Click here to view the YouTube video of the entire town hall.
Category Archives: Issues
Full video of Cory Gardner’s Loveland Town Hall Monday August 8, 2011
Filed under Forum, General, Legislature
Betsy Markey in Longmont this Saturday May 15
Who: Congresswoman Betsy Markey
What: Boulder County Canvass Kickoff
When: 10:30, Saturday, May 15th
Where: Collyer Park, Longmont, CO 80501
35 years is a long time.
Until 2008, that is how long Colorado’s 4th Congressional District was Republican. This District has elected Hank Brown, Wayne Allard, Bob Schaffer, and Marylin Musgrave! George W. Bush received 58% of the vote in 2004 here. How far we’ve come. But, you all know it has taken a lot of hard work. Betsy won because of the enormous grassroots work in places like Longmont.
The Honorable Betsy Markey is going to be at Collyer Park at 10:30am this
Saturday. Come see what the campaign kickoff is all about.
Here are some of Betsy’s great accomplishments in the last year:
1.) Credit CARD Act – PASSED.
Betsy Markey’s amendment protected thousands of customers from unfair fees and penalties.
2.) Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act – PASSED.
Repealing the special anti-trust exemption that health insurance companies have enjoyed since 1945. It will restore competition to the health insurance
market.
3.) Medicare Premium Fairness Act (HR 3631) – PASSED.
Preventing the increase of Medicare premiums for approximately ten million Americans.
In 2008 we voted for Change. It hasn’t come as fast as we hoped. But if we stop now, we will never know how far we can go to make this a cleaner, safer, and more just country.
Come see Betsy Markey on Saturday and show Longmont what grassroots means.
Filed under Announcements, National
Boulder County Democrats Platform Forum: Part II
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
We the People Are!
Make Your Voice Heard!
February 20, 2010:
Communitywide Forum
Duane Physics G2B47, Colorado Ave,
Across from Folsom Field CU, Boulder
Afternoon Session:
1:30-2:30 PM: Energy and the Environment
2:40-3:30 PM: Immigration & Foreign Nationals
3:40-4:30 PM: Education
Join Boulder County Democrats, elected officials, activists and professionals in the field in exploring currentissues of utmost import. Core Democratic Party values and key policy recommendations must be clearly defined and voiced so that the will of the voter can be represented effectively by our elected Democratic officials. Help us determine or 2010 BCDP Platform. Together we can empower the will of Democratic voters tohelp drive our state and federal legislative agenda.
For further information email: platform@bouldercountydems.org
Boulder County Democrats Platform Forum: Part I
Who’s in Charge?
We the People Are!
Make Your Voice Heard!
February 20, 2010:
Communitywide Forum
Duane Physics G2B47, Colorado Ave,
Across from Folsom Field CU, Boulder
Morning session:
9:30-10:30 AM: The Economy
10:40-11:30 AM: Health Care
11:40 AM-12:30 PM: Healthy Democracy
Join Boulder County Democrats, elected officials, activists and professionals in the field in exploring currentissues of utmost import. Core Democratic Party values and key policy recommendations must be clearly defined and voiced so that the will of the voter can be represented effectively by our elected Democraticofficials. Help us determine or 2010 BCDP Platform. Together we can empower the will of Democratic voters tohelp drive our state and federal legislative agenda.
For further information email: platform@bouldercountydems.org
Filed under Announcements, Forum, Issues
Jake Williams for HD12 in Longmont Dec. 13
Scrooges not welcome…
…but characters of all sorts are invited to join us at The Dickens Tavern on December 13th.
What: Holiday Party with Jake Williams
When: Sunday, December 13th from 4pm to 5:30pm
Where: The Dickens Tavern, 300 Main St. in Longmont
RSVP: Send an email to Jenn at jenn@jakewilliams.org
Happy Holidays! On December 13th, please join me in celebrating the season, enjoying great free food and supporting two great causes.
As we approach the start of the new year, it’s time to look forward to a better Colorado – where the security and dignity of employment is within reach for all, where each of us has access to quality health care, where we can offer every kid a quality public education, and where we always protect our environment. These are the goals of our campaign for the State House of Representatives, but there are many Coloradans among us who have more immediate needs.
