Blog

Ritter signs 3 Primavera healthcare bills at Exempla

Posted Jun 04 at 1 PM
Three of the health care related bills signed by Governor Bill Ritter Monday in Lafayette were sponsored by State Rep. Dianne Primavera (D-Broomfield), a four-time cancer survivor.

“The legislative session was tough, but it’s great to see results like this from all that hard work,” Primavera said. “It’s good to be here to do this, to see the real-life implications of the bills we pass in Denver, and how we really help people.”

Ritter said changes in health care laws have helped Coloradans' health and our economy.

“We’ve worked since 2007 in stair-step fashion to do meaningful things in health care for the people in this state. We're not waiting for Washington to provide quality, affordable health care for Coloradans.”
Primavera Honors Vietnam Veterans

Posted May 03 at 4 PM
For most of us in this Chamber, if you are like me, April 30th is just another date on the calendar. Unless it is your birthday, anniversary, or some other special remembrance it is just another day to come and go.
But for the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, it is a date that is etched in their minds, hearts, and souls, because it marks the official end to one of the most bitter and controversial wars in American history. It is one of the most painful experiences for those who served in Vietnam. So painful for some like my constituent, who came to my town hall meeting two nights ago. He was wearing his Vietnam Vet cap, but admitted that he couldn’t even talk about the war and his experiences of the war until one year ago, thirty four years afterwards. For thirty-four years he has battled these horrors and demons inside of him.
For me I was a teenager when the war began. It was during my college years that there were many anti-war protests, anti-war songs, and so very sadly, anti soldier sentiments. Unlike other wars where soldiers were made to feel proud of their service and come home to ticker tape parades, these soldiers left for war one by one to the battlefield. A battlefield that was a hot, wet jungle, fighting an enemy who for the first time, may or may not have worn a uniform, with unclear battle lines, and experiencing situations that left many soldiers with lifetime problems. As if their experience in the jungle wasn’t horrific enough, when their duty ended, they couldn’t look forward to their welcome home.
Instead many came home one by one. My constituent told me he came home in the middle of the night to Americans that spat and mocked him. Calling him names like “baby killer” and made him feel ashamed of what they had done.
I was married to a Vietnam Vet and couldn’t understand his pent up anger and the rage that was inside those vets who served. I sought counseling at the Vets center and it was in that counseling that I learned through the experiences of the other members, the pain and torment that our vets lived with and couldn’t get out of their memories every day.
So, I was touched when my constituent Carl Everhart, who is here today, asked me as his State Rep, if I could do something to honor these Vets on this 35th anniversary. So, Carl and all of you who have come today, I want to tell you how sorry I am for your treatment and thank you from my heart. If I could wave a magic wand I would find those who remain lost, give back the lives to those who died, erase your painful memories, heal your physical scars and wounds, recreate history to give you the official parade and welcome home that you so deserve.
But since I don’t have a magic wand, please accept this Resolution as a token of our appreciation. I think I speak for all of the House of Representatives and our staff when I say “Thank You and Welcome Home.”
Autism Bill, sponsored by Dianne Primavera, ensures treatment for young patients.

Posted Dec 01 at 10 AM
Senate Bill 244, sponsored by Dianne Primavera, and signed into law by Governor Bill Ritter ensures that young Coloradans diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder receive treatment. Treatment results are gaining momentum!

Treatments like those described in a Denver Post Article show great promise! Click on link for details.
Watch: Rep. Primavera on 9News talking about the Colorado Pink License Plate

Posted Jul 27 at 6 PM
Smart Energy Living® Consumer Workshops

Posted Jul 22 at 6 PM
Leading Experts Are Ready to Help Metro Area Consumers Save Money and Find Green Jobs
Smart Energy Living Alliance Presenting Eight Consumer Workshops

The Smart Energy Living® Consumer Workshops will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2009, at the Colorado School of Mines Green Center in Golden. Smart Energy Living Alliance® is sponsoring the workshops to give residents information they need to save money, energy and water, and to find green jobs and job training. The workshops will cover everything from emerging energy technologies, do-it-yourself weatherization tips, how to select a qualified contractor, taking advantage of Xcel Energy’s rebates, and how wind, solar and geothermal sources could power your home. For more information or to register go to www.smartenergyliving.org/cm/Home.html or call 303-216-2026 Ext. 105.

