tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73098866236632043762024-02-07T11:14:59.179-07:00Policy MattersFrom the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, pursuing justice and economic security for all Coloradans.Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.comBlogger780125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-28470049416807626642013-10-21T14:25:00.000-06:002013-11-18T15:29:35.730-07:00Please visit our new website and new blog page at www.cclponline.org/blog<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong>Open
enrollment day 18 </strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Individuals
and small businesses can now shop for health insurance through <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW7VL7HkMsOKGe23OSHai102vsR_JDWA-n09sEsdsToK108Uq-kflpaZ5ZguAHCjdQdLCb6xnU2Z5lL0X9WIUyI1EBKasHyis-25wFxAvDtY45kc-hJPyEgl-Mhj3rcW-BbfJ3P8maghqNMyWqirGJ-ksCfewLUjg4rNy6U88StzrZfnO-h5gTJzj-Pnh61GoYbSJNzLeR6w_B0U1Vab9TcbWtH9CKgb5YgfVYkoDuMqlgZ5SbHJeSTp9RK37RwWlpIIl13s_TLf-HJU38ASfjA4VexnmgmAuZZsm-0y5yEIubuIcS1yKQTS" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Connect
for Health Colorado</span></a>, Colorado's new health insurance marketplace.
Coverage begins January 1, 2014.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong>This
week's updates:</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Press Conference: Amendment 66 and health care
(October 22)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Connect for Health Colorado releases week one
enrollment numbers, interest high<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Government reopens as Obamacare remains intact<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Obamacare Frequently Asked Questions: Part III </span><o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="press" shape="rect"><b><img alt="press" border="0" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="press" /></b></a><strong>Press Conference:
Amendment 66 and health care (October 22)</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u>What</u>: The Yes on Amendment 66 Campaign is hosting a HEALTH CARE
press conference to highlight that the health community believes in the need to
invest in our schools. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u>When</u>: Tuesday, October 22nd at 12:30<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<u>Where</u>: Civic Center Park, Denver<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Please
join the Yes on Amendment 66 Campaign and show that Colorado believes in a good
health care system AND good public schools to help create a healthy community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="connect" shape="rect"><b><img alt="connect" border="0" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="connect" /></b></a><strong>Connect for
Health Colorado releases week one enrollment numbers, interest high</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
On
Monday, Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO) - Colorado's health insurance
marketplace - held its first board of directors meeting since officially
opening its doors for business October 1. At the meeting, C4HCO staff
released <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW65bPI095cyhnD2bXpJsdXgEK-dhaTa6h6653IAWhIiBjtZZW-t8cH4Zbi-RzWDHuos5rw-4WbSwjSFXmA3SKnOi6ypihmiyLN5YUhiYpa2hbCqnUf_57PKO8FDCPGzXR11imfaKCkOfahRZFjG74t45P1A6BefrBbWFq6NhdUdUwudmqWFy569g8ytdXbfRQtANhYOHao5Lz72p8AELgkgWJ_M-dwZg9gf4vyS0v_LsC0LYXsL5RYty4AChnC01-m-jr4VH-iHUqbCRfbans7MKKmQDggFDv6eZl8y6j090Z85uidoKU9N5Ry8aqFvc3Jij3d-l6vXC5p3NG-tWFeyEVJw8vlsU6POYHEvJun9E2Z4MsfG7PDp2ZLmblIiau8=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">enrollment
data</span></a> from its first official week of operation. Between
October 1-7, 18,174 accounts were created and nearly 163,000 unique visitors
used the shopping web portal. CCLP believes these numbers are very
encouraging and indicate that interest is high. Moreover, these numbers
indicate awareness that a new opportunity exists to shop for and obtain health
coverage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
As of
October 7, 243 individuals were enrolled in a new health insurance plan through
Connect for Health Colorado. While this number may appear somewhat low,
CCLP believes many individuals may be taking their time and are primarily
shopping and comparing their options at this point. After all, shopping
for insurance is inherently complicated and coverage purchased between October
1 and December 15 will not become effective until January 1. In addition,
people that purchase health insurance now will have to pay their first month's
premium as soon as the health plan bills them, so many may decide to wait until
closer to the date when they will actually have coverage. (We remind readers
that you must purchase by December 15 in order to have coverage by January 1).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Other
states who opted to establish their own insurance marketplaces are also
experiencing high levels of interest. The Washington Post <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW57jf5TjVpn8M7JJImEmNfmtnw9vBninYUxvtPiWVK9A6MOKxKe01TMVlzzCW_TChPJZz66N211RXBN0hcOj4UwzM9Kiw44-zgue2IM_84lzxZbcS8Y8nfurS63DBHxPdTjueCfFL9ARCu2vsOwPHW7kGmBMbM7UO111KKPr1kl7aax5hxi0cXR0Of4JpodiSfsLbuIPNxjgd2Nd9xc0bLu6KmYhpHhKlEQjue82INjIr6uEMUkMMQXCBeaGSW9Vr3fZG2YbwVg6MFzqMtJMZtFbuRnlfHiKMJ_4Z2OexoKqIeQG6fX1zA90NYMCHSx_kv7bA-fgHxtfvoWlY2kXMVpnKHAq20_jxrSq69goq_bU0JM95OLGhTIEGSfeIVZHViCvDvfHNdWD5QR9OSmEOXGOeoYNMOdGIk=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">reported</span></a> today
that 100,000 Californians are in some stage of enrolling in health insurance
through the state-based marketplace. Washington, New York and Kentucky
also report great success during their early days of enrollment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Over the
days and weeks to come, it will be important to keep in mind that Colorado
decided to take a different approach by developing its own state-based health
insurance marketplace. Recent reports, such as this <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW6bCFo7Q-Z9d9WLy11FP-DzjGDm1C3qm8m-tcnQH7jKxB_bZHYfexky6aJjFyc-WiGlsIZobmX3UAZ5qrUstjGaT9WIPfsOjwdUG5LLYWPPDs2qVrlHpYp4LxZXx9_clYr8DaNyoV31S1Dup3raN8J4tIYSc3erxEOj9srW8HU5dY4k4XjWBDYMDfiOlXB2IxYbONdPPrfO8vdlbBwuTMsGrOpLMr-iaUth18ubhMGsiQUgllQKkKPZDARJPs62pfnNeg66p0KT1v_fEerX3x4Ib61PejaPX3G7Kqo-olAH4rgqK6rwNsDnOGlRbyfZf5S7qKXlODFV43mXT1_6KBdX-Q0tVy5L2aczCLfofjlAu7KakPJmdv928euV6cxdSYUT4Y50egp4CAsL6mTzyZSl" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">article</span></a> from
CNN, indicate significant technology hurdles and user interface glitches in the
federal insurance marketplace. However, this impacts only those states
that relied on the federal government to develop and operate their marketplaces
- not Colorado.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="govt" shape="rect"><b><img alt="govt" border="0" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="govt" /></b></a><strong>Government reopens as Obamacare remains intact</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
On
Wednesday, Congressional leaders reached a deal to reopen the government and
raise the nation's debt ceiling. With the President's signature early Thursday
morning, the new law funds the federal government through mid-January and
leaves the Affordable Care Act funded and intact. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Some
Republican Senators and Representatives had demanded that any deal include
provisions to defund, delay, or repeal all or part of the health reform law.
But the final <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW7646b-DuifnlBmuVyayAXdynU9ki_ZY9jDmpVP01wlpfjikhDwGcrZY6KallKk6y65n7QLJWn1BJlfeu2AemrXVq8K996gtC1Dx0uhBqI0aLYF4EhUNBWzuP7zSiBno-sppsva4uykgFBOMgOwT-YoEHCEbMBpqP5rf35pY21LntT5CEjYx5StPyXmN6qDbjO_v4p1TTJv18ubw7npOzGHfQK-SzQLkr9S2HxVfz7yu-KNrGmhDBZK7RVLhRr1OInQ3fkTcrfZYTA2hkXgymq5HCUsYHj4_uHGcYytCSL5phP4mD7NAv_tZKz--Yr0NFKq2CUB9mwu0s-sp-Hvh5FdndzRQv-nRIkRUPof8TyAUS9_3Bj6W0MY" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">deal</span></a> (see
page 9) includes only a small provision requiring that the federal government
verify the income of all individuals who receive tax credits to purchase
insurance through the new health insurance marketplaces. The federal
government already verifies the income of many applicants for tax credits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The new
income verification provision is expected to have no impact on Connect for
Health Colorado, our state's health insurance marketplace. Connect for
Health Colorado already verifies the income of all applicants for tax credits
whose reported income is significantly lower than their income from the
previous year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Importantly,
the final deal did not include many of the other proposals to delay or repeal
other provisions of the health reform law. The Medical Device Tax, which
helps provide more than 20 billion in revenue for the health reform law, was
not repealed, despite intensive lobbying efforts to eliminate the tax.
Earlier this week, CCLP and more than 100 national and state
organizations sent a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW6m2UqYzoy-TjKHtss1L7-jDrwY7qJmnjQabL9NvWrNzj1x7CcaQT8Exxl9aIcCvrSUWrQGMG6A7TfuT_SoiACYz-QSYpZleIDtn-TTkjsmDMP2PpG68z3ZgoJdMu3TjK9RC41EVw0WMsaOvI3MTur8D9AYSHcQc8ZEuEIRdQpUYSaInT_7oNxt_TYmPus3WP2b4Dm2z7D_0VkeW8_6q-Fk1EBx-ipLTlS0oX0izOoUIEClDw3LhBQh7MxG1254tmMewvVoNs-bN6miQJj9k7hI_1kshF06PidOS-hqcO1bhVZIMMM6Gy6M9PwKbl8W4Aiq50CEGSH5nmkBRjFy561HWPyIix_-guw6Wl_q2KF_rq4zV4xSm9iRzcPCteWVhDPX_q6LUQdfIE-UwtC3b8Z1eA_sdMMpP-Q=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">letter</span></a> to
members of Congress opposing the repeal of this tax.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Most
importantly, the overall law, including the Medicaid expansion that will take
effect in January in Colorado, remains funded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW7646b-DuifnlBmuVyayAXdynU9ki_ZY9jDmpVP01wlpfjikhDwGcrZY6KallKk6y65n7QLJWn1BJlfeu2AemrXVq8K996gtC1Dx0uhBqI0aLYF4EhUNBWzuP7zSiBno-sppsva4uykgFBOMgOwT-YoEHCEbMBpqP5rf35pY21LntT5CEjYx5StPyXmN6qDbjO_v4p1TTJv18ubw7npOzGHfQK-SzQLkr9S2HxVfz7yu-KNrGmhDBZK7RVLhRr1OInQ3fkTcrfZYTA2hkXgymq5HCUsYHj4_uHGcYytCSL5phP4mD7NAv_tZKz--Yr0NFKq2CUB9mwu0s-sp-Hvh5FdndzRQv-nRIkRUPof8TyAUS9_3Bj6W0MY" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">final
deal</span></a>, passed into law as the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2014,
provides funding for the government until January 15 and raises the debt
ceiling until February 7th.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Read more
about the deal to reopen the government from the <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW4q15d7O7qiV5UHlUahsfW4DXbvC4_tGQ94pcr8-Mxvfcdj1yjv5LR2sN8vBSIjNBXXN-3qm76t2wI0mSo1-0sAXd5wg-DOaxPxc4Xn70kvV-Ip85tlsgbn8mMiDIhfxcYTNfMEnK_6eVCW0UK0ERtrOfZhWBe3BcDDamdNpUqs_tBeWh9WF4VnWTAfxr_IlLfwFOf3Jd4Muz81BZg-fZ_gASChrnjsJzYgeW6TtgEqtEPKokRnZZ5L12UhXmZpdSPc_KYZEuArjEK-isFZXtspYPAQYz86R0Md8-1Z_TrsPgAribtElC3vDGMWU2wUmoMbTAJelSI-NU8-HBhBzDc2JlhTxqe3_f3jpanv5CZo7278CkKJUGeLOfb2eLn8LoVci8ymI6M_m7tBAwXKoq-2hinrPtsWGUMzYQjJ8nGFwuiDjvzwKs-c" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">New
York Times</span></a>. The <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW7646b-DuifnlBmuVyayAXdynU9ki_ZY9jDmpVP01wlpfjikhDwGcrZY6KallKk6y65n7QLJWn1BJlfeu2AemrXVq8K996gtC1Dx0uhBqI0aLYF4EhUNBWzuP7zSiBno-sppsva4uykgFBOMgOwT-YoEHCEbMBpqP5rf35pY21LntT5CEjYx5StPyXmN6qDbjO_v4p1TTJv18ubw7npOzGHfQK-SzQLkr9S2HxVfz7yu-KNrGmhDBZK7RVLhRr1OInQ3fkTcrfZYTA2hkXgymq5HCUsYHj4_uHGcYytCSL5phP4mD7NAv_tZKz--Yr0NFKq2CUB9mwu0s-sp-Hvh5FdndzRQv-nRIkRUPof8TyAUS9_3Bj6W0MY" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">full
text</span></a> of the new law is available from the Government Printing
Office. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="qanda" shape="rect"><b><img alt="qanda" border="0" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="qanda" /></b></a><strong>Obamacare
Frequently Asked Questions: Part III</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
As
Coloradans continue to shop for and purchase health insurance throughConnect
for Health Colorado, CCLP continues to answer questions from individuals and
families who want to learn more about the health reform law. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><i>Q.</i></strong> Can I purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan through the
marketplace? What about a Medicare supplemental plan?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><i>A.</i></strong> No. Medicare recipients cannot purchase Medicare
