Large Counties take their voices to DC and the Hill

Recently, I had the opportunity to accompany NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) “fly-in” for county advocacy that brought county leaders from the nation’s largest counties to Washington, D.C., where we met with members of Congress and their staff and Administration officials to discuss the legislative and policy priorities that affect large metropolitan counties and their residents. LUCC Chair Helen Holton (Council Member, Baltimore City) led the event, which took place from May 7-9, helping to impress upon key lawmakers and officials NACo’s message of Why Counties Matter.

While in Washington, we met with Democratic and Republican leadership from the House and Senate, as well as key staff from the House Appropriations Committee and House Ways and Means Committee. In these meetings, LUCC leaders discussed priorities for the FY2014 appropriations process, the Marketplace Fairness Act, tax reform issues including municipal bonds, and healthcare programs including Medicaid.




LUCC leaders also met with the Congressional Urban Caucus and one of its leaders, Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), to identify shared priorities and to set the groundwork for future collaborations between LUCC and the Congressional Urban Caucus. In this meeting, NACo’s theme of Why Counties Matter was highlighted, including an emphasis of counties’ role in transportation and infrastructure, justice and law enforcement, and workforce readiness.




-with Congressman Scott Tipton

In addition to meetings which included House Speaker John Boehner and Senator Mark Udall's office, I was able to meet with Colorado Congressional members Scott Tipton, Doug Lamborn and Diana DeGette to discuss county concerns over the proposed elimination of tax exempt bonds which would have a detrimental impact on taxpayers, utilities, school and fire districts and local governments, especially considering that 75% of all national infrastructure is financed using this tool. My good friend from Miami-Dade County, Commissioner Sally Heyman introduced me to Congressman Gus Bilirakis who serves as vice chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.






-with Congressman Gus Bilirakis

Location:Washington DC

Regional Efforts Impact Wildfire Recovery Funding Approval

The efforts of regional and in this case, statewide and national groups have finally paid off for Colorado and many other states with the approval of Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Thanks to El Paso County's local partnerships with the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Manitou Springs, the Town of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado Springs Utilities and a long list of community and non-profit partners, there has been success in securing federal dollars to assist with post-Waldo Canyon fire and flood mitigation.  It also underscores how important it has been to work working alongside the Larimer County Commissioners, Colorado Counties, Inc., the Colorado Municipal League and the National Association of Counties. I wanted to share with you, a press release that was recently distributed on behalf of the Coalition.  I'll continue to voice my support for needed mitigation dollars and champion healthy forest initiatives that seek to manage our forests and resources more wisely, in order to prevent future fires like the Waldo Canyon (El Paso County) and High Park (Larimer County). Many thanks to our Colorado Congressional delegation members from both the U.S. House and Senate who have worked so hard to make these EWP funds available to our state.

 -Sallie Clark, El Paso County Commissioner District 3, Colorado

 

Regional Coalition – Funding for Wildfire Recovery and Flood Prevention Group Praises Efforts of Unified Colorado Congressional Delegation

Colorado Springs, CO, March 21, 2013 – Final Congressional approval of $65.5 million for watershed repair and flood mitigation projects in several states means the critical funding is now included in legislation sent to the President for his signature. Members of the Regional Coalition for Strategic Federal Action have been in constant contact with Colorado’s Congressional delegation for months in an effort to secure $17.6 million in additional federal funds for mitigation projects in El Paso and Larimer counties.  The Waldo Canyon Fire in El Paso County and the High Park Fire in Larimer have dramatically increased the risk of flash flooding this spring and summer.

“Members of Coalition could not be more encouraged by this great news for our friends and neighbors most impacted by the Waldo Canyon fire,” said Stephannie Finley of UCCS who serves as coordinator for the coalition.  “Our community came together and worked tirelessly with members of the Colorado Congressional delegation and our Colorado Congressional delegation pulled together in a wonderfully bi-partisan way.   In addition we forged a valuable partnership with Larimer County resulting in an effective Front Range coalition for Colorado.”   Members of the Coalition also noted the exceptional leadership of Commissioner Sallie Clark, Mayor Steve Bach, and Councilman Val Snider in securing this badly needed funding.

