(Oct. 31) – The legislative Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Interim Study Committee voted today to move forward with a six-bill package of legislation that seeks to prevent opioid addictions, intervene early when possible and make sure people seeking help are able to get the help they need. Today’s votes, with strong bipartisan support,
(Oct. 25) – Speaker Crisanta Duran and Majority Leader KC Becker said today that they were appalled by the U.S. Senate’s vote to overturn a federal rule protecting consumers’ right to band together against abuses by financial institutions. “Republicans in the U.S. Senate are standing with big banks over everyday Americans,” Speaker Duran said.
(Oct. 13) – Speaker Crisanta Duran expressed dismay today at the White House’s announcement that it would withhold federal insurance supports for low-income Americans under the Affordable Care Act. The federal supports are one of the keys that have allowed millions of Americans to afford health insurance. Here is Speaker Duran’s statement: “Having failed to
(Oct. 3) – The Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives expressed frustration today after a committee in the Republican-controlled Senate voted down the bill that prompted Gov. John Hickenlooper to call the first special session of the legislature since 2012. “We presented a constitutionally sound measure to fix a mistake that will impact Coloradans
(Oct. 2) – The House gave preliminary approval this afternoon to the bill that prompted Gov. John Hickenlooper to call a special session of the state legislature. HB17B-1001 corrects what all parties agree was a drafting error in SB17-267, a bipartisan bill passed during the 2017 regular session that protected against more than half a
(Sept. 22) — In a statement today, Speaker Crisanta Duran emphasized the human impact of the special districts revenue error that triggered Gov. John Hickenlooper’s call for a special session of the legislature, and called on legislators to come together to fix the unintended omission. Here is Speaker Duran’s statement: “All the grumbling and finger-pointing
(Sept. 20) – The leading economists in the state government are predicting a short-term uptick in the Colorado economy and a longer-term trend of continued steady though modest economic growth in Colorado and for the nation as a whole, with continued low unemployment in the state and a low risk of nationwide recession. Appearing this
(Sept. 19) – Kelly Watkins is Speaker Crisanta Duran’s new chief of staff, the speaker announced today. “No one in Colorado state government works harder and smarter than Kelly,” Speaker Duran said. “We make a good team, and I am thrilled to have her take on this lead role as we head into the 2018
(Sept. 13) – The Colorado Democratic Latin@ Legislative Caucus praised the decision announced today by Gov. John Hickenlooper to add Colorado to the list of states challenging the Trump administration’s repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The caucus also joined with Latino legislative leaders across the country in pushing for action on
(Sept. 7) – A plan by business groups to push for a ballot measure to increase state investment in transportation was applauded today by the two House Democrats who sponsored a 2017 bill to achieve the same goal. The new initiative, unveiled Wednesday, is being spearheaded by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce with support