Advantage plans or Medicare Supplement plans through Connect for Health
Colorado. While the health reform law strengthened Medicare
benefits for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries (see this <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW5N4URsCqWN_Oci1IpwuO8SNsZh4Jm-_ETaPnNcYpp-LJr1JQKKukNOORXVT91o45Ej_lUCXkI1sSl4xuLxto5b6jEi0nfp6FBdQ2tGf3GX_2opy1cs5MbzevFNIlGWKTV0kOrgIL6C6Cqrq0WUbd03VIXqNr25g-ctmEBPcwElVcUHqLBR-50OZsHsOwKxz-lCuSTVGPuTHFi-FCFKNpQpWre4yIjsEjM_h-H1wacPLoke03tCjW4n7Ml_uFZJdDD9NbXfinlcYEkVy5X3GxBJ3H0SsMXzxgnEpxs6OuHx8q8hLqU9edCfOyoUgGmCbwmSil5St5O5fe2h4maT9ay5v2gNJ5M0XU4=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">report</span></a>
from CCLP), the law does not affect Medicare open enrollment or the purchase of
Medicare supplement plans. Earlier this week, the New York Times <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW4PZ5T9gdB27BQ8n2oTutspAEvpSOJkv77zl8joWtsVTWNWW37fwgfMnlG-EfBonnI1PsTnBPWb1jEzAYAq-t_f2flG3z0Bv5PLGCnq7OzmbVTtXCeERi_z0RBjLjTiHHVxQSZ0Qk5fz6jQqHh9y511JTreOMOzaa6_iJZwBGAk7XUTgiKnGR6L3mDdAy-5EL5RyiIAwh9gOEeM8Au9E0FBMwXnjYUbiyBIJpHfSD0jIrUi8CUQBoMPp6BFxUq_K9MDQItV0SqIiq9cx0ZCWr6Xbb4zj0RajepEGW-Yk-0DrN8g5mkvsPucTTq0lLgFSfIvlRuUJ2__IQ3dbB3HeUFpYdhGCdfSzT9s2BvS5dKQJTMpiPQFbUr3t_76v_MMdWd3yBlwPexX-w==" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">reported</span></a>
that the rollout of the health insurance marketplaces is causing confusion for
some Medicare recipients.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Medicare
Open Enrollment began on Tuesday and continues through December 7th. Find
out more on the <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW6K2ZKpnAhVgBBRQF9fSULdxLMbQ4I1cgPyEqDfaN_IOiv3Db2Cyyg_N6fxkV4YExxdbHa3C0sjpYMXzMM76WEMfusM7PikzIvw0LsraVmJdzOQ8nGNehk3oPOyfB-mwvOjzeigSLGusscavM_8MFtMPoZGnB3fYmPA7H1Hw1xEOVVeNrXewyDWrSPlEds40TFEJD1klgt8qrnetkG-Gyrg5mNW_CuvvKuMa27k8AEg5joI3smkN0A7k6qxGtPys6mBIv-ws6D74tENLC0QOiofFvkBfPiKxa42b0gJmTOlXw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">web</span></a> or
by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare has also developed a helpful <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW7Qbs9C4bEdGjwXVsN7DDO4HpgOHaK6Dez1C6cSUGQ0mrAEEAfTTnxGYCevjPPMI-Kp2iLpW3d4W_E30a57jpVGGk9pd9qnxtZCbonOqgnoASBbSU5HXzBYs9MzMIemL__iWWTsQv34GYbLTsJLYlCk1brXuZCxW05Sl4b5GlCZ-WGoBL1oBwhUkxOrAaTSYFMNSV434LPc_579FQWIRL-4eiiVaw8B-o0thblLz4JX8V2Yf2iPIAj09S97K4hT1ak4banEbZq8_C0UYznw7CW-tyVQWQ40Cm8IkvCy4m9wtjFh9AMyakx4OK0-UKbvOuVb6aMsQhKyYaC2QDaJ_cWv3BT5uhyxUXJlxQ_NYyWpfBg9wIv-8tEkplDUcr24DHuJTwHiZQQ44bk5ZkdyB0uA" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">fact
sheet</span></a> to answer questions about the new marketplaces and
Medicare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><i>Q.
</i></strong>Why do people keep raising
questions about coverage through the Exchange for Members of Congress?<o:p></o:p></div>
<strong><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A.</span></i></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The question of
"equal treatment" in Exchanges for Members of Congress and their
staff came up again during the budget debate. CCLP has written about this
issue in <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sUzHqU1AHW6glrg0x_fQbWagWY-t4dIrMluCEsr4HFqa5oArT7KWbI9CC84n6noCPQXkdVltudk2Zv-yfSmTM1qKnxcS5PjJDzubZluvvT0auMG8V7vpY9naqPiEqn-KT0T_JkAe_E1LC2MY52fNWAsOK-Zy9kwaqxdcVjSUDi3lHcbmXIJm3CZ5PwhBiiHZnQ-LAwd36nIVkfzjsrNJ4oFCIsV_ckqYw1VRm_QTj_Lo5d2WDEMopEgIXC7Uz5_dahpwNk7cmx-sybB5nkk5fd8AWQ3iNTdTq84iq9sIZHX4c4py99svx3yRF4cA5Qg-WvkZTYBnp0hf9iM7GHW23gmSGX5df0vVqhB0QpwUisz4NZYhfCTkQl6Bg1dYD_MQOSh0Lz0VkzKQ5wHunZBd2rWlBB57GUvqSgu8-vRRKcWT6hhreHMZ6dKGQ5vYVTI51TcAsFGCfYrpbuzhp6Vnm0EJNhH8mN3IY_XGOZdMv2z0ctJRUFn_5G3R9rpQDpNJ" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><span style="color: #d9ead3;">previous
updates</span></a>. In brief, the Affordable Care Act requires Members of
Congress and their staff to get their health insurance through health Insurance
Exchanges. Currently, the federal government pays about 72 percent of
the cost of health insurance for lawmakers and staff and it was not clear
whether that would continue under the ACA. It is clear that Members and staff
are not eligible for tax credits for the purchase of health insurance. A
couple of months ago, the Office of Personnel Management issued a
proposed rule clarifying that the federal government could continue to make
contributions to health insurance for Members of Congress and their staff.
While some argue that this is special treatment for Congress, in fact, it
places Members and staff on what is essentially an equal footing
with any other American who works for a large employer. Those who were arguing
to take away the employer contribution for Members of Congress and staff were
arguing that they should not get the same assistance now available to every
other American, whether through their employer or through Exchange tax
credits. </span>Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-7005567511641047592013-10-17T08:35:00.001-06:002013-10-23T10:03:09.311-06:00Task Force approves bills brought by CCLP that reduce poverty<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO84nJp_VecpiAsKp9wBE2w8FLvAo147jNCJvmBJ3Rm1IWJpABVRGeUhjQFj5VhHiLfNU-TssF0krxlqfg0ahqVpQz7mMubG2LJYO_BcFVmcA86rSUClgn5WyD185j3OLrtNYgQat2Zs/s1600/Denver_capitol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO84nJp_VecpiAsKp9wBE2w8FLvAo147jNCJvmBJ3Rm1IWJpABVRGeUhjQFj5VhHiLfNU-TssF0krxlqfg0ahqVpQz7mMubG2LJYO_BcFVmcA86rSUClgn5WyD185j3OLrtNYgQat2Zs/s200/Denver_capitol.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Economic Opportunity Poverty
Reduction Task Force on Wednesday endorsed five bills promoted by the
Colorado Center on Law and Policy as part of the package of seven bills the
Task Force endorsed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">All of the bills would reduce
poverty and promote economic security for thousands of Coloradans. Many partners
-- too many to list here -- have helped develop each of the five bills advanced
by CCLP. The list below includes all seven Task Force-approved bills. The
bills promoted by CCLP have links to fact sheets that include the names of
other organizations supporting the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://cclponline.org/family_economic_security/page/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><b><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Improving access to IDs</span></b></a>. Eases the process for veterans and seniors
to obtain state-issued photo identifications. IDs play a critical role not
only in accessing benefits, but also in securing employment and housing.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://cclponline.org/family_economic_security/page/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force" target="_blank"><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><b>Restoring Aid to Needy Disabled</b></span></a>. Restores the monthly benefit to
pre-recession levels to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable
Coloradans who are unable to work. It would also ensure the benefit would
not fall behind in the future by linking the benefit to the Federal
Poverty Guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <a href="http://cclponline.org/family_economic_security/page/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on"><b><span style="color: #d9ead3;">Strengthening adult basic education</span></b></a>. Provides support for programs that teach
basic education concepts and skills training that would help move
low-income workers into self-sufficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><a href="http://cclponline.org/family_economic_security/page/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force" target="_blank"> Fixing the Child Care Tax Credit</a>.</span></b> Fixes the current tax credit
so that families who pay for child care while the parents work but earn no
more than $25,000 can benefit from this credit -- just as families with
higher incomes already do.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://cclponline.org/family_economic_security/page/economic-opportunity-poverty-reduction-task-force" target="_blank"><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><b>Expanding affordable, quality child care</b></span></a>. Expands the number of families
served through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) while
also establishing pilot programs that promote quality and address the
"cliff effect."<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Promote
affordable housing.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Allows public funds to be invested in
Community Development Financial Institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">PTC improvement.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Increases the
income eligibility and enhances the benefit awarded through the Property
Tax Rent/Heat Rebate Program, known as PTC.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CCLP thanks the Task Force, and all of our
partners, for working diligently to draft legislation that will help Colorado
families achieve economic security and reduce poverty throughout the
state. </span>Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-73076273960084641602013-10-08T15:18:00.002-06:002013-10-08T15:19:45.161-06:00Historical moment for health: Shop for insurance and apply for financial assistance now through March 31For the first time in Colorado’s history, more people than ever before are now eligible for some type of low cost health insurance. From now until March 31, 2014, qualifying Colorado residents can seek out affordable health coverage and apply for it online, in person, by mail or over the phone. Coverage can be purchased online through either the <a href="http://connectforhealthco.com/" target="_blank">Connect for Health Colorado</a> or <a href="http://coloradopeak.force.com/" target="_blank">PEAK </a>websites.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGevSvEhYuLnSi1-mLcpJiB7ibOIeVZpEeIiOmQEcVcWS-cbzGTYr1Ft2TM9AZpKC7r501auak2qMxnFIKAO-13ImY9TA8Udo59Je6FxylQzmc9gazEvfDmqY5PPC14kmlDoTsFlrJFw/s1600/colorado+peak+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGevSvEhYuLnSi1-mLcpJiB7ibOIeVZpEeIiOmQEcVcWS-cbzGTYr1Ft2TM9AZpKC7r501auak2qMxnFIKAO-13ImY9TA8Udo59Je6FxylQzmc9gazEvfDmqY5PPC14kmlDoTsFlrJFw/s400/colorado+peak+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-86455841216699773862013-10-04T15:14:00.002-06:002013-10-04T15:18:58.179-06:00Health Law and Policy Update: Open Enrollment: First Week Draws Millions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojUnoyK3rNHFlrSnY962pyLaqRtV_eDZlQIup-R-o0fRnfd_mxQcGKmKmbBk2LZuJ5cOM-4uDM176k8HULd4-0t9MX8MEu_xiLHRkxzK_eg2Oco6ddvMgmEs23qgJLVjLE8qZInocMhc/s1600/NC+Health+Insurance+Open+Enrollment.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojUnoyK3rNHFlrSnY962pyLaqRtV_eDZlQIup-R-o0fRnfd_mxQcGKmKmbBk2LZuJ5cOM-4uDM176k8HULd4-0t9MX8MEu_xiLHRkxzK_eg2Oco6ddvMgmEs23qgJLVjLE8qZInocMhc/s320/NC+Health+Insurance+Open+Enrollment.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Open enrollment day 4</b><br />
<br />
Individuals and small businesses can now shop for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado's new health insurance marketplace. Coverage begins January 1, 2014. This week's updates:<br />
<ul>
<li>Open Enrollment: First Week Draws Millions </li>
<li>Affordable Care Act: Questions of the week </li>
<li>Native Americans/Alaska Natives and the Affordable Care Act </li>
<li>Questions about health care? CCLP can help!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>To read this week's update, <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1324/health-law-and-policy-update-open-enrollment-first-week-draws-millions" target="_blank">click here</a>. To subscribe to CCLP's mailing list and receive this update weekly, <a href="http://cclponline.org/home" target="_blank">sign up</a> from our website.</b><br />
<b> </b> Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-56257563701675624112013-10-04T14:44:00.003-06:002013-10-04T14:44:53.953-06:00Amendment 66 will improve Colorado’s income tax<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeq7IJURyuV5YxpH8xNYCHUoXKj6N50pW8KaeSck6eiCXHzcj2j_wrQXpWR14d2wJklW0qdkWwE6ag1s0wZC_c63MXcpArm8J-kX6y4CA5_PthAvtqYox8Ap26r5i-LYRMKf7btEMdzQ/s1600/goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeq7IJURyuV5YxpH8xNYCHUoXKj6N50pW8KaeSck6eiCXHzcj2j_wrQXpWR14d2wJklW0qdkWwE6ag1s0wZC_c63MXcpArm8J-kX6y4CA5_PthAvtqYox8Ap26r5i-LYRMKf7btEMdzQ/s200/goal.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amendment 66 will restore Colorado’s ability to raise enough revenue
to meet our schools’ growing needs and make the income tax more like
those of our neighboring states, all without overburdening Coloradans.
