Republicans vote against harsher punishments for perpetrators who commit crimes against pregnant women

Republicans use legislation to try to strip away basic rights from women

DENVER -- The Senate Republicans used the entire morning to debate against harsher punishments for perpetrators who commit crimes against pregnant women -- crimes that cause the termination of a pregnancy.

The Senate Republicans chose to use the legislation as a political football to establish “personhood.”  Fetal “personhood” is a notion that Colorado voters rejected twice.  It would criminalize abortion and most forms of birth control.

The legislation survived, nonetheless, in the Democratic run senate on a 21 to 14 vote.  One of the only two Republican women voted for the bill.

Democracy emerges victorious, again

DENVER -- Today, the Senate Democrats fought for the foundation of democracy: fair and accessible elections.  In a 20 to 15 decision the Senate approved the Voter Access and Modernization Elections Act (HB 13-1303).

“We have the technology to enhance our electoral system, and establish an efficient system that will save counties an estimated $9.5 million.   The updates will expand voter options, and ensures that every eligible voter has equal access to the system.  Democracy works best when everyone is involved,” said Angela Giron (D-Pueblo), the bill’s prime sponsor.

Two cheers for education today!

DENVER --  The hard work of the Senate Democrats was actualized today when Gov. Hickenlooper signed the state budget and Colorado ASSET into law, both of which help build up our public education system.   

The fiscal year 2013/2014 state budget (SB 13-230) strategically invests in education as the economy continues to rebound, and Colorado ASSET (SB 13-033) follows through on prior investments Coloradans have made in K-12 students, by giving all residents greater access to college.

Fighting to Prevent Child Fatalities

DENVER -- Today, the Senate Democrats fought to prevent future child fatalities by passing an enhanced child fatality review team process.  In a bipartisan vote, SB 13-255 was approved by the Senate, and now moves on to the House of Representatives.

Within the past six years, there have been 202 child deaths due to abuse and neglect, 75 of those fatalities had previous involvement with the system.

Following through on the voters’ will

DENVER -- Today, the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee started the process of implementing Amendment 64, which was approved by Coloradans in a statewide vote in 2012.  Amendment 64 legalizes the use and limited possession of recreation marijuana for people 21 and older.

The bipartisan consensus marijuana bill (SB 13-283) outlines all of the recommendations that the Amendment 64 task force agreed on unanimously.  The bill covers three policy areas:  public safety, business regulation, and implementation study.

Destructive wildfires prompt improvements for homeowner’s insurance

DENVER – The Colorado Senate is responding to the concerns of Coloradans who lost their homes in the recent deadly and destructive wildfires by passing homeowner’s insurance reforms. Today, the Homeowner’s Insurance Reform Act of 2013 (HB 13-1225), sponsored by Senators Jeanne Nicholson (D-Gilpin County) and John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins), passed on a bipartisan final vote of 27-8.

Helping kiddos get food in their bellies

DENVER -- Today, the Senate Democrats worked on legislation to ensure kids do not go through the school day hungry. The Breakfast after the Bell Nutrition program phases in a requirement that schools -- where at least 80 percent of the students qualify for federal free or reduced lunch -- serve breakfast to all students after the official start of school, beginning in 2014/2015. By 2015/2016, every school with at least 70 percent of students who qualify for federal free or reduced lunch, will participate in the program.

Special ed and at-risk kids helped in school finance act

DENVER -- Today in a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed the traditional school finance plan for next year, fiscal year 2013/2014. The plan funds 178 public school districts and the Charter School Institute, which affects about 830,000 students.

Rural energy standard clears the Senate

DENVER -- Tonight, Senate Democrats fought to expand the use of renewable energy and protect the environment that is vital to Colorado’s economy.

Senate bill 13-252 expands Colorado’s clean energy plan by ensuring rural Coloradans have increased access to solar, wind and other clean energy. The bill requires some of the state’s largest rural cooperative utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2020, moving the state one step closer to having a comprehensive and robust statewide clean energy strategy.

"New Medicaid" bill gets final approval in CO Senate

Denver – Today, the Colorado Senate Democrats voted to provide Medicaid coverage to an additional 160,000 uninsured Coloradans – about 20 percent of the total number of uninsured people statewide.

Senate bill 13-200 expands Medicaid eligibility from 100 percent of the federal poverty level to 133 percent, which is $31,322 for a family of four.