Newsroom

GOV. RITTER PRAISES NEW LENDING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES
 
Gov. Bill Ritter today praised the Obama administration’s new State Small Business Credit Initiative, which will support $172 million in new small business lending in Colorado, helping local entrepreneurs expand their businesses and create new jobs. The initiative is a critical component of the Small Business Jobs Act that President Obama signed last week to help unlock credit and provide targeted tax cuts for small businesses.
 
“Small businesses are the job-creating engine of our economy,” Gov. Ritter said. “This new lending program – coupled with the Colorado Credit Reserve Program – will help drive our economy forward and give small businesses the kind of support they need to survive and thrive.”
 
Gov. Ritter and the legislature revived the Colorado Credit Reserve Program in 2009. In partnership with the Colorado Housing and Financing Authority, the program utilizes state funds to leverage private-sector lending for small businesses. Over the past year, the program has awarded 167 loans valued at $5.24 million to help sustain or create more than 1,100 jobs.
 
The federal government’s new State Small Business Credit Initiative is modeled in part after the Colorado Credit Reserve Program. “Innovative local initiatives that support small business lending are under extraordinary pressure because of state budget difficulties,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “These funds will provide vital support to successful state-level programs that help local entrepreneurs obtain the credit they need to put more Americans back to work. President Obama fought hard for the Small Business Jobs Act because it will help ensure that small businesses continue to strengthen our nation’s recovery and serve as critical engines for job creation.”
 
Under the SSBCI, states are offered the opportunity to apply for federal funds for programs that partner with private lenders to extend greater credit to small businesses. States are required to demonstrate a minimum “bang for the buck” of $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding.
 
Accordingly, the federal government has committed $17.2 million to Colorado for this program, which is expected to support $172 million in additional private lending. Nationwide, the program is expected to support $15 billion in additional private lending.

The SSBCI allows states to build upon existing, successful state-level small business lending programs, including collateral support programs, Capital Access Programs and loan guarantee programs.
 
In addition to the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the Small Business Jobs Act includes a number of important provisions to support small business job creation.  The Act includes eight new small business tax cuts that went into effect immediately upon becoming law last week; creates a $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund to help small and community banks provide new loans to small businesses; extends and expands existing Small Business Administration loan programs; and delivers other important benefits for small businesses.
 
For more information on the Small Business Jobs Act, please visit this link.
 
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AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NEWS RELEASE
September 1, 2010

APS SCHOOLS RECEIVE HLC DESIGNATION

 The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) recently designated three APS high schools as educational sites for the Community College of Aurora (CCA). Aurora Central, Rangeview and William Smith high schools offer concurrent enrollment options through a partnership with CCA. The designation means there are no limits on concurrent enrollment courses offered at the three schools.

 “We will continue to grow with this wonderful program throughout APS,” said Superintendent John L. Barry. “As the HLC team said in departing, the partnership between Aurora Public Schools and CCA should be a model for the nation.”

The HLC is a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Representatives visited the schools last spring to evaluate the concurrent enrollment programs offered at the sites.

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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist

Paula Hans at 303-326-2755 for more information

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Community College of Aurora, University of Colorado College of Nursing announce partnership to offer “Integrated Nursing Pathway” program

Qualified students are enrolling now for bachelor’s degree in nursing;
grads will have workforce advantages

AURORA, Colo. (June 16, 2010)— Officials at the Community College of Aurora (CCA) and the University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus have announced the creation of the Integrated Pathway to Baccalaureate Nursing Education Program (Integrated Nursing Pathway). The Integrated Nursing Pathway is a collaboration that will benefit students looking for a meaningful career as well as healthcare providers who seek to hire baccalaureate-prepared nurses with outstanding preparation for professional practice.

The program is designed to increase access for community college students to baccalaureate nursing education, and its creators say this partnership is among the first in the country and the first in Colorado. The Community College of Aurora is noted for its innovative programs in science and support services for its exceptionally diverse community; the University of Colorado College of Nursing is known nationally for excellence in nursing education, clinical practice, and research. Students accepted into the Integrated Nursing Pathway will successfully earn an Associate of General Studies degree from CCA before moving seamlessly to the University of Colorado College of Nursing to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, where they will continue their education at the new, state-of-the-art University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

A unique aspect of the Integrated Nursing Pathway is that students will be simultaneously admitted to both institutions and will be supported throughout their 126-credit program by a top-quality team of faculty and other professionals dedicated to their success.

