Today, I got booed by an entire committee room full of members of the public. What did I say? "It's crystal clear that the COVID19 vaccine dramatically reduces the risk of hospitalization and death."
#copolitics
#coleg
Approaching hour 20 of the GOP filibuster on our reproductive rights bill, but
@COHouseDem
-ocrats are standing strong to make sure women have access to safe, legal abortion care when the US Supreme Court strikes down Roe v Wade this summer.
#copolitics
#coleg
I couldn't be more disappointed in the outcome today. We know overdose prevention centers save lives and increase the likelihood that someone struggling with addiction starts treatment to get sober.
#copolitics
Dinner with my family for the first time in a week. The late nights are hard but they're worth it because I know I'm helping create a safer world for my baby girl.
#copolitics
Remember that time Republicans demanded the Governor call a special session if HH were to fail?
Well here we are, and they're all whining about it.
Guess you don't need to be consistent if you're not the party in charge of actually governing.
#copolitics
@jabarocas
@cologop
@ColoSenGOP
@COHouseGOP
I spent half an hour with these students and was happy to listen to their grievances. How would you feel if rude and impertinent 15/16 year olds barged into your office unannounced and berated you for an unfortunate situation that you had nothing to do with?
"Innocent until proven guilty" is appropriate for criminal proceedings, but in a workplace matter, this standard always favors the sexual harasser. We must instead use the "preponderance of evidence" standard and make our best credibility determinations.
#coleg
#copolitics
The Police Accountability and Integrity Act is on its way to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.
#SB217
This is a huge step and I am so proud to be a part of it. Our work to end systemic racism does not stop here.
#coleg
#copolitics
I’m proud that we're finally paying off the BS factor for K-12 funding. But, eliminating the BS just gets us back to 1989 funding levels. That's a pretty far cry from "fully funding."
#copolitics
Despite a valiant rebranding effort, today we saw what the CO GOP is really about:
#1
) putting more government between women and their doctors;
#coleg
#copolitics
In this fall’s election, Coloradans voted no on Proposition HH for a variety of reasons. Anyone suggesting it was a mandate against a specific policy concept is deliberately oversimplifying to advance their own political agenda.
#copolitics
Indeed. Holtorf's comparing the struggles of Coloradans with disabilities to a deliberate choice of risking your life by running with the bulls in Pamplona was among the most insulting things I've heard in all my time in the State House.
#copolitics
#coleg
The Republicans have chosen to delay the clock by filibustering HB23-1032 - remedies for people with disabilities. Rep. Holtorf even went so far as to blame ppl with disabilities for their disabilities. What a disgrace.
...says the Senator whose vision of fiscal responsibility involves slashing our reserves by $2B to pay for giant prop tax cuts for the wealthiest homeowners and largest corporations.
Hardworking Coloradans need these tax breaks a lot more than your donors do.
#copolitics
He’s making stuff up!
Even Kyle Clark is calling him out
@Kennedy4CO
just because you keep repeating yourself out loud doesn’t make your statements true or accurate
I couldn't be more proud of what we achieved in the special session to help low-and-middle income Coloradans keep up with the high cost of living. Now it's up to the local governments to evaluate their budgets and make the tough decisions that only they can make.
#copolitics
As a former aide, I am so proud to support the newly formed Political Workers Guild of Colorado.
Workers’ rights are human rights, and we all deserve a seat at the table. Join me in supporting
@PWGColorado
.
#CoPolitics
#PWG
#UnionStrong
Hospitals in Colorado have the second highest profit margins in the country. It’s time to end the status quo and bring relief to Colorado consumers. We’re fighting right now to lower health care costs to Coloradans. The
#ColoradoOption
is big.
#cohealth
#coleg
It is outrageous that House Republicans are proposing new processes at the 11th hour after sitting on their hands for three months. We've followed the process in the rules. It's time for us to do our jobs and make these tough decisions.
#coleg
#copolitics
This special session is about broad-based economic security. Homeowners get a tax cut. Seniors increase their homestead exemption by 50%. The lowest income Coloradans benefit from doubling the state EITC. Everyone gets an $800 TABOR refund check.