The U.S. Forest Service, State of Colorado, El Paso County, City of Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Utilities and volunteers from the Coalition for the Upper South Platte have funded assessments and initial design work to identify erosion control, detention and drainage channel improvements which are critical to reduce the risk of large scale mudslides and flash flooding.  Some of the most urgently needed projects have already been completed.

El Paso County continues to work with private landowners, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), School District 14 and others to protect the City of Manitou Springs and Highway 24 West from significant erosion and flooding issues which also threaten lives and property in the Ute Pass areas of Chipita Park and Cascade.

The City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities have identified projects needed to reduce flooding, sedimentation and debris flow impacts Colorado Springs municipal water supply.  Facilities to collect, store and transport raw drinking water for approximately 70% of city residents were severely impacted by flooding which occurred during a typical summer rain a few weeks after the fire was brought under control.

The money can also be used for qualified flood control projects on private lands and to protect significant structures such as Glen Eyrie Castle and the Flying W Ranch.

Once the bill has been signed by the President, the funds will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture which administers Emergency Watershed Protection funds.  It is estimated that the funds could be available for already approved mitigation projects in El Paso County about three weeks after it is approved by the President.

The Regional Coalition for Strategic Federal Action is a group comprised of 12 private & public organizations working with the Washington lobbying firm of Mehlman, Vogel & Castignatti to address high priority issues for all residents of El Paso County. 

Federal Sequestration: Cutting some programs won't result in real savings

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments

by Sallie Clark, 2011-2012 Chair of Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and Guy Dutra-Silveira, Director of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging

The headlines are full of dire warnings about what will happen if sequestration — across-the-board spending cuts to domestic and military programs — is triggered by the failure of Congress and the President to reach a bipartisan budget compromise by the end of the year. With the 11th hour fast approaching, we can only hope that in the scramble to crunch the numbers, our leaders don’t lose sight of the fact that every program cut will not necessarily produce a cost-savings.

Cuts in discretionary spending for programs that support our seniors and caregivers will actually drive up spending on the flip side. Mandated under the Older Americans Act, these vital programs include services for people over the age of 60 that enable them to continue to live largely independent lives within their communities.

Services provided include home-delivered meals, transportation, help with home safety improvements and classes designed to promote health. With the help of these resources, older Americans are able to take care of themselves longer, and in so doing, delay or eliminate the need to live in costly nursing homes or assisted living facilities. This is a cost that often falls to federal and state government — and thereby the taxpayer — through the Medicaid program. Let’s make fiscal sense. Continue to fund programs that allow an aging parent or friend to live an independent life at a relatively affordable cost of $200-$700 per month, rather than spending between $2,000-$7,000 per month for care in a facility.

Some would say that it is the responsibility of families and friends to shoulder the burden alone. But as anyone who has served as a caregiver for an aging parent knows too well, this care comes at a great personal and monetary cost. Caregivers— particularly women — provide over 75 percent of care giving support in the United States. In 2007, the estimated economic value of family caregivers’ unpaid contributions was at least $375 billion. Unpaid caregivers personally lose about $659,139 over a lifetime: $25,494 in Social Security benefits; $67,202 in pension benefits; and $566,443 in forgone wages. This heavy financial burden impacts their families, their children, the business for whom they work and the amount of taxes they pay.

Given the crucial role that families and friends play in caring for seniors, programs that provide caregiver support are essential to keep these individuals healthy, engaged and effective. These services make it possible for a family member to run personal errands, attend their child’s sporting event, or receive counseling to help them make informed decisions about a parent’s medical or financial future. In other words, these programs allow caregivers to continue to thrive in their multiple roles as parents, spouses, friends and employees.

Bottom-line, these programs don’t just support the elderly and the family and friends who given them care. They are strategically designed using a common sense approach which reduces both private and public health care costs while increasing the quality of life for seniors.

View the 2012 PPACG Annual Report YouTube Video (below) to learn more about the many ways in which the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments impacts our community.