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DPS students learn firsthand from Mayor Hickenlooper and state legislators
Burg Simpson attorneys Reeves Whalen and Stephen Burg and CSG public relations specialist Dan Mahoney recently hosted an event for Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign. However, this was not your ordinary night for most Denver politicos. At the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, eight local students from the Denver Public Schools were on hand to meet some of their elected officials and representatives.
For the past two years, attorney Whalen has mentored brothers Matthew Carter and Joseph Benson through the Save Our Youth Mentorship program. For this special occasion he recruited some of their siblings, neighbors, and friends to participate in the event.
“I’ve known these kids and their families for years and this event gave me an opportunity to provide them with a really enriching experience,” said Whalen.
From left, Burg Simpson attorney Reeves Whalen, Rashaad Woodard, Christina Carter, Matthew Carter, Jasmine Leon, Demetrey Fulks, Matise Baca, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Joseph Benson and attorney Stephen Burg.
The event was attended by Mayor Hickenlooper, DU law professors Jan Laitos, Arthur Best and Dan Vigil, as well as young Denver business professionals and numerous members of the state legislature who came out to show their support and mingle with students from North High School, East High School, West High School, South High School, Lake Middle School, Kepner Middle School, and Aurora Hills.
“Through mentoring, I’ve become acutely aware of the advantages I’ve had in my life,” said Whalen. “If we are lucky, years from now, maybe a few of them will look back and say ‘I met someone who inspired me that evening and this event helped change the direction of my life,’” he continued.
State Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, spent some time talking with the students, “It is extremely important to inspire youth who come from challenging environments to dream big and to realize that they have unique gifts and talents.”
State Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, agreed. “Exposing urban youth to events like this is very important, it shows them the importance of our democratic process, and allows them to realize that nothing is stopping them from becoming the future leaders of our communities,” he said.
Prior to the Mayor’s arrival, the students snacked on appetizers, drank root beer from the Wynkoop Brewery, and chatted with those in attendance on topics ranging from favorite classes, teachers, and summer jobs. Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, said, “The opportunity to speak directly with elected officials, ask questions and see the inner operations of the system working should get them started on the road to participating in the political process.”
The kids asked some great questions, ranging from the cost of participating in high school athletics to advice on pursuing post-graduate careers in the military compared to opportunities in higher education for Colorado students. Crisanta Duran, candidate for state representative in House District 5, shared her thoughts on interacting with the young students at the event.
“I learned early on, if a legislator really wants to make a difference, he or she needs to learn and understand the issues that affect the local community,” Duran said.
Hickenlooper answered questions from the audience and those prepared in advance by the students as the evening came to a close. But first the Mayor personally introduced himself to all of the students, inquiring about the schools they attended. He even took time to participate in a group photo.
“In my time working with kids, you would be surprised how little it takes, with some support and guidance, to ignite a passion and inspire a youth. I think tonight was a rewarding experience for everyone,” stated Whalen.
“If even one kid is inspired, then it is all worth it,” said co-host Stephen Burg.
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Representative Joe Miklosi’s Job Fair Helped People Earn Jobs
June 15, 2010 – Over 300 job seekers and a dozen companies attended Representative Joe Miklosi’s Job Fair at the Hampden Library. According to the initial follow up survey, nearly 40 people earned a job.
“We need to put people back to work and get this economy moving again. My job fair is a practical way to empower people to earn a good-paying job” said Representative Miklosi.
Chelesa, a 22-year old part time actor, has turned to working odd jobs to pay rent and groceries. She attended the job fair to get a part time job to help make ends meet. Jay, an 41-year old engineer, with nearly 20 years of professional experience, received an interview with a renewable energy engineering firm. He had been out of work for nearly one year.
“I’m grateful for the companies that attended the job fair and I was impressed with the quality of job applicants” said Representative Miklosi.
The companies included Comcast, Synergy Home Care, KDVR-TV, Jobing.com, Omni Pro Cleaners, First Investors, Weston Solutions, US Weatherizing, LLC, Denver Workforce Development, and the Denver Public Library.
5,000 People Utilize New Colorado Voter Website
The Denver Post
07/06/2010
The initial batch of voters registering online in Colorado are decidedly male and Republican.
In the first three months of the system's debut, almost 5,000 people have used it to register to vote or change their registration.
A demographic breakdown by the secretary of state's office shows that nearly 39 percent were Republicans compared with nearly 29 percent Democrats. Unaffiliated voters made up almost 30 percent of the users.
Male voters outnumbered females 54 percent to 46 percent.
The system was as popular among baby boomers as it was among the younger crowd.
Voters between 17 and 30 years old made up 33 percent of the users compared with 34 percent between the ages of 40 and 60. Seventeen-year-olds can register as long as they turn 18 before the election.
The system went live on April 1. It came about as a result of state legislation passed last year.
State Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, sponsor of the online-registration bill, said the number of people using the site is slightly ahead of what happened in Arizona and Washington when they launched their sites.
"I'm thrilled," Miklosi said. "I think once the public education occurs, we'll see tens of thousands of people register this way between now and 30 days before the November election."
Miklosi said he hopes the online system encourages younger residents to register to vote. Youths ages 17 to 20 accounted for 10 percent of the online activity.
Rich Coolidge , spokesman for Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, said online registrations and changes accounted for about 2 percent of all registration activity during the three months. Motor voter and mail-in registrations remained the most popular ways to register, Coolidge said.
Residents need to have a Colorado driver's license or valid state-issued identification to use the system. It can be accessed at GoVoteColorado.com.