“The collaboration between CCA and the College of Nursing in the development of this new approach to nursing education in Colorado has culminated in an exciting program that capitalizes on the strengths of community college education, builds on the academic resources at both institutions, and transitions community college students to the baccalaureate degree in less than four calendar years,” said Nancy Kiernan Case, RN, PhD, dean of the health sciences division at CCA. “Response to the program among students, community members, clinical partners, and other nursing programs in the state has been uniformly positive.”

CCA students will be integrated into the program alongside their University of Colorado College of Nursing classmates and enjoy the benefits of working together to share experiences, questions, learning, best practices, challenges, and successes in a demanding curriculum designed to prepare them for a rewarding career.

Another benefit is that students can pursue higher education in Aurora, Colo., and then have the opportunity to work in the Denver/Aurora metro area and throughout Colorado. The Integrated Nursing Pathway emphasizes the value of a diverse student population as a way of achieving excellence in practice that is reflective of the cultural diversity of health care recipients. Program creators say that the diversity of these nursing students will help to prepare them to better serve the patient populations they reflect.

Additionally, bachelor’s-prepared nurses have a distinct advantage in the workplace. They are in high demand, have greater employment opportunities, and are more likely to move into leadership roles with the possibility of higher salaries.

“We have been fortunate to have two nurse educators, Nancy Kiernan Case, RN, PhD, dean of health sciences at CCA and Gayle Preheim, EdD, RN, professor and BS program director from the University of Colorado College of Nursing, leading the development of the new pathway,” said Patricia Moritz, RN, PhD, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus. “These two visionary leaders are creating a path that will lead to exciting opportunities for the citizens of Aurora and others who wish to be nurses of the future.”

The colleges are now enrolling the first group of 30 students. Case and Moritz say that students will be simultaneously admitted to the program at both institutions.

To inquire about admission into this program, prospective students should contact Nancy Kiernan Case at 303-340-7073 or Nancy.Case@CCAurora.edu. For more information, please visit www.ccaurora.edu/programs-classes/departments/nursing.

About the Community College of Aurora
Community College of Aurora students graduate from cutting-edge programs ready to take the next step in their lives, whether it’s to transfer to a four-year institution or begin a new career. CCA promotes excellence in teaching, learning, and service to a diverse community and enrolls 12,000 students each year on its CentreTech and Lowry campuses and online. Ninety-seven percent of CCA’s students are Colorado residents, and 45 percent come from ethnic minorities. The college offers more than 40 degrees and certificates in transfer and occupational education, and CCA’s core classes are guaranteed to transfer to Colorado public colleges and universities.

About the University of Colorado College of Nursing
Located at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo., the University of Colorado College of Nursing offers some of the highest ranked programs in the country -- from bachelor's through doctoral degrees and post-graduate certificate programs. The college offers several specialties through its master’s program and the only PhD program in clinical research in Colorado. It also is the birthplace of nurse practitioner education and the caring movement, and was one of the first schools in the country to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice program. For more information, please visit the UC Denver Newsroom.

click image above to open .pdf flyer

The attached flyer describes an opportunity for residents of Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties to sit down with staff from the District Attorney's Office (including District Attorney Carol Chambers) to discuss issues or concerns they have with the criminal justice system, Colorado law, or anything pertaining to white collar or economic crimes. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. It is a chance to get one-on-one with decision makers from the District Attorney's Staff.

Reasons why someone might want to attend:

• You want an explanation of why the police or our office would not take your case.
• You want to know what makes a case civil rather than criminal?
• You are a victim of a financial crime or identity theft and you need to know what resources are available to help repair the damage.
• You read about a case in the paper and want to know more about the court's or jury's decision.
• You just want to learn more about the judicial system, the DA's Office, or criminal justice in general.

This is your chance to get your questions asked or voice your concerns.

An Important Message

Please click here for an important message about rheumatoid arthritis.

Thank You!

I'm honored to have been nominated by acclamation for reelection at our Arapahoe County Assembly on Saturday, April 10th. I hope you'll work with us this summer and fall to keep our momentum going for better jobs, better schools and better healthcare! I pledge to continue to work hard as your State Representative in House District 36 in Aurora. 

