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Key Accomplishments from the 2010 Session
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Energy
We are reminded daily of the need for the United States to free itself from fossil fuels. This session, we moved Colorado in that direction while developing a thriving renewable energy economy. We passed a law ensuring that 30% of electricity from Colorado's largest utilities would come from renewable sources by 2020, creating many thousands of new jobs and making great strides towards a cleaner, greener future without increasing costs to consumers (HB-1001). We provided for green job training programs (HB-1262, HB-1333). We made it easier for homeowners, communities and businesses to get low-interest financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects (HB-1328, HB-1342), and we made it possible for the state to make long-term investments in energy efficiency (SB-207). Understanding that we will still need fossil fuels during the interim as we make the transition to renewable energy, we made sure that we would use the cleanest fuels available by transitioning 900 megawatts of energy away from dirty coal and into natural gas (HB-1365).
These bills address many aspects of modernizing our energy sources in Colorado with both short and long term benefits.
Health Care
A series of bills this session expanded coverage and laid the foundation for transparency and accountability in health insurance coverage. To start, we passed two bills to make sure that being a woman will not be considered a "pre-existing condition," first by prohibiting discrimination based on gender (HB-1008) and second by requiring insurers to cover maternity and contraceptive care (HB-1021). We then passed two bills that will cut red tape out of insurance administration costs. Finally, we took steps to reduce government spending on Medicaid by cutting down on fraud and abuse (SB-167).
Closing Corporate Loopholes and Balancing the Budget
As a result of the continuing economic recession, we cut more than $1 billion from the general fund this year. Making sure that this sacrifice is shared more broadly, we took a stand against special interests and closed several corporate tax loopholes. Doing so saved us $130 million, significantly reducing the amount cut from public education.
Accountability and Transparency in Government
For our democracy to function, we need to make sure the people of Colorado have access to their government. Many bills this session were focused on accountability and transparency. One such bill is the SMART Government Act (HB-1119), which requires all state agencies to closely monitor and report their own performance in meeting specific policy goals in a setting open to the public. Future appropriations to these agencies will be dependent upon their proven effectiveness in meeting these goals.
Leading the charge, our State Treasurer Cary Kennedy put up a website to show exactly where your tax dollars are going. Check it out at www.colorado.gov/taxtracks/
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