From the adoption of the income tax in 1937 through 1986, Colorado used a
“tiered” income tax, where tax rates rose along with a taxpayer’s
income. Shifting to a single-rate income tax in 1986 seriously harmed
the state’s ability to fund education. Amendment 66 will reinstate
Colorado’s tiered personal income tax, making Colorado more like other
states, the vast majority of which employ a tiered income tax.<br />
<br />
Amendment 66 will not exhaust the resources of Coloradans, even as it
brings in an additional $950 million in revenue dedicated to public
education. Colorado will remain well below the national average in state
and local tax collection. Furthermore, investing $950 million in
education is expected to strengthen and grow the economy, not slow it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://cclponline.org/postfiles/P3.pdf" target="_blank">Click here</a> to view the full report compiled by CCLP, the Bell Policy Center, and the Colorado Fiscal Institute. You can also visit <a href="http://www.coloradocommits.com/66-explained/">www.coloradocommits.com/66-explained/</a> for more information.Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-16605877883575002492013-10-01T15:46:00.002-06:002013-10-01T15:46:19.523-06:00Health Law and Policy Update: October 1, 2013<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">***As
open enrollment begins at <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oOhvLl5IlWTVNRjmXrB5bSwjTDsTPIFh4KAAHuQKoqH1iRgaUo0qvG7oJDWfr7N9iGAac2HXybeu2pu4xxzLrMjLvIU6uHbxBQu2Pm08kU5Om6_YJVPy7LRlVyTUTvsfGhVtsCQDIwCTrm6Zwme-mkWDF4tMVf0kUri5VMsfaYyNMm02entWrp-VqdrRsUcNx71nfTTMD9adL_vfxM4EmZxhH95ITkjqORu6jXWYbYxOOhig9nc5KSS3i_MQJzE71l_sVU8zaLxYMSrC2rgsfHnxD9MONFfeC6sERvbaXSu5QWYPWx7k-1k" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Connect
for Health Colorado </span></a>and across the country, CCLP brings you this
special Obamacare marketplace open enrollment edition of the Health Law and
Policy update.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span style="color: black;">This
week's updates:</span></strong><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#open" shape="rect"><span style="color: #001a81;">Open enrollment: day 1</span></a></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#congrats" shape="rect"><span style="color: #001a81;">Congratulations, Connect for Health Colorado!</span></a></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#answering" shape="rect"><span style="color: #001a81;">Answering your questions about Obamacare</span></a></li>
<li align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#ads" shape="rect"><span style="color: #001a81;">Colorado's marketplace launches new advertising
campaign</span></a></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#presentation" shape="rect"><span style="color: #001a81;">Questions about health
care? CCLP can help!</span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="open" shape="rect"><b><span style="color: black;"><img alt="open" border="0" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="open" /></span></b></a><strong><span style="color: black;">Open enrollment: day 1</span></strong><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Today,
Individuals and small businesses can begin shopping for health insurance
through <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oOhvLl5IlWTVNRjmXrB5bSwjTDsTPIFh4KAAHuQKoqH1iRgaUo0qvG7oJDWfr7N9iGAac2HXybeu2pu4xxzLrMjLvIU6uHbxBQu2Pm08kU5Om6_YJVPy7LRlVyTUTvsfGhVtsCQDIwCTrm6Zwme-mkWDF4tMVf0kUri5VMsfaYyNMm02entWrp-VqdrRsUcNx71nfTTMD9adL_vfxM4EmZxhH95ITkjqORu6jXWYbYxOOhig9nc5KSS3i_MQJzE71l_sVU8zaLxYMSrC2rgsfHnxD9MONFfeC6sERvbaXSu5QWYPWx7k-1k" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Connect
for Health Colorado</span></a>, Colorado's new health insurance marketplace.
Coverage begins January 1, 2014. Coloradans can sign up for coverage anytime in
the next six months and will need to sign up by December 15th for their
coverage to begin in January.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oOhvLl5IlWTVNRjmXrB5bSwjTDsTPIFh4KAAHuQKoqH1iRgaUo0qvG7oJDWfr7N9iGAac2HXybeu2pu4xxzLrMjLvIU6uHbxBQu2Pm08kU5Om6_YJVPy7LRlVyTUTvsfGhVtsCQDIwCTrm6Zwme-mkWDF4tMVf0kUri5VMsfaYyNMm02entWrp-VqdrRsUcNx71nfTTMD9adL_vfxM4EmZxhH95ITkjqORu6jXWYbYxOOhig9nc5KSS3i_MQJzE71l_sVU8zaLxYMSrC2rgsfHnxD9MONFfeC6sERvbaXSu5QWYPWx7k-1k" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Connect
for Health Colorado </span></a>and marketplaces around the country are
experiencing high levels of traffic today as millions of people begin to shop
for insurance and learn about the financial assistance that will make health
insurance affordable. In remarks this morning, President Obama said that the
federally-run marketplace web site had experienced more than one million
visitors before 7am.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br />
CCLP will continue to monitor how consumers and patients are faring as the open
enrollment period continues.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="congrats" shape="rect"><b><img alt="congrats" border="0" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="congrats" /></b></a><strong>Congratulations, Connect for Health Colorado!</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Thanks to
bipartisan and common sense efforts by Coloradans, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oOhvLl5IlWTVNRjmXrB5bSwjTDsTPIFh4KAAHuQKoqH1iRgaUo0qvG7oJDWfr7N9iGAac2HXybeu2pu4xxzLrMjLvIU6uHbxBQu2Pm08kU5Om6_YJVPy7LRlVyTUTvsfGhVtsCQDIwCTrm6Zwme-mkWDF4tMVf0kUri5VMsfaYyNMm02entWrp-VqdrRsUcNx71nfTTMD9adL_vfxM4EmZxhH95ITkjqORu6jXWYbYxOOhig9nc5KSS3i_MQJzE71l_sVU8zaLxYMSrC2rgsfHnxD9MONFfeC6sERvbaXSu5QWYPWx7k-1k" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Connect
for Health Colorado</span></a>, our state's health insurance marketplace, opens
for business today. Congratulations to the marketplace, it's staff, and
all those who have worked diligently to put affordable, quality health
insurance with in reach of so many Coloradans.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="answering" shape="rect"><b><img alt="answering" border="0" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="answering" /></b></a><strong>Answering your questions about Obamacare</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">CCLP's
health policy team will be <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oMGVZA0BicHXXavJWUXiL1Vff9MXjEHkZzo874eDd6k7iKFOWK97T8gHG2L1Gwk0GK6CzJQ3jhuYbkbqPN3ot7izcvPVQc_U55JazShW7qDJDiJ-mF_fguOMzem5QTees6KMm2auNEGRGaiVUn47qTTGOziYBtMLeLvvLFz9RtndzbTKeXR-gQnjVVNLNACYmYZdt9dD1eFQuZczSVZtRmEemjECIin4muAcwZkOg_rIogKxCzP3gTOCeHTLZgaIb2J8NE-7NdLuxVI2eHXBK3aJOZjKgC3f5u8C1lm1UhRg3HdGjlqMa5iccCnAk_kN3g=" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">interviewed
and take listener questions </span></a>on the radio as part of <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oMoXZrxQ0wm5tlpP4dv0u6kHVFpzeLEZXVhRewoyw6ud5jdh5Xt45t2SMcoxMH32zjpcKLK53-g7JAY9_G90bn9gQoswb5Gwk8MiS3lcVwEETKZfgKyOK0O3hnheEaTH04jyO72Ep8eF_cLej2hZxGCw_MNwf28xa4IJJOBeA3hygkcICtHvJvcyuqWgKL2uKk4XxsreUV35-UOSDtpFeBkwFDSG5mYF98yyGUdH3hpzFfV3weq3medCC38jrAUZPrEA6ypGaNOqoRkOocy6x9xjObN2ef_f6A=" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">KGNU</span></a>'s
morning broadcast tomorrow. <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oMGVZA0BicHXXavJWUXiL1Vff9MXjEHkZzo874eDd6k7iKFOWK97T8gHG2L1Gwk0GK6CzJQ3jhuYbkbqPN3ot7izcvPVQc_U55JazShW7qDJDiJ-mF_fguOMzem5QTees6KMm2auNEGRGaiVUn47qTTGOziYBtMLeLvvLFz9RtndzbTKeXR-gQnjVVNLNACYmYZdt9dD1eFQuZczSVZtRmEemjECIin4muAcwZkOg_rIogKxCzP3gTOCeHTLZgaIb2J8NE-7NdLuxVI2eHXBK3aJOZjKgC3f5u8C1lm1UhRg3HdGjlqMa5iccCnAk_kN3g=" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Tune
in </span></a>at 8:35am Wednesday morning and hear more about Obamacare and the
beginning of open enrollment at <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oOhvLl5IlWTVNRjmXrB5bSwjTDsTPIFh4KAAHuQKoqH1iRgaUo0qvG7oJDWfr7N9iGAac2HXybeu2pu4xxzLrMjLvIU6uHbxBQu2Pm08kU5Om6_YJVPy7LRlVyTUTvsfGhVtsCQDIwCTrm6Zwme-mkWDF4tMVf0kUri5VMsfaYyNMm02entWrp-VqdrRsUcNx71nfTTMD9adL_vfxM4EmZxhH95ITkjqORu6jXWYbYxOOhig9nc5KSS3i_MQJzE71l_sVU8zaLxYMSrC2rgsfHnxD9MONFfeC6sERvbaXSu5QWYPWx7k-1k" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">Connect
for Health Colorado</span></a>. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">CCLP and
other health advocates will also be available to answer questions every
night this week as part of <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oM9Moa0vW4VmzScukbGq6DuPsppoEm8vEC5gXJhcuZn84169FRaH8niOZOLPV8TGXVgJjnGauGF9bxFd5x7eI8gVlQ7gjdxH5Zjyou98CWCNxEzerg4lnzsywwWiOumgAtOMeqTIynFw8c1BsmQDGWiynazE_Wgh9ifb6R9Wmua1OT_c0NYixpOYz4k4iB3a-b0YOsfRJ1Ar8hzKfbDXLJwRWzHP41Xra5W-LiyF8BYqZx4dWb8zJ_3Pe_31C2GEW7Y34bjgYxIJW7_noIstuRPc0qNNvwEz-A=" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">KDVR
Fox News 31</span></a>'s health reform phone bank. Tune into <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oM9Moa0vW4VmzScukbGq6DuPsppoEm8vEC5gXJhcuZn84169FRaH8niOZOLPV8TGXVgJjnGauGF9bxFd5x7eI8gVlQ7gjdxH5Zjyou98CWCNxEzerg4lnzsywwWiOumgAtOMeqTIynFw8c1BsmQDGWiynazE_Wgh9ifb6R9Wmua1OT_c0NYixpOYz4k4iB3a-b0YOsfRJ1Ar8hzKfbDXLJwRWzHP41Xra5W-LiyF8BYqZx4dWb8zJ_3Pe_31C2GEW7Y34bjgYxIJW7_noIstuRPc0qNNvwEz-A=" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">KDVR
</span></a>at 5pm this week for more details.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="ads" shape="rect"><b><img alt="ads" border="0" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="ads" /></b></a><strong>Colorado's
marketplace launches new advertising campaign</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">As open
enrollment kicks off, Connect for Health Colorado has launched a new campaign
educating individuals, families, and small businesses about the new
marketplace. TV ads target a number of different groups including young adults,
business owners, and spanish-speaking audiences. The campaign will also feature
print and outdoor advertisements. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Check out
two of the marketplace's television commercials on <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001NzOICePa0oPMV1G2j0pfN-N0p3_RnbxhjHgOVqx7_lPYqwy9EsviFIghcpvDqDxBqUWEmT28pIUVv5Jex27u9GAO1L8ZLMs4d0gQD7xFgFSK9KYc3hnTSLLHIoueIMq79JY8N9rLtdl4ft34vVKSnlM94piQVncUByFRzTyGJCnGfWi5SG3Orx7dYdO3N9KyAzAJllqI_z-KF6kuP0ydlw==" shape="rect" target="_blank"><span style="color: #001a81;">YouTube</span></a>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="presentation" shape="rect"><b><span style="color: black;"><img alt="presentation" border="0" id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="presentation" /></span></b></a><strong><span style="color: black;">Questions
about health care? CCLP can help!</span></strong><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">CCLP is available to speak to groups of all
sizes about health reform, health insurance, Medicaid, and other health
issues important to Coloradans. Contact Kyle Brown (<a href="mailto:kbrown@cclponline.org" shape="rect" target="_blank">kbrown@cclponline.org</a>; 303.573.5669
x 304) for more information.</span>Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-73967524559466289042013-10-01T08:46:00.001-06:002013-10-01T15:47:00.522-06:00Health Law and Policy Update 9/17/13: Open Enrollment Begins Oct 1<div align="left">
<b style="background-color: #45818e;">Open enrollment begins Tuesday</b></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #45818e;">On Tuesday, individuals and small businesses can begin shopping for health insurance through <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fmQUq8RORRTp9lyWVlkbYSCOFAZcLXghwgScTAJ7tExsDBVU0hKAxN8=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Connect for Health Colorado</a>, Colorado's new health insurance marketplace. Coverage begins January 1, 2014.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: #45818e;">Colorado's health insurance marketplace leading way</b></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #45818e;">In today's <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftvf-oIp-ncvZOPxZarv55_r0NRqNYgH8A==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Denver Post</a>, CCLP <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftvf-oIp-ncvZOPxZarv55_r0NRqNYgH8A==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">highlights </a>how Colorado and its marketplace are leading the way in making affordable, quality health insurance available for Coloradans.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="left">
<b style="background-color: #45818e;">This week's updates:</b></div>
<ul>
<li align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1115081746734#application" linktype="web" shape="rect" style="background-color: #45818e; color: #001a81;">Colorado releases new paper application for health programs</a></li>
<li align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1115081746734#kaiser" linktype="anchor" shape="rect" style="background-color: #45818e; color: #001a81;">Kaiser Permanente plans will cover transgendered health care</a></li>
<li align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1115081746734#shutdown" linktype="anchor" shape="rect" style="background-color: #45818e; color: #001a81;">Government shutdown over Obamacare funding appears likely</a></li>
<li align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1115081746734#presentation" linktype="anchor" shape="rect" style="background-color: #45818e; color: #001a81;">Questions about health care? CCLP can help!</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b style="background-color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="application" shape="rect"><img alt="application" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="application" /></a>Colorado releases new paper application for health programs</b><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
This week, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), Department of Human Services (DHS) and Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO) released a new paper<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fmQUq8RORRTpchmyJ9bP0nvgoxGyUy69XBkV2e1tXoZntaF0MldUNna81d-NrbjpzfECT2zAj-UfNW83pCZWZXazJRO-ABoxnw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">application </a>which may be used to apply for Medicaid, CHP+ and premium tax credits available through Connect for Health Colorado. People may apply for coverage either by using this paper application or through an online application process.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
Establishment of the "single streamlined application" was perhaps one of the most meaningful changes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with respect to improving the enrollment experience. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fqQecdmVFF1Horwt9n_wFP0xRXg705yAQFn4aF5lezH6vgh2PlkAZsu0RPTZPo3bMtIYIERomaor3u-O0qPoIkXrr-6eOEBlSA==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">report </a>in early 2013 that highlighted how the complexity of Medicaid applications has been a barrier for individuals and families seeking coverage. The new single streamlined application is far more accessible and asks only for information that is absolutely essential to enroll an individual in coverage. In addition, the uniform application process furthers the goal of a "no wrong door" approach to coverage</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