Please let me know what you think...

Click here for a quick survey to give your feedback on important issues facing us today. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

Health Care for All

Our US Congress has just passed the most momentous health care legislation since Medicare, and I hope you are as proud as I am with this important legislative victory for the American people.

Unbelievably, some partisan factions are already trying to overturn healthcare reform before the ink has even dried on the bill signed into law by President Obama.  They have decided that their vision of America, where children go without health insurance because their families can't afford it, families are bankrupted by medical bills, and insurance companies can deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions, is a better America than one where everyone has access to the affordable health coverage they need.

I heard Joan Henneberry speak recently.  She is the head of Colorado’s Health Care Policy and Finance Department  (HCPF).  She congratulated our State Legislature on four years of hard work to position Colorado to take advantage of national healthcare reform.  As of May, 2010, we will be providing health care to an additional 100,000 Coloradans.

Other IMMEDIATE benefits we will see in 2010 include:

• More affordable Employee coverage for small businesses—a tax credit of up to 35% of premiums to small businesses that choose to offer coverage.
• Affordable insurance options to adults who are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions through a temporary high-risk pool
• A $250 rebate for Medicare recipients to help fill the Part D “donut hole”—the first step towards closing the donut hole for good

Beginning in 2011:

• 50% discount on prescription drugs, which fall into the donut hole
• FREE preventive care—with no co-payments required—in private plans  
• FREE preventive care for Medicare recipients
• Temporary reinsurance program for early retirees—help for employers and retirees age 55—64 struggling to pay expensive premium

Try your hand at fixing Colorado’s budget with an online application that allows you to see how state tax dollars are generated and spent.  It's called "Backseat Budgeter,"made possible through Engaged Public.  Give it a try—it only takes a couple of minutes. You'll find it very enlightening in terms of discovering the dilemmas legislators face every day making critical budget decisions.

Rep. Ryden Protects Jobs & Colorado’s Security

(DENVER) – A bill that ensures the future viability of Colorado's military installations and their local economies passed the House on an initial voice vote today.

House Bill 1205, sponsored by Rep. Su Ryden (D-Aurora), amends existing statute to add flying mission commanders at military installations to the list of community leaders who need to be notified of local zoning changes that might impact use of the base. The bill also adds military installations to the list of areas, which local governments may designate in their master plans. Currently, this list includes airports, schools and other public facilities.

“This bill is about protecting jobs, protecting Coloradans, and protecting national security,” said Rep. Ryden. “There are thousands of Coloradans employed at our military bases, such as Buckley Air Force Base, that represent a $4.6 billion annual economic impact. The Colorado Air National Guard pilots are always on standby to search for lost hikers or stranded cattle and to ensure the safety of all citizens.  The jet fighters based at Buckley are our first line of defense against threats around the world.”

The legislation captures the best practices of the communities that already have good working relationships with their local military installations. By codifying these best practices, the bases and their communities will be protected beyond the terms of today's local elected officials and the tours of the current base commanders.

“I’m also pleased to support this bill, as it increases transparency for municipalities and home buyers,” said Rep. Ryden. “Military bases are exceptionally important to Colorado, and we want to ensure their continued well-being. At the same time, we want to be perfectly transparent about their impacts on local communities.”

The bill will be up for a third and final reading this week.

Toys for Tots Needs Your Help!

Our local Marine Reserves are asking for your help to contribute to Toys for Tots this year. They are just under 50% of their 75,000 toy goal.

Gunnery Sgt Escabar, who is running the program, is still hoping to get closer before next week.  Please make your donation by this Saturday, Dec. 19th, if you can, but you can donate up to the 23rd if necessary. 

The program supports the Denver metro area and surrounding counties.  All requests for toys come from non-profits and the need is validated before being approved.

Drop off your donations at the Toys for Tots warehouse at 12601 E. 33rd Ave in Aurora (80011).  If you have any questions please call 303-801-0166.  

Rep. Ryden (second from right) recently toured the Quail Ridge Dairy and Dairy Farmers of America processing plant in Fort Morgan with other members of the Agriculture/Natural Resources Committee.

