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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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  • Colfax project from Colorado to Speer boulevards starts this week

    DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation and contractor partner, Brannan Sand & Gravel Company, will begin the Colfax Resurfacing and Pedestrian Improvements project on Colfax Avenue from Speer Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard with signage erected this week.

    The $5 million project will consist of milling existing pavement and resurfacing with an asphalt overlay on 3.5 miles of Colfax Avenue, and reconstruction of 96 curb ramps.

    “Colfax Avenue is a major road people use to get into the heart of Denver,” said Paul Jesaitis, Region 1 Transportation Director. “That’s why this project is important to us to improve the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. We recognize that there are a lot of businesses and residences along this stretch and it is our goal to minimize impact of the traveling public and ensure that they have access to where they need to go at all times.”

    The project will continue through the summer with anticipated completion in fall 2017. Motorists should expect lane and sidewalk closures, and lane shifts.

    The project will be done in phases in order to minimize traffic impacts. Normal working hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for sidewalks and curb ramps from April through June. After the sidewalk and concrete work is complete, resurfacing will begin in June and continue through September. The working hours in this phase will be from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. All work is weather permitting and schedules are subject to change.

    Travel impacts through Friday, April 7, will be:

    Colorado Boulevard to York Street: Sidewalk closures are likely throughout the week for work on manholes and valve boxes. Lane closures on Colfax will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    For additional information, call the project information line at 1-844-281-4473, Option 1; email the team at ; or visit the project website and sign up for updates at https://www.codot.gov/projects/colfax-resurfacing-denver. For travel conditions, visit COTrip.org, sign up for GovDelivery, or call 511.

  • Sketch of suspect in ArapCo indecent exposure incidents released

    Sketch of suspect in ArapCo indecent exposure incidents released

    The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office announced April 3 it is investigating two recent indecent exposure cases that occurred near E. Iliff Avenue and the High Line Canal Trail. Both incidents appear to involve the same suspect and occurred between 6:05 and 6:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 2

    The suspect in these two cases is described as a white male, possibly 18 to 20 years old. He appeared to be between 5’7” and 5’9” tall and about 130 pounds. He has brown hair and was wearing a dark blue or black sweatshirt, and either sweats or blue jeans.

    Both victims indicate that they frequently use the High Line Canal and have not seen this man before. It is not known at this time if this is the same suspect from the assault that occurred on Monday, March 27, however, the descriptions are similar. A sketch of the suspect was released by the sheriff’s department April 4.

    Members of the public that might see this suspect are asked to call 911 immediately.

    Information can also be called into the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office at (303)795-4711, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720)913-STOP (7867), or the Arapahoe County tip line at (720)874-8477.

  • Local sports makeup dates dribbling in

    Wet weather last week led to several cancellations or postponements of local games. Makeup game or date changes are listed below:

    Strasburg High School’s March 28 baseball game against Brush will be made up on Saturday, April 29, at Brush with varsity scheduled for 11 a.m. and the JV game to follow. Whether the Indians’ April 1 game against Jefferson Academy will be made up is unknown.

    In an effort to miss the forecast of bad weather tomorrow, Byers’ April 4 game at Limon has been moved to Wednesday, April 5. First pitch is still slated for 4:30 p.m. Byers’ games last week were both canceled and any makeup dates will be announced later.

    More makeup dates will be posted as they become known. Updated schedules will also be available in upcoming editions of the Eastern Colorado News and The I-70 Scout.

  • Hearing set for statewide transportation improvement plan

    DENVER — Colorado’s Transportation Commission will be holding a public hearing later this month regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2018 – 2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP).

    The hearing will be held Thursday, April 20, at the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) headquarters, 4201 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver. It will be conducted in conjunction with the Commission’s monthly meeting at a time still to be determined. As part of the hearing, information regarding the STIP will be presented and public comments received

    “It’s part of our short-term and long-term planning process,” said Colorado Transportation Commissioner Chairman Gary Reiff. “The STIP not only specifies the projects CDOT plans to fund over the next four years but it also identifies the year each project will be funded, based on available revenues.”

    The STIP normally is prepared right after, or in conjunction with, the development of the long-range Statewide Transportation Plan (SWP). Following a project’s inclusion in the STIP, it can be budgeted within the appropriate fiscal year.

