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Sunday, January 13, 2013
Dear UVC Friends,
Now that we are into 2013, I am happy to start things anew here on the blog. You'll be pleased to know that the website is being updated, and we will be going through a few operational and format changes that will make things more efficient. I have been Secretary since the new session, and I look forward to continuing to serve in any way I can. If you have suggestions or ideas, please feel free to contact me directly at secty@unitedveteranscommittee.com.
If you are not already subscribed to the newsletter, which comes out a few times a week with consolidated information, you can write me at that same email.
Thanks to Izzy Abbass, we also have a LinkedIn profile that is brand new, and we'll be developing on that as well. Look us up as United Veterans Committee of Colorado.
We still have our meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 09:00 at the VFW in Englewood, 2680 W. Hampden Avenue, Sheridan, CO 80110. Please also mark your calendar for the UVC Banquet, which will be held at the Renaissance (3801 Quebec Street Denver, CO 80207) on Sunday, April 7, 2013. The pdf's are being updated on the site, but if you would like to register to attend you can contact our Banquet Chairman at kcmelcher@comcast.net.
Happy New Year to All!
Jenn Latini
Secretary, UVC
Friday, May 20, 2011
UVC 2011 Legislative Wrap-Up
UVC Members and Friends,
The 2011 session of the 67th General Assembly ended Wednesday, May 11th. It was a productive session for veteran's issues, with several major victories.
Victories
The continuing budget challenge in Colorado limits many opportunities to fund veteran services as needed in the state. That said, the United Veterans Committee worked to protect the current levels of support for Colorado's veteran and military community. The State Veteran Nursing Home budget did not suffer significant cuts following adjustments from the sale of the Trinidad Nursing Home.
UVC opposed and helped to defeat HB 1038, a measure that would have prevented the sale of the Trinidad home. The Trinidad home was not a qualifying veterans home, yet suffered losses totaling nearly $5 million over ten years - losses subsidized by VA funding to the 505 fund that oversees all State Veteran Nursing Homes.
Also, UVC opposed several attempts to change the Medicaid reimbursement rates that apply to the SVNH residents, measures that could have raised rates paid by veterans on fixed incomes. SB 170 and HB 1285 were defeated, and SB 125 was amended to not harm the residents.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also suffered cuts to their budget, but relative to other departments the impact was minimized. One of two new armories was funded and is now eligible for federal matching funds to complete. Funding for the second armory was postponed until 2012, when federal matching funds will need to be met or lost.
The UVC also supported the DMVA's measure to make processing applications for the disabled veteran property tax exemption more efficient, allowing for more timely responses. And the UVC helped defeat SB 033, a measure that would have required the flying of the Honor & Remember flag over state buildings on specific days.
Other Successes
Two measures designed to make voting easier for military members deployed overseas were passed, HB 1219 and SB 189. HB 1237 provides for a new billeting fund for the National Guard to improve training facilities and quarters. Two measures allowing military members in professions that require licensing to maintain their licenses more easily during and immediately following a deployment, HB 1013 and HB 1100. A Department of Defense child care pilot program was established ( HB 1027).
Lastly, UVC opposed a provision in SB 109 that would have given a new tax refund checkoff for education top-line priority on Colorado income tax forms. The bill was amended to drop that provision.
Losses
HB 1129 would have established a veteran preference in state contracting procedures, but was also linked to union and domestic vendor requirements that allowed for a 25% increase in contracting costs to the state. Under the current budget conditions those provisions were not supported by the majority of the House and the measure was defeated. Veteran preference may be revisited as a stand-alone measure next year as a result of this year's efforts. And lastly, HB 1321 was another voting measure to improve access to ballots by deployed military members. It was defeated in the Senate for reasons that are unclear, but seem to be unrelated to the bill itself.
Wrap Up
In short, UVC had a very successful legislative session. Thank you to everyone who took time to go to the Capitol to testify for bills or show support for veterans. Your work in your community is widely recognized by legislators. Veterans carry a loud voice when we choose to speak out on issues of public policy.