REP. SU RYDEN TO HOST “FEED COLORADO” FOOD DRIVE
SUNDAY, DEC. 13

State Rep. Su Ryden, will host a food drive to support Gov. Ritter’s “Feed Colorado” campaign, Sunday, Dec 13 from 3-5 pm at 16699 E. Kentucky Ave. in Aurora.

Everyone is invited to drop off non-perishable food items that will be given to Food Bank of the Rockies. 
           
“There is so much need, especially this year, and this is an opportunity for us to join together as a community and help those families who are having a tough time making ends meet,” said Rep. Ryden who represents House District 36 in Aurora.

More information is available online at www.suryden.com or call 303-898-5797.

Rep. Ryden observes CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team) training at Horizon Middle School in November.

NEW LOAN PROGRAM HELPS AURORA SMALL BUSINESSES

Desert Ceramics owner Bill Dean and State Rep. Su Ryden listen as Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. explains the Colorado Credit Reserve Program (CCR) that is helping small businesses in Aurora and around the state.

AURORA — Gov. Bill Ritter came to owner Bill Dean’s Desert Ceramics at 15551 E. 6th Ave. in Aurora to announce the first 23 businesses to benefit from the renewed Colorado Credit Reserve Program (CCR).

“One of the best things we can do to re-energize Colorado’s economy is to give small businesses the tools they need to succeed,” Gov. Ritter said.

“This is a great program, and we're already seeing its effect in local communities like Aurora,” said State Rep. Su Ryden, whose district is home to Desert Ceramics. “With just a small state investment, this program is encouraging Colorado lenders to loan as much as $50 million to our small businesses so they not only stay afloat but thrive during this difficult time.”  

The first group of businesses to receive loans span industries such as manufacturing, service, retail, restaurant and wholesale foods. Seventeen of the 23 are women- or minority-owned businesses. Two other Aurora businesses in this group are Colorado K-9 Detection and Grand View Landscapes.

“This loan helped us move to our new building,” said Desert Ceramics owner Bill Dean. “It is what got us going. Here we had more people at our grand opening celebration than we did during an entire year at our old location. I hope more people will take advantage of this opportunity.”

In addition to helping with relocation expenses, the Colorado Credit Reserve Program will allow Dean to purchase new equipment needed to grow sales volume.
 
To date, the program is leveraging more than $400,000 in small business lending and supporting 161 new and existing jobs across the state.

Joining Gov. Ritter at the news conference were Rep. Sara Gagliardi, and representatives of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Colorado Enterprise Fund who helped negotiate Dean’s small business loan.

Other lenders in addition to Colorado Enterprise Fund that have signed on to make loans through the program include Wells Fargo, Premier Bank, Timberline Bank and the Upper Arkansas Area Development Corporation.

The program is being administered by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), which operated the program from 1996 to 2006 until it fell dormant because of a lack of funding.

The revival of the CCR fund was made possible by the passage of Senate Bill 09-67, which Rep. Ryden co-sponsored with Reps. Gagliardi and Don Marostica and Sen. Rollie Heath.  
For more information about how to participate contact CHFA at 1.800.877.2432.

SEPTEMBER TOWNHALL DRAWS CROWD AND QUESTIONS

Our September townhall meeting on healthcare drew a large crowd who had many questions for our expert panel that featured:

• Lynn Parry MD, neurologist and a noted expert on healthcare policy
• Rich Mauro, Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst at the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
• Robert Semro, Policy Associate, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
• Dave Myers, President and CEO of the Metro Community Provider Network of community health centers.
• Sandeep Wadhwa, MD, MBA, State Medicaid Director and Chief Medical Director of the Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy and Financing

In fact, there were so many questions, we didn’t have time to answer them all. So our panelists graciously agreed to email their answers to us so we could post them on our website.

Here’s what we’ve received to date, and again, we thank our panelists for taking their valuable time to provide their thoughts about these important topics. We also thank everyone who attended the townhall and for the patience and civility shown to each other and our guests that evening.

Can we standardize prices to consumers—a price sheet for services—instead of different pricing for each service by each insurance company.

PARRY: Currently, not without legislation (Maryland, for instance has an all-payer system for hospital care: all payers –Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurers, pay the same fee for the same service) But the variability of prices reflects underlying cost shifting as well as different contractual rates with insurers. Until or unless there are regulatory changes, this will continue—a reflection of the free market in health care.

