Remembering Congresswoman Pat Schroeder |
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| We remember Pat Schroeder, who left us Sunday night at the age of 82. We miss her already
Pat Schroeder was an inspiration to generations of women getting into politics. She was an effective and inspiring leader, a legend in Colorado politics. Rep. Schroeder was the first woman to be elected to Congress in Colorado, she was a pioneer for women’s and family rights in Congress. Rep. Pat Schroeder was a true trailblazer whose lessons are more important in a post Roe America than ever. |
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Representatives Patricia Schroeder and Shirley Chisholm talking with students at Manual High School around 1982. (Denver Public Library) |
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Her courage, her intelligence and her wit allowed her to pass crucial legislation despite facing blatant discrimination in Congress. |
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Obama Gala - April 1, 2023 |
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The 6th Obama Gala is going to stand out! Our guests will be greeted with monarch butterflies, live music and a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Congressman Bennie Thompson. |
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| Keynote Speaker : Congressman Bennie Thompson Congressman Thompson served as the Chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. The nation watched him lead with dignity and clarity as he respectfully and forcefully laid out the facts for the nation.
Do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Congressman Thompson and hear what he has to say! |
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Democrat of the year: Attorney General Phil Weiser Volunteer of the year : Skip Madsen Rural Outreach Award: Representative Elizabeth Velasco and Kevin Kuns Murphy Roberts Award: Teal Lehto, Spencer Wilcox and Bhavya Thimmannagari The Outreach Award: Sol Sandoval
Rising Star Award: Adam Frisch Lifetime Achievement Award : Congressman Ed Perlmutter
The Marguerite Salazar Community Service award: Marguerite Salazar and Councilwoman Robin Kneich Chair’s Award: Mary Dodd, Pat Rottschaefer and John Bailey |
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| Hazel Miller and the Collective We are excited to announce that Hazel Miller and the Collective will bring her outstanding voice and energy to the gala.
Colorado-based music icon Hazel Miller has a reputation for "Bringing it" whether the event is a club setting, concert, festival, or non-profit fundraiser. Hazel has toured North America, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, and Central America. Her powerful voice stands out and her beautiful spirit shines through to the delight of her loyal fans.One of the tightest and most versatile bands on the scene. With Hazel Miller and The Collective, you get original, Jazz, blues, R&B, and popular music, each song with the band's own flavor! Guaranteed to rock the house! The Collective is a seasoned band with a personality all their own. High-energy Jazz, sexy Soul, jumping Funk, and dreamy love songs are just some of the music genres that the audience can expect. Count on an exciting evening that you won't forget. |
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The Monarchs are coming to you! The Butterfly Pavilion will bring 400 Monarch Butterflies in an enclosed tent to the Obama Gala. You will be able to enter the tent and enjoy the monarchs starting at 5pm before our program starts. |
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Tickets are limited, make sure you don't miss out on our exciting program: |
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Young Dems Highlight: Brad Kurtz |
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| El Paso County Young Dem Brad Kurtz demonstrated courage and grit this week by testifying against Starbucks in Federal Trial over Union firings.
Brad has volunteered for the Party since 2016 when he was 17 years old. -Precinct Organizer
-Vice-Chair, HD-14 and SD-9
-Chair, El Paso County Young Democrats
-EPC Dems Executive Committee Member
-State Platform Committee Member
-State Central Committee Member
-Chair, EPC Dems Gala Committee
-2022 Coordinated Campaign Field Organizer
-Intern, Rep. Stephanie Vigil and AG Phil Weiser -Intern, Polis for CO 2018 |
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Colorado GOP Chooses Election Denier for Chair |
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Over 133 Registered Republicans switched party affiliation after Dave Williams was elected chair on Saturday.
Former State Representative Dave Williams is a 2020 Election Denier, he tried to list his name on the ballot as Dave " Let's Go Brandon" Williams and is a fierce Trump supporter.
During the GOP Reorganization meeting on Saturday Williams said: “We are the party that elected Donald J. Trump and we are not going to apologize, it’s time to go on the attack. So why don’t we go on offense, offense, offense!”
9 News reported: Former Republican University of Colorado Regent Sue Sharkey said:
“To say I’m a proud Republican, I can’t say it, and I said it for many, many, many years. If I can’t be proud of something I’m associated with, I should not be associated with it. My conservative principles remain the same. I will stand behind my principles all day long, but I will not stand behind a party I no longer believe in.
