A bipartisan coalition including former Gov. Bill Ritter and Treasurer Walker Stapleton joined Chamber President and CEO Kelly Brough and Chamber Board of Directors Chair Bob Hottman at a press conference on Friday to oppose Amendment 69, a ballot measure that would raise taxes $25 billion in its first year to create a state-run health insurance system.
Business leaders outlined concerns—from the cost of the proposal to the impact it will have on access to and quality of care—that made one thing clear: Amendment 69 isn’t right for Colorado.
“Coloradans are coming together to oppose this ballot measure,” Brough said. “Regardless of political party, where people work or live or even their philosophy on single-payer health care, they agree that Colorado can’t afford Amendment 69. And we don’t want to risk our access to quality health care, our income and our state’s economy on this experiment.”
Read coverage of this press conference in The Denver Post, Denver Business Journal, Colorado Public Radio and The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. To find out more about Coloradans for Coloradans and our opposition to Amendment 69, click here.
Leading the Way on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
This week the Chamber supported House Bill 1053, which will direct the Division of Oil and Public Safety to create rules for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to ensure that, as we start to see more of these cars on the road, we have regulations in place to ensure safety when they fill up. The Colorado Energy Coalition, an industry coalition of our affiliate Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, has worked with the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association on this bill. We’re in support of more efficient and green ways to get around town, and this bill ensures we’ll be ready as soon as the technology is.
Defending High Standards
The Chamber has continued to defend education reforms that support high standards for educators, administrators and students. Last week, we opposed a bill focused on eliminating statewide assessments in ninth grade. This week, we’re focused on maintaining high standards for teachers that focus on student growth and achievement, and are accordingly opposing Senate Bill 105.
“Few people impact how a student learns more than his or her teacher. We continue to support the high standards for teachers that focus on student growth and achievement,” Brough said in a statement. “We will continue to oppose any legislation that works to undermine upholding high standards for teachers, principals or students that were put in place by 2010’s Senate Bill 191.”
We also believe that when a student has made an investment in his or her higher education that the student understands whether that course will help them reach a degree or certificate. House Bill 1144 clears that up, requiring schools to notify students and parents if post-secondary courses do not meet requirements for concurrent enrollment programs.
Want to read more about the bills the Chamber is tracking? Click here.