type of gender discrimination practiced by insurance companies in setting rates for women – rates which can be up to 59 percent higher than rates for men,” Gov. Ritter said. “This bill ensures access to care and coverage for all at an equitable price and eliminates the financial burden that gender rating puts on women.”
HB 1008 passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Ritter during the fourth annual Health Care Day of Action at the Capitol.
“Gender should not be considered a preexisting condition,” Sen. Schwartz said. “Ensuring that all Coloradans have equal access to health care is vital to the well-being of our state. Affordable health care for women helps care for Colorado’s children and families.”
“As the country looks to D.C. for federal health care reform, Colorado can now thank the legislature for health care equality,” Sen. Carroll said. “With the signing of this bill into law, legislators are standing up for what is just in health care: women and men stand on level ground in Colorado today.”
“I am very pleased that Colorado has eliminated unfair health insurance premiums on women,” Rep. Schafer said. “Now women and men of the same age will pay the same cost for the same coverage in individual private insurance plans.”
“I am thrilled that we were able to get this bill passed,” Rep. McCann said. “When I first graduated from law school we started the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, and one of the first issues we tackled was gender discrimination in health insurance. It is ironic that many years later, I am still working on this issue. I am honored to be in a position now to co-sponsor a bill that is a great step forward for women in Colorado who are in the individual health care market.”
The new law no longer allows gender rating in Colorado’s individual insurance market. More than 130,000 Colorado women aged 19-64 had individual insurance in 2006-07, and 90 percent of the plans offered in Colorado utilized gender rating in the individual insurance market.
This practice is currently prohibited in the small group market and the new law will bring equity to the individual market. HB 1008 will make health insurance more affordable and accessible for women purchasing insurance in the individual market.
The Road to Recovery
February 22nd, 2010Colorado Ranks 4th In Nation In Recovery Act Transparency
January 27th, 2010A new study released today ranks Colorado fourth in the nation for Recovery Act spending transparency. The ranking was released in a new national study, called “Show Us the Stimulus (Again),” analyzes how well states are reporting Recovery Act spending on their website. The study was conducted by the nonprofit research center Good Jobs First.
“Over the last year, we have worked hard to fulfill my commitment of making Recovery Act spending in Colorado as transparent, open and accountable as possible to the people of Colorado,” Gov. Ritter said. “Through public outreach, aggressive oversight and extensive reports on www.colorado.gov/recovery, we are ensuring that Colorado taxpayers know how their funds are being spent. I am proud that our efforts are being recognized nationally.”
The report scored state Recovery Act websites according to their ability to show various types of spending information, including contracts awarded, distribution of spending by county or town, and details of specific projects. On a scale of 0 to 100, Colorado scored 72. The average score was 44. Maryland topped the list. The report authors are part of a national coalition called States for a Transparent and Accountable Recovery (STAR coalition).
This report updates a similar study released in July 2009 that also ranked Colorado near the top of states.
“Colorado’s Recovery Act website is sophisticated, comprehensive, and easily navigable,” the report said. “The state uses mapping and narrative information effectively to disclose information about spending, project progress, and job creation and retention. Data can be retrieved by drilling down through maps or by accessing provided reports. Information appears to be timely and frequently updated.”
The website is maintained by the Governor’s Economic Recovery Team and includes a map that shows Recovery Act projects and lists of contractors and reports. The website is updated daily and the staff is working on adding new features in coming months.
To view the study, go to http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/ARRAwebreportjan2010.pdf
At least $6.7 billion in Recovery Act funding is expected to come to Colorado through more than 100 different programs, including tax cuts for 1.8 million families, increased safety net benefits and infrastructure projects that are creating or saving thousands of jobs.
For more information about the Recovery Act in Colorado, visit www.colorado.gov/recovery.
New Video Puts the Spotlight on Jane “Insider” Norton’s Extreme Right-Wing Remarks
January 12th, 2010Norton Called For Elimination Of Ed. Department, Showered Praise On Glenn Beck, Sat Silently While President Called A Muslim, Said President Cares More About Terrorists Than Americans, Believes Federal Govt. Has “No” Place In Health Care
Today the Colorado Democratic Party released a new video showing Jane Norton praising “Tea Party” and “9/12″ groups.