News

Fischer: S. Platte Decision Points Out Need for Change

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:42:44 -0600

(Denver) – Rep. Randy Fischer, author of a bill to address the damaging impacts of high groundwater levels in the South Platte River Basin, said today’s announcement by Gov. John Hickenlooper that he was powerless to fix the problem pointed out the need for changes in Colorado water law.

Gov. Hickenlooper met in Greeley yesterday with the Weld County commissioners and told them he had been advised by Attorney General John Suthers that the governor did not have the constitutional authority to allow utilities, farmers and homeowners to draw more water from their wells, reducing high groundwater levels that are flooding basements and ruining crops in large areas of the South Platte Basin. Such an action would interfere with senior water rights downstream, the governor said.
“We have to have greater flexibility in South Platte water administration,” said Rep. Fischer (D-Fort Collins), whose House Bill 12-1278, mandating a study of South Platte groundwater, was signed by the governor this year. “After the South Platte study is received by the legislature, I hope it will inform policies to improve Colorado’s efforts to maximize the beneficial use of water without causing injury to any water right owners.”   “For starters, we need to provide the governor and the state engineer with the authority to address just the kind of emergency conditions that exist in the South Platte today -- extreme drought combined with record high groundwater levels,” Rep. Fischer said.

Pace Calls for Halt to SDS Construction

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:12:14 -0600

(Denver) – Citing continuing concerns over the potential for flooding along Fountain Creek caused by the Southern Delivery System water project, Rep. Sal Pace (D-Pueblo) called on the City of Colorado Springs today to halt construction of the project until the city comes up with an adequate solution for its water runoff.

The Southern Delivery System is a 62-mile pipeline being built from Pueblo Reservoir to a new reservoir in Colorado Springs. Water owned by Colorado Springs will be piped north from Pueblo to augment the Springs’ water system. Colorado Springs officials describe it as critical to the city’s future growth. But because the entire Colorado Springs metro area watershed drains into Fountain Creek, any increase in water consumption in the Springs would threaten Pueblo, which sits on the confluence of Fountain Creek and the Arkansas River.

Colorado Springs created a Stormwater Enterprise to mitigate these impacts, but the enterprise was killed after failing in a voter referendum in 2009.
“According to your own environmental documents, the SDS will increase Fountain Creek flows by 40 percent,” Rep. Pace said in his letter today to Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach. “That increase will now take place without the protections in place that your city promised when you submitted the project to the Bureau of Reclamation for environmental review.”
“I call on Colorado Springs to immediately halt any construction of the Southern Delivery System until a permanent stormwater solution is found for your community that is comparable in scope to the Enterprise eliminated in 2009,” Rep. Pace wrote. “Temporarily stopping the project is the least that your city can do to guarantee the protections downstream communities morally and legally deserve.”

Levy Appointed to Lower North Fork Wildfire Commission

Thu, 7 Jun 2012 11:09:21 -0600

(Denver) – Representative Claire Levy (D-Boulder) was appointed to the
Lower North Fork Wildfire Commission on Wednesday by House Democratic Leader Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver).

The Lower North Fork Wildfire Commission is tasked with examining the
causes of the disaster and advising legislative or other action that
would prevent a similar occurrence. The commission will also hold a
public hearing to take testimony and accept reports on the impacts and
causes of the fire.

“I am honored to be asked to serve on the Lower North Fork Wildfire
Commission,” Rep. Levy said. “The state has a commitment to enhance
disaster response and ensure the victims of the Lower North Fork fire
are treated fairly while maintaining our responsibility to sound
fiscal management. I’m eager to begin working with the commission.”

Estimated damages resulting from the Lower North Fork Wildfire include
three fatalities and $11.3 million in property damage, with 23
residences destroyed or significantly damaged.

The commission has its first meeting before Sunday, July 1, and will
complete their work before the next legislative session in January.

Hick Signs Duran’s Bill Boosting Training for the Unemployed

Wed, 6 Jun 2012 09:54:34 -0600

(Denver) – Rep. Crisanta Duran’s bill investing $8 million in enhanced benefits for unemployed Coloradans who want to learn new workforce or entrepreneurial skills was signed into law today by Gov. John Hicklenlooper.

The new law, HB12-1272, will help those currently out of work get training without having to sacrifice critical support for their families. It was one of the most important jobs measures of the 2012 legislative session.

“This new law will give unskilled, unemployed Coloradans a better chance to acquire the skills that will qualify them for good jobs with steady employment,” said Rep. Duran (D-Denver). “It will also help skilled workers who need to retrain for the workforce of the 21st century.”

Sponsoring the bill with Rep. Duran were Rep. Robert Ramirez (R-Westminster) and Sen. Linda Newell (D-Littleton).

Young’s Medicaid Innovations Act Signed into Law

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 15:16:09 -0600

(Denver) –Rep. Dave Young’s landmark Innovations in Medicaid Act was signed into law today by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

The Innovations in Medicaid Act will improve the quality of care for Medicaid patients in Colorado and help contain the spiraling cost of healthcare, saving Colorado taxpayers millions of dollars. It authorizes pilot programs as alternatives to the current budget-busting “fee for service” payment system, which compensates health professionals according to how many times their patients visit their offices, and on the number of tests and services they use.   The new pilot programs will move toward a system that rewards health professionals according to how well they achieve positive health results for their patients, and on patient satisfaction.   “The end result will be millions of dollars of savings for the state and better health for Colorado's Medicaid patients,” said Rep. Young (D-Greeley).   The governor visited Greeley on May 22 to promote the new law with Rep. Young.