The new paper application along with a number of reference guides is available on HCPF's <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fmQUq8RORRTpchmyJ9bP0nvgoxGyUy69XBkV2e1tXoZntaF0MldUNna81d-NrbjpzfECT2zAj-UfNW83pCZWZXazJRO-ABoxnw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">website</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="kaiser" shape="rect"><img alt="kaiser" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="kaiser" /></a>Kaiser Permanente plans will cover transgendered health care</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
Kaiser Permanente, a leading health insurer in Colorado, announced this week that it would cover trangendered health care as part of its insurance plans.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
Kaiser's announcement comes on the heals of a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fq-Zymwoa4c6zGKwsR-NmgFAKTQiSM0YwNlq2maOJPhbCcAuJxyVYxsY1-YT0RMOZ5az48Ln43N4vByvM_v9YVGsw7RNu0fSQQJ-5iZop78_mSqGh8TKneW7xSVTNrsDRT93oXF45jSV0QwT5qLLMAQ=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">similar announcement </a>by Colorado's newly formed health insurance co-operative, Colorado HealthOP.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
Health insurance plans often deny care to transgender individuals, sometimes irrespective of whether they have transitioned. Individuals may be denied specific care, or denied insurance entirely, solely on the basis of their transgender status.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
In a statement, the insurer said "Kaiser Permanente now provides coverage for additional services to treat gender dysphoria." Kaiser said it was committed to "reducing health disparities and providing culturally competent care."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
CCLP joined LGBT advocates in asking the Kaiser not to include exclusions for transgender health coverage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
The effort to encourage coverage for transgender services is led by <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fq-Zymwoa4c6zGKwsR-NmgFAKTQiSM0YwOEEsIG9qMIrQD0KR7XU-quVs9iZ6zHB24rMcfT-OAOvh3WsEifc-xM63O4sqlb7ht570z6M5BcVqAK96ZqqBafy2xJZ7BRnCQnazvonNz4YEq7L2VY29D8IeWLplOm21WKv854uOr11jVyeOiSy7IMRYo69aigy_FS9bt97WxsSMP71_a0Tc3AwRExHK6z_Sw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">One Colorado</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="shutdown" shape="rect"><img alt="shutdown" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="shutdown" /></a>Government shutdown over Obamacare funding appears likely</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
A federal government shutdown appears more likely as lawmakers continue to debate whether to continue funding the health reform law. Even with Senate passage of a government funding bill earlier today, Senate and House leaders seem unlikely to reach an agreement that will keep the government running past Monday.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
Despite a 21 hour <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftkeDiD0Pwt84DC4vb75Y0jqcacZn3n7WTQZK-WMEK7R3GjcM2yoLAR0JOVSsBfixffEs8yD1-Y4exD07dgMFFrXsocGxFI1cMFIY35TL2GESLitjnRzvXfUI6-9ecBNuaoKM6_osWtqeyHx6efTLHOLMd3mCILA1B4sR7DtsqkS3U1tAsdLTGpKRCTGhn6vdHXE4l6yJo5rdWox3GOKl9w=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">talk-a-thon </a>by Senator Ted Cruz and a handful of other Senators earlier this week, Senate Democrats amended a House-passed bill funding bill, stripping it of the provisions that would defund Obamacare. The bill now returns to the House for final approval.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
House leaders originally added provisions defunding the health reform law in order to garner enough Republican votes to keep the government running. Republican leaders are likely to amend the bill again and send it back to the Senate. But if an agreement can't be reached by Tuesday, the federal government will shut down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
If the government does shut down, the health reform law will continue to be implemented. Funding for expanding Medicaid and running the new health insurance marketplaces, like <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fmQUq8RORRTp9lyWVlkbYSCOFAZcLXghwgScTAJ7tExsDBVU0hKAxN8=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Connect for Health Colorado</a>, is not tied to the government funding that is set to expire. Coloradans can begin to shop for health insurance through <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fmQUq8RORRTp9lyWVlkbYSCOFAZcLXghwgScTAJ7tExsDBVU0hKAxN8=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Connect for Health Colorado</a> starting Tuesday.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
The threat of a government shutdown occurs in the shadow of another, more serious deadline. Earlier this week, the Treasury Department said that if Congress does not act by October 17th,<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fkP2dzr9KlHbkQmMp7c2ADooeo2ucxihYRgTLStgGDPj4s7rZgnkM8biUcAcPI6wVfs_fIzWrGUk05xXjhXK0NQxnX83hx-araA4h7pvrdQ11ITJOS8NNhp99JSuyOl0LLpW7lWHKS11dPPene_x4kM=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">the U.S. will run out of borrowing authority</a>, known as the "debt ceiling," and will default on its financial obligations. A default could have dire economic consequences in the U.S. and abroad.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
But, even after House Republicans released a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fkP2dzr9KlHbkQmMp7c2ADooeo2ucxihYRgTLStgGDPjz-yn_PtVy3Q6zrKTcivRAEEVRsb14wYr4EaJGf5p15ysCSZpjAmzCFf4BUZU1_DOeQs4i0n510vACNeDiGncsDOLE7pYlUZJVfeXPb9mZV7G9TNZ1mk05t13ovzzOJ9937lvWDfrwEgi8ADplU00YQDYw6a3sJTxWP56BfQsJxdzAqoiY28pz5VI8QEjw3uoHn1jJPDSrb0OGFpeZJ3yvw==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">proposal </a>to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for a long list of other demands, some House Republicans <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftkeDiD0Pwt84DC4vb75Y0jqcacZn3n7WX1NxhHiJ8UGx-BpGcuCNfB9B2avYkwbpCVc4xDqjnIKLtkrgyO_jvqEM7c7VUM9W2GUSMsAR3aSJg1whEORhR5t7w8MbMn-9brSUQ-QDZ7bWJTnIjah2vIM99wZo_ZjgraiFx88paCHHWQkxj9OxnasXoiBsFAPRAcoJ7FvlaOQ6FUhJEEjxgyVVSle3al4ra6UvQOO0bvIH3PT9KHqlQ9L9PExZw8dphX0cYHUJTFu-udFX2Gvxno=" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">refuse </a>to consider the debt ceiling before the government funding bill is resolved.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
The <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftkeDiD0Pwt84DC4vb75Y0jqcacZn3n7WZfk2h3ryqNStGfbRQPXh-2nfV1J8ehqsfN9gU5DjSzO32olUiSAor8G8RXxEE_keGeCMuGSuCjxYAvxA1WwQyocITHXQ62bkg==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Washington Post </a>has put together a timeline of events in preparation for a possible government shutdown. Follow the latest developments in this story on the <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fkP2dzr9KlHbkQmMp7c2ADqxzZzqHgcy0A==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">New York Times </a>, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7ftkeDiD0Pwt84DC4vb75Y0jqcacZn3n7Wd8rKrIIT35q" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">The Washington Post</a>, and <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001OtuVK0bkH2MIOMR1JjZ9WR7kAy8qYJisNNzk71tyP-fQjUdjIPq5NUO4BS7wyrY565a5DgoKzPZggp8Z1pL7fs3D1aeJOhKdg9ZpOgSZmp_CCZEuxPIyxA==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #001a81;" target="_blank" track="on">Politico</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376" name="presentation" shape="rect"><img alt="presentation" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/ui/images1/s.gif" title="presentation" /></a>Questions about health care? CCLP can help!</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #45818e;"><br />
CCLP is available to speak to groups of all sizes about health reform, health insurance, Medicaid, and other health issues important to Coloradans. Contact Kyle Brown (<a href="mailto:kbrown@cclponline.org" shape="rect" target="_blank">kbrown@cclponline.org</a>; 303.573.5669 x 304) for more information.</span></div>
Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-43789077395210339182013-09-26T15:36:00.001-06:002013-09-26T15:36:42.314-06:00Raising the state income tax to support public education will not harm Colorado's economy<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Changes to state taxes have
little influence on business location decisions, the creation of small
businesses or other economic activity, according to <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001H4UCjGyNBuF5a7pM9SBJ1D_NjHk0epCSc_dMSHxIgJm1zDXIobZQXP0cdgaKtkI6TP8DRpAiZLuMMrtEWDbo5DQDjfN_pC6VeyrqyMvQrbjuz67yONaUzIc8xZ7COFKps4loQ6rLQ4B3Q5SPfib2cZT3RSSlMqjdrSG-GkyZZ4PHnxHrFkfNXyA7KYszH3nRBmbz593Gw3CvyxYJC41V6h-uc69OK0P2A8Bl0WNVxsaeYk8ogwpsFEj9aodjKhTBH8YqXhtwEUynwqXVR69485ZkQqojllL-9k9Z7iANwyI=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">Increasing the Income Tax Won't
Hurt Colorado's Economy</a>, an analysis released by the Colorado Center on Law
and Policy, Bell Policy Center and the Colorado Fiscal Institute. Other
factors, like how the nation is faring economically and how much consumers are
spending, are far more important to the economic health of states.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "An extensive body of
academic research clearly shows that state tax rates have little to no effect
on economic growth," said Rich Jones, director of policy and research at
the Bell Policy Center. "In fact, targeted tax increases that finance
better quality education strengthen the economy. Amendment 66 will help ensure
we produce the type of well educated workers businesses need."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The study, <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001H4UCjGyNBuGM-DdvkmxnZW0K7cA4gMU97VOnUACZdDl5NBTshCCgccOcYf8wUgWUOGOt7AAaFbkQrb6hpY36de2MD2mTuk4z3PBpt3cly9Rr70EsFQOLdYoH2jxtlSdsyKYQcrXLkQZ5svJDl8dzkDfEYTpWomRRKvakruy6l4D23HdYxyZsjPf3g8tActc2ry3P__xYYhitFNY9vXDPsmpby1sFHVRtp-eq5eRG8XnrX7GNntz9D9D-Ja8RIVPJmuFSrwfOi3-mZiNTDV2MZXFWKPH0tJOo" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">Increasing the Income Tax Won't
Hurt Colorado's Economy</a>, finds that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">State tax levels
only have a minor effect on economic growth.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Businesses do
not make location or relocation decisions based on state and local taxes,
in part because they make up a very small portion of business costs.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Businesses are
far more likely to consider access to suppliers, labor costs, the quality
of the workforce and the reliability of public services like schools,
transportation, and public safety when making important decisions about
their companies.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Taxes also have
a minimal effect on the creation of small businesses in a state. States
that have income tax rates that rise along with income - another feature
of Amendment 66 - actually had increasing rates of entrepreneurship,
according to a nationwide study.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">National
economic trends have a greater impact on Colorado's economic growth than
state-level tax policies. Colorado's income growth closely tracks national
income growth, not changes in the state income tax. Economic growth in
Colorado has fluctuated whether the highest individual tax rate was 8
percent or 4.63 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Colorado has
very little control over the national economy. However, state policymakers
have a lot of control over education, and investing in education can have
widespread economic benefits for all, such as higher median wages,
stronger personal income growth and increased business investments.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<em><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is the second installment in
a <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001H4UCjGyNBuF5a7pM9SBJ1D_NjHk0epCSc_dMSHxIgJm1zDXIobZQXP0cdgaKtkI6TP8DRpAiZLuMMrtEWDbo5DQDjfN_pC6VeyrqyMvQrbjuz67yONaUzIc8xZ7COFKps4loQ6rLQ4B3Q5SPfib2cZT3RSSlMqjdrSG-GkyZZ4PHnxHrFkfNXyA7KYszH3nRBmbz593Gw3CvyxYJC41V6h-uc69OK0P2A8Bl0WNVxsaeYk8ogwpsFEj9aodjKhTBH8YqXhtwEUynwqXVR69485ZkQqojllL-9k9Z7iANwyI=" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">three-part series</a> outlining
the economic benefits of Amendment 66. The first issue brief (<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001H4UCjGyNBuH1uPJY08PNUqCJ9OQMwKTWpmHwdsQ5PCM2U6wTP0HB12DBTsY0cwth1pM2IOxsMQz4GAiPmORU2V89MQUq6enGLw-Zo_a3vywR5KbQQhH5trdeXE653JX0bF1EljcKHTGtdZot0Hsk_qswiwlwuWv5eTduyY5D3_mvBD_veJfOGrC0qncyY3bPMfriLec2-Ftahbz31fjaM5YYKFCNUy8_cqsc2qtiJ6dW-t8EWlOrGy5PmkPk1xvah6F658dW59T1BVj8aMq-2L2OqRKBFKMa" linktype="1" shape="rect" target="_blank" track="on">Investing in education will
boost Colorado economy</a>) showed that investments in education actually spur
economic growth. The final brief will demonstrate how Amendment 66 will improve
our state tax system. </span></em><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Contact:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Terry Scanlon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Public Affairs Manager<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:tscanlon@cclponline.org">tscanlon@cclponline.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">303-573-5669 ext. 311</span>Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-69245464707143555842013-05-17T15:58:00.001-06:002013-05-17T15:59:15.925-06:00April Recovery Watch<b><span style="font-size: large;">Colorado unemployment rate drops for eleventh straight month, state economy continues improving </span></b><br />
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The unemployment rate continued to decrease in April, falling from 7.1 percent in March to 6.9 percent in April. That marks the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009. The small decline in unemployment is a result of improvement in the labor market. In April, about 4,000 workers entered the labor force, and the number of employed Coloradans increased by about 7,500 according to one measure. Colorado’s unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which also fell in April.<br />
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<b>Unemployment </b><br />
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the eleventh consecutive month in April. The rate fell 0.2 percentage points from 7.1 percent in March to 6.9 percent in April. (See Figure 1.) The unemployment rate in April 2013 was 1.3 percentage points lower than it was in April 2012 and is the lowest unemployment rate since January of 2009 when the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent. However, Colorado’s unemployment rate is still 2.8 percentage points higher than when the recession began in December 2007. Nationally, the unemployment rate also declined slightly from March to April, moving from 7.6 percent to 7.5 percent. The national unemployment rate of 7.5 in April is the lowest since December of 2008 when the rate was 7.3 percent.<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1276/april-recovery-watch" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, CCLP policy analyst Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.<br />
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">analysis of jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-35875359947045003822013-04-19T16:04:00.000-06:002013-04-19T16:05:22.062-06:00March Recovery Watch<b><span style="font-size: large;">Colorado unemployment rate drops for tenth straight month, state economy continues to strengthen</span></b><br />
