Key Laws Took Effect July 1
Increased Civil, Consumer and Pro- perty Rights for Colorado Citizens
Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) is the proud author of three key pieces of legislation that took effect July 1, 2008. Homeowners Rights: HB 08-1135 provided homeowners living in HOA's: (1) the right to due process before fees and fines are assessed against them (which can ultimately lead to liens or foreclosure) (2) reasonable accommodation for private modifications and in commonly owned areas for persons with disabilities; and (3) low cost mediation for conflict resolution for willing parties.
"These rights are central to respecting real property rights of homeowners. The mediation component will give homeowners & HOAs improved ability to resolve disputes more quickly and for less money," said Rep. Morgan Carroll.
Consumer Rights: HB 08-1389 FAIR Act (Fair Accountable Insurance Rates Act) created key reforms for affordable, access to health care by: (1) requiring all health insurance
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companies to justify their rate increases; (2) empowering the Insurance Commissioner to block unjustified rate hikes; (3) capturing unprecedented data on the underlying costs and spending on our health care dollar; and (4) creating an annual Consumers Choice Award for the carrier with the lowest premiums, highest benefits ratio and lowest complaint ratio in Colorado each year.
"Colorado citizens have been paying too much for too little for too long. It's about time we fought back. This should be welcome relief for anyone paying for health insurance," said Rep. Carroll.
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Heimlicher Bid in Re-Election
Recently District 3 City Council Mem- ber Jerry Heimlicher announced that he will seek reelec- tion in the April, 2009 city election. District 3 is the southwest part of the city including downtown, Old Colorado City, the Broadmoor, the U. S. Olympic Training Center, Broadmoor Bluffs, and Skyway.
Mr. Heimlicher was elected to a two year term on the council in 2003 and a four year term in the 2005 election. Term limits would make his election in 2009 his last term.
Heimlicher cited several highlights of his time in office including keeping U. S. Olympics in Colorado Springs; Pikes Peak RTA passing; funding highway 16 access to Fort Carson; establishing Cheyenne Mountain State Park including the top of Cheyenne Mountain; purchasing Red Rocks Open Space; opening Norad Road for citizen use and repairing Prospect Lake.
Heimlicher said he will continue to be a champion for public safety and quality of life second to none as the top priority of city government. Specific objectives for his final term are to:
•Finalize the approvals and construction of the Southern Delivery System to provide the essential long term source of water for our city
• Champion the re-birth of S. Nevada by first dealing with crime and decay
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• Insist on a Highway 24 plan that will maximize traffic flow with the minimal disruption to citizens and businesses •Hold the Memorial Health System accountable to the people
• Reduce panhandling in the downtown and southwest parts of the city with a specific alternative for those now giving over $1.5 million a year in donations
• Reduce homelessness by implementing plans to offer a hand up vs. a hand out and provide specific programs to help the homeless return to society
• Eliminate and reduce temporary city sales taxes by offering citizens a vote on a more reliable and sustainable source of revenue for the city
Heimlicher says he will continue to regularly attend community, neighborhood and business meetings, continue to be easily accessible by phone, mail, fax, e mail and in person, and he will be accountable to all citizens, not just a few. He will update his five year old web site to include a citizen blog and weekly updates on important issues. The web site will be re-opened within thirty days at www. JerryHeimlicher.com.
“I want to use my final term in office to accomplish these specific goals, be completely accountable to the people, and I want to look in the mirror at the end of my time in office and be able to say that I always put the good of the community as my number one goal in all that I did while in office.” Heimlicher said.
Council Member Jerry Heimlicher was invited to attend Hillside Neighborhood Association membership meeting on several occasions and did not attend.
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On June 23, the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition held an awards luncheon at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. The African American Voice received the CCDC Integration Award. James Tucker, publisher of the African American Voice, said, "We are honored to receive such a prestigious award from an organization that is dedicated and committed to justice for people with disabilities."
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Colorado Guide to Diversity
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CCDC's "Inclusion" Awards
DENVER - The Colorado Cross Disability Coalition announced at an awards ceremony this year's awards for inclusion for the disability community.
The CCDC awarded Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) the Health Care Access Award for the FAIR Act (Fair Accountable Insurance Rates Act). The bill requires insurance companies to justify their rate increases and gives the Insurance Commissioner the ability to reject unjustified rate hikes. It also provides unprecedented transparency in disclosing the cost drivers behind insurance premiums.
In the announcement letter explaining the reasons for the award, CCDC stated:
"State Representative Morgan Carroll is being honored for her tireless efforts in fighting insurance companies and sticking up for the little guy. Too many legislators are too invested in big business forgetting the real life tragedy that occurs when needed services are callously denied. Morgan Carroll has never forgotten the little guy!"
The CCDC is a membership organization that helps with grassroots organizing, legal advocacy, parents rights support, teen support programming, training, and individual advocacy for all persons with disabilities and their families.
Other award recipients included: James Tucker: Inclusion in Media, African American Voice Marriott Denver: Inclusion in Employment
Skip Morgan, Esq.: Inclusion in Legal Advocacy
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition can be reached at 303.839.1775
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