Health Care
Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner to host telephone town hall meeting amid uproar
DENVER – Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner is holding a town hall meeting with constituents after all – he just won’t be there in person.
Gardner, Colorado’s Republican senator, announced Monday he would be holding the first of what he says will be several telephone town halls on Wednesday, March 1 at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time.
It had originally been scheduled for 10 a.m., but was rescheduled Wednesday morning. A stream of the call can be heard here.
“Throughout the year, I’ll be hosting live telephone town halls. During the interactive meetings, you’ll hear from me regarding updates on the work I’ve been doing for fellow Coloradans, and I’ll talk about issues important to my constituents,” a post on Gardner’s website says. “In addition, you will have the opportunity to ask me questions on the phone and online.”
The senator has been under fire for more than a month in Colorado after comments about people protesting at his office being “paid” to do so, but the fervor intensified last week after he spent the week in the state at various meetings with business leaders and others.
But he didn’t show up to a handful of town hall meetings planned by organizers and constituents to discuss a wide range of topics, including health care, energy and President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
One of the town hall meetings used a cardboard cutout of Gardner in his absence.
“Over 14,000 people have signed a petition requesting a meeting; hundreds of people have either called or protested outside his office requesting the same. But so far, Senator Gardner has said no,” said Katie Farnan, a lead organizer with Indivisible Front Range Resistance who organized the town hall.
Gardner’s camp issued a statement on his behalf last week regarding his meetings in Colorado saying he “had the opportunity to meet with and speak to hundreds of Coloradans and discuss issues ranging from the challenges facing the agriculture community to reforming our health care system,” in part.
Gardner is a former U.S. House member who narrowly defeated Democrat incumbent Mark Udall for the senate seat in 2014 by a 48.5 to 46 percent margin.
He has so far voted with President Donald Trump in each possible confirmation or vote, according to FiveThirtyEight.
Colorado’s other senator, Democrat Michael Bennet, also has held no town hall meetings this year.
To sign up to participate in Gardner’s telephone town hall, click here.
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Colorado’s elected officials, political organizations react to President Trump’s speech to Congress
DENVER – Colorado politicians and political organizations reacted swiftly to President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress Tuesday night.
Here is a roundup of some of the responses received by Denver7:
Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo.
“Tonight, President Trump outlined his plan to tackle our country’s challenges. I am encouraged that he prioritized strengthening our economy and boosting job creation as well as addressing our broken health care system. Equally as important, the President highlighted the increasingly complex security threats we’re facing around the globe, including Iran and ISIS. After eight years of a failed foreign policy that led to emboldened regimes and instability in the Middle East, it’s critical that the United States stands up to its adversaries and stands by its allies.
“While headlines may reflect polarization, I remain convinced that more unites us than divides us. Our shared love and respect for democracy continues to make America the greatest nation on earth. Our country is still one that strives to inspire, innovate, invent, and above all – promote and create opportunities. I’m committed to working with this Administration on behalf of Coloradans to strengthen our country and make it easier for every American to succeed.”
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.
“I am pleased the President condemned the recent hate crimes and attacks on Jewish community centers and cemeteries. Such actions have no place in the United States or anywhere else.
“I have long said I will work with anyone to rebuild our infrastructure, fix our broken immigration system, educate our children, protect our environment, reduce our debt, and repair our health care system. In the days ahead, I hope the President will start the hard work of building consensus and leave the campaign behind.”
Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo.
“The president’s address was a reminder that America is strong when we stand together and work to achieve common goals. We all want a robust economy, affordable and accessible health care, safe communities, and a better future for our kids. Tonight, the president laid out what his governing vision is for America – much of which Republicans in Congress have already started working on as part of our Better Way Agenda.
“We’re repealing and replacing Obamacare with a health care system that lowers costs, increases choice, and ensures all Americans can access the health services they need. We are taking steps to roll back the federal overreach that has plagued small business owners and entrepreneurs over the last eight years, because a vibrant Main Street is critical to a strong economy. We are also working towards streamlining and simplifying our tax code, so businesses will feel confident investing in the United States and Americans can keep more of their hard-earned money.
“We’re at a pivotal point in our nation’s history, and I look forward to continuing the work that will advance policies that benefit the families of the Third Congressional District of Colorado.”
Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.
“I’m eager to work with President Trump to advance conservative policy,” stated Congressman Ken Buck. “Tonight he called for lower taxes for the middle class, a roll back of excessive regulations, a better healthcare system for Americans, and safety and security for our communities. It’s time for America to once again be optimistic.”
Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo.