#copolitics
Unacceptably high healthcare costs are NOT just a rural problem. I've listened to voters in my suburban district express frustration with our broken health care system for years. Thank you
@Dylan_RobertsCO
&
@KerryDonovanSD5
for championing the Colorado Option.
#coleg
#cohealth
BREAKING: Democrat
@CaryKennedy
wins gubernatorial preference poll at Colorado
#caucuses
— with more votes than all the other candidates combined
#copolitics
@JesseAPaul
Hugh was a good, kind, and loving man. He showed a great deal of kindness in his interactions with others, including those of us across the aisle. He had a special place in his heart for special needs kids and always sent kind words to others when they were struggling.
Today in the State Affairs Committee, Republicans are continuing to cast doubt on our gold-standard elections system based on false claims about election fraud.
Attempts to undermine elections may have worked in Georgia, but we’ll stop them here in Colorado.
#COLeg
Just a week after Georgia Republicans passed laws to roll back voting rights and disenfranchise voters, Colorado GOP members are seeking to undermine our own Gold-standard elections system.
State Affairs Democrats will stand up to defend our democracy.
#COLeg
#COPolitics
Reinsurance passes House Health Cmte 9-3! Thanks to Reps Bob Rankin &
@millie_hamner
as well as both D & R county commissioners who spoke in support of this plan to lower health insurance premiums, esp in rural CO!
#copolitics
Yes, process is important. But process complaints and muddying of waters and delay tactics and slippery slopes have been the mechanisms through which harassment has been made tolerable for too many years.
#coleg
#copolitics
@Ed4Colorado
Ed is the most authentic and hardest working politician I've ever met. I've never learned more in so short a time as when I had the honor of being his campaign manager in 2013-14. Thanks for your long career of service, Ed.
#copolitics
That moment when I catch myself nodding vigorously (on camera) to the words of El Paso County's Republican Clerk and Recorder, who is speaking to all of the existing security protocols and checks.
#coleg
#copolitics
Obstruction 101
(a) Repeat the same argument at the microphone for well over an hour
(b) Read document out loud that is not germane to the amendment
(c) When the chair enforces the germaneness rule, throw a temper tantrum and ask the bill to be read at length
...
#coleg
Bipartisanship doesn't mean saying yes to bad ideas. We can't slash taxes at the expense of our kids' education, which is exactly what SB4 would have done.
#copolitics
🚨 DEMOCRATS KILL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BILL 🚨
To no one's surprise, democrats continue to play partisan political games at the expense of Colorado taxpayers.
#COPolitics
#COLeg
I wish everyone wanted more
#cohealth
transparency, but there are many health care interests who believe it's their own business and no one else's. But when my constituents ask me why health care costs are going up so quickly, I think I owe them an answer.
#copolitics
BEFORE the pandemic, 1 in 5 Coloradans struggled to afford their health care costs or went without care.
Now, even MORE have lost their health care. I am proud to support
@Dylan_RobertsCO
&
@ImanforColorado
to lower costs and increase options.
#coleg
We must defend Colorado's secure vote-by-mail system, but
@USPS
does so much more for us than just that.
Families across the state receive crucial goods via USPS, like prescription drugs and care packages. We need to stand up to President Trump and protect our democracy.
The
@USPS
delivers for Colorado and we can't allow President Trump to get in the way.
Our elections, our democracy, and our economy depend on a fully funded Postal Service.
#COLeg
#COPolitics
and
#4
) drinking election conspiracy kool-aid to justify making voting more difficult for senior Coloradans, disabled Coloradans, rural Coloradans, low-income Coloradans, and all other Coloradans.
#coleg
#copolitics
Many of us took the allegations seriously and asked these due process questions in November. Hopefully all of us have made it a priority to read the report over the last couple days. No more excuses.
#coleg
#copolitics
We cannot be complacent with the status quo of gun violence in America. Join the
@COHouseDems
in wearing orange today to raise awareness of the gun violence crisis.
