Capitol Update: The State of the State and Speak Up for Kids
Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and a mid-week snow day meant that the legislature had a very short week. However, there was still a lot happening at the Capitol and for the Children’s Campaign. Gov. Polis gave his annual State of the State speech to the legislature. He touted several wins from his first term in office (several of which the Children’s Campaign were proud to assist with, including full day kindergarten, the Universal Preschool program, and health insurance coverage). Gov. Polis also laid out priorities for the years ahead, emphasizing the need to make housing more affordable, fully fund education, and protect public safety. We look forward to working with the governor and his team in his second and final term.
We also had our 12th annual Speak Up for Kids Day! We were so happy to be together in-person after several years of this important event being held virtually. The event was a tremendous success! A big thank you to our partners at Clayton Early Learning for co-hosting with us, and huge appreciations to Sen. James Coleman, Sen. Cleave Simpson, and Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet for speaking with the group.
If you missed Speak Up for Kids Day, we have you covered
Yesterday, we celebrated the 12th annual Speak Up for Kids Day, co-hosted by the Children’s Campaign and Clayton Early Learning. Participating advocates were briefed on current dynamics at the Capitol and issues that will be addressed during the 2023 Colorado General Assembly – including continuous Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) coverage, reauthorization of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, and more transparency and accessibility in eviction proceedings. We also learned about some excellent tips for contacting legislators directly from our guests, Sen. Coleman, Sen. Simpson, and Rep. Michaelson Jenet. We are incredibly grateful to them for joining us on this informative advocacy day!
Did you miss Speak Up for Kids Day? No worries! You can access all the resources from the day, including an Advanced Advocacy Toolkit, several tips and templates for contacting your legislators, fact sheets for your Colorado district, and more. To learn more about Speak Up for Kids Day and our other advocacy work, contact our Advocacy Manager, Charlie Veraza, at charlie@coloradokids.org.