    Individuals wishing to speak at the hearing should RSVP by Friday, April 14. Those unable to attend can view a draft STIP at: www.codot.gov/business/budget/statewide-transportation-improvement-program-stip-reports-information. Comments regarding the STIP must be submitted by April 28, 2017. Questions, comments and RSVP information should be submitted to Jamie Collins via email at , phone at (303) 757-9092, or mail at: CDOT, Office of Financial Management and Budget – 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue, Room 212, Denver, CO 80222.

    Information gathered from the public hearing and during the comment period is reviewed and incorporated to finalize the STIP. The Plan then will be submitted to the Commission at its May 2017 meeting for consideration and approval. If approved, the STIP is sent to the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration for final approval. If the federal agencies consent, the STIP becomes effective on July 1.

  • CSU Tropical Meteorology Project has new co-author, Michael Bell

    CSU Tropical Meteorology Project has new co-author, Michael Bell

     

    FORT COLLINS – Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project welcomes a new face to its longtime seasonal hurricane forecasts: Michael Bell, associate professor in CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science.

    Bell has entered into a research partnership with Philip Klotzbach, the primary author of the seasonal forecasts and verifications, to become the reports’ co-author. Klotzbach is formally a research scientist in Bell’s group at CSU.

    Different expertise

    Klotzbach and Bell bring different areas of expertise to the prediction and analysis of hurricane phenomena in the Atlantic basin. “Most of the work I have done has been on the weather scale and mesoscale, focusing on intensity and structural changes,” said Bell, who joined the CSU faculty in summer 2016. “Phil’s expertise is on the seasonal and climate timescales; hopefully by working together, we will bridge some gaps and ultimately help advance the science of tropical cyclones.”

    Bell holds an M.S. in atmospheric science from CSU and a Ph.D. from the Naval Postgraduate School. He studies the dynamics of tropical cyclones (another word for hurricanes) using Doppler radar and dropsondes, devices that collect high-density data as they fall from aircraft. He has flown into many tropical cyclones as part of his research. Bell’s first flight into a hurricane was Katrina in 2005 as part of a National Science Foundation-sponsored field project, and he flew into several Pacific typhoons during a U.S. Office of Naval Research-sponsored project in 2008. Much of Bell’s work has focused in the Pacific, home to some of the world’s strongest tropical cyclones. He was recently honored with a Presidential Early Career Award to support his research efforts.

    Since CSU started issuing seasonal hurricane forecasts more than 30 years ago, the discipline of tropical meteorology has tended toward specialization, Klotzbach said. “By partnering together, we can hopefully cover time scales of what will happen in the next hour to what will happen during the next hurricane season and beyond,” Klotzbach said. “It’s very exciting to have Michael’s expertise on board as an integral part of our work.”

    Longtime colleagues

    The two hurricane experts have been colleagues and friends for more than 15 years. They were both atmospheric science graduate students at CSU during the mid-2000s. Klotzbach studied under the late William Gray, the originator of the Atlantic seasonal hurricane forecasts, and Bell under Michael Montgomery, formerly of the CSU Department of Atmospheric Science and, since 2006, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School.

    With Klotzbach officially a part of Bell’s research group, they hope to continue a legacy of strong expertise in tropical meteorology at CSU. This is built upon the shoulders of Gray, Montgomery and Professor Wayne Schubert, recently named to emeritus status, all three of whom have been “very influential in tropical meteorology,” Bell said.

    Bell and Klotzbach’s collaboration is not limited to the seasonal forecasts; they are already working on several projects together, studying various aspects of tropical cyclones in their larger meteorological context.

    “Our studies are interrelated, and advances in one area lead to advances in other areas,” Bell said. “It is a broader collaboration that goes back to the legacy of Bill Gray, especially, who was widely known for seasonal forecasts but also made tremendous contributions to tropical meteorology in general. Hopefully we can continue in that same tradition.”

    The initial 2017 Atlantic Basin seasonal hurricane forecast will be released April 6 during the National Tropical Weather Conference in South Padre Island, Texas.
  • George Wittemyer finds the positive in tragic elephant conservation research

    George Wittemyer finds the positive in tragic elephant conservation research

     

    FORT COLLINS — #SaveTheElephants has become a cause célèbre in recent years. But for Colorado State University’s George Wittemyer, an associate professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, studying elephants and the effects of poaching on them started when he was an undergraduate at Colorado College in the 1990s.

    Wittemyer is now a world-renowned expert on elephants. He was the lead author of a landmark study published in 2014 that found an estimated 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory between 2010 and 2012.

