Education must remain at the forefront of our legislative agenda.
What I have done:
Endorsed B.E.S.T (HB08-1335), or Building Excellent Schools Today, to help fund projects to fix and replace crumbling schools.
Supported HB08-1375 to increase need-based grants and scholarships for students in higher education
What I will do:
Find ways to retain good teachers, reduce class sizes, and reduce our drop-out rates
Improve higher education funding and help Colorado's students attend college.
Healthcare
What I have done:
Worked to pass the FAIR Act (HB08-1389). The Colorado insurance commissioner can now reject unjustified rate hikes, and help keep your rates affordable.
Supported SB08-160 and SB08-161, which expanded health care access for kids and increased eligibilty. 50,000 more kids can now get the health care they need.
What I will do:
Study plans to insure all Coloradoans
Find ways to improve rural healthcare access
Work with my colleagues to fix our broken health care system
Water
Water can be a contentious issue at the Capitol and elsewhere in the state. In Colorado, 85% of the water is owned by agricultural interests, and most of it originates on the western slope. However, the bulk of the population lives along the front range.
What I have done:
Sponsored successful legislation (HB 06-1124) to encourage local cooperative efforts to allow for fallowing and leasing
Carried SB06-132 to continue the Domestic Wastewater Treatment Grant program and enable unincorporated communities to build wastewater treatment plants
Been a member of the Interim Water Resources Review Committee for seven years - Purpose is to contribute to and monitor the conservation, use, development, and financing of water resources for the welfare of Coloradoans. The Committee proposes water resources legislation.
What I will do:
Work to bring all stakeholders to the table and craft win-win solutions, such as
creating storage for the western slope in wet years
