Bennet for Colorado

Health Care is a Moral Obligation

Bennet for Colorado — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:13:51 EDT

We have an urgent moral obligation to change the health care system in this country so that every American has access to affordable, quality health care.

Yet at a town hall in Pueblo on Saturday, Sen. Michael Bennet was greeted by a self-described "mob" with chants of "Health care...NO!" and "I hate Obama-nation."

While we should have a substantive conversation about health care, we cannot back down in the face of these intimidation tactics.

Any health care reform bill should control costs, allow people to keep their own medical plan and their own doctor, increase competition, and increase coverage -- all in a fiscally responsible way.

Providing patients with a public insurance option -- that increases competition and drives down prices -- would help to achieve these goals.

Watch the video from Michael's town hall in Pueblo and sign the petition to support health care reform today.

Legislation Introduced by Michael Bennet to Protect Military Families Passes Senate

Bennet for Colorado — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:28:24 EDT

Washington, DC -- Legislation introduced by Michael Bennet to protect the eligibility of military families for income sensitive child nutrition programs passed the Senate yesterday.

Bennet introduced the Military Family Nutrition Protection Act of 2009 so military families will not be penalized for their service to our country.

Under previous guidelines the additional pay received by military personnel when deployed was factored into determining eligibility for several child nutrition programs. These programs include the National School Lunch Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC provides health care and nutrition assistance for mothers and infants, including vouchers for food.

"Taking away these nutritional benefits to kids and families when a loved one is being deployed doesn’t make any sense. Our military families are already struggling in these tough economic times and the challenges only increase when a family member is deployed,” Bennet said. “This bill is a common-sense fix that will make sure our kids aren’t denied access to healthy foods when their family members are bravely serving our nation in combat overseas."

Bennet introduced this bipartisan legislation with Mike Johanns (NE-R) and Bob Casey (PA-D).

Bennet Pushes for Health Reform at St. Joseph Hospital

Bennet for Colorado — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:42:28 EDT

Denver, CO -- Michael Bennet continued his push for health care reform during a visit on Monday to St. Joseph Hospital in Denver.

Bennet pointed to runaway costs as a problem underlying all aspects of our health care system.

"Having to plan around a double-digit increase every year is simply intolerable," said Bennet.

Bennet stressed that our current system must be changed to empower doctors, nurses and patients, rather than insurance companies.

Our current health insurance structure was cited by the medical professionals in attendance as a source of increased medical costs. The Denver Post has more:

Medical providers talked about the costly and time-consuming process of processing insurance claims.
Dr. Janet Steele of Larimer County said she deals with 65 different insurance companies, all with different rules, "at an enormous cost to the bottom."
Bennet noted the problem is even worse in rural Colorado.

Bennet Discusses Education Reform; Stresses Importance of Great Teachers

Bennet for Colorado — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:37:32 EDT

Michael Bennet discussed the factors he thinks are essential to improving performance in our schools in a National Journal blog post on July 30.

Bennet emphasized that great teachers are the key factor in improving student performance. For that reason, it is important that the best talent is drawn into the teaching profession. To ensure this happens we need to reexamine and improve the way teachers are recruited, hired and compensated.

Bennet also urged that improving student performance starts with sending our kids to school ready to learn. Increasing the access and quality of early childhood education will mean more kids are prepared when school starts. We also need to make sure our children aren't going to school hungry or sick because that makes learning more difficult.

Bennet stressed that meaningful education reform is going to be a community effort. From the National Journal:

Our schools should be centers for communities, delivering services, providing opportunities for families to learn together, and engaging entire communities in raising expectations for our students.

If we expect failure from our schools, that's exactly what we'll get. Communities must own outcomes, and challenge the status quo. If a city does not pick up the trash, or shovel the snow, there is public outrage. Surely, we can muster that kind of outrage in response to what is happening to our kids.

When I was a superintendent, I was often asked if I was afraid of the unintended consequences of the changes we were making. My reaction was, and still is, that the burden of proof is not on the people who want to change the system. The burden is on people who resist change, and work to keep the system the same. We have to break free from existing policies that don’t work and never will, and we have to learn from our mistakes. Our kids are depending on us to show the courage to change. Let’s get to work so we can meet this challenge.

Bennet to Fight Deficit by Introducing Pay-go Legislation; Solidifying a Reputation as “Deficit Hawk”

Bennet for Colorado — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:44:11 EDT

Washington, DC -- Michael Bennet took steps this week to fight our enormous budget deficit by voting against wasteful government programs, and introducing legislation to guarantee more responsible spending by Congress.

Bennet explained that, “Coloradans have been forced to tighten their fiscal belts. It’s time the government did too.”