SEMRO: Not without national and state reform legislation. The first step in this is to improve pricing transparency for both providers and insurance companies. We need to have a better understanding how cost shifting is calculated by providers and hospitals. We need to know how much of our premium dollar is spent on marketing and administration, etc. The first step in creating standardized pricing is to find out how all of the different parties calculate their pricing in the first place.

Is herbology included in the reform bills?

PARRY: No. See next question.

SEMRO: Not specifically.

Are there any efforts to incorporate alternative medical treatments that can be highly effective at much lower cost?

PARRY: The current approach in health reform is to establish a process called “comparative effectiveness”: it will examine treatments that offer the most effective and safest care.

Why don’t we include holistic health care? It’s less expensive.

PARRY: Reform includes new ways of delivering medical care. Holistic care—if you mean continuous, coordinated care that places the patient and their cultural beliefs at the center – is the premise of the “patient-centered medical home”: it is not a place but an approach for primary care providers to provide that “holistic” service.

A medical bill may reflect a $25,000 charge, but the insurance-negotiated fee may be only $5,000. What happens to the $20,000 difference? Do uninsured or cost shifting pay for the $20,000?

PARRY: As with #1: often hospitals or providers do not know what the actual “cost” for a service is; medicine is sufficiently complex that system and infrastructure costs can vary widely. One of the challenges in a reformed system is to achieve greater transparency and understanding of costs in the system so that appropriate pricing can occur.

SEMRO: It is very difficult to tell. Certainly uncompensated care (the cost of treating the uninsured) and the resulting cost shift to those with insurance represents a substantial amount of this, but it certainly isn’t all. For example, what are administrative costs, how much of that cost is due to medical testing, etc.? That is why transparency (see answer to question #1) is so important.

What about rationing? If I need an expensive drug every month costing $2,500 would I be rationed because of this?

PARRY: There is nothing in any of the bills that talk about rationing. Comparative effectiveness will look at ways of providing services (including medications) that achieve the same result with less cost. That is the only way to appropriately provide care for everyone and it allows exceptions for individuals who need an expensive medication because no other exists. Pharmaceutical profits also have to be examined since much of the cost of medications goes to pay for marketing rather than research.

SEMRO: There is a lot of political hyperbole about rationing, and most of it is just that. There is nothing in any of the national reform bills that creates rationing in any practical way. HR3200 refers to “Comparative Effectiveness” and that term is often referred to by national reform opponents (incorrectly) as rationing. Comparative effectiveness is a process by which multiple ways of delivering services are reviewed to determine which produces the very best results at the most effective cost. Good outcomes would not be sacrificed to ensure economy. It should also pointed out, that in practical terms, insurance companies ration care today, through claims review and claims denial. In addition, being uninsured is the most obvious and blatant form of rationing.

Someone has said that 80% of what modern medicine treats us for today is preventable (via exercise and nutrition). It’s one thing to help victims who need healthcare. It’s another thing to be saddled with helping pay for services provided to those who need those services because they are not responsible for their own health. Does health care reform address this in any way?

PARRY: Excellent question. There are two approaches: punishing people for life-style choices can be problematic since we know there are large disparities by socio-economic status in access to health education, nutrition and support for healthy life-styles.
However, the other approach, rewarding healthy behavior, has already been started in Colorado. Last session, HB 1012 [Reps. J. Rice, S. Ryden, Sen. L. Newell] gave carriers flexibility to provide incentives for participation in wellness programs. Incentives for healthy behavior have been part of the reform package, but as yet, without details.

SEMRO: The best way to reduce healthcare costs is to reduce demand. The best way to do that is to educate people on healthy behavior and to provide incentives (to individuals and the healthcare system, itself) for living a healthy lifestyle. Health behavior is obvious in some ways but not others. What is the best way to reduce high blood pressure for example, especially if it is genetic? What’s the best way to reduce cholesterol? Things like this sometimes need more than mere common sense, and require good medical advice. Access to good medical advice can prevent bigger problems from happening and can significantly reduce costs. House bills 1012 (Incentives to Encourage Voluntary Participation in Programs that Promote Health, and co-sponsored by Representative Ryden) and 1204 (Priority Preventative Health Services, also co-sponsored by Representative Ryden) go a long way toward accomplishing this in Colorado.