“For the past month, President Trump and Republican leaders in Congress have been giving us platitudes and promises, but no real plans on anything from health care to immigration to education and beyond. Meanwhile, the president’s actions speak louder than any number of grand pronouncements he made this evening. His draft budget is completely out of line with U.S. values and long-term interests. He talks about things that will be wildly expensive, but then offers no way to pay for them but vague assurances of tax cuts. These things sound great in a speech, but the reality has set in: As president, you have to put in place workable policies.”
Colorado Republican Committee Chairman Steve House
“Finally, a president came before the American people to speak plainly and honestly about the future of our great country. Tonight, President Donald J. Trump outlined an optimistic and bold vision for our country that crosses party lines.
“President Trump has now set lawmakers on a clear path to improve our nation’s health care, protect our borders, require tax and regulation reform and ensure the future of American exceptionalism.
“Since January 20th, President Trump has been fulfilling the promises he made to the American people at a record-setting pace, including bringing back American jobs and nominating a mainstream conservative to the Supreme Court. This evening, he expanded on his plans to pass an aggressive agenda that will solve real problems for real people, make sure every American who needs a good job gets one, and put our nation’s security first.
“It is my sincere hope Senator Michael Bennet and the Democrats will join with President Trump to help fix the problems of this country and Make America Great Again.”
ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director Ian Silverii
“The only thing saving our nation from the abyss today is the fact that Donald Trump is having trouble keeping his promises,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Ian Silverii. “The first month of Trump’s administration has been an historic disaster, as Trump has lurched from crisis to crisis within his administration, only partially successful in his plans to attack abortion rights, working people, immigrants, and clean water. Trump has abandoned his promises to help American workers compete in the global economy, and instead signed our government over to the same Wall Street kingpins who plunged the nation into recession less than a decade ago.”
“President Trump’s false claims about the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, do not comport with the experience of millions of Americans who have gained coverage from President Obama’s signature health care reform law,” said Silverii. “Today, the polls show Americans have finally come to understand the benefits of Obamacare, and Americans have rejected the years of misinformation from the Trump and Colorado’s Sen. Cory Gardner. No replacement for the Affordable Care Act introduced by Republicans would protect as many Americans as the Affordable Care Act, and eliminating the key protections and coverage benefits in the Affordable Care Act could deprive millions of Americans of the care they need. For too many, Trump’s cavalier dismissals of their need for care are a life-or-death proposition.”
“It is inconceivable that Donald Trump, a man who has spent so much time and effort demonizing immigrants, could ever deliver workable comprehensive immigration reform–and Trump failed to articulate anything but a vision of greed and contempt tonight on immigration,” said Silverii. “Trump’s unconscionable attacks on Latin American immigrants and refugees from war-torn nations around the world, which continued in tonight’s address to the shock of many in the chamber and millions watching, have left him completely alienated from the communities he needs to buy in to any immigration reform plan. Expecting immigrant communities to trust Trump after his disparagement of them as violent criminals and terrorists would is impossible.”
“Tonight, President Trump tried the same tricks that he used on the campaign trail last year, and failed,” said Silverii. “Trump is full of grand empty promises to working people, but his actions so far have proven that he doesn’t care about America’s working families or the middle class. The campaign is over, and Trump is learning that being President is more than stringing words together. Tonight’s speech just demonstrated once again that Trump is not up to the job.”
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Hickenlooper: States have ‘sovereignty’ on recreational marijuana issue, a ‘great social experiment’
DENVER – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper seems to have warmed to the legal recreational marijuana industry in the state, according to comments he made Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press.
Moderator Chuck Todd asked Hickenlooper, who is in Washington for the 2017 National Governors Association Winter Meeting, on his thoughts about the recreational marijuana industry and how it might be affected by new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Continue reading
White House compares recreational pot to opioid crisis, says DOJ will be ‘taking action’
WASHINGTON – White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said at Thursday’s daily press briefing that he expects the Department of Justice will be “taking action” against states that have legalized recreational marijuana, and at the same time seemingly compared recreational use to the nationwide opioid crisis.
“There’s a big difference between [medical] and recreational marijuana,” Spicer said. “And I think that when you see something like the opioid addiction crisis blossoming in so many states around this country, the last thing that we should be doing is encouraging people.” Continue reading
Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner talks Flynn resignation, new administration, ‘paid’ protests in interview
DENVER – Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner has been among the most-scrutinized politicians in Washington in recent months.
Gardner is a Republican in a state won by Hillary Clinton, but which has strong Republican and independent factions as well. But he has drawn the ire of many Coloradans after voting in favor of President Donald Trump’s nominees and measures every chance he’s had so far, and caused a stir with a comment about protesters at his offices in Colorado being paid.