Colorado Law Boosts Local Financing Rules for Clean Energy
By James Cartledge
Homeowners and businesses in Colorado will have more help in coping with the upfront costs of renewable energy and efficiency projects, thanks to a new law. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill last week that should allow more people in the state to obtain financing for clean energy projects. Senate Bill 100 was sponsored by Senator Gail Schwartz and Representative Joe Miklosi. The bill strengthens a measure adopted in 2008, which allowed local districts to offer financing for energy improvements. Under the latest measure, local districts will be able to team up to offer energy financing programs.
Senate Bill 100 effectively allowed district financing programs to cross county borders, clearing the way for counties to work together – particularly where they might be too small to operate financing programs alone.
“Powerful”
Gov. Ritter said the bill was a “powerful tool” to help people reduce energy bills and promote local clean energy companies, as well as helping Colorado reach its energy targets.
He said: “Without the changes proposed in SB 100, it will be extremely difficult for Colorado’s smaller counties to offer this financing tool, denying their home and business owners access to the benefits this tool provides.”
Pitkin County Commissioner Rachel Richards said the bill would be a “big step” for rural counties in taking clean energy “out of newspaper headlines and putting it to work in local neighborhoods”.
Commissioner Richards said of the bill: “It helps empower county governments to empower our citizens to lower their energy consumption and their energy bills – all while helping to put their own neighbors, in the hard-hit construction trades, back to work.”
Renewable Energy Bonds
Separately last week, Colorado’s Senate approved another bill from Senator Schwartz, which will allow the state to qualify for Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds to fund energy improvement projects.
The Bill made a slight change to state procedures to allow use of the Bonds, which would provide federal funds via the Recovery Act for local governments across Colorado.
The bonds can be used to fund energy conservation projects, with the federal government picking up 70% or more of the interest.
“As Colorado continues to expand our renewable energy sector, we must address the evolving needs of consumers and local communities,” said Sen. Schwartz. “Voters in Colorado continue to approve programs to finance affordable energy improvements to their homes.”
Representative Joe Miklosi Hosts Seniors Fair
Denver, Colo., Your Hub /Denver Post – Representative Joe Miklosi hosted a very informative meeting for seniors and their families at the Heritage Club Denver.
Ray Smith, long-term care specialist, gave the group information on the Colorado Long-Term Care Partnership which allows people to preserve their assets in the event that they outlive their money and need Medicaid.
Many exhibitors shared information on free resources available in the community.
Senator Joyce Foster and City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann also addressed the group.
"The senior citizen resource town hall meeting was a fantastic opportunity for our seniors to stay connected to their community and to discover ways they can receive resources to stay in their home longer and other valuable skills" said Representative Joe Miklosi.
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Online Voter Registration Goes Live at Thomas Jefferson High School
April 10, 2010 - Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, visits with 17-year-old Thomas Jefferson High School senior Paige Milstein, left, and 18-year-old senior Rhea Boyd as they pre-register on the state’s new online voter registration system.
State Representative Joe Miklosi and Secretary of State Bernie Buescher Launch Online Registration Program For All Voters, Including Teens
Rhea Boyd, an 18-year-old high school student from Denver, says she needs to read up on the candidates for U.S. Senate and governor after she registered to vote Tuesday on the Internet for her first election.
Boyd said she doesn't know much about the candidates in the election this November, but she believes a lot more teenagers will vote after Colorado became one of three states offering Internet voter registration.
"We're a lot more savvy when it comes to computers, and I think the number of teenage voters is going to grow exponentially," Boyd said.
Secretary of State Bernie Buescher said students have to be 18 on or before the Nov. 9 election to vote this year, but they can register as early as their 17th birthday.
He said the new law applies to all voters, and 174 have taken advantage of the new system that began April 1.
Under the new program, voters use their driver's license or permit to verify their identities and registration is almost instantaneous. Current law requires voters to be registered at least 29 days before the election.
Seth Masket, assistant professor political science at the University of Denver, said Democrats are hoping they will benefit from the new technology because they believe most young people are leaning toward the Democratic Party, but he believes there is no link between innovative voter registration programs and party affiliation.
Masket said Congress lowered the voting age to 18 and Richard Nixon won by a landslide. When Congress passed the motor voter act in 1993, Democrats were hoping to attract poorer voters who couldn't get off from work to register and Republicans won the midterm elections.
Rep. Joe Miklosi, a Democrat from Denver who sponsored the bill, said he believes the new law will appeal especially to young voters who grew up with texting and iPhones.
"We need to reach out to our youth," Miklosi said. Washington state and Arizona also offer the program.
About two dozen students at Thomas Jefferson High School munched on free pizza Tuesday as they used the school's computer lab to register to vote. Boyd said she believes most of her classmates will register as Democrats.
Senior class president Tom Moehlman said he believes fewer young voters will turn out this year than they did two years ago because their is no presidential election and no young, electrifying candidate like Barack Obama, but he believes they will still turn out to vote.
On the Spot: Representative Joe Miklosi
The Denver Post March 22, 2010
Rep. Joe Miklosi, a Democrat, was elected in 2008 to represent House District 9, replacing former Rep. Alice Borodkin, a Democrat who was termed out.
Miklosi, 39, works for Project C.U.R.E., a non-profit organization that sends medical supplies and services to third-world countries.
But Miklosi is no stranger to politics. A former White House intern during the Clinton years and a former aide to U.S. Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, Miklosi also worked as a political strategist who helped Democrats win control of the legislature in Colorado.
Miklosi is originally from New Boston, Mich., a rural community near the Ohio-Michigan border. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Hope College in Holland, Mich., where he studied political science and religion. He also holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado-Denver.
He said he and his wife, Jennifer, are thinking about starting a family soon.
Q: Tell me about your work at Project C.U.R.E.