    The majestic animals, which Wittemyer describes as one of the most iconic species on the planet, are killed for the ivory in their tusks and teeth. “It’s conspicuous consumption, a demonstration of wealth or art,” he said. “The art is beautiful, but it’s really not necessary in any way. The amount of disruption poaching causes to elephants is a disaster. They are highly social animals, with roles in their societies that progress with age. Killing for ivory removes the oldest individuals in the population, disrupting their populations in many ways. It’s really terrible what is happening to the species.”

    He was part of a team that reported last year that it will take almost a century for forest elephants to recover from intense poaching because they are one of the slowest-producing mammals in the world. He also collaborated with Shifra Goldenberg, who has a doctorate in ecology from CSU, on a study that concluded that despite poaching, elephants’ social networks are holding steady.

    Wittemyer said that as much as possible, he tries to find the upbeat angles in his research. “We can focus on the tragic side of this, because it’s a seriously tragic story,” he said. “But we can also focus on the positive and the resilient story, too. It helps keep me sane.”

    Study abroad leads to renowned career

    As a child growing up in Portland, Oregon, Wittemyer read a lot about Canada and Alaska, and he was interested in wildlife. He thought his work would one day be focused on conservation efforts in North America.

    While an undergraduate, he studied abroad in Tanzania, and connected with researchers and organizations studying elephants. He became hooked on the topic, and the continent.

    “People go to Africa and they either fall in love really quickly or it is not for them,” said Wittemyer. “I was an Africaphile immediately. I loved the culture, the people, and the wild spaces.” He found the work and related challenges “inspiring.”

    After graduating from college, he applied for fellowships that he hoped would take him back to his favorite new continent. Wittemyer said his applications were mostly rejected, but one organization that didn’t reject him was the Fulbright Program. This award took him to Kenya in 1997, where he met Iain Douglas-Hamilton, one of the preeminent elephant biologists in the world and founder of Save the Elephants.

    Internship serves as launch pad for conservation research

    Douglas-Hamilton helped Wittemyer land an internship with the Kenya Wildlife Service, which led the young researcher to the Samburu National Reserve, a rugged and semi-desert park in Kenya.

    The Samburu population is remarkable, incredibly calm, and habituated to people and cars, Wittemyer said. The fact that he could watch them so closely easily led to an even greater fascination with the animals.

    After two years of field work in Kenya, he pursued a graduate degree in Environmental Science Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley.

    From 1997 to 2007, Wittemyer lived primarily in Samburu, where he launched a project to identify every elephant that came into the park for two years. With the Save the Elephants field team, he continues to follow the elephants to this day, identifying them by their ears. The team keeps track of when the elephants give birth, if they die, and who they’re interacting with. They also monitor how they function socially, and look at what drives the relationships they make. 

    Douglas-Hamilton said his first impression of George, now chairman of the scientific board for Save the Elephants, was of a “very determined young man.”

    “George always had a love for field work but it soon became apparent that he wanted to make a serious academic career,” he said. “It has been fortunate for elephants that he has done so.”

    Douglas-Hamilton said the elephant studies and expertise that have emerged from Samburu thanks to Wittemyer are “second to none.”

    “His achievements have not only been academic, but they have also been very practical to elephant conservation, protection and management,” he said. “This is an impact in the Samburu study area, in Kenya, and internationally. George has been fully engaged in using his expertise to alleviate the current elephant crisis caused by excessive killing of elephants for their ivory.”

    Research draws attention from governments

    Wittemyer has testified about his research on Capitol Hill and is among a group of scientists who have joined a coalition of concerned citizens, activists, nongovernmental organizations, politicians and governments whose aim is to stop the killing of elephants, and the trafficking and demand for ivory.

    Goldenberg, now in a training position at the Smithsonian Institute, described Wittemyer’s research as remarkable.

    “These kinds of long-term field projects are extremely rare,” she said, referencing the project that Wittemyer has led for nearly two decades. “They’re hard to fund continuously, and it is hard to keep the consistency up in terms of data. George started the project and initiated the data himself initially. It’s amazing that he’s been able to do that, and it’s provided enormous insights into the species. There are very few sites in the world that reflect that kind of high quality data, and there are few that document crises.”

    Goldenberg said thanks to the wealth of data, researchers have been able to track the tragic effects of poaching.

    “This data has helped thrust the elephant population into the spotlight for what was going on globally,” she said.