This summer we will continue to work on the veteran service budgetary needs and on issues initiated by the UVC Legislative Committee. While we avoided even deeper cuts to veteran services Colorado remains in the bottom of all states in monetary support for veterans. We must continue to reach out to legislators at the local level, in their communities during the summer and fall. Developing personal relationships as constituents is critical when it comes time to weigh in on issues that impact Colorado's veteran and military community. Your continued support and volunteer efforts on behalf of Colorado veterans makes the difference when legislators are making important decisions
The full spreadsheet of all legislation tracked and/or worked by UVC this session is attached.
Best regards,
Nate Gorman
UVC Legislative Liaison
Nate Gorman
The Gorman Group
PO Box 574
Kittredge, CO 80457
Phone: 303.221.2231
The 2011 session of the 67th General Assembly ended Wednesday, May 11th. It was a productive session for veteran's issues, with several major victories.
Victories
The continuing budget challenge in Colorado limits many opportunities to fund veteran services as needed in the state. That said, the United Veterans Committee worked to protect the current levels of support for Colorado's veteran and military community. The State Veteran Nursing Home budget did not suffer significant cuts following adjustments from the sale of the Trinidad Nursing Home.
UVC opposed and helped to defeat HB 1038, a measure that would have prevented the sale of the Trinidad home. The Trinidad home was not a qualifying veterans home, yet suffered losses totaling nearly $5 million over ten years - losses subsidized by VA funding to the 505 fund that oversees all State Veteran Nursing Homes.
Also, UVC opposed several attempts to change the Medicaid reimbursement rates that apply to the SVNH residents, measures that could have raised rates paid by veterans on fixed incomes. SB 170 and HB 1285 were defeated, and SB 125 was amended to not harm the residents.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also suffered cuts to their budget, but relative to other departments the impact was minimized. One of two new armories was funded and is now eligible for federal matching funds to complete. Funding for the second armory was postponed until 2012, when federal matching funds will need to be met or lost.
The UVC also supported the DMVA's measure to make processing applications for the disabled veteran property tax exemption more efficient, allowing for more timely responses. And the UVC helped defeat SB 033, a measure that would have required the flying of the Honor & Remember flag over state buildings on specific days.
Other Successes
Two measures designed to make voting easier for military members deployed overseas were passed, HB 1219 and SB 189. HB 1237 provides for a new billeting fund for the National Guard to improve training facilities and quarters. Two measures allowing military members in professions that require licensing to maintain their licenses more easily during and immediately following a deployment, HB 1013 and HB 1100. A Department of Defense child care pilot program was established ( HB 1027).
Lastly, UVC opposed a provision in SB 109 that would have given a new tax refund checkoff for education top-line priority on Colorado income tax forms. The bill was amended to drop that provision.
Losses
HB 1129 would have established a veteran preference in state contracting procedures, but was also linked to union and domestic vendor requirements that allowed for a 25% increase in contracting costs to the state. Under the current budget conditions those provisions were not supported by the majority of the House and the measure was defeated. Veteran preference may be revisited as a stand-alone measure next year as a result of this year's efforts. And lastly, HB 1321 was another voting measure to improve access to ballots by deployed military members. It was defeated in the Senate for reasons that are unclear, but seem to be unrelated to the bill itself.
Wrap Up
In short, UVC had a very successful legislative session. Thank you to everyone who took time to go to the Capitol to testify for bills or show support for veterans. Your work in your community is widely recognized by legislators. Veterans carry a loud voice when we choose to speak out on issues of public policy.
This summer we will continue to work on the veteran service budgetary needs and on issues initiated by the UVC Legislative Committee. While we avoided even deeper cuts to veteran services Colorado remains in the bottom of all states in monetary support for veterans. We must continue to reach out to legislators at the local level, in their communities during the summer and fall. Developing personal relationships as constituents is critical when it comes time to weigh in on issues that impact Colorado's veteran and military community. Your continued support and volunteer efforts on behalf of Colorado veterans makes the difference when legislators are making important decisions
The full spreadsheet of all legislation tracked and/or worked by UVC this session is attached.
Best regards,
Nate Gorman
UVC Legislative Liaison
Nate Gorman
The Gorman Group
PO Box 574
Kittredge, CO 80457
Phone: 303.221.2231
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
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