The Denver Post has more on the efforts by Bennet to reduce our budget deficit:

As he defines his still fuzzy political persona, Sen. Michael Bennet is honing in on the words "deficit hawk," with two significant moves in that direction this week.

On Tuesday, he voted to strip $1.75 billion in additional funding for the F-22 fighter jet. And Wednesday, Bennet scored a coup, announcing that he would be the primary co-sponsor in the Senate of the "pay as you go" legislation that just passed the House.

"One of his highest concerns is the deficit and debt, and how we're going to lower it. He believes that's a huge economic problem for our country," said Bennet's spokeswoman, Deirdre Murphy. "That's pretty much ground zero."

Known as pay-go for short, the legislation would require new spending to be offset by increased taxes or cuts in other programs. If that doesn't happen, automatic cuts kick in — giving the process more teeth than current Senate rules meant to do the same thing.

Organizing for America Supporters Join Michael Bennet in Calling for Urgent Health Reform

Bennet for Colorado — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:41:16 EDT

Denver, CO -- More than 50 supporters of Organizing for America gathered for a conversation about the urgency of reforming our health care system at Michael Bennet's Denver office today.

Today's health care conversation comes the day after President Barack Obama held a prime time news conference pressing the need to reform our health care system.

President Obama emphasized that reforming health care will improve the lives of millions of Americans, "This is about the woman in Colorado who paid $700 a month to her insurance company, only to find out that they wouldn't pay a dime for her cancer treatment; who had to use up her retirement funds to save her own life."

Michael Bennet spoke earlier this month in Colorado Springs about the principles he believes should guide health care reform: lowering costs, making coverage available to all Americans and not passing the costs of reform onto our children. Click here to see footage of Bennet’s comments.

Organizing for America supporters have been holding events nationwide to show opponents of change that Americans want health reform now. Earlier this week opponents of health care reform predicted its defeat will be President Obama's "Waterloo moment".

Bennet Votes Against $1.75 billion in Government Waste

Bennet for Colorado — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:12:10 EDT

Washington, DC -- Michael Bennet took a strong stand against wasteful government spending yesterday by voting for an amendment offered by Senators John McCain and Carl Levin to eliminate $1.75 billion of funding for the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.

Michael Bennet voted to eliminate the program at the request of the Department of Defense. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urged that the program is wasteful and the funding should be redirected to other, more useful programs. He said lawmakers need to abandon the Cold War mentality of military spending.

Bennet agreed with Gates, "We should be listening when the Air Force tells us not to put any more money into this program. These planes were not used in Iraq or Afghanistan and our military leaders are telling us they don't want the funding. It is only common sense that we redirect the money to weapons and equipment that our troops can actually use to keep our country safe."

President Barack Obama told lawmakers he would veto the military spending bill if the $1.75 billion to purchase more F-22 fighter jets was not eliminated.

"To continue to procure additional F-22s would be to waste valuable resources that should be more usefully employed to provide our troops with weapons that they actually do need," President Obama wrote.

Bennet Engages in Conversation with Arapahoe County Young Democrats and ArapaHope Community Team

Bennet for Colorado — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:11:56 EDT

Centennial, CO -- Michael Bennet engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with the Arapahoe County Young Democrats and the ArapaHope Community Team on Saturday, June 27. A large number of the crowd's questions for Michael concerned fixing our dysfunctional health care system.

Bennet told the crowd that changes must be made to our health care system because too many people aren't getting the care they need. He stressed the urgent need for health care reform that provides affordable access to quality health care for all Coloradans. Bennet said he is open to any fiscally responsible solution, including a public option, that will put an end to soaring health care costs while preserving patient choice.

Photo courtesy of Gena Ozols, President, Arapahoe County Young Democrats.

Health Care Reform Advocated by Michael Bennet

Bennet for Colorado — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:07:13 EDT

Washington, DC -- Michael Bennet pushed the case for reforming our broken health care system during a floor speech on June 25. Bennet cited skyrocketing health care costs as a barrier that prevents increasing numbers of Coloradans from receiving the medical services they need.

During his speech Bennet called for responsible solutions to our health care problems that won't "pass on the cost to the next generation in the form of increased deficits and debt." Bennet said the usual political gamesmanship -- on both sides of the aisle -- will need to be set-aside for meaningful, positive reforms to be enacted.

Bennet singled out the story of a woman in Pueblo as an example of what is wrong with our current health care system. The Pueblo Chieftain has more on her story:

Bennet, a freshman Democrat, said the real median income of American families has declined over the past decade while the cost of health insurance nearly doubled.
He cited as examples the cases of Theresa Trujillo of Pueblo and the small town of Blanca, in Costilla County.
In Trujillo's case, Bennet noted the young woman was forced to take out a loan to pay for breast cancer chemotherapy when her company-paid health coverage ran out.