    Tracking elephants by radio signals, monitoring orphans

    Wittemyer and his research team also track elephants through radio signals. He’s currently overseeing a large study in Kenya, where scientists are tracking the movements of animals to understand the impacts of railroad, highway and oil pipeline construction projects on elephant space use.

    In addition, he’s learning more about elephants who become orphans and how they survive when they’re no longer surrounded by older, wiser elephants. “They’re alive and they’re surviving, but they might not be acting optimally,” he said. The youngsters might not know, for example, what to do when situations such as a drought arise.

    Despite the grim statistics and loss of elephants worldwide, Wittemyer said there are some reasons to be positive. “We have had severe poaching, which started in 2009, but we’ve been able to really dampen it in Samburu, and push it down to a controllable level,” he said. “It’s a great example of where we’re having successes.”

    Historically, conservationists gained some ground in the United States and Western Europe when they decreased the value of ivory by minimizing consumption of the product.

    “Culturally we rejected the product,” Wittemyer said. But that hasn’t worked so far in other countries, including China and Japan, where ivory is in high demand, and criminal syndicates are involved in the illegal trade.

    Celebrity interest in elephant conservation has been welcomed by scientists including Wittemyer.

    “It brings attention and can be effective, since people are interested in emulating what celebrities are doing ” he said. In China, Yao Ming a retired professional basketball player who once played for the Houston Rockets, has been vocal in educating the public about the impacts of consuming ivory.

    “It’s a neat approach” to enlist celebrities’ help, said Wittemyer. “These things all help,” he said.
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides guidance on Harvest Information Program registration for 2017-18

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides guidance on Harvest Information Program registration for 2017-18

     

    DENVER — The Harvest Information Program (HIP), Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s harvest information-gathering system for hunters and anglers, will remain consistent for the 2017-18 seasons. Hunters will register either online or via live operator.

    Online sign ups will continue through the current Colorado HIP website due to unforeseen delays with the implementation of CPW’s new licensing system. Please write your 2017-2018 HIP number in the space provided on your 2017 license. Phone registrations with a live operator, 24 hours a day, can be made via 1-866-COLOHIP (265-6447).

    • If hunting small game (including migratory birds and furbearers) in Colorado during the 2017 season, you must get a HIP number before hunting.
    • If not hunting small game (including migratory birds) in Colorado during the 2017-18  season, you do not need to participate in HIP.
    • Spring turkey hunters do not need to get a HIP number.

    HIP, the Harvest Information Program, is a joint USFWS/CPW program designed to improve small game and migratory bird harvest estimates. In 1998, state wildlife agencies asked the USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to develop a nationwide sign-up program for all migratory bird hunters. State biologists were concerned that federal harvest estimates were not providing adequate harvest information using the traditional survey methodology. Colorado requires all small game hunters to sign up with HIP, to help CPW better estimate harvest for species that are difficult to address through a general small game survey.

    The 2017-18 HIP registration process is opens at 12:00 A.M. April 1. Sign up for your HIP number online or use the live operator service at 1-866-265-6447.

    For more information, see the HIP Frequently Asked Questions.
  • COLORADO ROCKIES TRANSACTIONS

    COLORADO ROCKIES TRANSACTIONS

    SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have selected the contract of infielder-outfielder Stephen Cardullo from Triple-A Albuquerque and have designated right-handed pitcher Jason Motte for assignment.  Additionally, the Rockies have optioned infielder Pat Valaika to Albuquerque and reassigned outfielder Chris Denorfia to Minor League camp.

     

    Right-handed pitcher (1): Jason Motte+

    Infielder (1): Pat Valaika*

    Outfielder (1): Chris Denorfia

    * 40-man roster player optioned

    + Designated for assignment

     

    The Rockies have 32 players in Major League Spring Training camp, including one non-roster player.

     

    Colorado has a full 40-man roster.

     

     

     

  • COLORADO ROCKIES TRANSACTIONS

    COLORADO ROCKIES TRANSACTIONS

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have optioned infielder-outfielder Jordan Patterson to Triple-A Albuquerque and reassigned left-handed pitcher Harrison Musgrave and catcher Anthony Bemboom to Minor League camp.

     

    Left-handed pitcher (1): Harrison Musgrave

    Catcher (1): Anthony Bemboom

    Infielder-outfielder (1): Jordan Patterson*

    * 40-man roster player optioned

     

    The Rockies have 35 players in Major League Spring Training camp, including three non-roster players.

