US House votes to slash Medicaid, kick Coloradans off health insurance, and cut food assistance to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans < Back May 22, 2025 JOINT RELEASE: GOP Budget Is Devastating for Coloradans DENVER, CO — Speaker Julie McCluskie, President James Coleman, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, and JBC members Shannon Bird, Jeff Bridges, Emily Sirota, and Judy Amabile today released the following statements after the US House passed Trump’s Medicaid cuts. Statement from Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon: “Coloradans across the state– from rural health providers to seniors in long term care– are counting on us to speak up now and tell members of Congress to oppose this bill. This shouldn’t be partisan. We pay more in federal taxes than we receive back, and now Republicans in Congress want to take even more. Trump’s budget kicks vulnerable people off their health care, cuts food assistance for children, and will force rural health clinics to close or turn away patients. This is an all hands on deck moment to stop these painful cuts that will devastate Coloradans." Statement from Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver: “Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill benefits billionaires on the backs of hardworking Coloradans and Americans. Nearly one in five Coloradans rely on Medicaid for health care. That’s over one million Coloradans from Denver to Durango, and everywhere in between. The vote to advance this package is an expected, yet disappointing step forward, and I urge Colorado’s federal delegation to do all they can to defend our access to essential medical care and fix the mess that Washington is creating for us here at home.” Statement from House Majority Leader Monica Duran: “Congress should be cutting taxes for working families, not cutting Medicaid and food assistance and rolling back consumer protections. These GOP cuts will harm the most vulnerable in Colorado and force us to choose between bad and worse options to keep our budget balanced. Furthermore, this bill defunds Planned Parenthood, which would disproportionately limit access to family planning and preventive care like screenings and tests for women and people of color. I am deeply alarmed that this bill has moved forward.” Statement from Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver: “The GOP’s reconciliation bill prioritizes the interests of the wealthiest Americans and powerful corporations over working families. From sweeping tax breaks for billionaires to buried provisions like a 10-year federal preemption on any and all AI safeguards, the bill reflects a consistent pattern: advancing the agenda of Big Tech and other special interests at the expense of consumer protections and public accountability." Statement from JBC Chair Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County: “Here in Colorado, we know what it’s like to make difficult decisions to balance our state budget. Every year, the Joint Budget Committee does so carefully, thoughtfully, and with the best interests of Colorado families in mind. While we budget with a scalpel, Congressional Republicans are using a chainsaw. This budget is irresponsible and reckless, and it will hurt Coloradans. Smart investments yield strong returns, and every dollar we invest in health care, education, and families pays dividends in a healthier, more productive workforce and a stronger economy. Slashing essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP will hurt families today, and jeopardize our state’s long-term stability and opportunity.” Statement from JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster: “Everyone who works hard deserves a fair opportunity to thrive and live the American dream, but Republicans in Congress just voted to make it harder. Instead of cutting costs for families, they are stripping health care from Coloradans and increasing copays for low-income people. Colorado’s budget simply cannot absorb these cuts, and if this bill passes, we will have to slash core services that people depend on and expect. I am concerned that this bill will cause chaos in the stock market and crash people’s retirement savings, raise costs on consumers and worsen the economic volatility that’s hurting families under the Trump administration.” Statement from JBC member Judy Amabile, D-Boulder: “Republicans in Congress are hellbent on making it harder for everyday Coloradans to stay on Medicaid. Millions of Coloradans rely on Medicaid and Medicare, and the drastic cuts to these programs in Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill will have devastating impacts from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. This further compounds our state’s budgetary challenges and will force the Joint Budget Committee to make impossible decisions about the future of Medicaid funding in Colorado and our ability to provide core services to hardworking families.” Statement from Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver: “GOP politicians in DC just voted to take health care and food assistance from vulnerable people so they can give massive tax cuts to billionaires and the wealthiest Americans. The message from Washington Republicans is clear: Trump, Musk and their billionaire backers are more important than hardworking people. Their budget cuts will harm those who can least afford it and make it harder for Colorado to fund higher education, K-12, public safety initiatives, and the critical services Coloradans rely on. We will be forced to reduce health care eligibility, cut services or pay providers less, jeopardizing our safety net and critical access facilities.” Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2020 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS APPROVED IN COMMITTEE DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Education today passed Representative Barbara McLachlan and Tony Exum’s bill to create the Higher Ed Student Emergency Assistance Grant program by a vote of 8-5. The program would offer emergency grants to help students at state institutions of higher education stay in school and graduate. “Students who are forced to decide between dropping out of college and paying for a financial emergency deserve our support,” said Education Committee Chair Rep. McLachlan (D-Durango). “This grant program will pick up, with just a small amount of financial investment, where student financial aid leaves off. This grant program will ensure that determined and hard-working students can finish their degree and fill the many job vacancies that require a post-secondary degree.” “A financial emergency like a flat tire or family crisis shouldn’t be what stops a great student from obtaining their degree,” said Rep. Exum, Sr. (D-Colorado Springs). “I was very pleased to see the House Ed Committee advance our bill today and get us one step closer to creating this grant program. Low income students face a much steeper climb towards graduation, and I’m proud to say we have their back.” HB20-1110 would create the Emergency Completion and Retention Grant Program within the department of higher education. This grant program seeks to improve our state institution’s retention and completion rates by providing emergency financial assistance, capped at $500 while enrolled at an institution of higher education, to students who are experiencing qualifying financial emergencies. The bill recognizes that, while student financial aid programs exist to reduce the overall cost of a student’s attendance at a college or university, there are certain financial emergencies that force students to choose between continuing their education or paying for the emergency. The grant program outlined in this bill would remedy these types of situations. In order to qualify for one of these grants, students must qualify for in-state tuition, meet state financial aid eligibility criteria and be more than 60% done with their required coursework, among other requirements. State higher education Institutions must prioritize eligible low-income students, first generation students, and students who lack other financial resources. ### Previous Next

Policies would increase prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the opioid crisis < Back October 30, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Opioid Committee Advances Bills to Save Lives and Prevent Overdose Deaths Policies would increase prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the opioid crisis DENVER, CO - The Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee today advanced four bills to bolster prevention efforts, improve treatment programs, promote harm reduction strategies, and support Coloradans in recovery to prevent overdose deaths and save lives. “Too many Coloradans are struggling with substance use disorders, and in many cases, dying of preventable overdoses,” said Chair Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood, sponsor of Bills 2, 3, and 4 . “Colorado has made remarkable progress on building a comprehensive response since this committee was established in 2017. I am proud that we have again risen to the challenge, engaging stakeholders over an intensive process to identify the next set of policy changes that are needed to turn the tide on this crisis and build a healthier, safer Colorado.” "More than 1,500 of our neighbors died from a drug overdose here in Colorado last year, a heartbreaking number we must do more to reduce," said Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, sponsor of Bill 2. "We've worked hard this interim to develop a menu of options for tackling this crisis, including legislation I am sponsoring that will expand treatment options for folks struggling with substance use disorders. I am proud of the work we've done, and I look forward to helping more Coloradans get the help and support they need to get their lives back on track." Bill 2 , sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Ryan Armagost and Senators Kyle Mullica and Perry Will would expand treatment options for Coloradans with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). The bill: Directs the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to apply for Medicaid waivers to cover health care services for people in jail or prison and to cover a partial-hospitalization level of care in our communities; Reduces insurance barriers to accessing substance use disorder treatment, Expands the treatment workforce by increasing training opportunities for addiction counselors under qualified licensed professional counselors and licenses clinical social workers; Authorizes pharmacists to diagnose opioid use disorders, prescribe medications, and make referrals to comprehensive treatment programs, creating new access points, especially in rural Colorado; Supports rural treatment providers by creating a shared infrastructure for administrative functions and allowing them to compare their reimbursements with metro area providers and negotiate better contracts; Creates a contingency management grant program, funding the best evidence-based practices to help people with stimulant use disorders stay sober; Invests in criminal justice diversion programs to provide individuals charged with a minor offense a substance use treatment option; and Studies additional barriers to treatment access, including inadequate insurance networks and federal regulations around methadone services. "Addressing the overdose and substance use disorder crisis that impacts many Coloradans and their families requires us to dig deep and consider many approaches, especially data driven initiatives, and this prevention bill starts with doing a better job on the front end by preventing folks from getting hooked at all,” said Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, sponsor of Bill 1. “These resources will empower community organizations and folks on the ground as they work to prevent substance use and abuse while connecting folks who are struggling with the treatment and support they need." “The best way to protect Coloradans from developing substance use disorders is to promote proven prevention methods to stop people from using dangerous substances in the first place,” said