CRITICAL LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW |
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Today the Governor highlighted several accomplishments that were passed by the legislature and signed into law this year. Governor Polis was proud to work with members of both parties to help build a resilient response to the virus, from both a health and economic perspective, despite a shortened legislative session.
On COVID:
- Using coronavirus relief funds, the General Assembly approved and the Governor signed:
- The General Assembly and the Governor also:
- Approved $250 million in CLIMBER loans to continue to assist small businesses.
- Codified provisions from several executive orders, including permitting alcohol takeout from bars and restaurants and making it easier for Coloradans to access telemedicine.
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Enacted legislation to provide paid sick leave for Colorado employees, which is vital right now during this pandemic and in the future.
- In addition, the General Assembly and the Governor enacted:
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Legislation extending and funding the reinsurance program for 5 more years to save people money on insurance premiums, and to provide additional coverage options to those who can’t afford it.
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Legislation to refer a tobacco and vaping tax to the ballot to help shore up our schools during the downturn, and ultimately to provide free preschool to every child who wants it in Colorado.
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Overwhelmingly bi-partisan legislation to reform policing in our communities.
The Governor also thanked the Joint Budget Committee, who had the difficult task of balancing one of the most challenging budgets in state history, and did so in an incredibly short timeframe.
Even amidst unprecedented crisis, the government has come together and delivered for Coloradans, and will continue to do so.
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HEEDING THE WARNING FROM COLORADO'S NEIGHBORS |
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As cases and hospitalizations have ticked up in both Colorado and its neighboring states, it’s important to remember that handling this pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint. The state will continue to monitor the situation at hand and adapt policy as necessary depending on what the data shows.
Many states in the country have already demonstrated the consequences of not being vigilant, costing lives and devastating businesses and the economy.
- Texas began a phased reopening starting on May 1st, but after a period of modest case growth, they began to see exponential growth in early June that has not let up since. This drastic increase occurred over a matter of weeks, showing how quickly everything can quickly change with this virus. Now, Texas’ hospitals are reaching capacity, and the Governor highlighted that last Sunday’s obituary section in the Houston Chronicle was 43 pages long.
- 40 hospitals in Florida breached their ICU capacity, and Arizona isn’t far behind. Both states are seeing exponential growth in cases.
- California, which has also seen exponential growth in recent weeks, has just returned to a level of restrictions that looks a lot like our Stay-at-Home phase, including banning many indoor activities.
By contrast, Colorado is currently a positive outlier nationwide in terms of both virus suppression and economic recovery, and we want to keep it that way.
Colorado’s businesses are performing slightly better than national averages on several key metrics, including monthly payments like rent or utilities, number of employee hours worked, and number of employees retained. Furthermore, our statewide unemployment rate, while persistently and unacceptably high, remains three points lower than the national average.
The bottom line is this: in order to preserve our relative success, everyone needs to continue to do their part:
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Individuals need to continue to wear masks, keep distance, stay Safer at Home or in the Vast Great Outdoors, protect vulnerable populations, and practice proper hygiene.
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State will continue to work on getting more PPE and testing supplies, providing economic support for businesses and individuals including $250 million in state CLIMBER loans and $20,000,000 in small business assistance.
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Local governments must continue to step up on mask ordinances, repurposing space to allow for more social distancing, and beefing up local public health agency capacity.
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Business community must continue to do the right thing when it comes to requiring masks for customers, being flexible when it comes to teleworking, and taking steps to protect patrons and employers alike.
The fate of Colorado in both virus suppression and economic recovery, is largely in your hands. Reduce social interactions. Remain six feet from others whenever possible. Wear facial masks whenever in public
Our neighboring states are sending us a warning -- let’s heed that warning and avoid their fate.
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Last week, Governor Polis announced that federal aid for small businesses is still available through the Paycheck Protection Program. There is still $129 billion remaining in the fund which can be used as forgivable loans, and the application deadline has been extended until August 8th.
The team at the Office of Economic Development and International Trade has been hard at work ensuring that Coloradans get their fair share of PPP funds, so let’s make sure that Colorado businesses get as much PPP help as possible from the federal government.
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