Thousands of State Employees Sign the CAPE Petition

CAPE Members Deliver Petitions for
Lower Health Care Costs to the Capitol

UPDATE: HOUSE AND SENATE PASS BUDGET WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR HEALTH PLAN The House and Senate have passed the budget bill with an additional $15.7 million included to improve state employee health insurance. The additional money is intended to increase the state contribution from the current 75% of the prevailing market up to 85% of the market. During the debate in the Senate, Sen. Boyd proposed an amendment (#23) that would have moved $600,000 out of state employee health care to pay for other programs. In response, Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald spoke in opposition to the amendment, and mentioned how she had met with state employees and learned about the hardships many employees face due to our inadequate health plan. As a result, the amendment was withdrawn, and the funds were kept for state employee health care. Listen to a portion of the debate.

In March, thousands of state employees signed the CAPE petition for better health care. On March 28, the petitions were delivered to the Capitol by state employees Deanna Cowles, Lori Ganni, and Patty Herrera.

Rich Gonzales, the director of the Department of Personnel and Administration, accepted the petitions on behalf of Governor Bill Ritter. The state employees then met with Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff and Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald.

Romanoff and Fitz-Gerald accepted copies of the signed petitions of behalf of the House  and Senate chambers. After hearing about the hardships faced by state employees due to the state's inadequate health plan, Romanoff and Fitz-Gerald pledged to support  putting additional funds in the budget this year for state
employee health insurance.

PHOTO ABOVE: State employees Deanna Cowles, Lori Ganni, and Patty Herrera are shown meeting with Speaker Romanoff and Pres. Fitz-Gerald. Also shown is Mitch Ackerman, president of the SEIU Colorado State Council.

Read the story in the Denver Post:

Remedy sought for health premiums
By Jeri Clausing

"Saying Starbucks workers get better health benefits, three state employees delivered
3000 petition signatures to legislative leaders..."  Read the rest of the story.