Are there any efforts to ensure transparency of physician/hospital performance through a publicly accessible database?

PARRY: Hospitals already report publically in several areas. See their report card at http://www.cohospitalquality.org/index.php

The Skolnik Act [Sen. M. Carroll] requires that physicians report publically financial relationships and adverse actions. For information on the bill, click here.

For accessing information on physicians, click here.

There were plenty of “scary” statistics. It scared me. But, what are the solutions? This wasn’t even mentioned. How is this “reform” supposed to work?

PARRY: The “how” part is longer than the 3000 pages of one of the bills. Generally, the two parts will be (1)Cover everybody: unless everyone is covered, we all pay for people who are sicker when they seek care and costs keep rising. And (2) Contain costs—redesign how we deliver care to make it more safe, effective, efficient, timely, equitable and patient-centric.

MAURO: I would add to that: (3) Everyone should pay their fare share: individuals, employers, insurance companies, providers, and the taxpayers. (4) Insurance reform – no one should have to fear losing their coverage, not for preexisting conditions, nor if they require expensive treatment, change jobs, lose their job, or want to find a more suitable plan. There should be caps on deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, no lifetime limits on coverage, and no higher premiums because of gender and age.

SEMRO: This could be a very long answer and has been the subject of various health care debates since the administration of Harry Truman. I will repeat the Issues and possible solutions that I gave in my presentation during the town hall meeting. These suggestions are in no way comprehensive. In fact, they barely scratch the surface, but might give a little idea of a direction that might be worthwhile:

1) Rising Cost of Health Insurance Premiums for Individuals and Employers

Health insurance marketplace in Colorado needs more oversight. In most markets, the regulation of insurance companies is weak at best, and this gives insurers an unfair advantage over consumers (We can do this at both the national and state level)

• We need more public transparency to insure that premium dollars are being spent on health care and not executive bonuses, marketing, administration, or bottom line profits. (We can do this at both the national and state level)
• Improve the transparency of insurance products so that individuals know what they are purchasing, the services which are covered and the associated out-of-pocket costs.  (We can do this at both the national and state level)
• We need to take measures to ensure that out of state review boards don’t inappropriately deny claims. 20% of healthcare C costs come from slow payment or non payment of medical claims.
  We need to get more uninsured people insured because the cost of care for Coloradans without health insurance is shifted onto those with coverage, driving up premiums even more.
• (We have made a big step toward this in Colorado with the passage of the Hospital provider fee bill)
• Increase federal Medicaid funding for states that cover recommended preventive services.

2) Rising Costs of Medical Care

Prevention: The best way to curb costs is to keep people healthy. We need to Improve Access to Preventive Services and we need to strengthen primary care medicine

• We need to move away from a Fee for Service Model and embrace a Pay for performance model.
• We need to tie hospital provider payments to performance on common and high cost conditions
• Transparency in pricing and cost control
• We need to move toward payment bundling and creating disincentives for hospital readmissions
• Move toward more coordinated patient centered care.
• Need to control technology driven costs through a value based purchasing and provider Collaboration

3) Impact on the National Economy

We need to get some form of national health care reform passed. The longer we wait to address Healthcare’s impact on the national economy the worse the problem will become and the more draconian the corrective measures will be.

Even if a bill does pass through Congress, health care reform is not really complete. It is arguable that none of the bills before Congress go far enough to reduce costs and set all of the structures in place that need to be there. Additional reforms must better address delivery systems, affordability, hospital and provider costs, insurance company efficiency and competition, the financial responsibilities of the states, etc. However, as imperfect as these options are the longest journey still requires that first step.

Healthcare Information Online:

Are you trying to sort out the truth from the myths about health insurance reform legislation? There is a very good side-by-side comparison done in lay person's language on the Kaiser Family Foundation website.

For myth busting, the AARP has just issued a very good piece that:

1. busts the myth
2. tells the origin of the myth
3. summarizes the proposals

Issues covered:

• Will the government take over health care so we end up with socialized medicine?
• Will private insurance be outlawed or wither on the vine?
• Will the government encourage euthanasia to save costs?
• Will Medicare be eliminated or gutted to pay for reform?
• Will the government ration care?
  