A: I help Project C.U.R.E. get grants from USAID so that we can ship more medical supplies to the developing world.
Q: What was it like to visit Rwanda for Project C.U.R.E.?
A: In Rwanda, you know – we debate health care here – but when you get over there, all those political debates go by the wayside because you just want to provide care. The health care system there is so rudimentary. There was a doctor there who said he’d used the bottom of a bean can to perform a C-section.
Q: What was it like to be a White House intern during the Clinton administration?
A: It was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had – when you get the ‘A-badge,’ and you’re allowed to walk through the Old Executive Office Building and the White House. This was before 9/11. That was an incredible feeling for a 23-year-old, to help organize NAFTA press conferences. You’re doing the grunt work, but even the grunt work like organizing a press conference was exciting.
Q: Why did you study political science and religion at Hope College in Holland, Mich.?
A: I thought I was going to become a minister for a while. But I decided to enter public service. That was my calling. That was where my gifts aligned.
Q: Your mother was a waitress for 35 years?
A: Double-shift. High school education. My dad taught school, K-6, for 33 years.
Q: So, are you a good tipper?
A: Usually 20 percent. My mom spent time in an orphanage. She’s my greatest role model because the one value she taught me in life, besides treating people fairly, was you never give up. It’s hard to talk about it and not get emotional.
Q: Describe your district.
A: House District 9 in southeast Denver is a suburban district with no main street. It’s wealthier. The average price of a home is $300,000. There’s beautiful parks, like Bible Park. There’s a great sense of community as a result of that.
Q: You had planned to sponsor a bill this year allowing undocumented students to receive in-state tuition, but you dropped the idea. What happened?
A: Well, one, I didn’t have the votes. I need to do more on the public education aspect of it. When you get past the bumper sticker slogans and actually analyze the situation, you see that these kids have been here their whole lives. They’ve earned good GPAs, they’ve volunteered in their communities. They’ve paid sales tax and gas tax. They’ve contributed more than they’ve taken away. They just want a fair shot to get an education.
Representative Miklosi Protects Colorado Taxpayer Dollars
UNACCEPTABLE" PAYOUT?
Seeking cash back for RTD
A legislative panel wants the agency's former chief to return a $1.3 million pension.
By Jeffrey Leib
The Denver Post
03/31/2010
A legislative committee voted Tuesday to ask former RTD General Manager Cal Marsella to return $1.3 million to the transit agency from a lump-sum pension payout he received last month.
The vote came after members of the Legislative Audit Committee heard details of a state audit of the Regional Transportation District's executive compensation practices.
Marsella resigned as RTD's general manager in July after leading the agency for 14 years.
Shortly after his departure, state auditors began their probe of Marsella's pay and benefit package and the RTD board's oversight of executive compensation. Marsella's compensation package for the first seven months of 2009 had a total value of $725,612, including a one-time payout for unused vacation and sick leave of $268,839, according to the audit.
The audit was especially critical of a provision in Marsella's employment contract with RTD's board that called for the former GM to receive 2 1/2 years of pension credit for each year he worked at RTD.
"It appears to me the board rubber-stamped everything he wanted," Rep. James Kerr, R-Littleton, an audit committee member, said of RTD directors' actions in overseeing Marsella's compensation.
Reached Tuesday afternoon, Marsella vigorously defended the contracts he negotiated with RTD boards in his years with the agency.
During that tenure, Marsella said he had offers attempting to lure him to other transit agencies around the country, and in response, different RTD boards said, in effect, "We don't want you to go," and negotiated contract terms that kept him at RTD.
Marsella pointed to coaches of sports teams who "make multiples of what I made and don't even have winning seasons."
"I had a lot of winning seasons and we became the envy of the industry," he said, citing such accomplishments as "bringing in four rail lines on time and on budget," getting $1 billion in federal transit money, acquiring Union Station and creating the FasTracks transit expansion plan. "We had an excellent run."
In recent years, however, the FasTracks program has run into severe financial difficulty.
When Marsella left RTD last year, he had 35 years of service credit in the pension plan for his 14 years at the agency.
As of Feb. 1, the pension plan actuary estimated the lump-sum value of Marsella's retirement benefit was $2.9 million, with about $1.7 million of the total "attributable to the former general manager's higher service credit accrual rate," the audit said.
RTD chief financial officer Terry Howerter said the agency paid Marsella his entire $2.9 million in accrued pension benefit last month, including $1.6 million from the RTD salaried employees' pension plan and $1.3 million from a special government-mandated Excess Benefit Plan that had been set up specifically to account for Marsella's excess pension accrual.
Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, a member of the audit committee, said it was "unacceptable" for RTD to pay Marsella $1.3 million in excess pension money. Miklosi proposed the measure requesting that Marsella voluntarily return that amount of money back to RTD.
In response, Marsella said: "That's not going to happen. I had a deal, a contract. People have to respect that."
The audit found that the RTD board's efforts to gather compensation data from other transit agencies "were not sufficient or consistent with established best practices" in some aspects and, thus, "did not provide a valid market basis" for Marsella's compensation package.
After leaving RTD, Marsella joined MV Transportation Inc., a private provider of contract transportation services. Last month, Marsella left active employment at MV, company spokeswoman Nikki Frenney said.
Representative Joe Miklosi Named Public Official of the Year
By Penny Parker
Denver Post Columnist Posted: 03/18/2010
To win the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver's Lifetime Achievement Award, you have to be of a certain age. But to hammer home just how old the award recipient is?
That was the well-intended message from Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez during a taped tribute to former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, who received the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver — a new name and logo unveiled during the event — Lifetime Achievement Award during a sold-out luncheon of 800 attendees at the Marriott City Center.
