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In Solidarity with Boulder and Atlanta. |
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This has been a hard couple of weeks. Just last week in Atlanta, eight families and an entire community were hit with tragedy when a gunman killed eight AAPI people at spas. On Monday, Colorado was again struck with tragedy as ten people were killed in a senseless act of gun violence at a King Soopers in Boulder.
Remember their names, and remember that you are not alone. If you are in need of support or resources, here are places you can turn:
Click here to read the Colorado Democratic Party's statement on Boulder, and click here to read our statement on Atlanta. We're in this together, and we stand in solidarity with all the families, victims, and survivors of gun violence. |
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State Party Re-Org Complete! |
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The Colorado Democratic Party’s state central committee officially concluded the 2021 re-organization of the state party, re-electing all eight of the CDP’s state party officers excluding chair, and electing two newcomers to the state officer slate to fill two newly created positions.
The elected state party officers, including Morgan Carroll as chair, are now:
Howard Chou - 1st Vice Chair Sandy Baca-Sandoval - 2nd Vice Chair Rosanna Reyes - Treasurer Bob Seay - Secretary Josh Trupin - Assistant Secretary Jeremy VanHooser - Vice Chair of Outreach (1) Xochitl Gaytan - Vice Chair of Outreach (2) Lisa Neal Graves - Vice Chair of Outreach (3) Sheila Canfield Jones - Vice Chair of Rural Outreach Patricia Barela Rivera - Vice Chair of Communications
On Saturday, during the re-organization, the state central committee voted unanimously to re-elect Morgan Carroll as chair for a third term via vote by acclamation. In addition to the existing positions of 1st and 2nd Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Chair of Rural Outreach, 2 Vice Chairs of Outreach, and Vice Chair of Communications, the CDP added a 3rd position of Vice Chair of Outreach and an Assistant Secretary position. |
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COVID-19 Updates |
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All Coloradans 16 And Older Will Be Eligible For A COVID Vaccine By Mid-April, Polis Says CPR News
Gov. Jared Polis now expects to open COVID-19 vaccinations to all Coloradans 16 and older by the middle of April and that he expects everyone that age who wants a vaccine to be fully protected by the end of June.
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The American Rescue Plan How is it helping folks? |
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For single moms like Kelly Shanley, moving herself and her two kids out of poverty is attainable through a college degree. But until the American Rescue Plan, Kelly was punished for going to school full-time to make a better life for herself and her kids because since she wasn't working a minimum wage job, she couldn't receive the Child Tax Credit.
But going to school full time instead of working full time has made her ineligible for the current child tax credit, which is tied to income tax. That made no sense to Bennet.
“Historically the poorest people didn’t get the benefit because there was an attitude that said, ‘Look you you have to show that you’re working before you can get this,'” the Democrat said. “These people are working. They’re working incredibly hard, they’re just not paid any money.”
Under his bill, Bennet says 90% of Colorado families will qualify for the tax credit including, and especially, the poorest. Shanley will begin receiving monthly checks of $550 as early as July.
“$550 as little as it might seem to some, that is my monthly budget,” Shanley said.
While critics say the money will disincentive work, Bennet says it will do exactly the opposite.
“This is a pro-work bill because what it’s going to enable people to do is pay for an unexpected expense or pay for a babysitter so they can stay at work,” he said.
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Remember -- Colorado Republicans like Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, and Doug Lamborn all voted 'No' to helping struggling Colorado families.
Meanwhile, all of Colorado's Democratic members of the Congressional delegation voted 'Yes'!
But how does the American Rescue Plan specifically help Coloradans, you ask? Click the link to find out! |
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BILLS TO WATCH IN #COLEG |
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Reporting Lost Or Stolen Firearms (SB21-078) Sponsors: Rep. Leslie Herod & Tom Sullivan, and Sens. Jessie Danielson & Sonya Jaquez Lewis
HOA Governance Funding Record Keeping (HB21-1229) Sponsors: Reps. Brianna Titone and Naquetta Ricks
Public Healthcare Option (HB21-1232) Sponsors: Reps. Iman Jodeh & Dylan Roberts, and Sen. Kerry Donovan
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César Chávez's Legacy: La Lucha Continúa Wednesday March 31 @ 6PM |
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Looking to celebrate César Chávez Day with your fellow Latina/o/x community members? Join us March 31 at 6pm for a virtual La Lucha Continúa Town Hall. Click here or the link below to register!
https://www.mobilize.us/coloradodems/event/377984/ |
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The 2021 Obama Gala Saturday, April 24, 2021 @ 5:00PM MT |
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Have you secured your spot for the 2021 virtual Obama Gala on Saturday, April 24, 2021? Click here or the button below to buy your ticket today! |
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You nominated and voted -- here are the awardees of the 2021 Obama Gala Awards! Join us in congratulating these honorees, and buy your ticket TODAY so you can watch them accept these awards virtually! |
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Opportunities with the Colorado Dems |
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Join our Letter to the Editor Campaign! |
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Colorado is home to over 100 newspapers across the state in our 64 counties, and Letters to the Editor are one of the best ways to communicate to voters!