The Inn Between of Longmont [i] is an organization that provides transitional housing and services to a diverse population that includes single and two parent families, teen parents, individuals exiting domestic violence relationships, persons with physical and/or mental disabilities, single adults, seniors, and teens unable to live at home for a variety of reasons. They truly help people in our community every day, and they need your support.
Celebrate with us on December 13th at the Dickens Tavern and bring along a suggested minimum donation of $25 for our campaign and/or a non-perishable food item, personal care product or cleaning supply (visit theinnbetween.org to see the “Wish List”) to support the Inn Between of Longmont.
[i] The information contained in this invitation is in no way meant to state or imply that the Inn Between endorses our campaign for the State House of Representatives.
Filed under Events, Legislature
Should The Longmont Area Dems Endorse the Employee Free Choice Act?
The LAD has been asked to Endorse the Employee Free Choice Act.
Members are asked to weigh in this subject at our monthly meeting. Feel free to bring your ideas, questions, and opinions on this blog, or at Front Range Community College on May 6.
Here is the langauge below:
EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENT FORM:
WHEREAS: Our economy is in shambles and working people are struggling to make ends meet while bankers and failed financial institutions are being bailed out at tax-payer expense.
WHEREAS: Unions have historically been one of the few legal and democratic vehicles for workers to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
WHEREAS: According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, unionization raises wages for minority women more than education, seniority, and job training combined.
WHEREAS: Workers who belong to unions earn, on average, 30% more than nonunion workers and over half of all Americans say they would join a union today if they had a fair chance.
WHEREAS: Every 23 minutes a worker in the U.S. if fired or otherwise discriminated against for trying to form a union and during organizing drives, 91% of employers force their employees to attend mandatory closed-door anti-union meetings on paid company time.
WHEREAS: In 2005 alone, over 30,000 workers received back pay from employers that illegally fired, coerced, bribed, or otherwise discriminated against them for their union activities.
AND WHEREAS: Under our broken labor laws, penalties against Employers who engage in anti-union activity is minimal and in 2005 the median time between the resolution of an unfair labor practice charge against an Employer was 659 days.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT: We, the undersigned organization, urge our Colorado decision-makers to support the Employee Free Choice Act as the most significant and necessary piece of labor legislation since the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. This is a historic opportunity to restore balance in the workplace and protect the right of Colorado workers to pursue the American Dream.
Organization:______________________________________________________
Officer’s Signature:_________________________________________________
Date:_________________________
Furthermore, I am willing to: (please check all that apply)
____Write a personal letter to the Senator ____Write a letter to the Editor
____Speak publicly on this issue to the media ____Join a delegation to lobby decision makers on EFCA
____Come to rallies or demonstrations in support of EFCA
Next Meeting May 6: Monthly Newsletter Democrats Go Higher (Ed)
I. Upcoming Meeting May 6 at Front Range Community College
a. CU Regent Joe Neguse and the Future of Higher Education in Colorado
b. Discussion and Debate of the Employee Free Choice Act
II. Activist Items
a. Cinco de Mayo at Roosevelt Park
b. Death Penalty
c. March in Greeley
d. Immigration Legislation in Colorado
III LAD reaches the 21st Century?
I.
a.
When: May 6, 2009 from 7-9pm
Where: Front Range Community College (East Building – Community Room) 2191 Miller Drive, Longmont, CO
What:
Please join the Longmont Area Democrats and CU Regent Joe Neguse to learn about and discuss the future of higher education here in Colorado. The state legistlature initally looked at cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from our world renowned institutions such as CU and CSU. Come and hear from the 2nd Congressional District representative Joe Neguse about the value of these insitutions and the financial peril they find themselves in almost every economic downturn.
b. But first … the Longmont Area Democrats have been asked to endorse the Employee Free Choice Act. Everyone is encouraged to discuss and debate the merits of this piece of federal legislation on May 6. You may also post on this website your questions, concerns, and options (if you have them).
NOTE: If you wish to make an announcement at LAD, please contact me beforehand and we will work to make sure that some time is set aside (keep it topical). You can email me at jonathan.singer@gmail.com
II
a. Cinco de Mayo … on Dos de Mayo
Longmont Area Democrats are going to be hosting a voter registration table at Longmont’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration.