  For general fact checking, go to www.factcheck.org or www.politifact.com

From the Aurora Sentinel:

Other Voices: Legislative Wrap-up

Despite the challenges we faced in the legislature during these tough times, we succeeded in what we set out to do at the beginning of the session: expanding the circle of opportunity for all Coloradans.

As promised, we focused on saving and creating good jobs, providing support for struggling families, and creating a world-class education system. And even with a tight budget, the legislature was able to do more with less.

For more of this story, click HERE.

Rep Ryden tells a gathering at Lincoln Park, "I think that this law will give people that extra incentive to buckle up." Statistics show that 56% of all traffic fatalities are associated with those not wearing their seat belts. It is estimated that this costs the state more than $90 million dollars per year in economic productivity.

SB09-296, sponsored by Senator Betty Boyd and Representative Su Ryden, is a measure that would make not wearing a safety belt a primary offense, thereby requiring standard enforcement of safety belt laws in conjunction with all other traffic laws.

Retiring Leadership Aurora Board member Su Ryden with
Rachel and Alfonso Nuñez of La Cueva restaurant.

Gov. Ritter signs Make a Wish Foundation tax
check-off bill into law at the State Capitol.

Rep. Su Ryden Announces New Fund to Help Recently-Orphaned Girls from Aurora

(DENVER) — Colorado lawmaker Su Ryden (D-Aurora) today announced a fund to benefit two little girls who were recently orphaned during a murder-suicide.

Brianna and Alliyah Patterson were the subjects of an Amber Alert last month when their mother was found murdered in her Aurora home. Their father committed suicide after releasing the girls to the police. The sisters, three and four years old, are living with their maternal grandparents.

Senators Morgan Carroll, Mary Hodge, Nancy Spence and Suzanne Williams; and Representatives Cindy Acree, David Balmer, Karen Middleton, Kevin Priola, Nancy Todd and Suzanne Williams are joining the fund-raising effort.

Public Service Credit Union (PSCU) is accepting donations for the “Brianna and Alliyah Fund” at all of its 28 branches, including the Aurora Branch at 16900 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora, CO 80015. To find additional PSCU branch locations, please visit www.pscu.org.

Information about federal stimulus package can be found at:
www.recovery.gov

Information about the Colorado impact of the stimulus package can be found at:
www.colorado.gov/recovery

Wondering about a specific bill? Find bill titles, bill status, daily calendars and more at the Colorado General Assembly website

Cherry Creek News
Su Ryden (Aurora) was elected with 100% of the vote by the Democratic delegates at the Arapahoe County Assembly as the Democratic candidate for House ...

Rocky Mountain News
Su Ryden to run to succeed Morgan Carroll...

The Colorado Independent
HD 36 Candidate Ryden triples opponent in spendable cash...

Square State
Su Ryden running to replace Morgan Carroll...

The Colorado Independent
First-time candidate Su Ryden not a political animal...

MAY 19, 2008

FOR: SU RYDEN, Colorado House District 36 Candidate

CONTACT: Su Ryden — 303-898-5797

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008

SU RYDEN KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 36

Su Ryden, Democratic candidate for the State House of Representatives in District 36 in Aurora ,will hold a kick-off reception this evening (Monday) at the Clubhouse at The Conservatory, 2665 S. Jebel Way. The event, from 5–7 p.m., will feature House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, Rep. Morgan Carroll, who is running for Senate District 29, and Arapahoe County Commissioner Frank Weddig.

“The recent legislative session accomplished a number of positive things, especially for Colorado´s kids,” Ryden said. “I want to be involved in helping craft creative solutions to the hard questions facing us in healthcare, education and other areas,” she added.

A longtime Aurora resident, Ryden is a business owner and an active community supporter. Her firm, Ryden & Associates Integrated Marketing, has been in business since 1975. She is an active member of the Aurora Chamber, serving on the board of Leadership Aurora since 2004. She is also on the Aurora Fox Arts Center Board and the Aurora Historic Preservation Commission. A Rotarian, she serves on the board of the Colorado Ethics in Business Alliance (CEBA). She also served on the Rocky Mountain Research and Prevention Institute board which spearheaded the successful Colorado Kids 1st license plate campaign.

Ryden and her husband Jerome have a son Armand, who is a resident physician in Chicago. For more information, contact Su Ryden at 303-898-5797 or email her at su@suryden.com. More information is available online at www.suryden.com.

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