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The most recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show yet another slight decrease in Colorado’s unemployment rate from 7.2 percent in February to 7.1 percent in March. That marks the lowest unemployment rate since January 2009. The small decline in unemployment is a result of continued, albeit slight, improvement in the labor market. In March, about 1,200 workers entered the labor force and the number of employed Coloradans increased by about 5,000. Colorado’s unemployment rate remains below the national rate, which also fell in March.<br />
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<b>Unemployment </b><br />
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the tenth consecutive month in March. The rate fell 0.1 percentage points for the second straight month. (See Figure 1.) The unemployment rate in March 2013 was more than one percentage point lower than it was in March 2012 and is the lowest unemployment rate since January of 2009 when the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent. However, Colorado’s unemployment rate is still three percentage points higher than when the recession began in December 2007. Nationally, the unemployment rate also declined slightly from February to March moving from 7.7 percent to 7.6 percent. The national unemployment rate of 7.6 in March is the lowest since December of 2008 when the rate was 7.3 percent.<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1267/march-recovery-watch" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, CCLP policy analyst Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.<br />
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.<br />
<br />Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-44681534254814122802013-03-29T16:35:00.001-06:002013-03-29T16:35:12.123-06:00February Recovery Watch<b><span style="font-size: large;">Colorado unemployment rate drops again, reaches four-year low; state economy continues to strengthen</span></b><br />
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The most recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease in Colorado’s unemployment rate from 7.3 percent in January 2013 to 7.2 percent in February 2013. That marks the lowest unemployment rate since February 2009 when the state’s unemployment rate was also 7.2 percent. The decline in the state’s unemployment rate is a result of improvement in the labor market. In February, more than 8,000 workers entered the labor force and the number of employed Coloradans increased by about 10,000. It appears the economic recovery may be building momentum and that real improvement is underway across the state. The national unemployment rate decreased from 7.9 percent in January 2013 to 7.7 percent in February 2013. Also, the most recent data available show continued growth in the number of people in Colorado enrolled in public assistance programs such as Medicaid, CHP+ and SNAP.<br />
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<b>Unemployment </b><br />
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the eighth consecutive month in January. The rate fell 0.1 percentage points, from 7.3 percent in January to 7.2 percent in February. (See Figure 1.) The rate is 0.8 percentage points lower than six months prior and is a full percentage point lower than February 2012. Colorado’s unemployment rate in February 2013 was the lowest since February 2009 when the rate was also 7.2 percent. In other words, this is the lowest unemployment rate Colorado has had in the past four years. However, Colorado’s unemployment rate is still more than three percentage points higher than when the recession began in December 2007. Nationally, the unemployment rate declined from January to February moving from 7.9 percent to 7.7 percent. The national unemployment rate of 7.7 percent in February is the lowest since December of 2008 when the rate was 7.3 percent.<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1261/february-recovery-watch" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, CCLP policy analyst Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.<br />
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-86173526955415167012013-03-18T16:54:00.003-06:002013-03-18T16:54:58.561-06:00January Recovery Watch<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Colorado unemployment rate drops for seventh
straight month; state economy shows strength</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The most
recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease
in the state unemployment rate from 7.5 percent in December 2012 to 7.3 percent
in January 2013. That marks the lowest unemployment rate since February 2009
when the state’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent. The decline in the state’s unemployment
rate is a result of improvement in the labor market. In January, roughly 6,000
workers entered the labor force and, according to two separate surveys, the
number of employed Coloradans increased as well. In light of these latest
numbers, it appears that the economic recovery may be gaining momentum and that
real improvement is underway across the state. The national unemployment rate
decreased from 7.9 percent in January 2013 to 7.7 percent in February 2013.
Also, enrollment in public assistance programs in Colorado increased during December
as Medicaid, CHP+ and the SNAP program saw increases in enrollment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Unemployment</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the seventh
consecutive month in January. The rate fell 0.2 percentage points, from 7.5 percent
in December to 7.3 percent in January. (Figure 1) The rate is 0.8 percentage
points lower than six months prior and is a full percentage point lower than
January 2012. However, Colorado’s unemployment rate is still 3.2 percentage
points higher than when the recession began in December 2007. Nationally, the
unemployment rate declined from January to February moving from 7.9 percent to
7.7 percent. The national unemployment rate of 7.7 percent in February is the
lowest since December of 2008 when the rate was 7.3 percent.</div>
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<o:p></o:p>The January unemployment rate leaves Colorado in the
middle of the pack with the 22<sup>nd</sup> highest (worst) unemployment rate among
the 50 states. Meanwhile, in January, California had the highest (worst)
unemployment rate at 9.8 percent and North Dakota had the lowest (best) at 3.3
percent.</div>
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The most recent economic forecast from the Colorado Legislative
Council staff (LCS), released March 18, affirms the positive economic forecast for
Colorado. According to the LCS, Colorado’s economic recovery has been one of
the most vibrant in the country. LCS points to steady improvement in the real
estate and labor markets as well growth in consumer spending as a few of the
signs that a more mature recovery is taking hold in Colorado. Moving forward, LCS
predicts lingering budget issues at the federal level could be a drag on the
state’s economy over the next few months but, if that happens, the economy will
return to more robust growth later in 2013 and beyond.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1259/january-recovery-watch" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery. </div>
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">other analysis of jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.</div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-14381846107101138562013-03-15T16:26:00.001-06:002013-03-15T16:26:18.675-06:00Colorado Medicaid expansion advances in legislature<br />
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March 14 marked a historic day in Colorado, in which
hundreds of thousands of low-income individuals and families moved one step
closer to accessing meaningful, affordable health care coverage. The
Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved by a 5-2 margin Senate Bill
13-200 <a href="http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2013a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/8A3C037DB1746F5787257A83006D05A8?Open&file=200_01.pdf">http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2013a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/8A3C037DB1746F5787257A83006D05A8?Open&file=200_01.pdf</a>
, which proposes to expand Medicaid in Colorado pursuant to the Affordable Care
Act to all individuals under age 65 whose annual income is below 133 percent of
the federal poverty level ($15,281 for an individual and $25,975 for a family
of three). SB 200 passed out of the committee with bipartisan support,
despite the characteristic partisan divide that envelopes discussions on health
reform.</div>
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The committee hearing began with a powerful introduction by
Senator Irene Aguilar, the bill sponsor, in which she explained that expanding
Medicaid is a great deal for our state, it will grow the economy, and most
importantly it’s the right thing to do. Senator Aguilar explained that a
majority of those who would become eligible under the expansion are employed
but are either not offered coverage or cannot afford it. According to a
CCLP report <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/uploads/files/medicaid_expansion_edited.pdf">http://www.cclponline.org/uploads/files/medicaid_expansion_edited.pdf</a>
, more than 122,000 working Coloradans would gain access to coverage under the
expansion. Senator Aguilar drove home the importance of health care
access for low-income families by citing a report by the Colorado Trust that
predicts expanding Medicaid could save 600 lives in Colorado per year. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The committee heard from six panels of supporting testimony,
including members of the health care industry, physicians, consumer advocates
and concerned citizens. CCLP’s Elisabeth Arenales provided historical
context, stating that the Medicaid expansion “builds on a fifteen-year track
record of achievement in bringing Coloradans into health insurance
coverage.” Some of these achievements include the 1998 adoption of CHP+,
various Medicaid eligibility expansion to parents and adults in 2004, and
the 2011 establishment of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange.
Perhaps the most striking testimony came from Tish Barber, a wife and mother of
three boys who drove 5 ½ hours to share her family’s story. Her husband
works full time for a tire company that does not offer insurance coverage and
they are unable to afford coverage in the individual market. Ms. Barber
told the committee how crucial it is that her children are covered under
Medicaid, but her and her husband remain uninsured and at risk for potentially
bankrupting medical expenses should they become sick. She told the
committee that Colorado has a chance to change the lives of many low-income
Coloradans. We commend the committee for taking that chance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-83248605130801894012013-01-18T16:31:00.000-07:002013-01-18T16:33:24.905-07:00December Recovery Watch<b><span style="font-size: large;">Colorado unemployment rate drops for fifth straight month, reaching lowest point in nearly four years </span></b><br />
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The most recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease in the state unemployment rate from 7.7 percent in November to 7.6 percent in December, which is the lowest unemployment rate since February 2009 when the state’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent. Furthermore, the most recent decline in the unemployment rate seems to be a result of positive movement in the labor market. During the month of December workers entered the labor force, and according to one measure, employment increased. That said, the other common measure of employment showed a slight decrease in the number of jobs in Colorado. The national unemployment rate remained at 7.8 percent through the month of December. Also, enrollment in public assistance programs increased during December as Medicaid, CHP+ and the SNAP program saw increases in enrollment.<br />
<br />
<b>Unemployment</b><br />
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the fifth straight month in November. The rate fell 0.1 percentage points, from 7.7 percent in November to 7.6 percent in December. (Figure 1) The rate is 0.3 percentage points lower than December 2011, and is the lowest rate since February 2009. However, Colorado’s unemployment rate is still 3.5 percentage points higher than when the recession began in December 2007. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained slightly above the Colorado rate at 7.8 percent.<br />
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In the latest edition of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1236/december-recovery-watch" target="_blank">Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.<br />
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-48214940914372694002013-01-02T11:10:00.000-07:002013-01-02T17:00:28.790-07:00Lame Duck Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Lame Duck Hunt 2012 -- Jan. 2 update</b><br />
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Well, it came down to the wire but Congress was finally able
to come to an agreement that solves several tax issues and delays the automatic
spending cuts known as sequestration. As with most compromises, both sides are
less than happy but at least a deal was made and this chapter is in the books. Titled
the ‘American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012’, the new law<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->raises about $600 billion in new revenue through
several methods. Income tax rates for top earners (individuals who make over
$400,000 and couples who make over $450,000) will rise to the pre-Bush level,
39.6 percent. Everyone else receives a permanent extension in current rates.
The agreement also raises the rate at which capital gains are taxed from 15 to
20 percent for top earners (again using the $400,000 and $450,000 benchmarks).
The new law also places limits on the tax benefits of high-income earners by
returning to Clinton era policies. Finally, the tax rate on estates worth more
than $5 million will increase from 35 percent to 40 percent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->extends emergency unemployment benefits for the
next year which will prevent 2 million people from losing their unemployment
insurance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->extends the expansion in the Child Tax Credit, the
Earned Income Tax Credit, and extends the Opportunity Tax Credit. These three
tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit low-income families and students. However,
unlike the newly agreed upon income rates, which are permanent, these cuts are
slated to last only five years. <o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->provides the so-called “doc-fix,” which prevents
Medicare providers from seeing a major pay cut this year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The agreement did not:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->address spending. In fact, it only postponed
sequestration by two months, meaning that nearly every government program faces
the possibility of massive budget cuts in early March.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->address the debt ceiling which is another battle
that will be waged in early March. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For the White House’s summary of the law click <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/01/fact-sheet-tax-agreement-victory-middle-class-families-and-economy">here</a>.