Rep. Mary Young, D-Greeley, sponsor of Bill 1. “Our bill takes a multi-pronged approach at substance use prevention by funding grant programs that connect residents to community-based resources and establishing screening and treatment referrals within our schools and pediatric settings.” Bill 1 , sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Kevin Priola and Representatives Mary Young and Elisabeth Epps, would boost SUD prevention efforts. The bill: Updates Colorado’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to improve data collection and access, support safer prescribing, and reduce misuse of prescription medication; Funds community-based organizations to provide prevention services for youth, families, and communities; Establishes a grant program for substance use screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to help identify youth who may need to seek treatment or resources; Continues the statewide perinatal substance use data linkage project for experts to develop legislative recommendations on improving outcomes for families impacted by substance use during pregnancy; and Launches a new data linkage project for opioid use disorders to better target investments to parts of Colorado with the greatest needs. “Preventable overdoses are rising across our state; we need to take action now to save lives,” said Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, sponsor of Bills 1 and 3 . “Prevention and harm reduction efforts like those included in these bills are proven to reduce overdose deaths and improve public health. We’re working to fund community-based prevention organizations, interrupt the spread of communicable disease, improve community safety, and protect all our neighbors—including the front line direct services workers who provide support and care as they prevent and reverse drug overdoses.” “We have lost far too many Coloradans to accidental overdoses and substance use disorders. Something has to change,” said Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, sponsor of Bills 1, 3 and 4. “We have worked hard to develop legislation that will result in meaningful harm reduction for people using substances, protect Coloradans stepping in to help those in crisis, and cultivate more supportive recovery programs to help Coloradans thrive. The bills we’re advancing today will save lives, and I’m optimistic about the progress we’ll make next session.” Bill 3 , sponsored by Representatives Chris deGruy Kennedy and Elisabeth Epps, and Senator Priola, focuses on harm reduction strategies. It would support efforts by local public health agencies to prevent the spread of disease by offering clean equipment, expand protections for Coloradans acting in good faith to administer an opioid antagonist, ensure that drug users know they can go to the hospital without fear of arrest, and broaden existing drug testing grant programs to get ahead of the next black market substances hitting Colorado like xylazine, or “tranq”. Bill 4 , sponsored by Senator Kevin Priola, Representative Chris deGruy Kennedy, and House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, would foster more recovery-friendly workplaces, clear barriers for sober living residences, and urge grocery stores to avoid in-your-face alcohol advertizing that makes it harder for people in recovery to simply buy food for their families. The four bills will now go to the Legislative Council for approval before being introduced next session. Once introduced in the 2024 session, interim bills will follow the legislative process in the same manner as all other bills. Previous Next

< Back March 20, 2019 SPEAKER BECKER, SENS. COURT & PRIOLA UNVEIL BIPARTISAN BILLS TO BETTER FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION & HIGHER-ED (Mar. 20) – Speaker KC Becker, Sen. Kevin Priola and Sen. Lois Court introduced a bipartisan bill today to better fund public schools, higher education, and roads, bridges, and transit. Colorado has one of the best economies in the country but revenue limits restrict the state’s ability to benefit from economic growth during upturns and protect against downturns. As a result, Colorado’s investment in public schools consistently ranks at the bottom of the nation, and transportation is severely underfunded. “This effort is supported by a broad, bipartisan coalition. This is about good governance,” said Speaker Becker, D-Boulder. “The TABOR cap is an antiquated fiscal policy that has severely limited Colorado’s ability to invest in basic functions of government－from public schools to transportation and health care. It’s made our economy easier to bust when recessions hit and harder to boom when they end. This measure is not an answer to all of our fiscal problems, but it’s a critical first step in making sure our fiscal policy actually supports our way of life in Colorado.” Colorado’s TABOR amendment restricts the amount of revenue all levels of government (state, local and schools) can spend, preventing the state from benefiting from economic growth and making critical investments. The vast majority of local governments and school districts have already “debruced,” meaning, they’ve received voter approval to retain all or a portion of the revenue over the TABOR cap. Of the state’s 272 municipalities, 230 municipalities have obtained voter approval to retain and spend all or a portion of excess revenue collected. Of the state’s 64 counties, 51 counties have obtained voter approval to retain and spend all excess revenue. All but four of the 178 school districts in Colorado have obtained voter approval to retain and spend excess revenue. The state has not yet followed suit, having only temporarily suspended the TABOR limit because of budget constraints through the voter-approved Referendum C in 2005. In the last 27 years since the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) was voted into Colorado’s Constitution, our state population has increased 50 percent – more than 2.3 million additional people live in our state in 2019 than in 1992. For decades, Colorado has not been able to keep up with the demands of growth because of the