Gardner on Tuesday sat for an interview with Denver7 to explain his voting record with the new administration, his thoughts on the protests and the fallout from National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation Monday night.
Watch the full interview in the player embedded below.
GARDNER ON FLYNN’S RESIGNATION
Gardner had not previously commented publicly on swirling allegations that Flynn had discussed sanctions on Russia with its ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak.
But on Tuesday, in the wake of Flynn’s Monday resignation, Gardner said it was right for Flynn to step aside.
“The right thing happened with General Flynn stepping down. That’s the right decision he made and right for the country,” Gardner said. “But I also think it’s important to recognize that the intelligence committee, which is already carrying out an investigation into Russian hacking and other activities with Russia, is going to be looking into the matter of General Flynn.”
He said that he would wait for the FBI to determine the route of any possible further investigations into Flynn. That came as several other high-ranking Republican Senate members called for an investigation into ties between Trump and Russia and called for Flynn to testify.
“Every administration has the ability, the right, to choose their personnel – particularly their national security adviser,” Gardner told Denver7. “I disagreed with the [national security adviser] from time to time under the last administration. But I think what we have to do is find out the facts here, learn from the FBI what exactly happened, and make our decisions going forward.”
GARDNER ON HIS CONFIRMATION VOTES
Gardner maintains that Democrats on the Hill are causing much of the political divide by objecting to and delaying some of the new administration’s confirmations.
“This is unprecedented levels of political obstruction in the Senate,” Gardner told Denver7. “So far, all that we’ve been allowed to do, thanks to unprecedented levels of obstruction, is try to do the basic job of filling out a cabinet for this president.”
And though several Senate committees delayed committee votes on some of the cabinet picks and Democrats used Senate rules to hold the floor for nearly 24 hours in an effort to vote down Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, the GOP line that there is “unprecedented obstruction,” which has also been used by many other Senate Republicans, does not completely hold water.
After Republicans won back the House and Senate, they in 2013 boycotted a committee vote on prospective EPA administrator Gina McCarthy and famously failed to meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland.
But all of President Trump’s nominees have so far been confirmed, and that is likely to continue since Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Gardner says he has a positive outlook on the administration’s future.
“Regardless of what party people are, regardless of whether they voted for President Trump or voted for Hillary Clinton, we would always do our best to make sure our days ahead of us are better than the ones we just went through,” he said.
GARDNER ON OPPOSITION
Thousands of people displeased with Gardner’s votes and alignment with President Trump have flooded his phone lines and email inboxes voicing their lack of satisfaction. They have also taken to his offices in Colorado to protest.
“I want to hear from you. I continue to encourage my constituents to reach out to me to share their opinions – whether through meetings, phone calls, email, or social media,” Gardner said in a statement to Denver7 Monday.
On Tuesday, he addressed the insinuation he made last month that some people protesting him and calling his office were paid protesters. He clarified that he believes there are organizations that are working to connect politically-active people across the country with various lawmakers in Washington, citing a conversation his wife had with one organization.
“We have a number of Coloradans – a large percentage, if not a huge percentage of the people calling our office who are Coloradans. [They are] people who are concerned about nominations, people who are concerned about the price of their health care,” Gardner said.
“But we do have people from out of state calling the office. In fact, just the other day, my wife was contacted by an organized survey effort. She answered the survey and was immediately connected to my very own office.”
“She was not paid to do that, but somebody was paid to make that connection happen not knowing that was my wife,” Gardner said.
He says he and his staff appreciate the input from his constituents, and points to his and other Republicans’ urging of Trump to impose a strict policy toward Russia and increase cybersecurity.
“I’ve always said we need more Colorado in Washington and less Washington in Colorado. When somebody reaches out to the office, I take every one of those concerns seriously,” Gardner said. “Somebody may want you to vote ‘yes;’ somebody may want you to vote ‘no;’ and obviously if you vote ‘yes’ when somebody wants you to vote ‘no,’ that means someone feels like their voice wasn’t heard. But the bottom line is every single one of their voices matter.”
Gardner will next be up for re-election in 2020.
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Despite circulating petitions, US Constitution does not allow for recall of members of Congress
DENVER – No, you cannot recall a U.S. Congressman.
Despite the handfuls of petitions circulating online for the recall of Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner over the past several weeks, the Constitution does not allow for the recall of any senator or representative.