You can find the entire text of the bill <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/118551686/Fiscal-Cliff-Bill">here</a>. Finally,
if you would like to see what the bill means for your taxes, check out the Tax
Policy Center’s summary <a href="http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?Docid=3756&DocTypeID=2">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lame Duck Hunt 2012 -- Dec. 21 update</b><br />
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Last night an unexpected thing happened: Speaker Boehner’s so called ‘Plan B’ (see yesterday’s post for a brief overview of ‘Plan B’) didn’t even make it to a vote in the House of Representatives. Instead, Representative Boehner pulled his plan before a formal vote as it was clear that, even in the Republican controlled House, the bill would not pass. Rather than vote, the House retired for some Christmas vacation.<br />
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So where does this unexpected turn leave us now? Well, no one is entirely sure. However, one sure thing is that time is running short. Legislators have a little over a week to come to a deal in order to avoid the automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, and the expiration of several tax cuts, all set to take place at the beginning of 2013. Keep an eye on this page as we move into 2013 for the latest developments in Washington as the fight over deficit reduction continues.<br />
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<b>Lame Duck Hunt 2012 -- Dec. 20 update</b><br />
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The U. S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on Speaker John Boehner’s so called ‘Plan B’ proposal today. Even if ‘Plan B’ is approved by the House it will, by all accounts, fail to pass in the Senate and would surely be vetoed by the president if it made it to his desk. With that said, it is valuable to take a closer look at what ‘Plan B’ really entails as some of the provisions may be relevant as discussions move forward in the last days of 2012. And, upon closer inspection, ‘Plan B’ turns out to be a bad deal for most Coloradans.<br />
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‘Plan B’ would let the Bush era income tax rates expire for people earning more than $1 million annually, which is a fresh proposal from Speaker Boehner. However, ‘Plan B’ keeps several other major tax breaks for the wealthy intact while eliminating the expansions in the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit passed in 2009. As Robert Greenstein, the president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities points out, this would mean that a single mother with two children would lose more than $1,500 of her Child Tax Credit from $1,725 down to $165.<br />
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To read a clear and comprehensive analysis of ‘Plan B’ and how it compares to the president’s current proposal check out CBPP’s paper written by Greenstein. <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3878" target="_blank">Click here to access the paper</a>.<br />
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<b>Lame Duck Hunt 2012 -- Dec. 17 update</b><br />
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With only two weeks left until the end of the year, when automatic spending cuts are scheduled to begin as mandated in the Budget Control Act and a number of tax cuts expire, talks to avert the ‘fiscal cliff’ (click <a href="http://www.offthechartsblog.org/its-a-slope-not-a-cliff/" target="_blank">here</a> to find out why it is actually more of a ‘fiscal slope’) have moved in a positive direction. Although several points of disagreement still remain between President Obama and the Democrats and Speaker of the House John Boehner and the Republicans, the latest proposals from each side show some willingness to compromise. Click <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/06/us/politics/debtplans.html" target="_blank">here</a> to see a New York Times breakdown of the most recent proposals.<br />
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<b>Lame Duck Hunt 2012 -- Dec. 6 update </b><br />
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The fiscal cliff remains center stage in Washington as congressional leaders continue budget talks. Last week, President Obama proposed a $1.7 trillion budget with a balance of revenue increases and spending cuts. On Monday, House Republicans released a 10-year, $2.2 trillion counteroffer to the president’s plan.<br />
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<u>The Republican Plan </u><br />
There are several major components of the Republican budget. First, the plan calls for increasing the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67 and reducing the cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits. These cuts are in addition to $300 billion in cuts to non-health mandatory programs and $300 billion in cuts to discretionary programs. While the specific details of these cuts are vague, the proposal specifically calls for cuts in federal employee compensation and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as the food stamps program).<br />
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The Republican proposal also includes $800 billion in higher tax revenue, while still keeping the Bush tax cuts in place for all taxpayers, including those in the top 2 percent, meaning couples making over $250,000 per year. Critics point out that $800 billion in increased tax revenue is inadequate and does not even cover the cost of extending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. The $800 billion is slated to come from the closure of an unidentified list of tax deductions.<br />
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Even though House Speaker John Boehner calls the GOP budget a “credible plan,” the Republican offer was promptly rejected by White House. President Obama spoke about the plan saying “unfortunately, (the Republican budget plan) is still out of balance.” With the rejection of this latest budget offer, talks remain at an apparent stalemate.<br />
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-49473830996058401572012-12-21T17:39:00.002-07:002012-12-21T17:39:36.380-07:00November Recovery Watch<br />
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The most recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease in the state unemployment rate from 7.9 percent in October to 7.7 percent in November, reaching a 44-month low. However, it appears the most recent decline in the unemployment rate is for the wrong reasons. During the month of November workers exited the labor force and, by one measure, employment in Colorado decreased. The national unemployment rate also fell 0.2 percentage points from 7.9 percent to 7.7 percent. However, the change in the national rate was largely due to an increase in employment, not the decrease in the size of the labor force. Also, enrollment in public assistance programs was mixed during November as Medicaid and CHP+ saw increases but enrollment declined in the SNAP program.</div>
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The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the fourth straight month in November. The rate fell 0.2 percentage points, from 7.9 percent in October to 7.7 percent in November. (Figure 1) The rate is 0.3 percentage points lower than November 2011, and is the lowest rate since March 2009. Nationally, the unemployment rate also dropped from 7.9 percent in October to 7.7 percent in November. However, it should be noted that the labor force declined at both the national and state level, which played a part in the lower unemployment rates. In other words, the decline was not entirely due to higher employment. <span _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
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In the latest <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1226/november-recovery-watch" target="_blank">edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.<br /><br />Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.</div>
Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-40999698561155337492012-11-20T17:20:00.001-07:002012-11-20T17:20:54.862-07:00Colorado Recovery Watch - October 2012<br />
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The most
recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease
in the state unemployment rate as employment growth outpaced the growth in the state’s
labor force. The Colorado unemployment rate was down 0.1 percentage points from
8 percent in September to 7.9 percent in October. According to the Local Area
Unemployment Statistics survey, the number of people employed in Colorado
increased by more than 7,000 for the second straight month. The National
unemployment rate rose slightly during the month of October, to match the
Colorado unemployment rate at 7.9 percent. The national rate edged upward
despite an increase in the number of people employed nationwide. Also,
enrollment in public assistance programs such as Medicaid, CHP+ and SNAP
continued to increase in the month of September.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Unemployment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the third
straight month in October. The rate fell 0.1 percentage points, from 8 percent
in September to 7.9 percent in October. (Figure 1) This is the first time the
Colorado unemployment rate has dropped below 8 percent since April of this
year, and is 0.2 percentage points lower than November of 2011. Nationwide, the
unemployment rate increased slightly during the month of October to match the
Colorado rate at 7.9 percent. The increase in the national unemployment rate
notwithstanding, employment levels in Colorado and across the nation increased
and more people resumed their search for work, a sign that the job market may
be improving.</div>
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1214/colorado-recovery-watch-october-2012" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of
data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic
recovery. </div>
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with
a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along
with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/tag/jobs_and_economic_security" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the Colorado Center on
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-50989018271315122902012-10-19T15:43:00.000-06:002012-10-22T10:23:47.851-06:00Recovery Watch - September 2012<br />
The most recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease in the state and national unemployment rates, this time for the right reasons. The Colorado unemployment rate was down 0.2 percentage points from 8.2 percent in August to 8.0 percent in September. The decrease in the unemployment rate for the month of September was due to an increase in the employment level rather than a decrease in the labor force. According to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics survey, the number of people employed in Colorado increased by more than 7,000 during the month of September. Also, enrollment in public assistance programs such as Medicaid, CHP+ and SNAP continued to increase in the month of September.<br />
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<b>Unemployment</b><br />
The unemployment rate in Colorado decreased for the second straight month in September. The rate fell 0.2 percentage points, from 8.2 percent in August to 8.0 percent in September. (Figure 1) The unemployment rate at the national level also decreased this past month, from 8.1 percent in August to 7.8 percent in September. Fortunately, the decreases in both the national and Colorado rates were for the right reasons. The rates were down because of an increase in employment, not because of people exiting the labor force, a sign that the job market may be improving.<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1205/september-recovery-watch" target="_blank">latest edition of Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado stands on the road to economic recovery.</div>
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it online, along with other analysis of jobs and economic security from the <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/" target="_blank">Colorado Center on Law and Policy</a>.</div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-7187838810074097472012-09-27T11:23:00.002-06:002012-09-27T11:24:57.639-06:00New poverty estimates paint grim picture for many communities throughout Colorado<br />
New data released from the U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey show a continued struggle for many Colorado citizens as recovery stagnates.<br />
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<li>The overall poverty rate in Colorado was statistically unchanged from 2010 to 2011. In 2011, more than 674,000 people, or 13.5 percent of the state's population, lived below the federal poverty line.</li>
<li>In 2011, 9.1 percent of Colorado families lived in poverty a 0.3 percentage point decrease from 2010. However, in 2007 only 8.4 percent of Colorado families lived in poverty.</li>
<li>The Colorado child poverty rate was up almost 2 percentage points in 2011 compared with the 2007 level. In 2011, more than 211,000 children, or 17.5 percent of all Colorado children lived in poverty.</li>
<li>6.1 percent of Colorado's population lived in deep poverty, or below 50 percent of the federal poverty line 2011.</li>
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Taking stock of the most recent data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, it is clear that many Coloradoans are still struggling to cope with the effects of the 2007 recession. It is also clear that typically disadvantaged demographic groups such as the African-American or Latino communities are facing huge challenges as poverty rates hover around 25 percent. Furthermore, there is great inequality between men and women as women face an economic reality with higher rates of poverty and lower annual earnings. In light of the disparity in economic well-being demographic categories, policy makers need to place priority on developing a pathway to self-sufficiency that will provide education, jobs and a higher quality of life for all Coloradoans regardless of race, gender or class.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
The <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1201/new-poverty-estimates-paint-grim-picture-for-many-communities-throughout-colorado" target="_blank">Colorado Center on Law and Policy's analysis</a> of the newest Census Bureau Data looks at poverty from several angles, including race, gender and family type.</div>
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<div>
The <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/" target="_blank">Colorado Center on Law and Policy</a>, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and advocacy organization seeking justice and economic security for all Coloradans. </div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-76307573771108831402012-09-21T15:54:00.000-06:002012-09-21T15:54:48.779-06:00Colorado Recovery Watch - August 2012<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The most
recent economic data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show a decrease
in the state and national unemployment rates, unfortunately for the wrong
reasons. The Colorado unemployment rate moved from 8.3 percent in July to 8.2
percent in August while the national rate moved from 8.3 percent to 8.1 percent
in the same time frame. The decrease in the Colorado unemployment rate was
primarily due to a decrease in the labor force as more than 11,000 Coloradans
gave up the search for work in the month of August. Adding to the disappointing
news, employment levels remained largely unchanged throughout the state and
enrollment in safety net programs such as Medicaid, CHP+ and SNAP increased
from July levels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Unemployment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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In August, Colorado’s unemployment rate decreased from
8.3 percent to 8.2 percent. (Figure 1) Although this is the first decrease in
Colorado’s unemployment rate since April of this year and is one-tenth of a
percentage point lower than a year prior, this month’s decrease is due to
workers exiting the labor force, not an uptick in hiring. The August
unemployment rate is more than four percentage points higher than when the
recession began. The national unemployment rate also decreased, from 8.3
percent to 8.1 percent. Again, this decrease is largely due to a shrinking
labor force nationwide. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jwn8nfgAijiPpae_Rt1__EcY_uYXEttNdp0b26MTBfKu30kVlDAuZPJ_2Yx3OcxCFHWlfX4PmqS_ahYP9xNK4Pr9VrWkhTXin2-5vnuZLNEr_8sa7SXGryCkme8UDc3in0bzl4xIdpc/s1600/Figure+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Jwn8nfgAijiPpae_Rt1__EcY_uYXEttNdp0b26MTBfKu30kVlDAuZPJ_2Yx3OcxCFHWlfX4PmqS_ahYP9xNK4Pr9VrWkhTXin2-5vnuZLNEr_8sa7SXGryCkme8UDc3in0bzl4xIdpc/s400/Figure+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge</td></tr>
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Colorado’s unemployment rate is now the 21st highest
among the 50 states. Furthermore, the most recent economic forecast from the Colorado Legislative
Council staff (LCS), released September 20, recognizes the weak economy both on
the national and state level. Consumers and businesses are holding back on
things like spending, hiring and investment because of economic and political
uncertainty, according to LCS. As a result, LCS expects economic growth to lose
momentum as 2012 comes to a close, nearing recessionary levels in the early
part of 2013.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the latest edition of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/publication_library/pub/single/1199/colorado-recovery-watch-august-2012" target="_blank">Colorado Recovery Watch</a>, Rice
Fellow Andrew Ball examines a range of data showing where the state of Colorado
stands on the road to economic recovery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Colorado Recovery Watch is a monthly snapshot of economic
data, with a special focus on jobs and public-assistance programs. Read it
online, along with other analysis of <a href="http://www.cclponline.org/search" target="_blank">jobs and economic security</a> from the