When: May 2, 2009 12p-6p
Where: Roosevelt Park
What: Voter Registration
Why: Just because the Presedential election is over doesn’t mean that people haven’t moved, turned 18, or changed their party affliation (talk to Arlen Specter). Please help us register new and old voters alike. If you are interested in helping for an hour or more email Jonathan Singer at jonathan.singer@gmail.com or call him at 303-875-4727. Visit http://www.longmontcincodemayo.org/
Also, there will be plenty of exciting food, music and cultural events that are fun for the whole family. If you can’t volunteer, stop by our booth and say “hi!”
If you don’t think them Democrats are cool enough, you can also volunteer for the general event with Marja Johnson at mjohnson@bouldercounty.org
b. Death Penalty
Right now the Colorado State Legislature is debating the creation of a cold case unit with the funds used for the death penalty. I have received several emails from Longmonters supporting this issue. The LAD has not endorsed this but it merits consideration. If you support this legislation let your State Senator know ASAP as the Senate adjourns in about a week! Below is the body of an email sent to me.
“Right now, Colorado has a backlog of more than 1,400 unsolved murders that can’t be investigated for lack of funding.
But there’s a bill moving through the state legislature that would change that. House Bill 1274 would repeal Colorado’s death penalty law and shift the cost savings into solving the backlogged cases.
Our state Senator, Brandon Shaffer, needs to hear from you on this critical bill. So please take a minute and call or email him and ask him to support HB 1274 to help solve cold cases and put an end to the death penalty in Colorado.
His contact information is (303) 866-5291 and his email is brandon@brandonshaffer.com
Thanks for your time and consideration for this important piece of legislation. “
c. Unity March on May 2 (Just in case Roosevelt Park isn’t exciting enough).
Several LAD members will be carpooling up to Greeley on May 2. If you are interested, please email jonathan.singer@gmail.com.
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Join May 2 Unity March in Greeley! |
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Reconstructing Our Communities Uniting Our Families Unity March! Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 Starts at the Island Grove Park – 514 N. 14th Ave, Greeley, Colorado Just & Humane Immigration Reform! For a better Greeley, in a better world! For More Information: alfrentedelucha@gmail.com, 970.388.0834 or 303.887.2795 Denver! Meet at one of these points to Caravan or take a Bus to Greeley at 9:30 AM, Saturday, May 2nd, 2009! Aurora—16th & Dallas or Denver —12th & Mariposa (Lincoln Park) You are welcome to bring Food or Donations for Greeley families affected by ongoing immigration Raids! Denver Contacts: Homero 303.437.7805 & Nacho 720.621.7468 |
d. Immigration Legislation
As some of you may know Bob Norris has been working with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. He is encouraging folks to call their state reps to defeat SJM 09.
FACT SHEET:
Senate Joint Memorial 009
“Memorializing Congress and the Federal Government to
Make Changes to and Enforce Immigration laws”
The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
STRONGLY opposes this Memorial
What does this memorial propose?
-
SJM 009 urges greater involvement by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Colorado state and local law enforcement agencies along with a significant expansion to Colorado’s immigrant detention capacity.
Why is this memorial harmful?
-
Expanding the role of local police officers in immigration work damages community trust in law enforcement. As the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police note in their statement on immigration, when local law enforcement becomes an immigration law enforcement arm, there is a sharp decline in immigrants reporting crimes, due to fear and a lack of trust of the police. This lack of reporting leads to less safe communities for all Coloradans.
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Deputizing state and local law enforcement as immigration agents leads to discriminatory policing. In early April, 2009, the Congressional Judiciary Committee investigated 287(g) programs after several reports, including recent findings by the Government Accountability Office, revealed serious concerns with how law enforcement agencies were abusing the program in its implementation.
Expansion of beds for immigrant detention is neither a cost effective nor humane solution in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform. Those being held in immigrant detention have not been charged with a crime but, rather, a civil violation. They are awaiting the US government’s decision on whether or not they are lawfully in the country. In the absence of meaningful reform to our immigration laws, the state of Colorado should consider more humane and cost-effective alternatives to mass expansion of immigrant detention.
Get the facts by clicking the link below and reading the legislation verbatim.
Filed under Announcements, Legislature, Multicultural
