Bringing paid family leave to Colorado workers was a top priority for Democrats when they took control of the statehouse last year. But after effective protests from the business community, the legislature settled instead for a study. The study group — which included family leave proponents and small business owners — met for seven months, […]
family leave
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Lobbying spending sets new record in Colorado, as interests shift to influence Democratic-controlled Capitol
The aggressive agenda pursued by Colorado’s Democratic-controlled legislature this year – including bills on oil and gas regulation, family leave policies, climate change and health care – contributed to record spending on lobbying. Business interests, associations, nonprofits and other groups spent more than $36.4 million on lobbyists in fiscal year 2019 to influence Colorado lawmakers […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Did Colorado Democrats overreach, or were they right on target?
After a legislative session that delivered full-day kindergarten, lower costs for early childhood education, new steps toward paid leave and retirement security and stronger consumer protections, there’s a campaign trying to tell you these priorities are somehow alien ambitions for our state — that these community achievements are a far cry from what Coloradans want […]
Posted inBusiness, Opinion, Opinion Columns, Politics and Government
Opinion: Social benefit programs, like paid family leave, may not be easy. But they’re worth it.
This session, legislators had the opportunity to join states across the nation in modernizing the workplace and providing more equitable benefits for all. By creating the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI), Colorado could have joined the national movement to ensure public benefits match not only today’s current reality, but also the future of work. […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
For many business groups, Colorado’s 2019 legislative session has been “very difficult” to navigate
When he heard about legislation to create a state-run paid family and medical leave plan for workers in Colorado, Scott Bright took out his calculator. “I ran the numbers and, really, the cost of it was not as large of a red flag as the effect it would have on my employees, business and clients,” […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Health, Politics and Government
Here are the most-lobbied bills in Colorado’s 2019 legislative session. The list may surprise you.
One of the Democratic majority’s greatest disappointments in the final days of the legislative session was the failure to guarantee paid family leave in Colorado. The legislation was reduced to a feasibility study of the concept — in large part because of intense lobbying from business interests against the measure. In fact, Senate Bill 188 […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: If we want to support women entrepreneurs, Colorado needs a paid family leave plan
My husband and I would love to be parents someday, but that someday is hard to prepare for when you are a solo entrepreneur. In Colorado, self-employed women, like me, who want to be moms don’t have many options. Often we have to depend on a high-earning partner, our family’s emergency savings, or we have […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Democrats postpone paid family leave effort until 2020, opt for study after mounting pressure against bill
Democrats at the Colorado Capitol won’t meet one of their prime goals this year, passing a paid family and parental leave bill, opting instead to study how to resolve differences surrounding the bill in hopes of pushing forward in the 2020 legislative session. The resolution comes after weeks of mounting pressure from business groups against […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Coloradans should be supported in caring for their families
From Denver to Durango, Colorado’s faith leaders see many in their congregations faced with the difficult decision between caring for seriously ill loved one and putting food on the table. Far too many workers don’t have paid family and medical leave; in fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 87 percent of privately employed […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
After overhaul, Colorado Democrats advance their ambitious family leave effort
By Jim Anderson, The Associated Press A Colorado Senate committee on Tuesday advanced an ambitious paid family leave bill that was substantially amended by its sponsors in an attempt to alleviate the concerns of most of the state’s major business chambers. The Senate Finance Committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to send the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The […]