Colorado Center on Law and Policy<o:p></o:p></div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-57653218371825972882012-09-20T14:23:00.001-06:002012-09-20T14:24:19.278-06:00“Opportunity Costs” Series: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGknC_nCj1ET5GOUb4a_0XvmYC95aBDnhbwyJwIB9lNZk3YzcySzp4l9mCmZyd9rUScRQ6_WIjgmXOuTlMzsBmEuZMTlc2rpbrCf21Dfr0op41o9wh6H50V4LsSD4ovRtKBIDiUhppwg/s1600/blog+pig+aid.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGknC_nCj1ET5GOUb4a_0XvmYC95aBDnhbwyJwIB9lNZk3YzcySzp4l9mCmZyd9rUScRQ6_WIjgmXOuTlMzsBmEuZMTlc2rpbrCf21Dfr0op41o9wh6H50V4LsSD4ovRtKBIDiUhppwg/s200/blog+pig+aid.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Financial Aid Cuts and Consequences</span> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>By</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christopher Stiffler</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the most memorable topics discussed in
Economics 101 is the idea of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">opportunity
cost.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a limited amount of
resources, a decision to do one activity inevitably results the inability to do
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Economists calculate
opportunity cost by asking the question, “what is the value of the next best
alternative that you give up in order to do that activity?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pose the question, “what is the opportunity
cost of attending this lecture?” to a bunch of freshmen Economics 101 students
at 8 a.m. and the first response is always “sleeping.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pose the question, “what is the opportunity cost
of this new cut back in spending?” to a politician and it is difficult to get a
straight answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because the
indirect and foregone alternatives are very difficult to quantify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like all decisions, there is always an
opportunity cost; always a relationship between scarcity and choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cuts to state funding at one end inevitably
result in trade-offs somewhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Colorado has been cutting state funding to all
sorts of programs, it has been difficult to quantify the indirect, downstream
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Colorado Center on Law
and Policy’s goal with our “Opportunity Cost” series is to enumerate exactly what
Colorado forgoes as it chooses to be a low-funding state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The first of this series investigates the
state cuts to higher education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Due
to budget balancing and reduced General Fund revenues, Colorado higher
education has seen a 30 percent operating cut since 2009.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means fewer dollars sent directly to
Colorado institutions and fewer dollars available for Colorado students in the
form of state financial aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
compensate for lower state funding, Colorado colleges and universities were
granted the ability to raise tuition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
a result, a new college tuition model began to emerge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the new model, wealthier students pay the
higher tuition, which is then redistributed in the form of institutional aid to
lower income students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recent research about price sensitivity of Colorado college
students shows that low-income students are much more sensitive to tuition
increases than higher-income folk.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, among wealthier students, higher
tuition correlates with higher enrollment while higher tuition correlates with
lower enrollment in lower-income students. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given that many low-income students will forego college
without some form of financial aid, providing institutional financial aid to
low-income students is paramount to replacing the state financial aid that has
been cut over the past 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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The first graph shows average state aid per student and average institutional
aid per student at 4-year institutions in Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State aid per pupil has fallen 40 percent
since 2007 while institutional aid has risen at about the same pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This indicates that institutional aid has
filled the gap left by declining state financial aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9prdIol3ch7_mdfk7juYkDMeDu5SPEA3TaLAlEtjdhWXvFf3zUpfOHXt6I2kp7BDuO8_VPRjRuGwc3cBSYQ_F2M_nRvXcTRv6aZwzXsUaEaVtZkOw7clP2fh66O_AP1yuZFltGzj_mK4/s320/Blog+Image+graph+one.png" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, this is not the whole story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While 4-year universities have been able to
increase tuition and provide additional institutional aid to low-income
students, community colleges have not been as fortunate. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we look at the same figures for 2-year institutions instead of 4-year, a
completely different story emerges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCR9ksFx4iwNUc_FHcyDVM2ZL33jLki3ec8UDvVT9MwvEF5ErXKrtVOnkKOHSaScGzWa5tfA1thpPUTA01S-3PQtyt-KxGGkYBnMjmKpn3PcdzOSfRpk65zpehzaGjylsTvyF5rK7TZQ/s1600/zzzzzzzzzzz+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCR9ksFx4iwNUc_FHcyDVM2ZL33jLki3ec8UDvVT9MwvEF5ErXKrtVOnkKOHSaScGzWa5tfA1thpPUTA01S-3PQtyt-KxGGkYBnMjmKpn3PcdzOSfRpk65zpehzaGjylsTvyF5rK7TZQ/s320/zzzzzzzzzzz+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For 2-year colleges, average state aid has declined 46
percent since 2007 while institutional aid has remained fairly constant. In the
case of 2-year colleges, institutional aid has not filled the gap left by lower
state aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A more telling look at financial aid for low-income
Coloradans comes when state and institutional aid is plotted as a percent of
tuition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35azxacBiGfKnQHwIevv7xBdVvqRFMWYOxY8HXE6h-iN_s9poTID1vxLo-F_0-hqQxbSVrka2kWi7Lug0Q6tHuDlkGO-6CKIKiD3THMBl2ei3cQGtK0ghmORXENCTXrbOoU-DzE6tRT0/s1600/zzzzzzzzzz+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35azxacBiGfKnQHwIevv7xBdVvqRFMWYOxY8HXE6h-iN_s9poTID1vxLo-F_0-hqQxbSVrka2kWi7Lug0Q6tHuDlkGO-6CKIKiD3THMBl2ei3cQGtK0ghmORXENCTXrbOoU-DzE6tRT0/s320/zzzzzzzzzz+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjus-PyIVR3lTXWPNkibfbPC8WjfyX3xSBEdVqPzaZw3tzm5LjVQ2u8Q90DD9pWeKghK6X9eKrGD8am3i1T9vTLDsNQagTixzpicRUzOTiBsHYY8ldlbd5-E10OGV-4SpTJXkJXQMQk2iQ/s1600/blog+chart+three.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Aid at both 2 and 4 year
colleges has fallen with aid at community colleges falling more than 4-year
colleges. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is just the tip of the iceberg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first of CCLP’s “Opportunity Costs”
Series we will investigate the overall consequences of higher education cuts
across Colorado by addressing the following questions:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How sensitive are Colorado students to tuition
prices?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How does the new model of financing higher
education work out for different types of colleges?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s happened with overall student debt for
Colorado students?</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How has the recent recession impacted college
attendance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While many of these questions have been addressed before,
what makes our upcoming report especially unique is by answering:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How has this new higher education financing
model influenced enrollment, broken down by sex, race, and income level?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stay Tuned!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://highered.colorado.gov/Publications/Reports/Budget/FY2012/2012_tuitionfeesreport.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://highered.colorado.gov/Publications/Reports/Budget/FY2012/2012_tuitionfeesreport.pdf</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>page 5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7309886623663204376#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://highered.colorado.gov/Publications/Studies/2012/201201_PriceSensitivity_APA.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://highered.colorado.gov/Publications/Studies/2012/201201_PriceSensitivity_APA.pdf</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-41953244552134741342012-09-14T10:51:00.002-06:002012-09-14T10:52:55.952-06:00Third grade math<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAranlxmorNYk80hyDGVkTAgWBn90k-zsn0yqmEwcW18o3aHQHvYvgfkudGD4qT_h8hoh4Enwn8xuB_faevTNw9tHDOdcb1YdwWAjAU1ba3aeGNaQlkK1xUN2HMqSgbluPtJNojfxw0/s1600/bad-math-fotolia-29084487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdAranlxmorNYk80hyDGVkTAgWBn90k-zsn0yqmEwcW18o3aHQHvYvgfkudGD4qT_h8hoh4Enwn8xuB_faevTNw9tHDOdcb1YdwWAjAU1ba3aeGNaQlkK1xUN2HMqSgbluPtJNojfxw0/s320/bad-math-fotolia-29084487.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
By Terry Scanlon<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
eight-year old daughter was elected to the Senate this week. After a failed bid
for the presidency in a mock exercise in her third-grade class, she secured a
seat as one of two senators by giving what I’m sure was a rousing campaign
speech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I promised to make taxes less and to give
every animal a home,” she told me proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You
can imagine my mixed emotions. Unquestionably proud of her interest in civics, I
was also devastated that my own offspring believes cutting taxes is sound fiscal
policy. Faced with the question any parent struggles with when their child
makes a grave mistake, I wondered where I went wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After
congratulating her on her victory, I told her she would have to break her
campaign promise. There’s no way to provide more help for animals while also
cutting taxes, I said. Slipping into my old reporter role, I nailed her with
the logical question: “How are you going to pay for more animal shelters if you
have less money?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
a seasoned politician, she didn’t flinch and managed to neatly evade the
question, “Dad, it’s not real. I’m only in third grade.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
on that count, she was, of course, right. But our talk got me to thinking, why is
this mindset that government can do more with less so prevalent in our society?
Why do we have so many elected officials who maintain the third grade logic of saying
whatever it takes in order to get elected? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is no evidence of tax cuts increasing revenue at the state level in Colorado.
Look for more about that topic in a soon to be released issue brief from the
Colorado Center on Law and Policy. In the meantime, let’s look at the federal
level. </span><a href="http://nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/peoples-guide/"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A People’s Guide to the Federal Budget</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> by Mattea
Kramer at the National Priorities Project provides a concise history lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the 1980s, personal and corporate income taxes were cut at the same time that
military spending increased dramatically. The result was soaring deficits. Taxes
were raised in the 1990s. Annual deficits turned into surpluses. In 2001 and
2003, income taxes were cut again and two wars were started about the same
time. Deficits returned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today,
our annual deficit — the amount that our nation’s spending exceeds tax revenue —
has reached $1.3 trillion, </span><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">according to the Office of
Management and Budget</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.
As a percentage of GDP, the deficit was higher only during World War II. The
top tax rates were pretty high then. In 1944, it was 94 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
top tax rates remained high after the war and the deficit declined
dramatically. As </span><a href="http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=213"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">this chart</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> from the Tax
Policy Center shows, the marginal tax rate — or the rate at which the last
dollar of income is taxed — was much higher from World War II to 1982. The top
rate was 92 percent in 1953. It was cut to 50 percent in 1982. Today it stands
at 35 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
it apparently is not discussed much among actual third graders, deficit
reduction is indeed getting a lot of attention. As it should. The grown up solution
needs to recognize that in order to get the services we want and that our
economy needs to be strong, we must balance increased revenue with smart cuts
in spending. Only such a balanced approach will accomplish our common goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And in the end, my daughter realized she needed a more balanced approach. Today they're writing laws in her class. On the way to school she told me she plans to offer a bill that would tax parents to pay for iPads in school. My guess is she'll be able to sell that policy proposal to her classmates.</span></div>
Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-9973346830029624872012-09-12T14:28:00.000-06:002012-09-12T14:28:08.458-06:00Poverty and Health Insurance in Colorado<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Poverty rises in Colorado while the number of uninsured remains stagnant, according to new Census data</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE3nUp6IygL28yuKMGPHbKr0EjmK644GN3-8isypVfcziwkdq7ZOpu7UDiumEvu49fYyvHa-MrH2BfcBrL672UH4CSUPWt0mshV4e6jpvI7BEYVh8ALxCxt2R3I38B9Dl1tM6yvaQ5os/s1600/Image-for-Poverty-in-America.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAE3nUp6IygL28yuKMGPHbKr0EjmK644GN3-8isypVfcziwkdq7ZOpu7UDiumEvu49fYyvHa-MrH2BfcBrL672UH4CSUPWt0mshV4e6jpvI7BEYVh8ALxCxt2R3I38B9Dl1tM6yvaQ5os/s320/Image-for-Poverty-in-America.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source:
<a href="http://chpre.org/?p=3467">http://chpre.org/?p=3467</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
More than 166,000 Coloradans have fallen into poverty in the past five years, according to Census data released Wednesday. But two key programs serving low-income Coloradans have succeeded by providing health care to more Coloradans and preventing the rate of uninsured from rising.<br />
<br />
The poverty rate has ballooned from a 9.8 percent average in 2006 and 2007 to an average of 12.7 percent in the two-year period covering 2010 and 2011. During that same time frame, the number of children receiving health care through Medicaid and Children's Health Inusrance Program (CHIP) increased by 126,829.<br />
<br />
Still, the Census numbers show that overall the number of uninsured Coloradans remains relatively unchanged and that more work needs to be done to ensure that all Coloradans have access to affordable, quality health care.<br />
<br />
"This data makes clear the important role government programs like Medicaid and CHIP are playing in Colorado as they provide a critical safety net for low-income and uninsured Coloradans" said Elisabeth Arenales, health program director at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. "Fully implementing health care reform provides an opportunity to further reduce the number of uninsured."<br />
<br />
The data released by the Census Bureau on Wednesday, the Current Population Survey, sheds light on three key indicators of the lives of low-income Coloradans -- health insurance coverage, poverty rates and income. The data represent two-year rolling averages, which means that in the information below 2010-2011 represents the average for those two calendar years. The federal poverty level in 2011 defined poverty for a family of three as a gross yearly income of $18,530.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Health Insurance</span></b><br />
The share of Coloradans without health insurance remained statistically unchanged from data released last year, according to preliminary state Census Bureau figures released today. Roughly 16 percent, or 710,000 Coloradans, did not have health insurance coverage in 2010-2011.<br />
<br />
In contrast, national data show a decrease in the number of Americans without health insurance coverage for the first time in four years, largely the result of the Affordable Care Act provision that allows young adults to stay on their parents' private health insurance plans. For the first time in 10 years, the number of Americans with private coverage remained stable.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2iIVMIrExDmOQPRTlVKrpQMTZfVOZbziUWvBlRT07SZ2bQ67nGdqs6UPvYKJ_-rxRiyajywMzeM_TTk-vw6Wsta4DZJ8McAwnpj8betSpimPfLmSwvmWsLfaqHxlvTCl0ac6GXvA3bg/s1600/9-10-12health.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2iIVMIrExDmOQPRTlVKrpQMTZfVOZbziUWvBlRT07SZ2bQ67nGdqs6UPvYKJ_-rxRiyajywMzeM_TTk-vw6Wsta4DZJ8McAwnpj8betSpimPfLmSwvmWsLfaqHxlvTCl0ac6GXvA3bg/s1600/9-10-12health.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source:
<a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3830" target="_blank">http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3830</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Other public policies are the primary reason that uninsurance rates have held steady in Colorado. Government investment in health care through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has helped cushion the loss in employer coverage during the recession, particularly for children. Medicaid covered 13.1 percent of Coloradans under age 65 in 2010-2011, an increase from 8.5 percent in 2006-2007, while employer-based coverage for the same time period declined. In Colorado, public coverage of children has risen dramatically since 2006-2007 by nearly 10 percent. According to Census, public health programs were covering 126,829 more Colorado kids in 2010-2011 than in 2006-2007.<br />
<br />
The positive impact of the Affordable Care Act's young adult provision and the success of Medicaid and CHIP in providing coverage to children illustrate the critical importance of implementing the rest of the health care reform law.<br />