Smart Energy Living Alliance (SELA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart energy decisions and ensuring qualified professionals are available to meet consumer needs through the best unbiased information, tools and resources. SELA was founded in 1999 by the managing partners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES AT BUSINESS FAIR

Posted Jul 22 at 5 PM
Gov. Bill Ritter issued an executive order today establishing new state efforts to help job-seekers and small and minority-owned businesses benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He signed the order and announced the new plans during a “Procurement Connections” business fair in Denver.

“Today we are helping small businesses make the most of the Recovery Act,” Gov. Ritter said. “The act is creating opportunities all across Colorado. It’s vital that small businesses are able to take full advantage of this as we lead Colorado forward and re-energize the economy.”

Click here to listen to Gov. Ritter’s complete remarks at the business fair.

At the fair, hundreds of small businesses were able to meet directly with dozens of state procurement officials to receive help on bidding for contracts funded by the Recovery Act. Colorado expects to receive about $3.5 billion from the act for transportation, water and other infrastructure projects.

The executive order signed by Gov. Ritter today directs:
- Private-sector job openings created through Recovery Act-funded contracts be posted online at www.connectingcolorado.com.
- State agencies to conduct aggressive outreach to minority- and women-owned businesses to encourage them to bid for contracts through the Recovery Act. These efforts will be assisted by the state’s director of minority and small business outreach and Gov. Ritter’s Economic Recovery Team.
- The Colorado Economic Recovery and Accountability Board to post statutes and procedures at www.colorado.gov/recovery regarding the handling of complaints from the public about the use of Recovery Act funds.
The free “Procurement Connections” fair was held at the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria higher education campus. Representatives from more than 30 agencies attended the event, which was coordinated by the state’s Minority Business Office and the Governor's Economic Recovery Team.

Click here for more information about the Recovery Act.
Legislative Audit Committee Investigates Trooper Relays

Posted Apr 27 at 10 PM
Dianne on Ch 7 news!

As the head of the Legislative Audit Committee, Dianne has invited Chief Wolfinbarger and Mr. Weir to come to the June 8th session of the committee to give full disclosure of the situation surrounding reports of the use of state patrol cars and troopers to transport state employees on personal business. Click on the above link to get story and video of 7 News report.
Check-off Line 44: An Easy Way to Make a Difference

Posted Mar 11 at 11 AM
Help reduce mortality from breast and women’s reproductive cancers in our state when you file your Colorado taxes!

Check-off a donation on line 44 of your Colorado Income Tax form to the Breast and Women’s Reproductive Cancers (BWRC) Fund and help expand vital education, screening, and diagnostic efforts throughout the state.

Your generous contribution of $1 or more will fund competitive grants administered by the Colorado Cancer Coalition (CCC) in collaboration with the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance, Colorado Breast Cancer Task Force, and numerous other partners statewide.

So while you’re grumbling about taxes, remember, every year in Colorado, 3,000 men and women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,000 women are diagnosed with reproductive cancers. But you can help. Check-off Line 44! And please, tell your doctor about any unusual changes in your body and don't forget your regular wellness exams!
Dianne Honored by American Cancer Society

Posted Mar 11 at 11 AM
From the Broomfield Enterprise, March 8, 2009: "State Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, was recently honored by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network for her longtime commitment and advocacy on behalf of cancer survivors and in search of a cure."

See article.
I want pink-ribbon license plates to raise money as well as cancer awareness

Posted Mar 10 at 6 PM
You would think that some of the fees on the pink ribbon license plates with the slogan “Committed to a Cure” would go to treatment or cure to breast cancer, but that is currently not the case. I'm proposing a bill that would make some of the fee on these plates go towards helping treat women with breast cancer. Click here to read more.
Access to Clinical Trials Bill coverage

Posted Feb 10 at 11 AM
See media coverage of my recent press conference on access to clinical trials:

Channel 7: Capitol Support For Clinical Trials

Video viewing tip: click on video link, then PC users can right click on small video image, select "zoom", then select "full screen".

Channel 2: Bill looks to expand access to experimental cancer treatments.
Dianne Primavera works to address Shameful Gap in Breast Cancer Treatment

Posted Sep 20 at 3 PM
See Channel 7 video news article about the Komen Community Challenge to fix the gap in Medicaid coverage for breast cancer treatment.

(Viewing hint: Right click on the small video image, go to "zoom" and select "full screen")