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On the Issues
You can follow my legislative work through my "Under the Dome" newsletter which is published during the legislative session.
The issues I am focusing on are Jobs and the Economy, a balanced budget, and protecting our basic services for citizens.
I also have a special interest in Education, Health Care and the Economy specific to our community.
Education
I have a track record in supporting and improving education from early
childhood, K-12, higher education and postsecondary training. I want to
continue to support reforms that raise quality and make our education
offerings in Colorado the best for our children.
Health Care
Families in Colorado need accessible, affordable health care options and
the state needs to move forward with a comprehensive plan to address
our health care system. I have extensive experience working on difficult
issues in Colorado. I want to utilize my skills to move Colorado toward
a thoughtful health care solution.
Economy
A well-prepared and well-trained workforce will boost our local economy
especially in health-related professions at the Fitzsimons Campus. We
must push for expanding opportunities to create jobs in renewable
energy, aerospace, bioscience, transportation, logistics and other key
industries critical to our state.
2010 Legislative Wrap-Up
Here are some highlights from the 2010 legislative session
This was a productive session in which we managed to do more with less: We created jobs, balanced the budget by both making cuts and closing corporate tax loopholes, and increased government accountability.
New Energy Economy
House Bill 1: Increasing Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard: Large utilities are required to produce almost a third of their power from renewable sources by the year 2020. A new RES will create thousands of jobs, increase our energy independence, and protect our environment. HB 1001 Rep. Max Tyler
Clean Air - Clean Jobs Act: With a balanced approach to responsible drilling and environmental protection, this creates job, cuts air pollution, and increases the use of cleaner energy sources by closing Front Range coal-fired power plants and replacing them with facilities fueled by natural gas and other low-emitting energy sources. HB 1365 Rep. Judy Solano and HB 1267 Rep. Andy Kerr
Job Creation & Training
Green-job Training: With green-job training programs in our community colleges, we’ll ensure that Colorado is supplying new energy companies with an educated and skilled workforce. HB 1333 Rep. Ed Vigil
Health Care Jobs Act and Nurse Loan Repayment Program will increase nurse applicants by 50% and will encourage health care professionals to work in rural areas. Each new nurse and doc creates more secondary jobs in that community. HB 1138 and SB 58, Rep. Sara Gagliardi
Jobs in Creative Industries: 3 bills make it easier for small arts-related businesses to get loans and credit (HB 1180), increases art in public places (SB 94), and streamlines arts offices/programs (SB 158) Rep. Joe Rice
Government Accountability
Keeping the state budget balanced and corporations accountable: We cut government by slashing waste and fraud, streamlining operations, and cutting over $3.5 billion. With the closing of tax loopholes they have enjoyed for years, corporations will now pay taxes as other Coloradoans do. Reps. Pommer, Ferrandino
The “SMART Government Act” requires a new level of government accountability by allowing the public to see which programs/agencies use tax dollars wisely and efficiently. HB 1119 Rep. Mark Ferrandino
In light of the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” case, we are reining in corporate campaign contributions and demanding transparency so that donors and interest groups can be held accountable for negative ads/mailings. SB 203 Reps. Weissmann and Middleton
Saving money and achieving greater efficiencies in the state’s health care budget through a Medicaid Efficiencies Act which fights fraud and cuts waste. SB 167 and others, Rep. Jim Riesberg
Consumers and Families
Helping Colorado consumers by halting the cycle of debt perpetrated by predatory payday loans and tax-refund anticipation loans, HB 1351, Rep. Ferrandino and HB 1249, Rep. Dennis Apuan
Replacing confusing insurance-contract language with plain-language and creating one uniform insurance application to ease the process. HB 1166, Rep. John Kefalas and HB 1242, Rep. Apuan
Protecting the value of gift cards, SB 155, Rep. Debbie Benefield and protecting neighborhoods from foreclosed and abandoned properties. HB 1249, Reps. Dianne Primavera & Jeanne Labuda
Making sure no Coloradan goes hungry by expanding SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – the new, improved version of food stamps. HB 1022 Rep. Gagliardi
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