The election of Dave Williams as GOP Chair affirms the state Republican Party's embrace of conspiracy theories about the nation's voting system and will make it harder for GOP candidates to win in Colorado.
Colorado is part of a wave of election Deniers elected as State GOP Chair. |
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President Biden's Executive Order Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer |
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President Biden's Executive Order will increase the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. The Executive Order will also keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of “red flag” laws, strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the shooters menacing our communities. President Biden is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors.
Last year, President Biden signed into the law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence reduction legislation enacted in nearly 30 years. When celebrating the Act’s passage, he called on Congress to seize the bipartisan momentum and advance additional commonsense steps to reduce gun violence. Again and again, he has called for Congress to act, including by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring background checks for all gun sales, requiring safe storage of firearms, closing the dating violence restraining order loophole, and repealing gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability.
The President’s new Executive Order to reduce gun violence includes the following additional actions, all of which fall within existing executive authority and outside of the right protected by the Second Amendment:
Keeping guns out of dangerous hands
The Executive Order directs the President’s Cabinet to:
Increase the number of background checks by ensuring that all background checks required by law are conducted before firearm purchases, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. A large majority of Americans support background checks and agree it’s common sense to check whether someone is a felon or domestic abuser before allowing them to buy a gun. The President will continue to call on Congress to pass universal background check legislation. In the meantime, he is directing the Attorney General to do everything he can to ensure that firearms sellers who do not realize they are required to run background checks under existing law, or who are willfully violating existing law, become compliant with background check requirements. Specifically, the President is directing the Attorney General to move the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation by clarifying, as appropriate, the statutory definition of who is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms, as updated by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This move would mean fewer guns will be sold without background checks, and therefore fewer guns will end up in the hands of felons and domestic abusers. The President is also directing the Attorney General to develop and implement a plan to prevent former federally licensed firearms dealers, whose licenses have been revoked or surrendered, from continuing to engage in the business of dealing in firearms.
Improve public awareness and increase appropriate use of extreme risk protection (“red flag”) orders and safe storage of firearms. 19 states and the District of Columbia have enacted red flag laws, allowing trusted community members to petition a court to determine whether an individual is dangerous, and then to temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms. However, these laws are only effective if the public knows when and how to use red flag orders. President Biden is directing members of his Cabinet to encourage effective use of extreme risk protection orders, including by partnering with law enforcement, health care providers, educators, and other community leaders. In addition, President Biden is directing members of his Cabinet to expand existing federal campaigns and other efforts to promote safe storage of firearms.
Address the loss or theft of firearms during shipping. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) data indicates an over 250% increase in the number of firearms reported as lost or stolen during shipment between federally licensed firearms dealers, from roughly 1,700 in 2018 to more than 6,100 in 2022. President Biden is directing the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Justice, to work to reduce the loss or theft of firearms during shipment and to improve reporting of such losses or thefts, including by engaging with carriers and shippers.
Holding the gun industry accountable
The Executive Order directs the President’s Cabinet to:
Provide the public and policymakers with more information regarding federally licensed firearms dealers who are violating the law. Gun dealers violating federal law put us all at risk by increasing the likelihood that firearms will fall into dangerous hands. The President is directing the Attorney General to publicly release, to the fullest extent permissible by law, ATF records from the inspection of firearms dealers cited for violation of federal firearm laws. This information will empower the public and policymakers to better understand the problem, and then improve our laws to hold rogue gun dealers accountable.
Use the Department of Defense’s acquisition of firearms to further firearm and public safety practices. The Department of Defense buys a large number of firearms and other weapons to protect and serve our country. The President is directing the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement principles to further firearm and public safety practices through Department of Defense acquisition of firearms, consistent with applicable law. President Biden is also encouraging the independent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors and how such manufacturers market firearms to all civilians, including through the use of military imagery.