outdated fiscal restraints imposed on the state by TABOR. “I’ve talked to many Coloradans in my community and they are concerned about transportation and education. They want us to solve problems and fix things,” said Sen. Priola, R-Brighton. “I’m a native Coloradan and this proposal follows TABOR to a T because it goes to the voters.” There is a $9 billion project backlog at the Colorado Department of Transportation. Investing in our state’s infrastructure and transportation system is critical for economic development in rural Colorado and across the state. “I am proud to work with Speaker Becker and Senator Priola to ask the voters, without changing the constitution, if they’re willing to allow us to keep the funds we’ve collected to provide the services they expect,” said Sen. Court, D-Denver. HB19-1257 refers a measure to the Fall 2019 statewide ballot asking voters to authorize the state to annually retain and spend all state revenues in excess of the TABOR cap, the constitutional limitation on state fiscal year spending. HB19-1258, the companion bill, is contingent on voters approving the referred measure. It splits up the revenue retained due to the measure to be spent 1⁄3 each on public schools; higher education; and roads, bridges and transit. “These bipartisan measures will help ensure rural Colorado can thrive, generate more economic development and provide critical services in our communities,” said Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillion, a co-prime sponsor of the measures. At a news conference earlier in the day, Speaker Becker read a statement from Gov. Jared Polis about the measures. “Governor Polis supports allowing the state to keep the tax revenue it already collects. This common sense policy does not alter the right of citizens to vote on taxes but allows Colorado to keep pace with a growing economy. The governor is engaging bi-partisan civic leaders across the state because he believes broad bipartisan support is essential to win in November.” The text of the bills can be found here and here. Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2019 GOV SIGNS BILL TO OFFER COLORADANS ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SERVICES (Jun 3) – This weekend, Gov. Polis signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan and Rep. Matt Gray in Centennial that creates a workforce diploma pilot program. “This new law that the Governor just signed creates a workforce diploma pilot program to encourage achievement and attainment of high school diplomas or industry training certificates,” said Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial. “Coloradans should have the educational opportunities they need, no matter how old they are and regardless of whether they received a high school diploma.” HB19-1236 creates a workforce diploma pilot program in the Colorado Department of Education. The program awards performance payments to qualified providers that offer alternative education services and demonstrate their students’ successful completion of educational milestones, such as earning high school diplomas, course credits, or industry-recognized training certificates. This will help many Coloradans attain education and training that helps them get on a pathway to economic self-sufficiency so they can take care of themselves and their families. Previous Next

The House Finance Committee today passed legislation to eliminate “swipe fees” to save small businesses money. SB26-134, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Majority Leader Monica Duran, passed by a vote of 7-4. < Back May 4, 2026 Committee Passes Bill to Save Small Businesses Money on Swipe Fees DENVER, CO – The House Finance Committee today passed legislation to eliminate “swipe fees” to save small businesses money. SB26-134, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Majority Leader Monica Duran, passed by a vote of 7-4. “This legislation will save small businesses and restaurants thousands of dollars per year,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Right now, the most profitable credit card companies are charging small businesses a fee on the sales tax these businesses are required to collect. These ‘swipe fees’ add up quickly, costing small businesses tens of thousands of dollars a year while ongoing global instability, rising fuel prices and costly tariffs have created additional pressures. Prohibiting ‘swipe fees’ will protect jobs, boost workers’ incomes and save small businesses money to help build an economy where everyone has a fair shot to thrive.” “Colorado Democrats are committed to creating a more affordable Colorado, and this bill could save small businesses thousands of dollars on swipe fees,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Swipe fees disproportionately hurt small businesses. Our bill would stop credit card companies with $60 billion or more in assets from charging businesses swipe fees and ensure that those savings are dedicated to reducing prices for Coloradans and boosting employee pay. This would support minority-owned small businesses and support entrepreneurs who are finding creative ways to bring in money for their families.” Currently, credit card companies charge businesses a ‘swipe fee’ for electronic payments and card-based transactions. This fee includes both the transaction total and the sales tax that businesses must collect on behalf of the state and local governments. SB26-134 would prohibit large credit card companies from implementing this fee on the sales tax component of every transaction. The bill applies to credit card companies with assets over $60 billion. Businesses with over 500 employees must use any savings under this bill to reduce prices for customers or increase employee wages or benefits. Swipe fees can range from 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent of a transaction. In 2024, swipe fees on sales tax cost businesses over $217 million in Colorado. A 2026 Colorado Restaurant Association report found that SB26-134 could save Colorado restaurants over $26,000 a year. Previous Next