"When I first heard of Federico Peña, his name was on a sign in my grandmother's front yard," said Lopez, 31. "I was 5 years old. . . . You're an inspiration,
FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2009 file photo, a home with a reduced price for sale in Carmel, Ind. neighborhood is shown. Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers _ $6,500 cheaper.
especially to those of us younger in the community. . . . As a young person . . ."
The overwhelmed Peña, who turned 63 on Monday, said, "I'm here as the manifestation of what Latinos and Latinas have achieved all over the country."
Other award winners were Anita Padilla Fitzgerald (Megastar Financial) for businesswoman of the year; Albert C. Gonzales (Gonzales Consulting Services) for businessman of the year; FirstBank for corporate advocate of the year; Mike Mares (Walker-Dilworth LLC) for chamber advocate of the year; State Sen. Chris Romer and State Rep. Joe Miklosi for public officials of the year; and Gov. Bill Ritter for the president's award.
Congrats to chamber head honcho Jeff Campos and his staff for an impressive event.
Laugh line from Mayor John Hickenlooper to Ritter: "I was going to start with a joke, but I was afraid I might do more damage to the governor's ribs."
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14696635#ixzz0iYGCbcwN
Mid-Session Update
We have been busy at the state legislature cutting and balancing the state budget, creating jobs, and empowering small business owners. Below is a brief update.
Mid-Session Summary of our Accomplishments By the Numbers:
2,000 – Number of new energy efficiency jobs that will be created in the next 5 years by increasing access to bonds & loans for home energy improvements with HB 1328. HB 1328 – Rep. Joe Miklosi (D-Denver), Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village)
19,795 – Number of additional families receiving essential food assistance due to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). HB 1022 – Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada), Sen. Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood)
50% –Annual expected increase in nursing faculty accepted to Colorado nursing programs thanks to expansion of the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness program. The program will reduce waitlists and increase the number of new nurses. SB 58 – Sen. Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo), Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada)
130,000 – The number of women who will no longer pay up to 59% more than men for the exact same health insurance coverage with passage of the Gender Equity/HC bill. HB 1008 - Rep. Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge), Rep. Beth McCann (D-Denver), Sens. Carroll/Schwartz
30% – Amount of energy produced by the state’s utilities that will come from renewable sources by 2020 with our new Renewable Energy Standard. HB 1001 – Rep. Max Tyler (D-Golden), Sens. Schwartz/Whitehead
3,333 – Average estimated number of “construction period” jobs per year in our New Energy Economy that could result from 1,000 megawatts of Distributed Generation – green energy from local sources like rooftops. DG is a central component of HB 1001. HB 1001 – Rep. Max Tyler (D-Golden), Sens. Schwartz/Whitehead (from votesolar.org report)
23 – Number of jobs a single primary care physician can generate in a community, increasing economic development through the Health Care Jobs Act. HB 1138 – Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada), Sen. John Morse (D-Colorado Springs)
10th – Maximum grade level for language in insurance policies; insurers must replace confusing legalese with “plain language” in their policies. HB 1166 – Rep. John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins), Sen. Linda Newell (D-Littleton)
$2,000,000,000 – Approximate amount of money that has been cut to keep the budget balanced, including making $500 million in cuts in the last 60 days.
11 – Number of the 100+ existing corporate tax loopholes, credits and exemptions (worth about $2 billion/year) that have been or will be lifted to help balance the budget, to keep schools funded, and to make sure every interest group pays their fair share to live and work in Colorado.
$132.6 Million - Amount of money which will be preserved for schools, public safety, and other social services for closing tax loopholes.
Additional Highlights
Renewable Energy Job Creation and Financing Bill: New Energy Jobs Creation Act would create a statewide, voluntary Special Improvement District that empower 50,000 homeowners to receive financing to hire approved companies to install solar, wind, geothermal renewable energy systems and or energy efficiency improvements for their homes. These bonded improvements will be paid through an annual assessment on their property taxes at a fixed rate over 20 years. This would create 2,000 - 3,000 installation and supplemental jobs during the next five years, increase property value by 8% - 10%, make America more energy self sufficient, and attract good-paying renewable energy jobs to Colorado (Rep Miklosi and Sen Schwartz).
Work Share Bill: Allows employers to retain workers whose hours have been reduced to be compensated with pro-rated unemployment benefits. Work Share would not negatively impact the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Presently17 other states have work share programs. Prevents layoffs and empowers employers (Sen. Heath and Rep Pace).
State Park Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bill: Innovative goal to make all State Parks in Colorado energy self sufficient by investing in renewable energy systems. Colorado will save thousands of dollars and be the first state in the nation to implement this creative idea (Rep. Randy Fischer).
Preventing Financial Abuse of Elders and At-Risk Adults Bill: Requires financial institutions to inform customers, who are at risk defined as a person who is 60+ years old, or 18+ years old with a disability, of their right to voluntarily sign a prior consent form and have this placed in their financial records (Sen Schwartz, Rep Frangas and Rep Kefalas).
Maternity Protection Bill: Most basic health care policies do not cover maternity care and some classify pregnancy as a pre-exisiting condition. This is ridiculous. In Colorado, last year, there were 27,000 unintended pregancies. As a value statement, and for both health and economic reasons, this legislation will insure pregnant women so that they receive basic maternity health care. We will all benefit from this landmark legislation (Sen. Foster).