Additional steps to make our communities safer and support communities impacted by gun violence
The Executive Order will direct the President’s Cabinet to:
Help catch shooters by accelerating federal law enforcement’s reporting of ballistics data. The National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) allows federal, state, and local law enforcement to match fired cartridge casings to the guns from which they were fired, making it easier for law enforcement to connect multiple crime scenes and catch shooters. In order to maximize NIBIN’s effectiveness, federal, state, and local law enforcement all have an important role to play in ensuring timely submission of ballistics data to NIBIN. Today, the President is directing all federal law enforcement agencies to issue rigorous requirements regarding NIBIN data submission and use of this tool.
Accelerate and intensify implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). BSCA is the most significant gun safety legislative accomplishment in nearly 30 years, and the Biden-Harris Administration is treating it as such by making the most of every opportunity it provides to reduce gun violence. President Biden is directing each agency responsible for the law’s implementation to send a report to him, within 60 days, on progress toward full implementation of BSCA and additional steps they will take to maximize the benefits of the law, including by increasing public awareness and use of the resources made available by BSCA.
Improve federal support for gun violence survivors, victims and survivors’ families, first responders to gun violence, and communities affected by gun violence. When a hurricane overwhelms a community, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinates federal, state, local, and non-profit organizations in order to assess and meet community needs. However, when a mass shooting overwhelms a community, no coordinated U.S. government mechanism exists to meet short- and long-term needs, such as mental health care for grief and trauma, financial assistance (for example, when a family loses the sole breadwinner or when a small business is shut down due to a lengthy shooting investigation), and food (for example, when the Buffalo shooting closed down the only grocery store in the neighborhood). The President is directing members of his Cabinet to develop a proposal for how the federal government can better support communities after a mass shooting, and identify what additional resources or authorities the executive branch would need from Congress to implement this proposal.
Advance congressional efforts to prevent the proliferation of firearms undetectable by metal detectors. In recent years, we’ve seen the rise of technology that allows guns to be made with polymers and other materials that are increasingly capable of avoiding detection by metal detectors. President Biden is directing the Attorney General to help Congress modernize and make permanent the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988, which is currently set to expire in December 2023. |
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Health Care Costs Data and Facts |
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President Biden and Vice President Harris are delivering on their commitment to lower costs for American families.
Today, the Administration released new data showing that President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is giving millions of seniors more breathing room on their health care costs every month.
While President Biden wants to take these cost-lowering measures even further and extend them to more Americans, Congressional Republicans want to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, put money back in the pockets of Big Pharma, and raise costs for seniors and working families. Today’s lowering-costs announcements include:
The Department of Health and Human Services released new data showing that over 3.4 million seniors and people with disabilities are likely to save an average of $70 per year because of the Inflation Reduction Act’s provision that went into effect in January that allows Medicare beneficiaries to get recommended vaccines for free.
This comes on top of data that shows that 1.5 million seniors would have saved $500 per year on the cost of insulin in 2020 had the Inflation Reduction Act been in effect then because of the $35 per month cap on insulin.
President Biden called for extending the $35 monthly cap on insulin to all Americans in his budget. Already, two of the three largest producers of insulin in the country – Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk – announced they’re meeting President Biden’s call and lowering insulin costs.
HHS also announced that producers of 27 drugs – or 9% of all Medicare Part B drugs – will need to pay rebates back to Medicare because they raised their prices faster than inflation. This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act is putting a critical check on drug companies that try to excessively raise their prices and squeeze American seniors. And, some Medicare beneficiaries that take these drugs will save between $2 to $390 per dose of medication starting in April.
Later today, HHS will mark a key milestone and release additional guidance around the provision of the Inflation Reduction Act allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors.
Last week, President Biden called for expanding Medicare’s negotiating authority to cover more drugs, sooner after they launch, when he released his FY2024 budget |
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Multi County Reorganization Meetings
In March we are hosting Reorganization Meetings (Internal Elections)on zoom for each District that is comprised of multiple counties.
The Members of the House, Senate and Congressional District Central Committee are the vacancy Committee of the District. This is a key role in case an elected official steps down.
If you are a member of a district central committee you must have received the Official Call to the Meeting. Please check your inboxes and register.
You do not have to be a member to run for any position: any democrat living in the district can run. If you are interested in running for any position, or would like to learn more please email [email protected]. |
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State Party Reorganization The State Party Reorganization will take place in person on April 1st, 2023 at the Sheraton Hotel, 1550 Court Pl, Denver, CO 80202. Arrival time: 9am. The Official Call to the meeting was sent to all members of the State Central Committee. |
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