#coleg
#copolitics
Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day & it has been 411 Fridays since my son, Alex, and 11 others were murdered by gun violence.
#WearOrange
for them & raise awareness of our nation’s gun violence crisis, which reflects and intensifies long-standing racial inequities.
So far this session we’ve had a lot of late nights and early mornings, but we always make time for thorough stakeholding. We strive to hear perspectives on any side of every issue. Sometimes, listening to your concerns looks like this. I'm so grateful for an engaged community.
The GOP plan is not serious. We can't pay for tax cuts by slashing our reserve, which we'll need to fund schools next time there's a recession. And we shouldn't be giving the biggest tax cuts to the wealthiest people and corporations. They're not the ones who need it.
#copolitics
Not a lot shocks me anymore, but on January 6th of 2021, I sat and stared at my TV, unable to focus on anything else. Citizens and police officers died because of a lie.
#CODemsForTruth
#coleg
#2
) giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Coloradans at the expenses of low-income families and seniors;
#3
) slashing future funding for education, again so they can give tax breaks to the rich;
#coleg
#copolitics
"Five level hearsay" is a red herring and ignores the importance of protecting victims from retaliation by allowing them some level of confidentiality.
#coleg
#copolitics
Front range hospitals made $2 billion in profits last year and are already spending big on ads against a bill that would increase competition and lower health care costs. As
@GovOfCO
said, “the people are crying out for relief from high health care costs.”
#coleg
Let the record show that Chair Saine called on several Republicans who aren't even on the audit committee and then ended questions before calling on several Democrats, including two committee members, who were in the queue.
#coleg
#copolitics
Marilyn has been more than just a competent chief clerk. She has been the memory of this great institution who has devoted her career to protecting the honor of our democratic republic. I honestly don’t know what we will do without her.
Former speakers, members and staff all stand to honor Marilyn Eddins, our chief clerk who has been at the Capitol for four decades, who will be retiring this year. Thank you Marilyn for all your work.
#coleg
#copolitics
#RankedChoiceVoting
is a better, more fair way to do nonpartisan elections.
#RCV
has the potential to SAVE MONEY for local governments that hold run-off elections. With RCV, the candidate with the majority of support wins.
It's common sense.
#coleg
I'm excited about what we're going to get done under the leadership of
@AlecGarnett
. Top priorities will be to help get CO through this health care and economic crisis & build back stronger for a more prosperous, just, & equitable future for all the people of CO.
#coleg
My bill with
@PerryWillHD57
to provide grants for integration of behavioral & physical health care passed 10-1! I truly believe this practice transformation gets at the root of the problems with our dysfunctional health care system.
#copolitics
#coleg
We tried to include the Rs this time too. We even changed our bill so that it wouldn't touch TABOR refunds.
I guess y'all decided it was in your interest to make the special session look as partisan as possible.
#copolitics
Bipartisanship means members of two political parties supported the policy.
Steamrolling is when the policy is only supported by the super majority of one political party.
Back in 2020, all special session bills were bipartisan, b/c the Majority wanted to include the Minority
This session, we took big steps on housing affordability, gun violence prevention, reproductive health care access, K-12 funding, and so much more. Read all about it.
#coleg
#copolitics
47 years ago the Supreme Court decided that women in the US have the right to choose what they do with their own bodies. I am proud to celebrate the 47th anniversary of
#RoeVWade
with the
@COHouseDem
.
#COleg
#COpolitics
#Roe47
@MichaelCLFields
@jaredpolis
@GovofCO
A surprisingly broad group came out to support better information on our ballots today. No one opposed. It would have been great to have your voice in the mix.
Everyone said they deserve to know what their taxes pay for & how a change will hit their wallets. Its a popular idea!
Rep Julie
@McCluskieforCO
is an exceptionally talented and committed public servant. She will be an amazing Speaker of the House for these unprecedented times. I can't wait to continue serving alongside her and the rest of our historically large and diverse caucus!
#copolitics
Let's not forget WHY Trump committed acts of insurrection. He wanted to build on his "accomplishments" of taking away women's rights, giving giant tax breaks to the wealthy, and weakening the Affordable Care Act.
