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Date: 8/12/2022
Subject: The Voter: The Voice of the League of Women Voters of Colorado
From: Beth Hendrix, Executive Director, LWVCO



Colorado Voter
VOLUME 36, NUMBER 8 •  AUGUST 2022

Congress OKs Dems’ climate, health bill, a Biden triumph

(From: AP News/Alan Fram)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Congress gave final approval Friday to Democrats’ flagship climate and health care bill, handing President Joe Biden a back-from-the-dead triumph on coveted priorities that the party hopes will bolster their prospects for keeping their hold on Congress in November’s elections.

The House used a party-line 220-207 vote to pass the legislation, which is but a shadow of the larger, more ambitious plan to supercharge environment and social programs that Biden and his party envisioned early last year. Even so, Democrats happily declared victory on top-tier goals like providing Congress’ largest ever investment in curbing carbon emissions, reining in pharmaceutical costs and taxing large companies, a vote they believe will show they can wring accomplishments from a routinely gridlocked Washington that often disillusions voters.

“Today is a day of celebration, a day we take another giant step in our momentous agenda,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. She said the measure “meets the moment, ensuring that our families thrive and that our planet survives.”
 

Voters can make free school lunches permanent this fall
The ballot initiative proposes paying for the program by reducing tax deductions for people making more than $300,000 a year.
(from:  9News/Cole Sullivan)

DENVER — Proponents of a ballot measure to re-instate free meals for all Colorado public schools kicked off their campaign at a Denver elementary school cafeteria Thursday.
 

"Every child would be able to get a meal if they need it and the district would be reimbursed for the meals they serve," said Ashley Wheeland, director of public policy at Hungry Free Colorado, of the initiative the legislature asked voters to decide upon. 

 
Federal pandemic-era funding to provide free lunches for all students expired this summer -- and most districts have reinstated pre-COVID policies of charging for meals for some students and providing free or discounted lunches for kids from lower-income families. 
 
"When school meals were free last year, it changed things," Jefferson County High School Teacher Genevieve Bassett said. "We saw improved behaviors and increased concentration."
 

 Colorado's Innovative and Stellar Election System
 
LWVCO's Whitepaper, "Colorado's Innovative and Stellar Election System," is available in full form and a handy one page document in both English and Spanish! The committee would love to present to your group, schools, or anywhere else that may be helpful.
 
As we know, Colorado’s voting system is considered an election gold standard and exemplifies the League mission: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. It is a product of evolving improvements, as elected county clerks, the elected Secretary of State, and other stakeholders seek additional means to provide accessibility, security, accuracy and transparency.
 

3 ways the Inflation Reduction Act would pay you to help fight climate change
(from: NPR All Things Considered/Laura Benshoff)
 

Money in the Inflation Reduction Act would make it cheaper for Americans to curb their own climate-warming emissions.

 

While most of the bill's climate benefits would come from incentivizing major shifts, such as building more wind and solar power, individual choices can add up when undertaken on a large scale.

 

Here's what you need to know about three ways the bill would pay consumers to make greener choices, if it passes the House of Representatives, as expected.

 
 
 

Email us if you're interested in joining a task force!



Upcoming Events

August 15
 
August 17
 
August 18
6:00 p.m. - Fundraising Forum
 
August 23
 
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August 30
 
September 8
 
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September 20
National Voter Registration Day
 
September 22
 
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NOTE: All times are Mountain. Are any events missing from this list? Please notify 

communications@lwvcolorado.org to be included in our next email. Thank you!


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