Transparency in Government
Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy is one of the best Treasurer's in the nation because of ideas like this. She recently created the Colorado Tax Tracks, which empowers Coloradans to see how an individual or a family's income taxes are spent and lets them offer input as to whether they agree or disagree. Colorado Tax Tracks is part of a comprehensive effort to make state finances more transparent and accessible for all Coloradans. For more information, visit:
www.Colorado.gov/treasury
Bill to close Old Age Pension Loophole Withdrawn
By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post
Posted: 03/18/2010
A bill to close a loophole in Colorado law that allows elderly legal immigrants to receive a taxpayer-funded pension died in the House on Wednesday after the lawmaker sponsoring the legislation withdrew it.
The bill's death in the House means legislators will have to find $14.4 million somewhere else to help balance the budget.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he'd gotten so much grief from fellow Democrats about the bill that he decided it wasn't worth going forward with it.
"Every day, I'm made to feel like the guy who wants to throw people out of nursing homes. I just got fed up with it," said Pommer, chairman of the Joint Budget Committee.
Established in 1936, the state's Old Age Pension program provides nearly 24,000 low-income Colorado residents who are at least 60 with cash benefits of up to $699 a month, and, in some cases, medical benefits.
Legal immigrants are entitled to receive the pension. Under federal law, family members who sponsor relatives as immigrants must agree to be financially responsible for them until they become a citizen, have worked for 10 years or have become self-sufficient.
However, state law says that the income of an eligible pensioner's family can't be counted against the applicant. That means that thousands of legal immigrants whose families had pledged to care for them are receiving taxpayer-funded pensions.
The cash-assistance portion of the pension program alone costs the state just over $80 million, of which about $53 million goes to nearly 8,700 legal permanent residents.
Pommer's bill would have aligned state law with federal law, cutting off an estimated 2,447 legal immigrants now receiving benefits. The bill would have saved at least $14.4 million in the budget year that begins in July. Legislative analysts said the savings could have been as high as $24.5 million.
The state faces at least a $1.3 billion shortfall next year, and the projected savings from limiting the pension program was part of a plan to help balance the budget.
Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, said he understood that some immigrants probably did not need the pension benefit but said the bill would punish those who do.
He planned to offer an amendment to allow immigrants to continue receiving the benefit if they had no income or faced "a significant financial hardship."
Pommer said that would have undermined the savings in the bill.
And Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, said he had philosophical problems with the bill.
"I felt like if you're a legal immigrant, you should have access to certain protections the way other legal residents do," Miklosi said.
Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, said Democrats blew an opportunity to help balance the budget.
"I think it was a very good bill that we needed to do for budget balancing," said Lambert, also a member of the Joint Budget Committee. "It's demonstrable that this is being abused."
Tim Hoover: 303-954-1626 or thoover@denverpost.com
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_14696624#ixzz0iYEueWIm
Denver Hispanic Chamber Names Awards Finalists
The Denver Post
3/9/10
The Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced finalists for six awards to be presented at the group's annual luncheon March 17 at the Denver Marriott City Center:
Business Woman of the Year: Veronica Figoli, Integrate Business; Terri Fisher, 5 Star Talent; Anita Padilla Fitzgerald, Megastar Financial.
Business Man of the Year: Albert C. Gonzales, Gonzales Consulting Services; Jesse Morreale, M Inc.; Anthony Trujillo, Blueline Services.
Chamber Advocate of the Year: Tom Fajardo, State Farm; Mike Mares, Walker-Dilworth; Mike Tafoya, Estrada Strategies.
Corporate Advocate of the Year: FirstBank, UnitedHealthcare and Wells Fargo.
Public Official of the Year: Councilman Paul Lopez, Councilwoman Judy Montero, Colorado Sen. Chris Romer, Colorado Rep. Joe Miklosi.
Gov. Bill Ritter has been nominated for the President's Award.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14638117#ixzz0hhj9Wvc3
Miklosi Advocates for Pinnacol Board Transparency Bill
Denver Democratic state Rep. Joe Miklosi has introduced legislation that seeks to change the make-up of the governing board of tax-exempt Pinnacol Assurance, the state’s largest workers compensation insurer. The bill seeks to diversify the perspective of the quasi-governmental business to include injured workers and open the board’s proceedings to greater public scrutiny. Miklosi is getting significant pushback from Pinnacol, which is most strongly opposed to the provision in the bill encouraging public comment on board deliberations.
Rep. Joe Miklosi
“I am getting pushback on the part of the bill that would allow for a reasonable amount of time for public comment– ‘reasonable amount’ meaning about 15 minutes,” a surprised Miklosi told the Colorado Independent.
He said that Pinnacol President and CEO Ken Ross, and members of the board, have said it’s inappropriate for outsiders to testify at the meetings.
“I mean [that position] just goes against everything in America, everything in transparency, everything about good government– even though [Pinnacol] is a quasi-government agency. People should be allowed to talk about policies that are good or bad, to praise or to criticize,” Miklosi said.
HB-1009 would change the composition of the board of the worker’s compensation insurer to include non-management members, an injured or once-injured worker and the executive director of the Colorado department of labor. It would also require the board to post the date, time, and location of board meetings on the Pinnacol website at least seven days in advance.
Miklosi said the main point of the bill was to diversify the perspective of the board. “If we are going to talk about injured workers, I wanted one on the board… It would provide a perspective [more reflective] of all the stake holders.”
As it stands, the bill now reads simply that the board would be required to “allow reasonable time for public comment at all board meetings” and includes no further elaboration on the definition of “reasonable.” Pinnacol, however, appears to oppose any public comment.
Suzi Stolte, associate vice president of communications and public relations at Pinnacol, told the Colorado Independent that it was premature to discuss the bill before the hearing this week. It is scheduled to be heard before the Judicial Committee on Thursday.
She did however direct attention to the legislative issues board at the Pinnacol website, which lists reasons why Pinnacol opposes the bill.