     

  • Steps Taken to Make a Tough Budget Better

    Steps Taken to Make a Tough Budget Better

     

    DENVER — It’s no secret that in the 2017 legislative session, legislators would face a tough budget year that would include painful cuts, despite Colorado having one of the strongest and most prosperous economies in the entire country. While the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) has worked hard for months to present a balanced budget, this year’s budget came before the State Senate with $264 million in cuts to hospitals, the negative factor for K-12 education funding rising to $880 million dollars, and a lack of funding for important items like the Healthy Kids Survey, affordable housing, and support for the state healthcare exchange.

    The hospital cuts are particularly painful, as much has been written about how cuts to hospitals would really hurt rural communities, children of working families, and seniors. With the $264 million cut to the Hospital Provider Fee in this budget, which would result in over $500 million being lost for hospitals across the state, the need to move the Hospital Provider Fee into an enterprise fund is more profound than ever before.

    “Year after year, we come to this Capitol, and we are tasked with our constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget. While this budget we passed out of the Senate reflects some of the values we hold dear as Coloradans, the deep cuts into our hospitals that are included cannot be forgotten. However, I believe the budget is a living document in that it is not finished. It is my strong hope that with the work from our House colleagues, and the bipartisan legislation I am bringing with my Senate Republican colleagues to move the Hospital Provider Fee into an enterprise fund, we will adjourn this session with a budget that is much closer to reflecting the values of Colorado,” said Minority Leader Lucia Guzman, D-Denver.

    Presented with the FY2017-2018 state budget, Senate Democrats took the lead and brought a number of amendments with the goal of making tough budget better for the people of Colorado. While some of these commonsense amendments passed and improved the budget, others were voted down on a primarily party-line vote by Senate Republicans. 

    What Passed:

    Supporting Connect for Health Colorado: 

    State Senator Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, carried an amendment that enabled Connect for Health Colorado to receive the supportive funding needed for activities related to determining eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Basic Health Plan. 

    “Colorado has emerged as a leader in healthcare, having cut our uninsured population in half and seeing more of our most vulnerable population gain access to life-saving healthcare. There certainly have to be improvements to address cost drivers, but given the signals from the new Administration to end Medicaid expansion, it falls to the state of Colorado to ensure we’re taking care of our own. The people have sent a loud and clear message — they don’t want to lose their healthcare. I am proud of my Democratic colleagues for leading on this amendment, and I thank my colleagues of the entire Senate for standing up for healthcare and passing this amendment,” said Senator Garcia.

    The Healthy Kids Survey:

    An anonymous, voluntary survey that is administered to K-12 students, the Healthy Kids Survey is utilized to gain a better understanding of the challenges Colorado kids are facing in schools, identify trends, and enhance school, community, and state-based programs designed to improve the well-being of those kids. Funding for the Healthy Kids Survey was originally stripped on a party-line JBC vote, but thanks to State Senator Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge, the amendment garnered enough bipartisan support to add funding for the survey back in.

    “Without the vital data gained through the Health Kids Survey, we’re flying blind. We already know kids in Colorado face a number of challenges in school, from the temptation of drug use, to bullying, to suicidal thoughts. But it is thanks to this data that we have an idea of what these kids are facing, and how we can best support them. We should be seeking every avenue to ensure Colorado kids are set up for success, and I am very pleased funding for this important survey was added back in. I thank my colleagues, and my co-sponsor Senator Coram, for making this possible,” said Senator Jahn.

    Voting Against Pay Raises for Politicians:

    In a budget seeing schools continue to be underfunded and support for hospitals being cut, the last thing Colorado’s lawmakers should be doing is giving a pay increase to themselves. State Senators Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, and Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada passed an amendment so politicians wouldn’t be seeing an increase in pay when other Coloradans are seeing funding for services being cut.

    “Rural communities, including those in my district, are bearing the brunt of what was cut to balance our budget, and the last thing politicians should be doing is voting themselves a pay raise. I’m glad to have worked with the entire Senate in order to ensure we stuck to a promise of fiscal responsibility,” said Senator Donovan.

    “I don’t see how any of us could have gone back to our districts, look our constituents in the eye, and say, ‘Well we couldn’t fully fund schools or save hospital funding, but at least we gave ourselves a pay raise!’ Hardworking Coloradans across my district, and across the state, are tightening their belts, and we should be doing the same. That is why I was proud to carry this amendment to ensure politicians would not be lining their pockets in a tough budget year,” said Senator Zenzinger.

