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Let’s bring Colorado’s transportation system up to speed
By Andy Kerr, Keith Baker and Lance Waring The Colorado Legislature just wrapped up a whirlwind session, navigating pandemic delays, prioritizing federal stimulus dollars, and tackling critical issues in the state. One of the most important bills passed was Senate Bill 21-260, the comprehensive statewide transportation funding package, which was signed into law on June […]
We are former lawmakers who helped pass public-benefit restrictions on undocumented Coloradans. It’s time to repeal those laws.
By Terrance Carroll, Andrew Romanoff, Alice Madden, Betty Boyd, Andy Kerr, Michael Merrifield, Michael Cerbo and Judy Solano Fifteen years feels like an eternity in Colorado politics. A lot has changed in that time; our values have not. In 2006, Colorado was poised to adopt a constitutional amendment denying public benefits to undocumented residents. We […]
Lawmakers should support and protect Medicare Advantage
By Mike Cerbo As the former head of the Colorado AFL-CIO and as a former state legislator, it has been my life’s mission to fight for good health care and benefits for the hardest working members of our workforce. And even in my retirement, I continue advocating for Colorado’s working class, including retirees. After years of […]
High-potency THC products are a problem we must address
We believe that it is imperative that our elected officials use science and research to craft legislation that will keep up with the dangerous regulatory gaps on high-potency THC.
Take a stand against the planet-threatening Line 3 pipeline
By Sara Hersh, Dave Robinson, Heidi Leathwood, and Michael Denslow As we will outline below, Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline is unneeded and an environmental disaster in the making. It unnecessarily contributes to our climate emergency, violates Indigenous lands and treaties, and puts local people at risk of COVID-19 and worse, considering the history of missing […]
Stand up to sedition and treason
By Marilyn Lori The most important lesson my grandparents taught me was that courage was not the absence of fear but brave action in spite of it. On the night of Jan. 6, it gave me hope to see all our senators and representatives have the courage to return to Congress and finish the job […]
There are good reasons Black people don’t trust health institutions, but I still got the COVID-19 vaccine
This guest commentary first appeared in Newsline sister outlet the Louisiana Illuminator. By Maurice Sholas, M.D., Ph.D. “To make people trust, you need to become trustworthy … I think if … communities were engaged in conversation … people would know: ‘You are hearing me, you are respecting my right to ask questions and get a […]
Protection from oil and gas operations needed for biodiversity in Colorado
By Gabrielle Katz This month, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is considering revisions to its wildlife rules. According to the state law Senate Bill 19-181, passed last year, the new mission of the COGCC is to regulate oil and gas operations in a way that protects public health, safety, and welfare; the environment, […]
The environmental heritage of Día de Los Muertos
By Ean Tafoya Día de Los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — offers Latinos in the United States and Latin America a few days annually to welcome back the souls of their ancestors with offerings of food, drink and celebration. While the roots of this festivity go back some 3,000 years to the […]
Colorado has a proud pro-choice history
By Dottie Lamm I was there at the beginning. It was the year 1967 when Democratic state Rep. Dick Lamm, along with a Republican state senator, the late John Bermingham, introduced the nation’s first abortion legalization bill. This bill, which allowed a woman to access an abortion, after her procedure was approved by two doctors, […]
Former governor acted for people with disabilities
By Betty Lehman My son Eli has autism and complex care needs. Thousands of Colorado families know caring for a family member with significant disabilities can be all consuming — and a massive financial strain. Medicaid helps fund the care supports we need. Without access to Medicaid’s Home and Community Based Services program to help Eli […]
Appoint a presidential commission on sustainable development
By Gary Wockner Earlier this year, the Democratic National Committee’s Council on the Environment and Climate Crisis released its recommendations for the 2020 Democratic Party platform. I make no apology that I plan on voting for Joe Biden and I hope he uses the recommendations of this Council to address the environmental and climate crisis. […]