Some Coloradans have been angry with Gardner over his support of some of the cabinet picks in the new Donald Trump administration, as well as his insinuation that some protesting his offices in recent weeks were paid to do so. Sixteen people were cited for their actions while protesting outside of his office in late January.
A handful of petitions on change.org and an editorial in the Boulder Daily Camera all called for constituents to recall the senator, and his office voicemails and email inboxes were flooded by tens of thousands of calls and letters.
But the U.S. Constitution allows for the removal of a senator or representative only by a two-thirds vote from either house, and usually only in the case of treason or a criminal conviction relating to that Congressperson’s official duties.
There was a provision considered while the Founding Fathers were writing the constitution in 1787 that would have allowed for the recall of members of Congress, but it was not included in the final version.
Some may have been confused, thinking that a Colorado law that allows for a petition to be agreed upon by a certain number of voters to recall a state senator or representative also applied to those elected to U.S. Congress.
But that petition process, which requires verified signatures from 25 percent of voters in the previous election, applies only to state officials.
Gardner will next be up for re-election in 2020; Colorado’s other senator, Democrat Michael Bennet, will be up for re-election in 2022, but has said he will likely retire. You can still reach them the old-fashioned way to voice your pleasure or lack thereof with their actions by writing them or calling their offices. The same goes for Colorado’s representatives in the House.
In the meantime, Gardner issued a statement to Denver7 Monday evening saying he welcomes continued efforts by constituents to reach him and his office:
“Like most Congressional offices, my office continues to receive a very high volume of phone calls and emails. Just this afternoon, the Senate Sergeant at Arms notified all senate offices that the Senate’s voicemail system was down for a significant period of time. This is unacceptable, and I know how frustrating it is. That is why I am working to find new and innovative ways for Coloradans to contact me directly. I want to hear from you. I continue to encourage my constituents to reach out to me to share their opinions – whether through meetings, phone calls, email, or social media.”
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House committee kills 3 abortion bills, including one that would have made practitioners felons
DENVER – A Colorado bill that would have put practitioners who perform abortions in the same criminal category as first-degree murderers, child abusers who cause a child’s death and people charged with treason was among three abortion-related bills killed in a House committee Thursday.
The three bills, House Bills 1085, 1086 and 1108 all died with 6-5 party-line votes in the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee.
The outcome was to be expected in the Democrat-majority committee chaired by Rep. Joann Ginal, Ph.D., a Fort Collins Democrat who is also a reproductive endocrinologist.
House Bill 1108 would have made it a class 1 felony for practitioners to perform an abortion unless it is intended to save the mother’s life or unless the unborn child dies as a result of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy – putting those practitioners in the same class as Colorado’s worst criminals.
Rep. Steve Humphrey, R-Eaton, said the Democrats’ vote meant they were “out of touch with the shifting public attitudes towards abortion.”
“In the four decades since the Roe v. Wade decision, scientific research has wholly disproved the long-held medical justifications for abortion,” he said in a statement.
The vice chair of the committee, Rep. Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, told Denver7 last month it was “a very dangerous idea to target doctors and health providers” with the bill.
“They are providing a medical service and should never be singled out. Abortion is not a crime, it’s a safe and legal procedure,” she told Denver7. “History has shown that banning abortion, or stopping access to safe abortions, is dangerous for women’s lives.”
Democrats on the committee also killed House Bill 1085, which would have required any clinics that provide abortions to register with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Under the bill, the AG’s Office would have had to inspect each registered clinic at least once a year to be sure the clinics were using sanitary equipment and adhering to special rules also outlined in the bill for abortions performed after 20 weeks of gestation.
House Bill 1086 also died by a 6-5 vote. It would have required practitioners to tell a woman about a process that can be used to reverse “abortion pills” 24 hours before giving a woman the pill, and would require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to post information on its website about the process.
“Why would we legislate the care a doctor provides a patient?” asked Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “I believe doctors should do what they do best: stick with evidence based practices, and politicians should stay out of the doctor’s office.”
Many of the state’s counties do not have abortion clinics, but the state does require only licensed physicians perform abortions, parental consent for women under age 18 to obtain an abortion, and that taxpayer funding for abortions is only provided to preserve a woman’s life or in the case of rape or incest.
The peer-reviewed research group Guttmacher Institute, which researches sexual and reproductive health and rights, found the number of abortions declined by 14 percent between 2011 and 2014, but that there was also a 14 percent decline over that time period in the number of Colorado facilities that provided abortions.
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Bill that would repeal Colorado health insurance exchange clears first Senate committee
DENVER – The Colorado bill that would repeal the state health exchange that operates under the Affordable Care Act cleared its first hurdle Tuesday in a Senate committee.