    Affordable Housing:

    Last November, Governor Hickenlooper included in his proposed budget a recommendation of $16.3 million to provide housing and treatment for persons who are chronically homeless. The targeted populations includes veterans, youth and adults being released from incarceration, and clients being discharged from the State Hospital – individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders. The dollars were to come from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund to create housing with supportive services that address behavioral health issues, and this recommendation was not approved by the JBC earlier in the year. Thanks to State Senator John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, the sponsor of an amendment to the Long Bill, the $16.3 million appropriation was included in the state budget with bipartisan support.

     

    “Just stepping outside the State Capitol, you can see people all around us who are experiencing chronic homelessness. There is a cross section of people who are impacted by behavioral health issues and at greater risk of being out on the streets. This public investment of resources for supportive housing will help veterans, youth and adults get their lives back in order as they seek to integrate back into civil society. Permanent supportive housing is a successful model for addressing chronic homelessness, and this is a wise investment in people’s lives. I am grateful to the Governor and for the many groups that supported this budget amendment from law enforcement, veterans, municipal housing and behavioral health sectors. I am glad that we are refocusing on affordable housing and treatment in the state budget as this approach is humane and will save the taxpayer money in the long run,” said Senator Kefalas.

    Additional Funding to Support our Veterans:

    While steps have been taken in recent years to address the barriers preventing Colorado’s veterans from accessing critical services and care, more can always be done. A Marine and an Iraq War veteran, Senator Garcia carried an amendment to allocate $300,000 in additional funding for counties to provide services like educational training, job placement, housing, and healthcare. 

    “Making sure our veterans are properly being informed and connected with vital services they have earned should absolutely be at the top of our priorities in Colorado. For veterans who are dealing with health issues, timing is of the essence, and anything we can do to improve response times and increase access to veteran services is a good thing for the Colorado state budget. I am very pleased my Democratic colleagues took the lead on making sure our veterans are taken care of in this budget, and I am very pleased this important amendment was added,” said Senator Garcia.

    Respecting the Will of the Voters:

    Regardless of how you feel about the issue, the majority of Colorado voters said “Yes” to adding end-of-life options to our statutes last fall. Funding record keeping for this option in the 2017 budget is a matter of respecting the will of the voters. While ideologues had voted to strip funding for this measure in the budget, State Senators Lois Court, D-Denver, and Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, carried a successful amendment to put this funding back into the budget.

    “65% of the people of Colorado — our constituents — voted ‘Yes’ to put end-of-life options into statute. To me, it does not matter how you personally feel about the issue. If your constituents voted for this, you should respect their will and ensure the record keeping is carried out. I was outraged when the funding was initially stripped for purely ideological reasons, but I come away pleased the funding is back where it rightly should be,” said Senator Court. 

    “With this amendment, the budget got a little closer to truly reflecting the values of Colorado. The people decided they want end-of-life options, and to not fund end-of-life options record keeping was an affront to the people of Colorado. I am just pleased enough of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle came to their senses, and voted with Democrats to put this funding back in, as specified in the proposition,” said Senator Merrifield.

    More Funding for Ambulances and Health Transportation:

    Whether it is in our greatest hour of need in an emergency, or transporting some of our most vulnerable Coloradans to a non-emergency appointment, medical transport is one of the most vital services Colorado can provide. The amendment carried by Senator Zenzinger adds additional funding for transportation for the elderly and Coloradans with disabilities to get to non-emergency appointments, and for ambulances.

    “Access to medical transport can be the difference between life and death, and can help determine if independent living is a possibility. With access to healthcare being a serious concern of my constituents, and of hard-working people across Colorado, this amendment will be helpful in providing critical access to care not only when Coloradans with disabilities and seniors are facing an emergency, but also provide access to a routine check-up so they can take care of their health. I am very pleased this priority made it into this budget,”said Senator Zenzinger.

    What Didn’t Pass:

    Supporting Rural Small Businesses

    A recent study show that Colorado has the top economy in the entire nation. Much of that can be attributed to Colorado’s business-friendly climate that attracts innovative entrepreneurs and successful start-up small businesses. Small businesses are the engine and backbone of our economy. Yet, Main Street businesses outside the Denver-metro area have been left behind. State Senator Angela Williams, D-Denver, proposed a modest amendment to invest in small businesses in rural Colorado, which unfortunately died on near party-lines.

    “With Democrats leading at every level of government, Colorado has grown and grown into one of the most business-friendly states in the entire union. That’s because supporting small businesses has been and always will be a Democratic principle. This amendment would have continued that tradition by supporting small businesses in our rural areas, so that Main Street outside the Denver-metro area has more resources to thrive, and I am very disappointed my Republican colleagues chose to vote no,” said Senator Williams.