Responsible Budget Cuts to Balance State Budget
During the past week, the Colorado State House of Representatives took steps to responsibly balance its budget by removing certain tax loopholes. These temporary, tax incentive suspensions were in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars that we have cut from the state budget in every department. For example, we have cut $54.2 million dollars to higher education, which is a 7.6% cut. We have cut K-12 education by 6%. We are asking the business community to suspend a handful of tax incentives, which equal 2.9% so we can responsibly balance the state budget.
During these tough times, we have made the following cuts:
• We are taking a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility, both cutting services and closing corporate tax loopholes. We are tightening our belt, just as families and small businesses are doing.
• Lawmakers are asking everyone – yes, even big businesses and corporations that have enjoyed a number of exemptions – to do their part to keep the budget balanced, which ultimately will help our economy recover and get healthy again.
• One important part of the budget-balancing plan involves suspending or adjusting, in most cases temporarily, 13 special tax credits and exemptions currently provided to businesses.
• The proposal by Governor Ritter and lawmakers to suspend or adjust 13 corporate credits and exemptions would generate about $20 million in the last four months of FY09-10 (March-June) and $125 million in FY10-11.
• This means $145 million we do not have to cut from K-12 education.
• The Governor and lawmakers are not proposing any changes to the most important tax credits and exemptions – including those that exempt food and medicine -- from the state’s 2.9 percent sales tax.
• Our approach all along has been to use a balance of cutting waste, protecting the core public services of government, and closing corporate tax loopholes – with no new taxes, and with a balanced budget.
• We are committed to protecting public safety and the safety net, preserving programs that promote job-creation and economic growth. This is a fiscally responsible strategy for managing the state’s finances in these tough times.
42 More Small Businesses Obtain Loans Through New Program - January 11, 2010
Gov. Bill Ritter announced today that 42 additional small businesses have obtained loans through the Colorado Credit Reserve Program since an initial round of loans were made last fall. Gov. Ritter and lawmakers revived the program in 2009 after it fell dormant in 2006.
“Colorado is the poster child for how important small businesses are. They are the backbone of our economy and the engine that drives job-creation across the state,” Gov. Ritter said. “With the economy still struggling, one of the biggest challenges for small businesses remains access to credit. This program is providing vital loans to help small businesses survive, thrive and save and create jobs.”
Gov. Ritter made today’s announcement during a Small Business Finance Forum at the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria higher education campus in downtown Denver. He was joined by officials from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, which is administering the Credit Reserve Program, and the Colorado Enterprise Fund.
The program has now provided loans to 65 businesses in 17 counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Lake, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Montezuma, Pueblo, San Juan and Weld. Loan amounts have ranged from $1,400 to $200,000, with the average amount being $28,200.
The program was revived by Senate Bill 09-067, which Gov. Ritter signed into law in May. It has now helped small businesses retain 371 jobs, with 176 new jobs expected to be created over the coming year. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Sara Gagliardi and Don Marostica and Sen. Rollie Heath. Marostica is now director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
The bill authorized $2.5 million for the program, which will leverage $50 million in loan funds. So far, CHFA has spent $119,000 of the public funds, leveraging $1.8 million in private sector loans.
CHFA operated the credit program from 1996 to 2006 until state funding ran out.
CHFA has partnered with the Colorado Bankers Association, Independent Bankers of Colorado and National Federation of Independent Businesses, whose support was instrumental in the program's renewal.
For more information, contact CHFA at 800.877.2432 (metro area) or 800.877.8450 (Western Slope).
'Green' Loans for Homeowners
September 1, 2009 - U.S. Bank to offer rate cut in Colorado for ‘green’ home-improvement loans
Denver Business Journal
Colorado will be a test market for U.S. Bank’s new home-equity loan and line-of-credit program offering a 3/8ths-percent rate reduction for qualified “green” home improvement projects.
Projects eligible for the reduced rate include insulation, windows, doors, roofing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water heaters, biomass stove, ground source heat pumps, solar energy systems, small wind energy systems and fuel cells, U.S. Bank said Wednesday.
“U.S. Bank collaborated with state Representative Joe Miklosi, state Senator Gail Schwartz and the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office for this program,” Hassan Salem, regional president of U.S. Bank in Denver, said in a statement. “U.S. Bank chose to pilot the program in Colorado based on the state’s commitment to promoting energy efficient home building and because Coloradoans are known for their love of the outdoors and green living. There has also been increased consumer interest in tax incentives and rebates.”
U.S. Bank — a unit of Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) — is Colorado’s third largest by deposits, according to the Denver Business Journal’s “Book of Lists 2008-2009.”
House District 9 Democrats and Others Volunteer at New, Local, Senior Citizen Living Center - Holistic Community Living
On August 22, volunteers from the House District 9 Democrats, State Representative Joe Miklosi, the House District 3 Democrats, the University Hills Neighborhood Association, and the First Universalist Church offered their service at the Holistic Community Living Home under renovation in University Hills, Denver. The volunteers removed sod and prepared for the building of gardens at the home.
Holistic Community LivingSM (HCL) is a non-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, committed to developing model holistic community homes for the elderly and frail. We also support and educate the neighborhoods where we operate regarding the benefits of our residence and our holistic approach.
Tree Planting
On June 6, 2009, Representataive Miklosi and approximately 20 neighbors from the Holly Hutchinson neighborhood near Yale and Quebec in southeast Denver planted 43 trees along Yale Avenue. See pictures below. Tami Patzer, a leader in the community, was responsible for organizing the event. Representative Miklosi helped secure the trees from the City and County of Denver. The trees will reduce traffic noise, increase property value, reduce toxins in the air, and beautify the neighborhood. Thanks Tami and friends!