That's why the CDP is launching a revamped, improved Letter to the Editor campaign! The purpose? To hold Republicans like Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, Patrick Neville, and others accountable in the local press!
Want to sign your name to letters? Draft letters? Both?
Then this program is for you! Click here or the button below to join the LTE campaign! |
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Join the Rapid Response Team! |
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Owning the message is a big step in winning campaigns, and one of the ways we can own the message in 2021-2022 is through rapid response, and that's why we're re-launching the CDP Rapid Response Team!
Whether you want to show up to protest, share content on social media and help it go viral, call elected officials, or testify at the Colorado State Capitol, this is how you can lift up all the good work Colorado Dems have delivered on, and how you can help defeat Republicans!
Click here or the button below to sign up for the Rapid Response Team! |
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CDP Initiative News! |
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What: Virtual Discussion Titled "Broken Promises and Invisibility: The Unique Challenges of Native American Women" When: TONIGHT, Wed, Mar 24, 2021 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM MDT Who: Speakers include Dr. Rebecca Foster, Antoinette Poafpybitty, and Noma Thayer, CDP Data Director.
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WHAT: The Colorado Democrats Rural Initiative will hold its first business meeting of the year. WHEN: Sunday, April 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM MT
Stay tuned for details!
For more info or to RSVP, email Rural Initiative Secretary Mary Dodd at [email protected]. |
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#DemsDo |
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Colorado state representative, father of shooting victim reflects on mass shootings Washington Post
Wearing the jacket of his son who died in the Aurora movie theater shooting, State Rep. Tom Sullivan (D) spoke on the Colorado State House floor on March 23 following a deadly shooting in Boulder one day earlier.
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How Michael Bennet plans to ensure the Child Tax Credit expansion lasts longer than a year Colorado Sun
Michael Bennet on Wednesday floated the idea of bypassing the U.S. Senate’s filibuster rule to extend the Child Tax Credit expansion beyond its 2022 expiration date through a parliamentary process known as budget reconciliation.
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Asian-Americans rally in Denver to call for a stop to hatred, racism, violence Denver Post
“Hate is un-American,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat. “We will not tolerate hate here in Denver, in Colorado or in our country.”
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The Marijuana SAFE Banking Act Is Back And Perlmutter Hopes Its Time Has Finally Arrived CPR News
The chuckle factor. That’s how Rep. Ed Perlmutter described his colleagues’ reaction to his bill granting legal marijuana businesses access to financial services. He’s been on this path since 2013.
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Colorado congressman calls for federal action on gun legislation in wake of Boulder mass shooting CNN
Rep. Jason Crow is urging Congress to act on gun measures that he argues would make communities safer in the wake of a deadly mass shooting Monday in his home state that left 10 people dead.
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Colorado Rep. Neguse says enough is enough after mass shooting in Boulder, calls for gun reform CBS News
Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, joins "CBS This Morning" following a shooting at a Boulder, Colorado, grocery store in his district that left 10 dead.
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Hickenlooper quotes from letters during delay tactic in U.S. Senate Durango Herald
While the latest COVID-19 relief bill was being read aloud in the Senate chambers, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper posted excerpts of letters from his constituents on Twitter. The letters, which were sent to his state office in Colorado, revealed a helplessness in people struggling with the consequences of the pandemic and a lack of government aid.
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Polis signs infrastructure funding bills to help boost economy Grand Junction Sentinel
Gov. Jared Polis has signed into law the first of several bills aimed at helping boost the state’s economy while it struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of those measures, SB112, calls for $20 million to go toward several infrastructure projects at 12 of the state’s parks and recreation areas, including the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex in De Beque Canyon and Ridgway State Park.
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GOP Watch |
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Republican Lawmakers Want CO to Publish Personal Info About People Who Have Abortions Colorado Times Recorder
In an effort that one abortion foe called “the first step” toward regrouping following the failure of Prop. 115, Republican lawmakers are pushing an abortion surveillance bill that would force abortion providers to collect personal information from patients to be compiled in a public report.
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Big Tech Trumps Big Coup For Buck, Boebert Colorado Pols
Colorado Newsline’s Chase Woodruff reports on a vote by two Republican members of Congress from Colorado, Reps. Lauren Boebert and Ken Buck, along with a very small Republican minority in the U.S. House against a resolution condemning the recent military coup in the nation formerly known as Burma.
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The Funnies! |
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Share the Dispatch |
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