    Increased Access to Contraception

    State health officials estimate that contraception have saved at least $79 million in Medicaid costs for unintended births. It is a small investment with a significant return that reduces reliance on government programs. If a young woman is in a situation where she has to choose between having a child and earning a higher education, she should have the resources necessary to have a fair-shot at getting and staying ahead. State Senator Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, carried an amendment to increase access to contraception for more of Colorado’s women. What ensued were Senate Republicans disputing “scientific evidence” of women’s healthcare, and calling birth control “abortifacients”.

    “If a young woman is in a situation where she has to choose between having a child and earning a higher education, she should have the resources necessary to have a fair-shot at getting and staying ahead. What we heard from Senate Republicans was an insult to Colorado women, and I am very disappointed they chose to not only vote no, but insinuate access to contraception is some kind of controversy when it is not,” said Senator Fields.

    Bringing Down the Negative Factor

    Colorado has one of the most robust economies in the entire country, and yet, year after year, the state continues to lag near the bottom in funding our classrooms. While some in the Majority declared this budget a victory for K-12 kids, the negative factor has grown by $50 million in this budget. Colorado is getting awfully close to underfunding our kids by nearly $1 billion, so State Senator Nancy Todd, D-Aurora, brought an amendment to prevent that $50 million increase. The amendment was voted down on a near party-line vote.

    “This budget isn’t a win for our K-12 schools, despite what the Majority claims. The negative factor is slowly creeping towards $1 billion, and yet Colorado continues to kick the can down the road. Colorado has one of the strongest economies in the nation, yet Colorado consistently ranks near the bottom in funding our classrooms. Colorado’s kids deserve better for their future, and it saddens me that Senate Republicans think they’re getting enough,” said Senator Todd.

    Holding Big Corporations Accountable

    Whether it is out in Boulder County, or frankly anywhere in the state, big oil and gas corporations have conducted their business without nearly enough accountability to the people of Colorado. Whether it is a lack of resources to inspect air pollution, or companies using forced pooling to line their own pockets by extracting through people’s property, there simply isn’t enough accountability. State Senator Matt Jones, D-Louisville, sought to rectify this by introducing an amendment to add 11 new air pollution inspectors, and an amendment to add an inspector to track the number of properties that are forced pooled. Both died along near party-lines.

    “It is really a shame the state government continues to stand by and not hold oil and gas corporations accountable for not only the damage they are doing to our air and environment, but for how they basically ‘condemn’ people’s property in the practice of forced pooling in order to increase their bottom line. More accountability and oversight over these bad actors are needed, and we had an opportunity put a modest amount of funds towards protecting our future. These amendments being voted down were a loss for the people of Colorado, and a win for the oil and gas industry,” said Senator Jones.

    Protecting Colorado from Wildfires

    As Coloradans are well aware, when Colorado enters summer, the threat of wildfires becomes even greater. From the Eastern Plains to Jefferson County, the threat of wildfires looms as county fire departments and volunteer firefighters can find themselves overwhelmed by the ferocity of these fires. To support these brave first responders, and to bolster the protection of Colorado homes and lands, State Senator Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, proposed an amendment to increase funding for the wildlife emergency response fund and wildfire mitigation. Rather than entertain supporting first responders, Senate Republicans unanimously voted down the amendment.

    “The protection of all our communities from these dangerous wildfires should always be a top priority. Rather than leaving these communities to fend for themselves, I believe we would have been well-served by bolstering funding for wildfire response and mitigation. It is a shame Senate Republicans, even those whose districts and constituents have experienced wildfires, chose not to add this to the budget,” said Senator Fenberg.

    Bolstering Funding for Meals on Wheels

    As we’re seeing from the new Administration, their budget proposes cutting into a program that is currently serving 1.2 million seniors. Many Coloradans can attest that seniors not only utilize this program to receive hot meals, but that the program supports independent living as well. If our budget is a reflection of our values, then increased funding to make sure seniors have access to this critical program should have been part of the budget. Unfortunately, the amendment carried by Senator Fields was voted down on a near party-line vote.

    “We kept hearing ‘budgets are tough’. Well, the budgets of the people in my district are tough too. With our federal government siding by the side of neglect for our senior population, Colorado needs to take charge to support our seniors in providing them a relatively low budgeted program to alleviate their budget insecurities. I am frustrated that our Republican Senators have decided to be on the wrong side of history and ignore the bare minimum needs of our senior population,” said Senator Fields.