Herzl Students Draw Attention to Plight of People in Darfur
On May 22, 2009, Representative Miklosi visited with approximately 30 seventh and eighth grade students at Herzl Middle School to discuss practical steps that all Americans can take to help the people of Darfur in Sudan, Africa. These amazing students have appeared in dozens of national newspaper articles, raised $26,000 for a school in Darfur, and shown that all of us can help people who confront the most challenging situations.
New Laws Offer Middle-Class Relief
One bill signed by Ritter delays foreclosures, helps homeowners rework loans
By Jessica Fender
The Denver Post
06/03/2009
Leonard McWilliams, left, takes in the "Help for Working Families Fair" at the Capitol on Tuesday. Officials said 25 agencies, nonprofits and others offered services and information. Next to McWilliams are Isaiah Schaible McWilliams, left, 11; Dakota Deleon, center, 8; and Dravell Ross, 13. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post )
Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law Tuesday six bills aimed at helping middle-class Coloradans navigate a sinking economy, including one that allows some homeowners to postpone foreclosures and provides time to rework mortgages.
Homeowners will be able to review their assets, income and payment histories with counselors, who determine which debtors can save their homes through new loan terms, under House Bill 1276, sponsored by Rep. Mark Ferrandino.
And while the bill doesn't require banks to rework the mortgages of good candidates, it does prevent a lender from foreclosing on a home for 90 days.
"It helps the borrower and it helps the lender because it prequalifies people who (banks) should be working with," said Ferrandino, D-Denver. "It's in the economic interest of the bank to work out the loans."
Homeowners who qualify would still have to pay 66 percent of the principal and interest during the 90-day timeout.
Other economy-focused bills signed Tuesday included House Bill 247, which extends unemployment benefits to more out-of-work Coloradans. The legislation was amended by State Representative Joe Miklosi of Denver to take full advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, unemployment compensation benefits.
Due to Representative Miklosi's amendment, which was discovered by one of his constituents, 13,000 Coloradoans will receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployement benefits.
"These funds will help thousands of families pay mortgages and buy groceries during this difficult economy" said Representative Miklosi.
Children's safety net tightened
Gov. Bill Ritter signs State Rep. Miklosi bill to better train social workers at recognizing child abuse.
By Jessica Fender
The Denver Post
May 20, 2009
Two years ago this month, 7-year-old Chandler Grafner starved to death in the bottom of a linen closet in a case of child abuse that outraged Coloradans and shone a light on holes in the state's child-welfare safety net.
The deaths of 12 other children that came to public attention a year later underscored those flaws.
A new law that took effect Tuesday is aimed at mending holes in that safety net by requiring every new social worker in Colorado to attend state training on how to better recognize and document cases of child abuse.
The law requires state training and certification for county and city workers, some of whom may not have received standardized on-the-job education at the local level, according to Gov. Bill Ritter.
He signed Senate Bill 164 into law Tuesday, flanked by members of a child-welfare commission he formed a year ago.
"These kids had been on the radar, . . . and we didn't manage to protect them," Ritter said. "Sometimes the case loads are too high and some of the training is inadequate."
State officials can now begin drawing up curriculum for the $700,000 "academy" that should be functional by January.
Human Services Director Karen Beye said the program will first focus on the 400 new social workers that enter state ranks each year. Eventually, some of the 3,000-plus workers already employed will undergo additional training.
The legislation came out of the Children's Welfare Action Committee, which also has recommended including domestic violence as a red flag for caseworkers and requiring caseworkers to check back with people who report potential child abuse.
SB 164 co-sponsor Rep. Joe Miklosi said steps such as statewide training could have helped Chandler and other children who've fallen through the cracks.
"I firmly believe some of the (cases) would have been prevented if this had been in place," said Miklosi, D-Denver.
Later Tuesday, Ritter also signed into law Senate Bill 2, which helps boost grant funding for local emergency service agencies, and House Bill 1275, which streamlines the EMT certification process.
Representative Joe Miklosi Named Denver Legislator of the Year by Westword Magazine - Best of 2009 Issue
We may not like his position on House Bill 1299, which would pledge all of Colorado's electoral-college votes to the Presidential candidate who wins the state - but otherwise, we're with Democrat Joe Miklosi all the way. For years, he worked behind the scene, as state director for Progressive Majority, as director of the Democratic State House Caucus for then-Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff; as chief of staff for then-House Minority Leader Jennifer Veiga; and as a health-care legislative aide for U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum. Last year, he decided to run for office himself and the candidate who bills himself as "not your average Joe" handily won in his south Denver district. In the Statehouse, he's proved himself above average, pushing for such measures as online voting registration, and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants - even going on Peter Boyle's show to debate the issue. Now, that takes cojones.
Governor Signs Election and Voting Reform Bills - May 15, 2009
Sponsored by Speaker Carroll, Rep. Court, Rep. Miklosi and Rep. Todd - May 15, 2009
HB 1160, sponsored by Rep. Joe Miklosi (D-Denver) and Sen. Bob Bacon, allows any legal voter with a Colorado driver’s license or state identification card to register to vote through the secure Secretary of State’s Web site. Colorado will become the third state in the country to establish online voter registration.
“This measure gives Coloradans a convenient way to register to vote, request a mail-in ballot or update their contact information,” Gov. Ritter said. “The bi-partisan cooperation reflected in the support of this bill helps to lay a foundation for a long-term vision for election practices in Colorado.”
“HB 1160 will empower more citizens of Colorado to participate in their democracy,” Rep. Miklosi said. “This bill will particularly help youth, seniors, and members of the disabled community register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, or update their contact information while also providing the necessary safeguards against fraud.”
