Debbie Benefield

New Energy Economy

House Bill 1: Increasing Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard: Large utilities are required to produce a third of their power from renewable sources by the year 2020.  A new RES will create thousands of jobs, increase our energy independence, and protect our environment. HB 1001 Rep. Max Tyler

Clean Air - Clean Jobs Act: With a balanced approach to responsible drilling and environmental protection, this creates job, cuts air pollution, and increases the use of cleaner energy sources by closing Front Range coal-fired power plants and replacing them with facilities fueled by natural gas and other low-emitting energy sources.  

HB 1365 Rep. Judy Solano and HB 1267 Rep. Andy Kerr

Job Creation & Training

Green-job Training: With green-job training programs in our community colleges, we'll ensure that Colorado is supplying new energy companies with an educated and skilled workforce.  HB 1333 Rep. Ed Vigil

Health Care Jobs Act and Nurse Loan Repayment Program will increase nurse applicants by 50% and will encourage health care professionals to work in rural areas. Each new nurse and doc creates more secondary jobs in that community. HB 1138 and SB 58, Rep. Sara Gagliardi

Jobs in Creative Industries: 3 bills make it easier for small arts-related businesses to get loans and credit (HB 1180), increases art in public places (SB 94), and streamlines arts offices/programs (SB 158) Rep. Joe Rice

Government Accountability
Keeping the state budget balanced and corporations accountable: We cut government by slashing waste and fraud, streamlining operations, and cutting over $3.5 billion. With the closing of tax loopholes they have enjoyed for years, corporations will now pay taxes as other Coloradoans do. Reps. Pommer, Ferrandino

The "SMART Government Act" requires a new level of government accountability by allowing the public to see which programs/agencies use tax dollars wisely and efficiently. HB 1119 Rep. Ferrandino

In light of the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" case, we are reining in corporate campaign contributions and demanding transparency so that donors and interest groups can be held accountable for negative ads/mailings. SB 203 Rep. Weissmann

Saving money and achieving greater efficiencies in the state's health care budget through a Medicaid Efficiencies Act which fights fraud and cuts waste. SB 167 and others, Rep. Riesberg

Consumers and Families

Helping Colorado consumers by halting the cycle of debt perpetrated by dishonest payday lenders and tax-refund anticipation lenders, HB 1351, Rep. Ferrandino and HB 1249, Rep. Apuan

Replacing confusing insurance-contract language with plain-language and creating one uniform insurance application to ease the process. HB 1166, Rep. Kefalas and HB 1242, Rep. Apuan

Protecting the value of gift cards, SB 155, Benefield and protecting neighborhoods from foreclosed and abandoned properties. HB 1249, Primavera & Labuda

Making sure no Coloradan goes hungry by expanding SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - the new, improved version of food stamps.  HB 1022 Rep. Sara Gagliardi