    Making College More Affordable

    While going to college isn’t for everyone, attending a college or university for higher education is still a highly sought-after goal that many Colorado kids see as an opportunity to reach their potential. For many however, a college degree is becoming too expensive to afford. As a result, many of those who are able to attend end up graduating with student debt. Senator Zenzinger offered an amendment focused on tuition increases that unfortunately died on near party-lines.

    “Any child in Colorado who wants to go to college should be able to have that opportunity. Yet, the dream of a college education continues to become more and more out of reach, especially for our hardest-working families. This amendment was about making higher education more attainable for Colorado’s children, and it is extraordinarily disappointing Senate Republicans said no to that simple, yet important principle,” said Senator Zenzinger.

    Investing in Renewable Energy

    Over the past decade, Colorado has grown into a leader in the new energy economy. As renewable energy has proven to be cleaner, cheaper, and more cost-effective for businesses, economic opportunities have continued to grow for hard-working Coloradans. To ensure Colorado continues to go its own way in renewable energy, State Senator Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, carried two amendments; an amendment to fund the National Renewable Energy Lab, and an amendment to fund a study on wind energy at the Colorado School of Mines. Both died on a party-line vote.

    “The people of Colorado are very well-aware of how beneficial renewable energy like wind and solar have been to our economy, and to protecting our natural environment as well. Given the fact over 62,000 Coloradans are employed in clean energy jobs alone, it would stand to reason we work to make sure these opportunities only continue to grow, which is what these amendments were designed to do. Colorado’s U.S. Senator Cory Gardner earlier this week highlighted the importance of the National Renewable Energy Lab for grid modernization and efficiency, I am disappointed my Republican colleagues did not feel the same way,” said Senator Kerr.

    Wiring Colorado from Corner to Corner

    Much has been talked about in this building about wiring every corner of Colorado with reliable, high speed broadband. Yet it seems, year after year, politics rule the day as good bills to bring broadband to rural Colorado are voted down in committee, such as Senator Donovan’s two rural broadband bills this year. During the budget debate, Senator Donovan introduced an amendment that didn’t pass to place funding into the Rural Broadband Support Fund.

    “Access to broadband is a matter of fairness. We talk all the time about wiring Colorado, but the General Assembly never follows through on its promise. I am very disappointed my colleagues didn’t seize this opportunity to ensure rural Colorado has the same opportunities to access the new economy as people do in other parts of the state. This amendment would have sent a message the state believes in my district,” said Senator Donovan. 

    Backing Big Bird

    We know the new Administration in Washington, D.C. is likely going to make cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, which affects the survival of important educational programming and art programs that are part of the fabric of America. Studies have shown that the educational program that is funded through the Endowment like Sesame Street can have profound positive impacts on kids education. To prevent our kids from losing out on Big Bird and his friends, Senator Merrifield introduced an amendment to bolster funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The amendment was voted down on a near party-line vote.

    “Even going back to Mitt Romney in 2012, it seems the Republican Party hates Big Bird. We know the new Administration in Washington, D.C. is likely going to make cuts that affect the survival of important educational programming and art programs that are part of the fabric of America. I want to live in a country where my grandkids, my great grandkids, and every kid across the country has access to free programming that has been shown to have a positive impact on their education. Too bad my Republican colleagues don’t feel the same about Sesame Street,” said Senator Merrifield.

    Full-Day Kindergarten for all Colorado Kids

    Kindergarten is the first stage in primary education. Studies have shown students who went through full-day kindergarten are more likely to succeed later in life. Senator Kerr brought an amendment that would fund full-day kindergarten for all Colorado kids, not just those fortunate enough to have families who can afford it. The amendment died on a mostly party-line vote.

    “It’s fairly simple — do we want to invest in the future of all children or not? In a year where we’re seeing the negative factor go up by $50 million,  we need to be doing more for Colorado kids’ education. Studies across the board have shown that students who go through full-day kindergarten are better prepared to succeed, and yet only students lucky enough to live in districts that fund full-day kindergarten are guaranteed this leg up. It’s a shame my Republican colleagues just don’t agree all kids should have the same opportunities to succeed in school,” said Senator Kerr.

    Senate Bill 17-256, also known as the “Long Bill”, passed out of the Senate on a 30-5 vote. It will now be considered by the House.