The state’s voter registration system already uses information from the Department of Revenue to verify driver’s license numbers and identification card numbers. The system will couple the online registration application with the voter’s signature on record. Coloradans will be able to register online by April 1.
Click of the mouse may sign up new voters - John Ingold - Denver Post - March 24, 2007
You use it to go shoe shopping in your bare feet. You use it to book your vacation while at work.
Why not also use the Internet to register to vote?
You just might be able to, under a bill chugging through the state legislature.
House bill 1160 would allow people to register to vote, request a mail-in ballot or change their voting address online through what bill proponents say will be a highly secure website run by the Colorado secretary of state's office. The bill would not allow people to cast votes online. Click here for more.
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_11981405
Bill seeks electoral switch - John Ingold - Denver Post - March 17, 2009
Eight-plus years after Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the presidential election, a bill to change how the Electoral College works is gaining momentum at the state Capitol.
If the legislature approves House bill 1299 this year, Colorado would become the fifth state to sign on to an interstate compact to award the state's electoral votes for president based on who wins the national popular vote, regardless of who wins the state. The state House gave an initial OK to the bill Monday in a squeaker of a vote, after a three-hour debate that saw no shortage of high-flying rhetoric. Click here for more.
http://www.denverpost.com/statehouse08/ci_11928440
Latino groups lobby for in-state tuition - Colleen Slevin - Denver Post - March 16, 2009
Latino groups supporting a proposal to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition took their campaign to the state Capitol on Monday, lobbying lawmakers on both sides of the issue. About 150 people rallied on the West steps before heading inside the Capitol to find their assigned lawmakers and talk to them about bill, which is awaiting a vote in the Senate. The group of citizen lobbyists included mothers, high school students and activists. Latino groups supporting a proposal to allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition took their campaign to the state Capitol on Monday, lobbying lawmakers on both sides of the issue. Click here for more.
http://www.denverpost.com/localpolitics/ci_11924273
Tuition bill has House Backer - Tim Hoover - Denver Post - March 11, 2009
Miklosi, D-Denver, has agreed to be the House sponsor for Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver.
The bill would give the in-state tuition rate to any student who has attended a Colorado high school for three years and graduated, regardless of immigration status. Click here for more.
http://www.denverpost.com/statehouse08/ci_11882222
Initiative could boost jobs, energy - Ed Sealover - Rocky Mountain News - January 29, 2009
Coloradans may be able to vote on a November ballot initiative that combines the current push for job creation with the renewable-energy focus of the past two years. Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, will introduce a ballot measure this week seeking voter permission to sell $2 billion in bonds to fund renewable-energy system installation or energy-efficiency upgrades on about 133,000 homes. It will be the first proposed referred measure introduced in 2009. Under the freshman legislator's plan, residents could apply for loans of as much as $15,000 to install solar, wind or geothermal renewable energy systems or energy- efficiency improvements. They could repay the loans in installments of between 10 and 30 years. The plan would generate employment in the construction and renewable-energy sectors, Miklosi said. Property values would rise between 8 percent and 10 percent, and the annual cost to homeowners would be offset by decreased utility bills, he said. "We'd have jobs created, home property values increased and it protects the environment," Miklosi said Wednesday. The plan is likely to get at least one leading Republican sponsor, though for some different reasons than Miklosi's. Senate Assistant Minority Leader Greg Brophy, R-Wray, said the state's loan offer would help because such borrowing could be very expensive in the private sector. Click here for more.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/29/initiative-could-boost-jobs-energy/
Panel votes to ban plastic retail bags - Lynn Bartels - Rocky Mountain News - February 11, 2009
Paper or plastic?
A Senate committee Wednesday night voted 4-3 for a bill that would ban plastic bags in large retail stores within three years.
Critics complained that the bill would drive consumers to paper bags, which cause their own set of environmental problems. But supporters said the idea was to get customers to use some sort of reusable bag.
"I can remember my grandmother taking her cloth bags to the grocery store," said Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton. "It wasn't called recycling. It was called economics." Click here for more.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/11/plastic-bag-ban-clears-first-hurdle/
Representative Joe Miklosi's Business Goals - Bob Mook - Denver Business Journal - February 6, 2009
With the economy in crisis, Colorado lawmakers say they’re trying to give local businesses a helping hand and doing what they can to create jobs — despite the state’s ever-shrinking money pool.
But despite a few potentially helpful measures and kind words spoken at press briefings about the importance of Colorado companies to the state, some business leaders say they’re frustrated with the number and scope of proposed new rules and mandates coming from both sides of the aisle. Click here for more.
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/02/09/story1.html
Committee OKs tax credit for startup investors - Bob Mook - Denver Business Journal - February 3, 2009
Colorado investors would get tax credits for backing local startups under a bill approved by the state House Business Affairs and Labor Committee on Tuesday.
House Bill 1127, sponsored by Rep. Joe Miklosi, D-Denver, passed by a 9-2 vote, even though the chair of the committee, Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, voted against it, saying the legislation “wasn’t quite there yet.” Click here for more of the story.
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/02/02/daily24.html
Telluride’s little reusable bag challenge gets big - Katie Klingsporn - Telluride Daily Planet - February 3, 2009
Last summer, the little progressive mountain towns of Telluride and Aspen engaged in a friendly competition. The Bag the Bag Challenge set out to see which populace could voluntarily use fewer plastic bags at grocery stores by shopping with reusable bags.
Telluride/Mountain Village won, snagging the prize of new solar monitor sets for the high school. But more importantly, during the competition, which ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the two communities eliminated the use of an estimated 140,359 plastic bags.
