New Democrat Update - February 1999
NEW DEMOCRATS “HIT THE GROUND RUNNING”
Developing ideas before and now during the session, legislators in the New Democrat Caucus are working to solve problems in a bipartisan manner and help Coloradans improve their own lives. The Caucus plans to help forge a coalition of the center that advocates creative and pragmatic ideas. Rep. Bob Hagedorn (D-Aurora) chairs the group.
As reported last month, Sen. Mike Feeley (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Bob Bacon (D-Fort Collins) are pushing a “Vote-By-Mail” initiative to boost voting participation, save money and time for busy families, increase access for those with limited mobility and prevent election fraud. The State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee will hear the bill early this month.
Rep. Jennifer Veiga (D-Denver) plans to introduce legislation requiring DNA samples of all convicted felons. This additional law enforcement tool will help nab more crooks on the streets and discourage repeat offenders from a life of crime. Increased DNA sampling will also make it possible to establish links between crimes scenes and provide early recognition of cases involving murder, serial rape, robbery, car theft, burglary and assault. In some cases, links to earlier unsolved crimes may also be established.
State Rep. Dan Grossman (D-Denver) is a strong advocate for tackling Colorado's increasingly difficult growth management problems. Grossman is pushing the Caucus to reach across the aisle and support Rep. Bryan Sullivant's (R-Breckenridge) Responsible Growth initiative. The bill would require cities and counties to develop comprehensive and cooperative plans, permit local governments to assess impact fees on new developments to finance schools and roads and create a mechanism to resolve disputes between local governments.
Recognizing that the rising cost of auto insurance is a key emerging issue for Coloradans, Rep. Suzanne Williams (D-Aurora) is leading the charge to give motorists the option to not sue for non-economic damages for personal injuries resulting from an accident. “Auto Choice” will reduce their insurance costs by 20-40 percent - $80 a year for most drivers and up to $700 for some high-risk motorists. Williams plans to develop the bill for the year 2000 legislative session.
The New Democrat Caucus is opposing efforts to silence working families. While often differing with their views, the DLC believes labor unions have a right to be heard. HB 1189 would prohibit state and local governments from offering payroll deduction opportunities to public employees for union dues if any of the money is to be used for political purposes. This non-issue can easily be resolved by requiring unions to reimburse public entities for the related overhead expenses.
The Caucus is looking at State Rep. Gloria Leyba's bill (D-Denver) to significantly strengthen statutory rape laws, holding older men responsible for the consequences of their actions. Over 60 percent of births by teenage mothers are fathered by men beyond their teen years. Sexual activity between adult men and younger teenage girls, who are typically emotionally vulnerable, is not a consensual act.
Finally, the Caucus is evaluating Rep. Abel Tapia's (D-Pueblo) initiative to increase early childhood education opportunities for Colorado's kids. Well-designed preschool programs have significant positive effects on children's achievement, subsequent grade promotions and high school graduation rates.
The New Democrat Caucus is developing a public policy agenda that promotes opportunity, responsibility, community and empowering government. Other members and participants include Sens. Stan Matsunaka (D-Loveland) and Terry Phillips (D-Louisville), as well as Reps. Fran Coleman (D-Denver), Albert Gagliardi (D-Alamosa), Carl Miller (D-Leadville), Lois Tochtrop (D-Northglenn) and Paul Zimmerman (D-Thornton).