The Senate Finance Committee voted 3-2 to pass Senate Bill 3 on a party-line vote. Democratic Sens. Lois Court and Lucia Guzman voted against passing the bill, while Republican Sens. Jack Tate, Owen Hill and Tim Neville voted to pass it.
The committee passage followed hours of discussion about the necessity of the bill while Congress is locked in a battle over whether or not to repeal, and possibly replace, the Affordable Care Act, better known as “Obamacare,” on a national level.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jim Smallwood, argued Tuesday that the expenses of the state exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, outweigh its benefits and that several smaller Colorado counties are limited in their insurance options, according to The Associated Press.
Court argued that the state’s health insurance plans would have to be changed anyway should Congress be successful in repealing the ACA.
The bill would repeal the state exchange effective Jan. 1, 2018, though it would give lawmakers until the end of that year to “wind up” the exchange.
After that, the exchange would have to give any remaining money left over to the state treasurer, who would be directed to transfer the money to the state’s general fund.
Should it pass and be signed by the governor, however, a referendum petition could be filed to force a General Election vote on the matter in November 2018.
Smallwood told Denver7 last month that should his bill become law while the ACA is still in place that it would not affect people’s ability to get insurance on the federal marketplace.
“With my proposal, first of all we want people to know that by repealing the state exchange that in no way ends the ACA, it doesn’t end Obamacare in the state of Colorado,” he said at the time. “It allows our citizens to buy the same policies from the same insurance companies at the same rates, but on website healthcare.gov instead of connectforhealthco.com because healthcare.gov is being paid for with federal dollars because with connect for health we’re paying for it, again, with our state dollars.”
The bill heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for its next hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. It would then head to the Senate floor, if passed, where Republicans hold control.
But it would face a steep uphill climb from there in the House, where Democrats have control – most of whom have vocally opposed efforts to repeal the ACA.
Beyond that, Gov. John Hickenlooper supports the state exchange and has vowed to fight the repeal of the ACA. Should it be repealed, he said during his State of the State address that he would fight for a replacement plan “that protects the people who are covered now and doesn’t take us backward.”
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Colorado bill would exempt feminine hygiene products from state sales tax
DENVER – Colorado women would no longer have to pay extra state sales taxes on feminine hygiene products if a bill under consideration in the state Legislature passes.
Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver, and Sen. Beth Martinez Humenik, an Adams County Republican, are co-sponsoring House Bill 1127, which would exempt the state sales tax on tampons, menstrual pads and sanitary napkins, pantiliners, menstrual sponges and menstrual cups.
Canada repealed its so-called “tampon tax” in 2015, but around 40 U.S. states still tax the products.
Women around the world have fought the tax in recent years, saying it is a basic necessity and should not be subject to taxation.
The Colorado bill classifies feminine hygiene products as a drug, medical or therapeutic devices. The exemption would go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2018 if the bill becomes law.
The fiscal impact report on the bill from the Colorado Legislative Council says, if approved, the exemption would cost Colorado $1.2 million in state tax revenue to the General Fund in FY 2017-18 and $2.4 million in FY 2018-19, when it would be applied for the full fiscal year.
The report says an estimated 1.5 million women in the state are of typical menstruating age and estimates each woman spends $60 a year on feminine hygiene products, generating about $2 each year per person.
The bill would allow local municipalities and counties to adopt the exemption as well.
The fiscal impact report says those exemptions could cost the Regional Transportation District about $740,000 over the next two years, and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District about $74,000.
The bill is scheduled for its first hearing Feb. 13 in the House Finance Committee.
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Colorado extends deadline to sign up for health insurance on state exchange to Friday
DENVER – Colorado’s health insurance exchange extended its enrollment deadline by three days Tuesday evening in response to a late surge in people trying to sign up for coverage.
Connect For Health Colorado, which operates the state exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, extended the deadline for people to sign up to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. The deadline had been set for Tuesday evening.
Colorado’s exchange said enrollment on Monday was running 12 percent ahead of 2016 enrollment figures. A spokesman for the exchange said 200,000 people obtained coverage on the exchange last year.
Connect For Health Colorado plans will go into effect March 1, so anyone in the process of enrolling over the phone, in-person at an enrollment center, or online at Friday’s deadline will be able to complete their enrollment.
The spike in enrollment comes as Republicans in Washington say they are working to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, and as Republicans in Colorado’s Legislature work to dismantle the state exchange as well.
Tuesday is the deadline for people in states that do not have their own exchanges to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
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