It has been a busy week on the Hickenlooper for Colorado campaign. While John continues to talk about health care and disaster recovery, Senator Gardner’s latest attempt to cover up his real record of opposing protections for people with pre-existing conditions isn’t going so well.
New Health Care Ads, In Both English and Spanish
Earlier this week, Hickenlooper for Colorado released a new TV ad titled “Everything” highlighting John’s record of expanding health care to 500,000 Coloradans. In the ad, Coloradans share their relief after having acquired health insurance and thank John for his efforts to expand health care coverage.
The campaign also released a Spanish language TV ad, the first run by either Senate candidate during the general election. The ad, called “Terrible,” contrasts John’s record of expanding health care in Colorado with the failed leadership of President Trump and Washington during COVID-19.
Advocates, Experts Call Out Gardner’s Health Care Stunt
Senator Cory Gardner has spent a decade trying to unravel health care protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and his 11th-hour attempt to erase that record isn’t going too well. After Colorado leaders decried Gardner’s stunt and health care experts explained that it would still allow insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, 9News took a close look at the proposal and concluded that Gardner’s sham bill “is actually horse excrement.”
This is a must-watch:
Hickenlooper on Health Care in the Colorado Sun
The Colorado Sun published an op-ed from John Hickenlooper on his plan to stop Washington’s attacks on our health care and expand coverage and lower costs for Coloradans. John’s plan builds on the Affordable Care Act to lower costs, address sky-high prescription drug prices, and rise to the challenges we face during a pandemic. He wrote:
Nothing reinforces the need for quality, affordable and accessible health care like our current public health crisis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown just how far we have to go to reach universal coverage that ensures equity and provides health care providers the resources they need.
It is ridiculous that people are charged hundreds of dollars for a COVID-19 test or have to worry about going bankrupt after a stay in the hospital.
When I was governor, we expanded health care to half a million Coloradans and cut our uninsured rate by nearly two-thirds. But instead of building on our work and continuing to expand access to health care, today Washington Republicans are trying to take it away.
Read more in the Colorado Sun.
Talking Wildfires, COVID, and Disaster Recovery in Grand Junction
Yesterday, John stopped by KREX in Grand Junction where he talked about the importance of our coming together to recover from COVID-19 and devastating wildfires. They also discussed the importance of Vote by Mail and how Colorado’s system should be a model for the nation.
Hickenlooper Unveils Education Plan During Back-to-School Season
John has spent weeks listening to parents and educators as they deal with the unique difficulties of schooling during COVID. His new plan, “Building a Stronger Education System” addresses the shortcomings exposed by COVID as well as longer-term problems and the growing inequality in our education system.
Hickenlooper’s plan to “Build a Stronger Education System” includes:
- Investing in early childhood learning by ensuring universal access to early childhood education and preschool;
- Strengthening our K-12 system by giving schools the resources they need to reopen safely;
- Investing in public schools, investing in educators, and supporting community schools;
- Promoting equity in education by ending the school-to-to prison pipeline, strengthening support for English language learners, fulfilling our commitment to adequately fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, protecting the civil rights of LGTBQ students, and advocating for rural schools;
- Making higher education more accessible by addressing college affordability, supporting equal access to a college degree, strengthening transitions to college and the workforce, and preparing students for careers in renewable energy.
Endorsement Corner
John earned key endorsements from the Colorado Education Association and the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund for his commitment to improving public education tackling the climate crisis. (Meanwhile, Senator Gardner appears to be making up a fake conservation group to greenwash his anti-environmental record.)
Hick Talks Health Care in Steamboat
John is back on the road, and this time he was joined by state Representative Dylan Roberts to talk about the issue at the top voters’ minds: health care. John also visited Steamboat small businesses and talked about Washington’s failure in providing relief to make sure these businesses can thrive.