<br />
"We have an opportunity to continue to shrink the number of Coloradans without health insurance by expanding Medicaid, successfully launching the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange and fully implementing the provisions of the Affordable Care Act," Arenales said.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Poverty</span></b><br />
The data also showed an increase in the percent of Coloradans living in poverty since the start of the recession. In 2006-2007, 9.8 percent of Coloradans were living below the official poverty line, compared to 12.7 percent in 2010-2011. Preliminary figures for 2010-2011 find that roughly 638,000 Coloradans lived at or below the federal poverty level. That represents an increase of 166,870 Coloradans living in poverty.<br />
<br />
"The new data show that many Coloradans are struggling to get by, and we need to step up our efforts to help. Lawmakers should not make it harder for people to make ends meet by cutting vital supports to lower-income families. We need to promote and fully fund innovative policies and practices that will not only help struggling Coloradans but also boost our economy," said Tracey Stewart, economic security program director of the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Income</b></span><br />
The Current Population Survey data also showed income for most Coloradans has stagnated. Adjusted for inflation, median household income in Colorado in 2006-2007 was $64,226 and in 2010-2011 it was $60,381, a statistically insignificant decrease.<br />
<br />
These state figures from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey for income, poverty and health insurance in Colorado are preliminary. On September 20th, the Census Bureau will release more definitive 2011 data as part of the American Community Survey, which is a more in-depth review of poverty and income in the states.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Look for a more detailed analysis of poverty and income in Colorado from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy on September 20th.</div>
Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-21968817099604849982012-09-06T11:56:00.002-06:002012-09-06T11:57:51.145-06:00The Football Stadium Economy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O25IBDkBosu3WgkO4GhZX_g-EerJKw79MazoSATUvFu5gPfl7tyfZ5tcR8i4nARD2BPFmzARDt7l0DT6WU51ttPRGb1rekRSD2OKMxWXoeMXa4EGbBhFQsqW91R1ISNYCWwN1bQxCxY/s1600/football+economy+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O25IBDkBosu3WgkO4GhZX_g-EerJKw79MazoSATUvFu5gPfl7tyfZ5tcR8i4nARD2BPFmzARDt7l0DT6WU51ttPRGb1rekRSD2OKMxWXoeMXa4EGbBhFQsqW91R1ISNYCWwN1bQxCxY/s200/football+economy+image.png" width="121" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By Christopher Stiffler</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As week one of the NFL season begins, the hype surrounding the
Broncos opening match up with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football
continues to build.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bronco and Steeler
fans have substantially bid up the price of tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a limited amount of seats available in
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, every Steeler fan who purchases a ticket
for opening day directly translates into one less available ticket for a
Broncos fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense to reason
that if we remove all the Steeler fans from the crowd, more seats will be available
for the blue and orange faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We often witness the same type of reasoning in the immigration
debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If all undocumented immigrants are removed from the
job market, it creates more availability for American citizens to fill those
jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who advocate removing undocumented
immigrants so more Coloradans can find work, tend to view the economy as a
sports arena that has a limited number of seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also often display the same hostility
toward undocumented workers as they display to Steeler fans taking their
seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, unlike Steeler fans at Mile High, whose presence directly
means fewer Bronco fans at the game, allowing immigrants into the Colorado economy
does not mean fewer jobs for Colorado citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, it often means more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
football stadium has a limited number of seats, whereas the economy is dynamic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It expands and contracts; sometimes it needs fewer
jobs sometimes it needs more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
not a fixed number of jobs in the state of Colorado, which </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is the part that the
anti-immigration advocates tend to forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Undocumented immigrants’ unique labor market skills enable the economy to
be more productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition,
undocumented immigrants’ spending adds to aggregate demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once we get past the rhetoric and look at the reality of the
modern economy, we can see the positive impact immigrants have on our
economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because immigrants are
often a complement to existing labor and not a direct substitute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Immigration
encourages the specialization of non-immigrant workers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undocumented labor encourages other, less-educated
workers to leave physically intensive occupations for jobs that require
language skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Productivity gains
arise from specialization along with higher compensation paid for communication
skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though it is not initially intuitive, rising education levels of the
non-immigrant adult population have corresponded with increased
immigration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because immigrants
have occupied many low-income jobs which move the non-immigrants into middle-income
jobs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many economists agree that the key
to a thriving and developing economy is constantly increasing productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means workers making the most of their
individual skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you accept the notion
that our economy works well when everyone is maximizing their unique skills,
then you must acknowledge that immigration has a positive impact on our economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is largely acknowledged that the immigration system in America
has some major faults as a majority of Americans believe that Congress needs to
reform immigration policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But while
there has been very little improvement to immigration policy on the federal
level, local and state governments face an increasing burden of finding,
arresting, and detaining undocumented immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While focusing only on enforcement strategies that involve
deportation and strict immigration requirements, policy makers must be aware of
the potential economic fallout from the disruptions, dislocations, and disturbances
as immigrants’ absences ripple through the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Removing undocumented workers won’t free up
jobs for other workers, instead it will remove a complementary piece of the
labor force that allows our economy to be dynamic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Steeler fans are sprinkled around Mile High Stadium, it
creates a louder, more energetic environment because Broncos fans are spurred
to cheer longer and louder to drown out the Steeler cheers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our labor force functions the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undocumented immigrants in our labor force
create a more vitalized, productive labor force for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christopher
Stiffler is a Pennsylvania native turned Coloradan, and unfortunately, a
lifelong Steelers fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309886623663204376.post-90366873408959825112012-08-31T14:08:00.000-06:002012-08-31T14:08:13.044-06:00To Labor on Labor DayBy Kathy White<br />
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This weekend, many Coloradans will celebrate Labor Day as Coloradans
have since 1887. More than 125 years
ago, the Colorado General Assembly designated a “Labor Day” to honor the effort
and achievements of the worker. Congress followed suit in 1894 declaring the
first Monday in September the national holiday that we still celebrate today.<sup>1</sup>
And while the Labor Day celebrations that we’ll see this weekend will look a
lot like those from decades past – picnics, parades, leisure time with family
and friends – the workers we celebrate and the value we place on their labor
are quite different.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The United States worker has never worked harder, produced
more or played less. U.S. workers log long hours – more than competitors in
other developed countries like the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.<sup>2</sup> U.S.
workers also take and are offered less paid time off (PTO) than peers in every
other developed nation. On average, the U.S. worker is given 12-14 days PTO,
but most of our workers use half or less of those days for economic reasons.<sup>3</sup>
Remarkably, the U.S., unlike every other developed nation on the globe,
including those with economies that outperform ours, does not require employers
to provide PTO of any kind – not to rejuvenate and celebrate, not to heal from
an illness, not to recover from a death in the family and not to adjust to the
birth or adoption of a new baby. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Moreover, the typical worker today must invest more in
themselves in order to compete in to today’s “knowledge-based economy.” Today,
roughly two-thirds of students seeking a bachelor’s degree borrow money from
banks to do it, when just 20 years ago only 45 percent borrowed for college.<sup>4</sup>
Today, the average worker is saddled with thousands of dollars in debt right
out of the gate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yet, despite this effort and achievement, today’s worker
reaps less benefit from their work and sacrifice than ever before. According to
research by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), from the late 1940s to the
mid-1970s productivity and hourly pay for workers grew hand-in-hand. But
something went awry in the 1970s, something that continues to steamroll today.
Productivity continued to grow, but worker compensation stagnated. From 1973 to
2011, productivity grew by more than 80 percent while median hourly
compensation grew by just under 11 percent.<sup>5</sup> (See
Figure 1). <o:p></o:p></div>
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Figure 1<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mishel, Lawrence. “The Wedges Between Productivity and
Median Compensation Growth,” Economic Policy Institute, April 26, 2012. Available
at <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/ib330-productivity-vs-compensation/">http://www.epi.org/publication/ib330-productivity-vs-compensation/</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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The smart guys over at EPI attribute this “wedge” between
productivity and compensation to three things: 1) inequality of compensation;
2) shifts in labor’s share of all income; and 3) divergence of consumer and
output prices.<sup>6</sup> What
does that mean? Well, I’m not an economist, but it basically boils down to
this: the first means the gap between how much income in the economy went to
the worker and how much went to owners of capital. The second means the growing
gap in income between high income workers and everyone else. And the third
means the gap between the price of what U.S. workers buy and what they make. While
the economists over at EPI carefully explain each of these in great detail, by
sub-period no less, in their upcoming signature publication, <a href="http://www.epi.org/state-of-working-america-12th-edition-preview/"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">The
State of Working America </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">2012</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">,<sup>7</sup>
</span>the main reason why workers today benefit less from their hard work than
ever before is growing inequality. Inequality between workers, i.e. average
workers and CEOs. Inequality between those who work and those who own, i.e. average
workers and corporations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, you’re probably wishing you could dust off your version
of Marx’s <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">Das
Kapital</span></i> about now or maybe you have a hankering to dig out that old
Pink Floyd <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";">Animals</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman Italic";"> </span>album. You may even feel
like you want to review anthropologist David Harvey’s 10-minute RSS Animate
refresher that went viral earlier this year, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0&feature=youtu.be&hd=1"><i>Crises of Capitalism</i></a>.<sup>8</sup>
(Or maybe you’re just thinking that I did to write this blog.) But none of that
is necessary to get the real point, which is: from 1973-2011 less income
generated in the economy went to wages and more went to capital. In other
words, owners of capital took the gains of productivity as income (dividends,
interest, profits) for themselves, rather than sharing those gains with workers
through greater wages and better benefits. <i>And
this is a policy issue – not some natural economic storm that has befallen the
U.S., which means, it’s a reversible trend, a solvable problem</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the mid 1970s, the U.S. has witnessed an all-out
assault on unions and every worker’s right to collectively fight for better
wages, greater safety and decent benefits. When wages and productivity were
happily growing together in a long marriage of shared prosperity, the number of
workers covered by unions was at its highest point. In 1973, more than a
quarter of all U.S. workers benefited from union coverage. By 2011, that number
had dropped to just13 percent.<sup>9</sup> (See
Figure 2)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Figure 2<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mishel, Lawrence. “Unions, Inequality and Faltering
Middle-Class Wages,” Economic Policy Institute, August 29, 2012. Available at <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/ib342-unions-inequality-faltering-middle-class/">http://www.epi.org/publication/ib342-unions-inequality-faltering-middle-class/</a></div>
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Weakened labor unions has not only meant that there are
fewer union members who enjoy the higher pay and better benefits negotiated by
their union, but also that there are fewer labor standards that protect and
benefit all workers. Weakened labor unions has made it near impossible for the
average individual wage earner today to reap the benefits of their long hours
and increased productivity. It has left the individual worker almost powerless
to negotiate for health insurance, paid sick days or family leave, education
and training benefits, higher wages or even a national holiday to celebrate the
achievement and effort of the American worker. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But it doesn’t need to be this way. We can all support our
friends in labor and advocate for policies that advance our common ideals of equality,
opportunity for all and shared prosperity. So this Labor Day, amidst the
picnics and parades, we should all take a moment to reflect and consider what
we can do throughout the year to truly honor the achievement and effort of the
American worker. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Kathy White<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="mailto:kwhite@cclponline.org">kwhite@cclponline.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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303-573-5669 ext. 303<o:p></o:p></div>
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<sup>1</sup><a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm">http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm</a></div>
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<sup>2</sup><a href="http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=LEVEL#">http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=LEVEL#</a></div>
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<sup>3</sup><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/18/news/economy/unused_vacation_days/index.htm">http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/18/news/economy/unused_vacation_days/index.htm</a></div>
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<sup>4</sup><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy-debt.html?pagewanted=all">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/student-loans-weighing-down-a-generation-with-heavy- debt.html?pagewanted=all</a></div>
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<sup>5</sup><a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/ib330-productivity-vs-compensation/">http://www.epi.org/publication/ib330-productivity-vs-compensation/</a></div>
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<sup>6</sup>Ibid.</div>
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<sup>7</sup><a href="http://stateofworkingamerica.org/">http://stateofworkingamerica.org/</a></div>
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<sup>8</sup><a href="http://youtu.be/qOP2V_np2c0?hd=1">http://youtu.be/qOP2V_np2c0?hd=1</a></div>
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<sup>9</sup><a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/ib342-unions-inequality-faltering-middle-class/">http://www.epi.org/publication/ib342-unions-inequality-faltering-middle-class/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Colorado Center on Law and Policyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923975655196254547noreply@blogger.com1