#copolitics
It's amazing how powerful lies can be. For all of the "leaders" who thought it harmless to help propagate Trump's lies, it's time for you to grow up or get out.
"We owe it to our constituents, to this institution, and to ourselves to stay humble, stay flexible, and stay steadfast in our commitment to making life in this state a little bit better every single day. Let’s
#MoveCOforward
, together."
Well said
@AlecGarnett
#COLeg
#COPolitics
Proposition 115 would disproportionately harms BIPOC, low-income women and younger women who often
face additional barriers and delays to accessing abortion care.
#NoOn115
Coloradans have rejected abortion bans at the ballot box 3 times in the last 12 years, and this year, we’ll defeat yet another attack on reproductive rights. Together, we’re defeating Proposition 115. To learn more and join the fight, visit
#NoOn115
Prop 116 essentially slashes 2000 teacher jobs so that the wealthy can get big tax breaks and the rest of us get a free bag of airplane pretzels. Read more in this op-ed signed by 38 state legislators.
#copolitics
via
@coloradosun
A message to Republicans or vaccine skeptics.
I get it. You don't want to be told what to do. You have concerns & you don't trust the govt, certain media sources, or liberals like me.
But this virus is serious, so I'm going to keep sharing.
#copolitics
The COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone over the age of 16 in Colorado. Find an appointment:
The COVID-19 vaccine is free. If you are being asked to pay for a vaccine or appointment, then it may be a scam. Report scams:
Colorado Democrats are proposing a responsible and equitable economic security package that balances property tax reductions with targeted supports for both renters and homeowners and a fairer TABOR refund distribution that gives the same refund to every taxpayer.
#copolitics
🚨 House Republicans just voted unanimously to repeal the Democrats' army of 87,000 IRS agents 🚨
This was our very first act of the new Congress, because government should work for you, not against you.
Promises made. Promises kept.
@matthewogray
is right. We must not build a wall of process complaints and bias allegations around ourselves to protect ourselves from making a hard decision. We must instead ask ourselves, "What is the truth?" And then we must do what we believe to be right.
#coleg
#copolitics
We at the legislature are confident that together, all Coloradans can get through this crisis. The Capitol may be closed but our offices are open. Please don't hesitate to contact me at chris.kennedy.house
@gmail
.com or (303) 866-2951.
Medicaid in Colorado doesn't cover as many people as it could and we've also seen a decline in enrollments since 2017. Colorado Health Institute explores some reasons why:
Delivering results for Coloradans!
New bills going into effect Friday will work to address:
✅Health care costs
✅Affordable housing
✅Environment
✅...and more!
Check out some of the new laws going into effect tomorrow:
#coleg
#copolitics
Thank you, AG Weiser, for affirming that the law applies to everybody and helping ensure that districts are drawn for the benefit of the people, not the politicians.
#copolitics
BREAKING--I just filed an amicus brief supporting the League of Women Voters challenging unlawful maps drawn for Weld commissioner districts. Colorado law establishes a commitment to fair districting and Weld County must follow it. Thread 👇
@McCluskieforCO
@COHospitalAssn
@HealthierColo
Thank you for your tenacity in making this come together! This is a giant accomplishment for people struggling to afford health insurance across Colorado.
Our plan puts hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of homeowners and renters, teachers and firefighters, and all hardworking Coloradans. And it does so in a responsible way that will protect local funding for classrooms and first responders.
#copolitics
Congrats to Rep-elect Kyle Brown! He's been an amazing partner for years in some of our biggest health care reforms, and he's going to be an amazing leader in the House!
#coleg
#copolitics
"What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and, yes, the truth." - President Joe Biden
It's worth noting that the House Dems are still 72% women. We'll keep recruiting amazing women to run, and they'll keep winning! Calling on the other three caucuses to pick up the pace!
#coleg
#copolitics
If we do nothing, prop taxes will go up by 40% on avg and the wealthiest Coloradans will receive TABOR refunds that are more than three times as large as those received by low and middle income Coloradans.
#copolitics