The 2016 Voting Guide for Colorado Dentists he 2016 election is critical for (CDSDC) funding. This process helps After completing the candidate dentistry, as you will be elect- educate candidates on dental issues and evaluation process for 2016, CODPAC Ting the federal and state sena- ensures that dentistry’s political dollars contributed approximately $18,000 to tors and representatives who will decide are wisely invested with candidates who support friends of dentistry who are key issues for dentistry in upcoming are well-aligned with dentistry. Key issues seeking seats in the state legislature. The years, including insurance reform, Med- addressed in the 2016 process included CDSDC contributed an additional icaid and access-to-dental care issues in dental insurance reform and progress in $22,000. Colorado. The 2016 ballot asks for your improving access to dental care in our Below is a list of legislators supported input on the election of both federal and state. If a candidate chose not to partici- by CODPAC for the 2016 election. local officials, as well as several possible pate in the questionnaire and interview changes to the state constitution and stat- process, he/she was not considered for an KEY to Candidate Support utes (laws). A number of initiatives on endorsement or contribution. CODPAC Supported this year’s ballot could have major effects Endorsements (indicated in bold type CODPAC Endorsed for healthcare providers and practices. in the list of legislators) were given only * Small Donor Committee Elite Please take time to educate yourself on to dentistry's best legislative supporters. ballot issues and vote! An endorsement includes a maximum Colorado Springs Vicinity Ballots will be mailed to all Colorado CODPAC contribution ($400), publish- Rep. Terri Carver (R, HD20- voters starting Oct. 17, and the deadline ing the candidate's name to the CDA Monument) for submitting your 2016 ballot will be membership and engaging local dentists Rep. Bob Gardner (R, SD12-Colorado here before you know it – on Tuesday, in fundraising and volunteer efforts for Springs) Nov. 8. Please be sure to do your part the candidate. CDSDC funds (indicated Rep. Lois Landgraf (R, HD21- and vote! by a *) were only given to legislators who Colorado Springs) CODPAC Supported Legislative went above and beyond—dentistry’s best Rep. Pete Lee (D, HD18-Manitou Candidates champions. A small donor committee Springs) may give a candidate more than 10 times In 2016, all candidates running for Rep. Larry Liston (R, HD16-Colorado the amount of a regular political action seats in the state legislature were required Springs) committee, like CODPAC. CDSDC to participate in a dental questionnaire reserves these elite contributions for leg- Rep. Kit Roupe* (R, HD17-Colorado and interview process as a prerequisite islators who have a proven dental record, Springs) to receiving Colorado Dental Political have sponsored key dental bills and have Denver Metro Action Committee (CODPAC) or Col- exceptionally supported several dental Sen. Irene Aguilar* (D, SD32-Denver) orado Dental Small Donor Committee issues over an extended period of time. Rep. KC Becker (D, HD13-Boulder) Susan Beckman (R, HD38-Littleton) Voting Checklist Timeline Adrienne Benavidez (D, HD32- Check to make sure your voter registration is By Oct. 31 Denver) up-to-date at govotecolorado.com Jeff Bridges (D, HD03-Denver) Receive your ballot by mail Week of Oct. 17-21 (Last Katy Brown (R, HD03-Denver) date to register for a ballot Rep. Janet Buckner (D, HD40-Aurora) by mail is Oct. 31) Rep. Jessie Danielson (D, HD24-Wheat Review this guide for dental voters or attend a Oct. 20, 12:15 p.m. Ridge) CDA ballot information event (full details will Oct. 21, noon Matt Gray (D, HD33-Broomfield) be emailed to CDA members in October) Locations TBD Chris Hadsall (R, HD23-Denver) Mail or drop your ballot at a polling location Starting Oct. 24 and no Chris Hansen (D, HD06-Denver) later than Nov. 8 Leslie Herod (D, HD08-Denver) 8 | Journal of the Colorado Dental Association Dominique Jackson (D, HD42-Aurora) Southern Colorado Other Local Initiatives and Rep. Daniel Kagan (D, SD26- Sen. Larry Crowder* (R, SD35- Candidates Littleton) Southeast Colorado) Your ballot will likely ask you to vote Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp* (D, HD29- Sen. Kevin Grantham* (R, SD02-Las on several additional local candidates Arvada) Animas) and issues. The CDA does not typically Rep. Polly Lawrence (R, HD39- Rep. Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff (R, review or take positions on any regional Douglas County) HD47-Pueblo West) measures, but we encourage you to evalu- Rep. Steve Lebsock (D, HD34- Donald Valdez (D, HD62-Alamosa) ate local candidates and proposals with Thornton) the following in mind: Western Colorado • How will the candidate or initiative Rep. Jenise May* (D, SD25-Eastern Rep. J. Paul Brown* (R, HD59- impact health and dental care specifi- Adams County) Durango) cally, if known? What input do local Rep. Diane Mitsch-Bush (D, HD26- Rep. Millie Hamner* (D, HD61- health groups have on the candidate or Denver) Gunnison) initiative? Rep. Dominick Moreno (D, SD21- Rep. Bob Rankin* (R, HD57-Hot • What impact will the candidate or ini- Northeast Denver) Sulphur Springs) tiative have on small businesses? What Rep. Brittany Pettersen* (D, HD28- Rep. Yeulin Willett (R, HD54-Grand input do local business groups have on Littleton) Junction) the candidate or initiative? Rep. Kevin Priola (R, SD25-Eastern • Does the candidate or initiative work Adams County) Please note that every attempt is made to to advance better long-term outcomes Rep. Kim Ransom (R, HD44-Denver) maintain bipartisan balance in CODPAC for our state? Rep. Paul Rosenthal (D, HD09-Denver) and CDSDC endorsements and giving. In • Does the candidate have any current Rep. Joe Salazar (D, HD31-Brighton) 2016, CDSDC balanced both the number or past ties to dentistry or healthcare? Jessica Sandgren (R, HD31-Brighton) and dollar amount of candidate contribu- Does the candidate have any stated tions to both political parties. However, positions on issues of interest or con- Rep. Lang Sias (R, HD27-Arvada) CODPAC funding and endorsements cern to dentists? Rep. Jonathan Singer (D, HD11- reflect a slight party imbalance given candi- Boulder) date participation in this year’s CODPAC Ballot Initiatives Sen. Jack Tate* (R, SD27-Centennial) process, in spite of repeated outreach. We This analysis of most statewide ballot Sen. Nancy Todd (D, SD28-Aurora) always strive to improve this balance in initiatives is intended to highlight some Mike Weissman (D, HD36-Aurora) participation. key pros and cons for each statewide bal- Rep. Angela Williams (D, SD33- lot measure and provide basic informa- State Board of Education Denver) tion on any intended dental impacts of While the CDA did not directly inter- Rep. Joann Windholz (R, HD30- the proposal. It is not intended to be a view or endorse any specific candidate Eastern Adams County) comprehensive review of the ballot mea- running for the Colorado State Board of sures. Links to access additional detail on Rep. Faith Winter (D, HD35- Education, it is worth mentioning that all proposals have been provided when avail- Westminster) current Republican members of the State able. Complete non-partisan information Rep. Cole Wist (R, HD37-Centennial) Board of Education recently voted to on statewide ballot initiatives, includ- Sen. Laura Woods (R, SD19- decrease standards for healthy beverages ing the full text of each proposal, can be Westminster) in schools, in spite of substantial outreach accessed at www.colorado.gov/pacific/ Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D, SD19- from the CDA and oral health commu- cga-legislativecouncil/ballotblue-book. Westminster) nity on the dental and health hazards of In 2016, the statewide ballot measures Northern Colorado sugary beverages. Current Republican address universal healthcare, elections, Rep. Jeni Arndt (D, HD53-Fort candidates on the State Board of Educa- taxes, minimum wage, criminal sanc- Collins) tion voted as a block and took a strong tions, and medical aid in dying. We aim Rep. Joann Ginal* (D, HD52-Fort stance against maintaining Colorado’s to provide balanced information on each Collins) high standards for healthy beverage proposal, with notes regarding dental Sen. John Kefalas (D, SD14-Fort choices in schools, prioritizing the sale of impacts where applicable. Two of the bal- Collins) diet sodas in high schools and increased lot measures this year could have direct quantities of juice in middle schools over Rep. Lori Saine (R, HD63-Weld impacts on dentistry – Amendment 69 health concerns. County) and Amendment 72. Rep. Dave Young* (D, HD50-Greeley) VOTING continues on page 10 Autumn 2016 | 9 VOTING continued from page 9 Ballot Measure Arguments For Arguments Against “ Vo te Ye s” “ Vote No” Amendment 69: “ColoradoCare” • All people should have affordable access to • Businesses with highly paid employees Would create a new statewide healthcare healthcare regardless of their ability to pay. might pay more in taxes than they would system that would pay for healthcare for most • Would offer consistent, equitable coverage save in premiums. Coloradans and replace most other health for all Coloradans, including coverage for • Having only one payor setting provider insurance. ColoradoCare would provide sup- those currently uninsured or underinsured. rates would potentially reduce bargaining plemental coverage to people who have other • Might reduce financial barriers to needed power for providers. coverage such as Medicare, VA (veterans) or care by eliminating deductibles as well as • Would be expensive, nearly doubling state TRICARE (military). An estimated 83% of copayments on primary and preventive government spending (currently totals Coloradans (4.4 million people) would be services. $27B). expected to be covered under the proposal. • Might avoid financial ruin for fami- • Adding to costs, there might be a migration Costs would be paid through increased taxes, lies encountering unanticipated medical of sick patients needing care into Colorado.