The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to close gaps in jail safety standard requirements to protect incarcerated Coloradans from sexual exploitation. < Back March 31, 2026 Stewart, Mabrey Bill to Prevent Sexual Abuse in Jails Advances DENVER, CO – The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to close gaps in jail safety standard requirements to protect incarcerated Coloradans from sexual exploitation. “What happened in Durango was a very serious abuse of power, and no one should ever be put in that situation ever again,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “We must do more to protect people from sexual abuse who are incarcerated. Our bill cuts down on unnecessary strip searches, protects whistleblowers and ensures that peace officers who violate this law cannot serve in a detention facility again.” “Strip searches are intrusive and violating. When the government is engaging with someone in this very vulnerable moment, we must have strong safeguards in place to ensure that people in custody are not being mistreated,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Sexual violence and exploitation in jails and prisons is never acceptable, and our law should reflect that. This bill protects the dignity and bodily autonomy of Coloradans in custody by bolstering safeguards around strip searches and establishing better oversight requirements.” HB26-1123 would strengthen jail safety policies regarding strip searches, sexual assault prevention and whistleblower protections. This bill requires detention centers to create sexual assault prevention policies and inform inmates of their rights under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). If a peace officer commits a sexual assault in a detention facility, their POST certification would be permanently revoked. Prior to arraignment, two peace officers or other authorized personnel would be required to independently determine that there is a reasonable suspicion that an individual is concealing a weapon or a controlled substance to conduct a strip search. They would document their decision to conduct a strip search and could not activate their body cameras during the strip search. Detention facilities would submit an annual report for the total number of strip searches that occurred in their facilities, as well as the reasons and the results of the searches, to the Colorado legislature and the Attorney General. HB26-1123 only allows a peace officer to review a video recording of a strip search for a legitimate law enforcement purpose. These reviews cannot be viewed remotely and personnel must obtain approval from the sheriff in order to access the footage and document the reason for seeking access. The bill also includes whistleblower protections for staff who report suspected, alleged or witnessed sexual assault and creates a private right of action for whistleblowers. The Prison Rape Elimination Act was passed by Congress in 2003 to prevent sexual assaults in prison. Inconsistent implementation and enforcement of PREA standards have left significant gaps that leave individuals vulnerable to sexual misconduct in jails and prisons. Last year, a La Plata County Jail commander was accused of viewing over 3,000 strip-search videos between 2019 and 2024. He was charged with 117 counts of invasion of privacy and one count of official misconduct. Previous Next

< Back January 16, 2019 EDUCATION COMMITTEE CLEARS KRAFT-THARP’S SHOP ACT Bill would bring SHOP classes back to schools (Jan. 15) – The House Education Committee passed Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s bill today to permit more schools to apply for Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grants for new or rebuilt Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities. This bill is intended to provide resources and opportunities for kids who want to go into alternative careers. Any CTE program approved by the Department of Education such as agriculture, natural resources & energy, STEM, Arts & Design, skilled trades and technical sciences, health science and criminal justice & public safety, hospitality, human services & education are careers that can request the BEST grant. “In my time here at the legislature, I have made it a focus to make sure that we offer these career options for kids,” said Representative Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada. “As someone who grew up in a construction family, I know the importance of bringing these jobs to our students and making sure they have the skills to get ahead in life.” HB19-1008 was approved unanimously by a vote of 12-0 . The bill now goes to the House floor. Previous Next

The House today passed bipartisan legislation to promote semiconductor manufacturing in Colorado, attracting new businesses and creating good paying jobs. < Back May 3, 2023 House Passes Bill to Boost Semiconductor Production, Create Good-Paying Jobs DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to promote semiconductor manufacturing in Colorado, attracting new businesses and creating good paying jobs. HB23-1260 passed by a vo te of 54 to 9. “From our cars and cell phones to emerging clean energy technology, we need more semiconductor research, development and production to meet economic demands,” said Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver. “This bipartisan legislation helps Colorado attract new semiconductor businesses, which will create jobs, boost our economy and position Colorado to lead the way on semiconductor manufacturing. We’re working hard to draw down federal investments so Colorado can stand out in this growing industry and secure new business for years to come.” HB23-1260 , sponsored by Representatives Alex Valdez and Matt Soper, would create tax incentives to maximize investments in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing in Colorado. This bill increases Colorado’s ability to access federal investments in Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) technology and attract new businesses and good paying jobs across the state. This bill would allow local governments to designate new areas, or CHIPS Zones, to attract manufacturers and boost local economies across Colorado. HB23-1260 would also create a task force to study the effectiveness of financial incentives to promote and develop STEM companies in Colorado. The federal CHIPS and Science Act will invest $280 billion over five years, with $50 billion more immediately available through the CHIPS for America Fund created within the U.S. Department of Commerce, withColorado poised to receive upwards of $5.5 billion. As emerging technology becomes more and more essential in our daily lives, the need for high-powered, efficient semiconductors rises . Semiconductors are used in advanced medical equipment, computers, vehicles, clean energy technology and more. Previous Next

