Resolving family legal issues can be stressful and complicated. Emotions run high, and it can be difficult to see the matter clearly. You need objective legal counsel from an experienced family attorney. Call the Law Office of John Williams in Charlotte, NC. John Williams can assist you if you're filing for divorce. He also handles child custody and guardianship cases.
Arrange for a consultation with a divorce attorney in Charlotte, NC today.
State Issues
Colorado Wasteful Spending (FY 2024-25)
Department of Corrections: $ 7,995,411 Increase 28.3 FTE
● Transgender Unit and Healthcare
- $2,677,911 to create two transgender living units totaling 148 beds.
- $5,317,500 for “gender-confirming surgical care.
●Clinical Staff Incentives
- $6,312,464 General Fund to provide incentive payments for certain DOC clinical staff up to $25,000.
- The bill includes an increase of $6,312,464 General Fund to provide incentive payments for certain DOC clinical staff up to $25,000.
●HB 24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students (immigrants): $24,000,000
- The bill provides $24,000,000 to be distributed to school districts and charter schools for new arrival students. It increases state expenditures and school district funding in the current FY 2023-24 only.
● Office of New Americans Expansion (immigrants): $119,029 General Fund and 1.5 FTE
- $119,029 General Fund and 1.5 FTE for an administrator to manage ONA grants, coordinate with other entities, and identify opportunities for new migrant career pathway enhancement and a full-time program assistant to support the ONA Director.
-This office has had difficulty expending grants.
●SB 24-182 Immigrant Identification Document Issuance: $ 122,855
- The bill changes certain requirements for the issuance of driver licenses or state identification cards to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. The bill increases state expenditures for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 only.
●HB 24-1280 Welcome, Reception, Integration, Grant Program:
$ 2,436,862
- The bill creates the Statewide Welcome, Reception, and Integration Grant Program to provide assistance to migrants. It transfers funds in FY 2024-25 only.
●Immigrant Legal Defense Fund: $ 350,000
- Long Bill budget amendment
- A doubling of the fund for FY 2024-25 making a total budget of $700,000. This funding is used for public defense for people facing immigration legal issues. Sponsored by Rep. Mabrey and Sen. Gonzalez.
●Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice: $ 2,840,715
- Funding for the Office
- Mission: Build partnerships to mobilize community power and transform systems to advance health equity and environmental justice.
- What this office does to advance their mission:
1. Build relationships with communities and across sectors to address root causes of health disparities.
2. Use equity in decision-making and partner with all sectors of government to embed health and equity considerations into their decision-making process.
3. Use data to support the narrative of the social determinants of health and tell the story of what creates health.
4. De-center communications from the English language or any one dominant language, and prioritize language justice when engaging with communities.
5. Develop, implement, and provide guidance on health equity training, practice, and policies within CDPHE and across the state of Colorado.
6. Focus on upstream determinants of health, guided by the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative.
●HB 24-1197 Department of Public Safety Supplemental: $ 9,800,000
- Funding for Community-based organizations providing service for migrants.
- Funds to provide grants to community-based organizations providing services to people migrating to Colorado.
●Department of Education: $ 56,100,000
- Expanding Healthy Meals for All Program.
- Adds $56.1 million total funds for the Healthy School Meals for All Program, including $40.6 million from the Healthy School Meals for All Program General Fund Exempt Account and $15.5 million from the General Fund. This includes an increase of $56.0 million for meal reimbursements and $100,000 for consulting resources.
●HB 21-1318 Department of Public Health & Environment: $ 198,192
- Outdoor Equity Program
- This bill injected identity politics into access to the outdoors.
●Department of Public Health & Environment: $2,840,715 total funds and 8.3 FTE
- Creating the Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice by combining two offices.
- The bill includes an increase of $2,840,715 total funds and 8.3 FTE, including a reduction of $11,349 General Fund, to join the Environmental Justice Program with the Office of Health Equity to form the Office of Health Equity and Environmental Justice (OHEEJ) for the purpose of centralizing environmental justice staff. OHEEJ is responsible for ongoing environmental justice work, including administration of environmental health mitigation grants through the Community Impact Cash Fund.
●Department of Revenue: $714,515 total funds and 8.3 FTE
- GENTAX & DRIVES SUPPORT FUNDING: The bill includes an increase of $714,515 total funds and 8.3 FTE, comprised of $442,906 General Fund and $271,609 cash funds from the Colorado DRIVES Vehicle Services. Account, in FY 2024-25. Funds will address the backlog of upgrades and system enhancements to the DRIVES and GenTax systems stemming from legislative, user experience, and system operational demands.
What Is a Caucus
and Why You should Be Part of It?
Most people I have spoken with are excited about a certain candidate and plan to vote for him in November’s election. The problem is that they do not realize there is a process that has to happen in order for their candidate to GET on the ballot. It is called a Caucus and the County and State Assembly.
At the Caucus each precinct assembles to choose two Republican Representatives for their area called PCP’s (Precinct Committee Persons). PCP’s must be officially registered Republicans and represent you. At the County Assembly the candidates will be determined for our County, and Delegates are elected for the Congressional District Assembly and the State Republican Assembly.
In Montrose, CO, on March 21, at the County Assembly, we will decide who runs for Sheriff, County Commissioner, among other positions. Then each precinct meets individually to select delegates for the State and Congressional District Assemblies where they get to vote for who goes on the state ballot.
What is critical is the number of people involved in this process. The more Montrose County people we have who are willing to help choose the local candidates AND be delegates to the State Assembly to choose our State candidates, the more likely we will have the candidates we want on the ballot. FYI, delegates at the State Assembly are chosen to represent our State at the party's national convention for a presidential election cycle.
Let’s say that you want Victor Marx to be on the ballot for Governor. At the State Assembly, he will need a minimum of 30% of the delegate vote. If two gubernatorial candidates get 30% or more, they both get on the ballot. We don’t want that, because the vote will be split. Thus, the more delegates we muster from our county, the more likely we can get the person of our choice on the November ballot, whether or not it’s Victor Marx. In addition, a candidate can get on the ballot through petitioning.
The first step is to make sure you are a registered Republican before February 11.
Second, plan to attend a caucus training. Look for announcements in the paper or go to the Montrose County Republican website at https://www.montroserepublicans.org/.
Third, attend the Precinct Caucus on March 5.
Fourth, invite friends and neighbors to be part of this process.
Your involvement matters just as your vote matters. Many might not remember, but Colorado Rep. Larry Don Suckla won by THREE votes. So tear yourself away from social media and YouTube, and instead of complaining about our leadership (or lack thereof) in Colorado, be part of the political process and let’s change the trajectory of our County and State.
Sincerely,
Leah Vandersluis
Montrose Citizen
