Scanlon for Colorado

Tag: Health Care

  • The Public Health Crisis Of Our Lifetime – Climate Change

    The air quality all week was horrible due to wildfire smoke that blew into Colorado’s Front Range.

    Here’s a picture looking to the west this morning:

    There are supposed to be Rocky Mountains in this view!! Snow capped Rocky Mountains.

    Some of the wildfires creating this smoke are in Colorado. There are also wildfires burning across the American west – and all over Canada.

    The droughts, the altered rainfall patterns, these consequences of air pollution are forecast only to increase. Because the air pollution that causes these maladies continues to increase. This, when we need to be racing to zero air pollution.

    The effect on all of us is a massive public health crisis.

    If you live in Colorado and you’ve been coughing and wheezing and not feeling well, it very well could be the air quality.

    Key Protection Measures

    Stay Indoors

    • Remaining indoors is one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.
    • Keep windows and doors closed and avoid outdoor activities, especially exercise, when smoke is present.

    HVAC and Air Filters

    • Use the highest-quality filter your HVAC system can handle (MERV 13 or above) to reduce indoor particulate pollution.
    • Regularly change HVAC filters to maintain effectiveness during prolonged smoke events.
    • If possible, run the HVAC system on recirculation mode to prevent intake of outdoor air.
    • Portable HEPA filter air purifiers provide additional protection, especially in bedrooms and central living areas.

    Create a Clean Air Room

    • Designate a room in the home to keep especially clean by sealing windows, and use a portable air purifier or box fan with a high-efficiency filter.

    Masks and Outdoor Activity

    • Wear a properly fitted N95 respirator if outdoor exposure is unavoidable; simple cloth masks do not protect against fine smoke particles.
    • Limit outdoor time and strenuous activity during heavy smoke periods.

    Vehicle and Other Tips

    • When driving, keep windows closed and set the air conditioning to recirculate.
    • Avoid activities such as vacuuming or burning candles, which increase indoor particle levels.

    Special Considerations

    • Older adults, children, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are at higher risk and should take extra precautions.
    • Monitor local air quality advisories for updates and recommendations.

    Implementing these steps substantially protects against the health hazards posed by wildfire smoke across Colorado.

    Stay safe. And support politicians and policies that advance clean air!

  • Colorado’s Budget, TABOR, and Today’s Proposal

    Exciting news out of Denver. But first, a little background.

    Colorado’s budget process is a complicated confluence of constitutional amendments, TABOR restraints and economic conditions. The constitution is the rule book, obviously. And when the economy is strong, the revenue side is strong enough to obscure the problems. But with the Trump Economy teetering on the Trump Depression, Colorado’s budget is about to find itself in an even bigger bind next year. This after the legislature had to have a special session to cut nearly $1,000,000,000 to offset claw backs by the Republicans in Congress. With federal contributions to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance expected to be further reduced, Colorado needs increased revenue just to stay even.

    A coalition of liberal advocacy groups has come up with an interesting proposal to lower taxes for 98% of voters while simultaneously raising more revenue. This would be accomplished by changing from a flat income tax rate of 4.4% for everyone to a graduated tax rate, which means the % of income paid goes up with income.

    The proposal would lower the tax rate on the first $100,000 of income to 4.2%, and keep it at 4.4% on income between $100,001 and $500,000. This is how it would lower the tax rate for 98% of Coloradoans. The rates go up over $500,000 in annual income.

    The Colorado Sun has a good write up.

    Thanks to the Bell Policy Center for driving this important initiative, building a coalition with the Colorado Fiscal Institute, the Colorado Children’s Campaign, Great Education Colorado, the Colorado Statewide Parents Coalition, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, New Era Colorado, the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, the Blueprint to End Hunger, Colorado Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights. 

    Per our TABOR rights, we, the voters of Colorado, will need to approve this initiative for it to become law. First, it would need to qualify for the ballot. To do that, this proposal would need to gather over 125,000 signatures, with at least 2% from each of Colorado’s 35 Senate districts. Signature gathering alone is forecast to cost millions of dollars.

    I have always believed that higher incomes should pay higher taxes. They have disposable income. Working people give up vacations and other primary expenses to pay taxes. At some point – and I would think making more than $500,000 a year is close to or at that point – your primary expenses are met.

    I do not support “soak the rich” measures that are overly punitive to the wealthy. I believe this proposal strikes the right balance between a graduated tax system where those who make more pay more while not going too far.

  • It’s OK to Not Be OK

    Something powerful is happening in our communities. After decades of whispered conversations and hidden struggles, we’re finally saying out loud what we’ve always known in our hearts: it’s OK to not be OK.

    For too long, mental health has been treated as a personal failing rather than a health issue. In working-class communities like Commerce City, the pressure to “tough it out” runs deep. We’ve been taught that asking for help is weakness, that admitting you’re struggling somehow makes you less of a provider, less of a parent, less of a person.

    That ends now.

    The Facts We Can’t Ignore

    Mental health challenges affect 1 in 5 Americans every year. In Colorado, we’ve seen alarming increases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, particularly among our young people. The COVID pandemic didn’t create these problems, but it exposed just how fragile our mental health infrastructure really is.

    Here’s what we know: mental health is health, period. Just like we wouldn’t tell someone with diabetes to “think positive thoughts” instead of taking insulin, we can’t treat mental health challenges as character defects that people should just overcome on their own.

    Why This Matters for HD32

    When I knock doors in Commerce City, I hear the same stories over and over. Parents worried about their teenagers who seem withdrawn and anxious. Workers struggling with depression but afraid to take time off. Seniors feeling isolated and forgotten. Veterans carrying invisible wounds that never fully heal.

    These aren’t isolated problems – they’re community challenges that require community solutions.

    What We Can Do

    As your representative in HD32, I will fight for:

    • Full mental health parity – Insurance companies must cover mental health treatment the same way they cover physical health
    • School-based mental health programs – Every student should have access to counseling and support
    • Crisis intervention training – Our first responders need better tools to help people in mental health emergencies
    • Workplace mental health protections – No one should lose their job for seeking help
    • Community mental health centers – Accessible, affordable care in every neighborhood

    The Permission You Don’t Need (But I’m Giving Anyway)

    If you’re reading this and struggling, here’s your permission slip: You are allowed to not be OK. You are allowed to ask for help. You are allowed to prioritize your mental health without guilt or shame.

    You are not broken. You are not weak. You are human.

    Resources That Are Here for You Right Now

    • 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text, 24/7)
    • Colorado Crisis Services – Text TALK to 38255
    • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741
    • NAMI Colorado – Support groups and resources statewide

    Moving Forward Together

    The conversation about mental health isn’t just changing in legislative chambers and healthcare boardrooms. It’s changing around kitchen tables, in break rooms, at community centers, and yes, even on social media.

    Every time someone says “I’m struggling and that’s OK,” they make it easier for the next person to speak up. Every time we treat mental health as seriously as we treat physical health, we save lives.

    This is what it means to put working families first. It means acknowledging that our mental health is just as important as our paycheck, our benefits, and our job security. Because what good is economic opportunity if we’re not healthy enough – mentally and physically – to seize it?

    In HD32, we’re going to lead this conversation, not follow it. We’re going to make sure every family has access to the mental health resources they need. And we’re going to keep saying, loud and clear, that it’s OK to not be OK.

    Because that’s how we heal – together.

    If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help. You matter, your life has irreplaceable value, and there are people who want to support you.