< Back September 19, 2020 BECKER, GARNETT REACT TO JUSTICE GINSBURG’S PASSING DENVER, CO – House Speaker KC Becker and Majority Leader Alec Garnett today released the following statements reacting to the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the age of 87. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be remembered as a trailblazing giant of American jurisprudence,” said House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. “I am heartbroken to hear of her passing. Justice Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court the summer before I started law school, and throughout my years there she was an unyielding force of inspiration for myself and my fellow women law students. She has no doubt inspired leagues of young lawyers for three decades since, and I am confident that she will continue to inspire any woman seeking to practice law long after her passing. May she rest in peace and power.” “With every decision, every dissent, and every question raised during Supreme Court hearings, Ruth Bader Ginsburg furthered the cause of justice,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett . “At 5’1, she was a towering presence — a fierce ally to all those who fought for equality and the improvement of our country and a fearless foe to those who did not. I can only hope and pray that Cory Gardner, Mitch McConnell and the Republican Senate in Washington will respect the legacy of an American icon, as well as their own rules about Supreme Court appointments during presidential election years, and wait until 2021 to vote on a nominee for her seat.” Previous Next

< Back November 1, 2021 MAJORITY LEADER ESGAR STATEMENT ON SCOTUS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON SB8 DENVER, CO — Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, today released the following statement on the US Supreme Court hearing on SB8, the Texas law that will ban abortions as soon as six weeks–before many women know they are pregnant. “I was outraged by the Supreme Court’s failure to block this law from taking effect, and I urge the court to do so now. SB8 is a dangerous attack on abortion rights that threatens patients’ health and access to critical care. The Supreme Court must adhere to decades of precedent, uphold Roe v. Wade and overturn Texas’ blatantly unconstitutional law. In Colorado, we will continue to defend access to abortion and ensure that our laws protect the fundamental rights of all people to access the health care they need.” Previous Next

< Back June 3, 2019 GOV SIGNS CUTTER’S MEDIA LITERACY AND SLAPP BILLS Media Literacy bill will help invest in the next generation of Coloradans (Jun 3) – Today, two of Representative Lisa Cutter’s bills were signed in Conifer by Governor Polis. The bills create a media literacy advisory committee within the Department of Education to help Colorado students become more educated about the media and the role it plays in our society, and protect Coloradans against lawsuits intended to impede their free speech. “As a country, our decisions are only as good as the information we take in to form our opinions,” said Rep. Cutter, D-Evergreen. “The media landscape has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Colorado’s students are facing the largest and most complex information landscape in human history and it’s crucial that we provide educators with the tools necessary to help our youth better understand the world around them.” HB19-1110 creates a media literacy advisory committee within the state Department of Education that will work with a consultant to study media literacy, including best practices and available resources, and then report back with recommendations for the House and Senate Education Committees. Cutter hopes to sponsor legislation in the future using these recommendations to implement media literacy studies in elementary and secondary education. At a March hearing on the bill, the Associated Press and Colorado Press Association testified in support of this bill, among others. A recent academic study shows that 82 percent of middle school students could not distinguish the difference between real news stories and advertisements. Later, Gov. Polis signed HB19-1324, sponsored by Rep. Cutter and Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster related to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). “These lawsuits are an abuse of our judicial system–to threaten people and instill fear in them,” said Rep. Cutter. “We should not be using the court systems against people, especially low-income people, who are simply exercising their right to speak up and this new law ensures that.” The bill establishes an expedited process for a court to follow in a lawsuit in which a person claims they were exercising their constitutional right to free speech or to petition the government. The bill also authorizes an award of attorney’s fees to defendants on this special motion to dismiss the lawsuit.. This new process will not only speed up the process but will also make sure that people exercising their free speech do not have to lose money defending their constitutional rights against these lawsuits. “Our legal system should not be used to frighten people away from the free exercise of their right to speak. This law protects free speech and makes sure that our legal system is not abused,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, an attorney by trade. Previous Next