Sen. Mark Udall Endorses Michael Bennet

Bennet for Colorado — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:55:51 EDT

Thornton, CO -- Sen. Mark Udall provided a key endorsement for Michael Bennet on Saturday, June 20. Udall says Bennet is, "The right person at the right time." He went on to say he looks forward to working with Michael to get things done in Washington. Click here for video of Udall's comments.

Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor Praised by Michael Bennet

Bennet for Colorado — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:56:03 EDT

Washington, DC -- President Obama announced Tuesday that Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be nominated to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor is set to become the first Latina justice on the court, and only the third woman ever to serve on the court. Michael Bennet praised the nomination of Judge Sotomayor as "historic" and a "tremendous choice."

Judge Sotomayor is the daughter of Puerto Rican migrants, born and raised in a public housing project in the Bronx, New York. After graduating summa cum laude from Princeton, she went on to receive a law degree from Yale. Judge Sotomayor currently sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The Colorado Independent has posted Michael's comments on Judge Sotomayor's nomination:

“Sonia Sotomayor is a tremendous choice for the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a thoughtful and balanced judge with a keen intellect and a broad academic and legal background. Her skill and fair-mindedness on the federal bench has won the praise and support of Republicans and Democrats alike.
“Judge Sotomayor’s nomination is historic. If confirmed, she will be only the third woman and the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She brings with her a compelling life story and personal experience that will add to the Court’s diversity and its shared understanding of how its decisions affect the daily lives of hardworking Americans.
“Today, President Obama has showed us how he can bring this country together. By selecting Judge Sotomayor, he has chosen a nominee who has previously been nominated for judicial appointments by President George H.W. Bush and by President Bill Clinton. Judge Sotomayor has been confirmed twice before by the full Senate and her nomination to the Supreme Court should be considered swiftly.”

Biden Hosts Town Hall Meeting on Middle Class, Green Jobs; Makes Surprise Visit with Bennet to Local Restaurant

Bennet for Colorado — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:03:38 EDT

Denver, CO -- Vice President Joe Biden hosted a town hall meeting at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on Tuesday, May 26. Sen. Michael Bennet joined Biden in a discussion about strengthening the middle class through building a green energy economy in Colorado and across the entire United States.

Programs to retrain workers for green jobs and retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient were highlighted as ways to jump-start the push for a green energy economy. Significantly, Biden announced that $500 million in federal funds will be used to get these programs off of the ground. For more information visit the White House’s website.

Bennet and Biden were joined on-stage by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Poneman, and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Also in attendance were Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, state House Speaker Terrance Carroll, state Senate President Brandon Shaffer, former Sen. Gary Hart and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña.

Following the town hall meeting Biden and Bennet paid a surprise visit to M&D’s Cafe on 28th Avenue. The pair found time to order fried green tomatoes between shaking hands and posing for photos. At one point Biden even took a patron’s cell phone to talk to her very surprised husband on the other end.

For more photos of the visit to M&D’s Cafe visit our flickr page or Michael's Facebook profile. Photos of the town hall meeting at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science are also available on flickr and Facebook. For video of the town hall meeting visit the Denver Post.

Statement By Sen. Bennet on the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act

Bennet for Colorado — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:35:05 EDT

Colorado homeowners need real help right now. That’s why I am proud to have voted for the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, which will help middle class families stay in their homes. This Act takes real action to stem the tide of foreclosures, assist homeowners and strengthen our housing sector. This legislation will also help homeowners by making it easier for lenders to modify mortgages.

Earlier, I voted against one amendment to the overall bill, the Durbin amendment, also known as “cramdown.” I voted against this amendment for three simple reasons -- it was not tailored narrowly enough to those who need it most, it would have raised interest rates, and it would have slowed down the housing recovery. The last thing working families and our fragile economy needs to face is higher interest rates.

Thousands of Colorado families continue to be at risk of losing their homes and financial ruin as a result of unscrupulous lending practices over the past few years. They need our help now to protect their futures. That’s why I voted against this specific amendment that would have given debt relief to people with million dollar homes, and would likely cause a spike in interest rates that could cripple the housing recovery.

And that is why I have taken on the credit card industry and in March, I placed the deciding vote for passage of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act out of committee. Endorsed by virtually every consumer protection organization, the legislation will protect consumers from confusing, misleading and predatory practices by credit card companies. I am now working with Senator Udall to ensure that the legislation passes the Senate.