legislature

This edition of the Opportunity News recaps the recently completed 2005 session of the General Assembly. As you can tell from the headline, we think the Legislature did a pretty good job in promoting opportunity for all Coloradans. Here is an overview of the session, followed by summaries of bills affecting each gateway and their final status.

Articles: Bell updates Working Poor families indicators, Governor, Legislature hit 25 homers for opportunity, Fewer kids covered by health insurance, U.S. hosts 11 million undocumented immigrants, Poor families pay more for basic goods and services, Incentives increase retirement saving, Bell research cited in national report on TABOR

A special report on the 2006 legislative session and more than 100 bills related to opportunity, state finance, immigration and the health of democracy.

Articles: Legislature considers full plate of opportunity-related education bills; Free school breakfasts help hungry kids start the day fed and ready to learn; Eligible citizens denied services due to new identification requirements; Earned Income Tax Credit payouts stimulate local economies; www.thebell.org gets a functional overhaul

This special flyer distributed at the Health Care Day of Action event at the state Capitol summarizes issues Colorado residents and employers face in paying the growing costs of health care coverage. It also lists the sponsors of the event and has a cartoon depicting the health care coverage crisis.

Much like city council meetings are broadcast on local cable television, the General Assembly floor debates and hearings should be broadcast on television, and the programming should be repeated in evenings and on weekends.

Order form for legislators, state officers and voters interested in exploring proposals from the Blueprint for Opportunity in more depth.

The General Assembly floor debates and hearings should be broadcast on television, and the programming should be repeated in evenings and on weekends. The state should also broadcast important state agency and board meetings and regulatory hearings. Colorado should join the 28 states that already provide such public access.

Articles: Leg. Works to Restore Medicaid Prenatal Care, Closing Achievement Gap Commission Releases Interim Report, ACE Cites Best Ways to Improve College Access for Low-Income, Minority Students, Bell Urges CCHE to do More to Improve College Access in CO, The State of CO's Working Poor Families

Articles: Colorado Legislature works on 33 bills to expand opportunity for residents, Prenatal care restored for low-income women, School boards encouraged to fight child obesity, New tuition opportunities advance, Legislature rewrites unemployment insurance regs to close gap for scam, aid low-income workers